Boynton Beach Ghetto: What do you think of when you hear the word ‘Ghettos’? It could be the images of overcrowded cities where there is high unemployment, homicide, and social problems arise. It is a cliche that has been attributed to some groups of people most likely due to prejudice and bigotry.
Imagine my surprise when I discovered that even places as simple as Boynton Beach, Florida are known as the “ghetto”. Confused and curious? You’re not alone. It has been lingering in talk discussions, discussions, and even search queries more and more often, and today we are to discuss where this peculiar name comes from.
Therefore, let’s go down to Boynton Beach and see for ourselves why some would say that the town deserves the reputation, while others would be more than ready to stand up for Boynton Beach, Florida.
Is Boynton Beach a Ghetto?
As one gets to know Boynton Beach probably the first thing he or she would not associate with that city as a ghetto. Being a coastal city in southern Florida it has a population of approximately 75, 000 residents with a median household income that slightly surpasses the national mean. It is an amazing place to live, with attractive oceanfronts, inviting parks, and friendly people.
But let us ask ourselves why this small and quiet town has become the object of the study. The origin of Boynton Beach’s “ghetto” nickname is based on the demographic profile and social problems that have beset the city’s sections.
Boynton Beach Estates is a community located near Boynton Beach; the area has had its troubled times, a high incidence of poverty, poor housing, and pockets of crime. While this certainly doesn’t turn Boynton Beach into a ghetto in the regular sense of the term, however, it points to several problems which the city’s most vulnerable population suffers from.
Although someone may be put in a particular ‘ghetto’ this categorizes a whole society, which is not fair at all. Boynton Beach can be divided into many districts that are quite distinct from each other regarding their problems and peculiarities, as well as their attractiveness to residents. Denying the entire city as a “ghetto” discredits the several individuals within the community as well as leaders and the work they are putting in to change the city for the better.
The Origins of the Label
But then where did the Boynton Beach “ghetto” label come from? As to the question of its origin, it is hard, perhaps, to single out a specific cause; it may appear that it stemmed from all of the aforementioned considerations in equal measures. But it does not appear to have caught on until the 1990s when population numbers rose in Boynton Beach. Such rapid growth exerted significant pressure on improved facilities; hence schools, traffic jams, and lack of adequate affordable accommodation.
The economic differences between one neighborhood and the other began to emerge to the extent that the society that occupied Boynton Beach was labeled ‘ghetto’. Even now, the word evokes a lot of controversy among people because some of them are ready to protect the honor of their city whereas others recognize the problems of some neighborhoods.
Defending Boynton Beach
So I can say that even with the negative stigma of the place the people of Boynton Beach have really improved the lives of the people within that region. Anti-poverty programs, crime prevention, and charitable groups in the aspect of education have been developed. Furthermore, many citizens of this city boast pride in their hometown and are focused on ending the image of it as a ‘ghetto’.
Actually, there is a social media activism that covers all the rays of Boynton Beach and calls to come and see the wonderful side of this city. Through showcasing the town’s attractions such as its beaches, parks, and local events in a campaign tagged “Love Boynton”, the long-held negative image associated with the city is sought to be altered thus accommodating people from all over the world.
Conclusion
Thus, is Boynton Beach Ghetto? The answer is not that simple. Although there are some of the sections in the town plagued with some of these problems, it would be injustice and utterly wrong to typecast the whole community as being such. Boynton Beach is an extremely diverse city that has numerous problems that should be addressed and solved by all members of the community.
Most importantly, when people use terms such as ‘ghetto,” it bestows a negative identity that harms the implementation of strategies and the development of unification strategies. Of course, Boynton Beach has its problems but it needs to try to steer away from the negative connotations presented and make a better future for all of its people. The choice is ours to make.