Something that goes completely unacknowledged by pretty much everyone is the existence of vast white slums that lie on the outskirts of every small town in Middle America. Growing up within 30 minutes’ driving distance of several, it always seemed strange that these were never spoken of, almost as if no one even noticed. But they’re there, block after block of impoverished, filthy men, women, and children, all white, and all living in deplorable Third World conditions. They’re harmless, mostly, and seem at peace with the station in life they’ve found themselves in. It’s strange, bordering on the surreal, to drive through them today, and see that not only are they still there, but they’ve expanded, become more densely populated, and fallen further in decrepitude. These people are far past hopelessness, the despair hanging like a poisoned, invisible fog. They’re not hopeless, because hope has never entered their mind. Generation upon generation have lived this way. How long has this state of affairs existed? More importantly, why hasn’t something, anything, been done to solve this utterly unaddressed crisis? For all the money sent overseas, Uncle Sam could spare a few to help what appear to be a people you’d normally see working stable jobs, and living tolerable lives. You can see the intelligence in their faces and hear it in their voices, and envision the squandered potential. That may be the worst part of it. They aren’t low IQ, although they may live hand-to-mouth on EBT, and be addicted to meth, alcohol, and the many other vices common among those who need it just to get through the day. frequent visits to small town Oklahoma feel more like expeditions into forgotten sloughs of despond. I have a bad feeling that they will always be there, that nothing will be done, and that it will only get worse.
