The food deserts of Memphis: inside America's hunger capital | Divided Cities
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- Опубликовано: 19 ноя 2019
- In the 'food deserts' of Memphis, Tennessee, dominated by fast food outlets and convenience stores, locals lack what seems a basic human right in the richer half of the city: a supermarket. With a big gap in life expectancy, are these Americans doomed to die younger than their neighbours - or can they fight for their right to nutrition?
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#FoodDeserts #Memphis #DividedCities #Tennessee #USA #HungerCapital
In the U.S., corn, sugar, soy and wheat are all subsidized by the government. That's why junk food is cheaper than healthy food, because the ingredients in it are paid for by tax payers, like high fructose corn syrup. If the government switched subsidies to the healthy food, then it would change the health of the population over night.
So you're basically saying that our tax dollars contribute to making us sick. We need our government to change. I didnt know this before!
You forgot meats.
cookie22100 and also to exporting our bad food overseas
Potatoes are cheap, and you can get a bag of frozen veggies for under $2. Mix it with some chicken and broth mix, and you have yourself a healthy soup. Just because some healthy foods are expensive, that doesn't mean all healthy foods are expensive. There's a lot of cheap stuff that pretty much anyone can afford on food stamps.
CerebralDreams improvise. Overcome. Adapt
It's funnny to see how that "problem" is inverse in 3rd World Countries.
Here in Brazil it (relatively) cheap to buy non industrial food, such as chicken, meat, fruits, vegetables, etc, but in the other hand, foods that need some industrial production (like ready to made lasagnas, hamburguers) are reaally expensive, so, the "normal" is people opting to buy those kinds of food instead of these.
On the other hand, when I went to the US i notice that cheetos, chocolate, etc were so much cheap, but I notice that read meat and some fruits were way more expensive.
BTW: This is just a phonemon I noticed, i'm not saying that people in here eat better, or ignoring that Brazil is way poorer and has more food problems then the US, just saying.
The reason might be the a complete takeover of all agricultural sectors by bigger companies. In 3rd world countries, farmers normally work by themselves, but in 1st world countries farms are overrun by the corporate oligarchy, where they dictate what to produce and how much it will cost. Also, farm produces are not preserved like industrial produces, and since they have low shelf lives, are jacked up in price.
Of course, if Americans spent more money on fresh foods instead of chips and chocolates, the demographic would've been different.
Americans and Europeans are being raped by food conglomerates and agribusiness. McDonalds, Kraft, Dow and the likes should be seized and destroyef
You're right food here in the US, the fresh food everyone should consume is extremely expensive, my parents moved back to the UK a few years ago and we really noticed the difference, they have access to plenty of fresh food and it's far more affordable.
Not true, processed food is far more expensive in America too. A kilogram of rice can be had for $2, and that's at my nice suburban supermarket. You can do further research if you go to the US Dept of Commerce web site. They tabulate the prices of everything under the sun.
I stopped reading from the gate...Brazil is not third world country 😂
Growing up in San Francisco we always had access to grocery stores. The closest one was about a 10 minute walk. However, being Hispanic my dad used to prefer to buy a lot of our produce from Fruterias which is basically a latin store that sells fresh produce and foods more than any other type. As kids we used to hate it cause none of the processed foods like Twinkies were easily found there. lol. As an adult I totally appreciate that we were raised on healthy home cooked meals. ❤️
We never appreciate what we have when we're young, and we never realize what we don't have, either, until it affects us as adults. Thank you for sharing your story.
Life is crazy because I lived in a really small town like they described in the documentary it was sparse there’s not a lot of people but with in that town we had like three groceries stores and easy walking distance because the town was so small it only had one stoplight. And these people are living without a store for their entire lives and I can’t imagine living like that. It’s so sad.
Mission street, I loved going there as a child.
San Francisco is the greatest city in the country.
14th Mission hispanic grocery stores is where my parents would go to buy all the vagetables and meat, every pay day thats the place. But that was in the 80s, not sure if its still there.
Another problem is how unwalkable most of the country is. Promotes sedentarism
I lived in the South for some years. Very little of the infrastructure was made for walking. I now live in Littleton, CO. Sidewalks and walking trails are everywhere.
@@indigenous31617 that’s awesome. The south is a whole another world ... with people who have a very twisted mentality.. they shout comunism at any effort to make infrastructure more human friendly.
@@MarA-te5jc Americans don’t want public transit. We love our automobiles 🚗
@@dlazo32696 you’d be surprised at how many Americans seek walkable areas and don’t enjoy having to drive everywhere.
So sad that we can buy a burger for .50 cents and salads are over $7.00
im sorry but this excuse is a cop out. what do you mean by a salad?? explain the ingreidnets?? you can buy organic rice, carrots, onions aubergines and all other fruit and veg so cheap for you to prepare yourself. we need to look at our level of laziness also
@@andrewhanlon5855 yeah that sounds about $7
A pre packaged salad is 7 dollars, yes. But buying individual ingredients is not going to be a loss because a bag of spinach, frozen sweetcorn, 2 lettuces, 4 onions, 4 peppers, these things usually cost 2 dollars max each and last for much longer than just one meal. Meal prepping is actually going to save money with the correct understanding of shelf life. Bread can be baked at home, I do that with a large bag of flour which is cheap.I also use it to make pancakes on some mornings. Just add some dry fruits and frozen fruits. These things last a while too. Eggs 12 in a pack are about 2 dollars. You can use the veggies for omelettes, stir fries etc. I understand that its difficult its just that its also about motivation to prevent health issues and to plan ahead. Both of those examples are about instant gratification.
@@Blueocean881 and accessibility in this case. You can only assume too they're in a low wage paying job and have to work long hours. Time may be a constraint too. The hamburger across the street seems a lot more accessible than the grocery store. Why does 3 miles take 45mins driving though? I can do that in two mins. Is it traffic?
@@Mell0wY3ll0w I do these things on weekend though, in particular Sunday. All people get tired but it's about time management and caring about your health in the longterm - preventative medical intervention. I assume the 45 minute drive is on the bus because it stops numerous times.
Food trucks could be used as mobile grocery stores as well as the farmer's markets
There needs to be a demand for vegetables,fruit and lower fat food.
They exist! They're called Loncheras
Not happening
Who's going to spend $2mil 3mil on a brand new super market or store only to have a civil disorder, riot burn it down 🔥🚔🛒. I've lived without a 🚘 & it's hard. It's hard when stores mark up items & your choices are low. Stores are dirty, poorly maintained.
@@DavidLLambertmobile
People wit money
When you operate on 1% profit, and people steal 1% from you, why would you stay in business.?
No grocery store will open up in these Memphis areas because they loose too much money in theft. It’s unsafe and horrible in these neighborhoods
They could be subsidized by the government to balance out theft.
True, the quality of people is decreasing every year.
But the fast food places and liquor stores don’t seem to mind. There are policy solutions, such as subsidizing healthy food. Michelle Obama’s program successfully opened stores in many areas with the incentive of a partnership. The crime is a stakeholder to policy resolution, not an unmovable wall. Say you know nothing about policy design without saying it.
@@goeticfolklore Say you know nothing about real business.
@@tmo4330 That's why other countries subsidize healthy foods which helps to mitigate this issue genius
Its fukd how those “convenience” stores are packed with all that sugary unhealthy garbage that isn’t actually cheap. But its not coincidental either 😒
Yep all convinced stores a too high anyway cuz you are paying for convenience and mostly in poor neighborhoods cuz they no most people dnt have a car. So they jack up prices and drain the poor dry. A loaf of bread that cost 1.80 At Walmart will cost 3.00 at the corner store. Dish detergent that cost 99 cents cost 1.99 at corner store. Smh.😔😔😔😔👍👍
@@brendalynjones4576 They jack up the prices to pay for security and to cover losses from theft. They also carry what their customers want to buy.
Essa Boselin it is also true that when there is no competition they rise the price. They know you have nowhere else to go.
I know in Louisiana there are volunteers active that pick up people to go to the supermarket once a week. Mostly older and disabled people.
Convenience stores stock what sells
Yes true. But im sure if they had fresh food they would definitely buy ...
Ingredients of grape drink? Water, sugar, purple. Everyone knows that one
Not Purple. Its red and blue
@@abramlittle7102 naw mate its WHITE AND GOLDDDD
I want that purple, baby (in my Dave Chappelle voice) 😅😂
I made the mistake of buying a grape juice in the US thinking naively that would be the same as any other grape juice on earth.
I nearly puked.
That’s probably why it’s called “grape drink”.
One of the problems is shoplifting is considered a minor crime, and the thieves aren't properly punished. I worked in retail for years, and it would frustrate me over and over to see shoplifters get a slap on the wrist.
Imagine trying to get insurance for your business in one these locations where shoplifters walk right out tge door with your merchandise.
So the whole community should be punished because of what a few juveniles do?
@@ricochetsixtyten I think you should open a grocery store there.
@@ricochetsixtyten if it gets bad enough , yes. It's a grocery store, not a charity place.
@@ricochetsixtyten yes
The main reason for these “food deserts” is high crime in these black areas. The looting and thievery is out of control. It sucks for the residents that are honest folks but there are far too many bad apples ruining it for the community.
But there is still a lot of fast food.
@ 6:00 she takes 2 buses which takes her about 1 1/2 hrs., just to get to the grocery store and she is still within the city limits of Memphis, something's wrong with this picture, we're in the 21st century and everyone should have access to produce/food.
Crime
I order groceries online and all supermarkets deliver. It's a lot easier than taking buses and carrying the groceries
It's because all the grocery stores shut down from losses from THEFT. Stop playing the victim card. You are a powerful amazing person who creates your reality. Don't like living with so many criminals that grocery stores aren't close? Change your location. Change your education. Start a garden. Start an Urban Aquaponic Farm. So many options, so much abundance, why focus on the mirage of lack?
m r your ignorance is absolutely disgusting. Do some research it’s not that easy
Raven Jackson .....Raven, sweetheart stop trolling. Have a nice life, you're will need it.
Complete opposite in Africa,,here veggies,fruits ,cereals and such are way more affordable than those fast foods.
True like burgers in Kenya could go for 350sh and an apple for 25sh and spinach for 10sh
Same in China what is wrong with America
Soy, milk and wheat are all subsidized by the government so overly produced foods are all very cheap.
As it should be...
@DinkleDigerooorganic beef that we eat in Africa is awful but American beef is better?🤣this must be a joke
Crime drives the stores out and fixing that would mean holding criminals accountable for their crimes.
USA is really weird country, I live in Turkey, we have also many problems with food, but still low income earners have access to fresh foods, USA has abudant resources but not for its people.
Turkey blows 🙄
America is a third world country. There are parts of america that are so poor, other americans can’t believe it
@@juanblanco1267 America is absolutely not a third world country. While there are certain regions that are very poor overall the United States of America is the richest country on the planet.
@@joez3706 what is the point of being the richest country on the planet when millions of your people are living hand to mouth in run down neighborhoods? You have seen yourself in this video there are people who work who still are living on the poverty line.
This is so true.
Throughout the developing world, processed food is expensive. Fresh fruits and vegetables are cheap.
Give it 10-15 years - that'll change. It's already happening - Mexico has the highest childhood obesity rates in the world because of sugar drinks. Many countries in the Middle East have some of the highest adult obesity rates because of US fast food chains. Type 2 diabetes is set to become the biggest US export of the 21st century.
@@BizzeeB even China is beginning to see obesity and heart disease.
Corn, soy, salt, sugar, wheat. Cheap, subsidized ingredients that are main components of processed foods.
@@cc3184 Excellent point ! Heavily subsidized in North America.
In Haiti, only the affluent have access to streams of processed foods. The poor eat fresh and cook everyday, which is completely the reverse in United States.
Friday or Sunday Markets sound like a great idea. Businesses don't have to move into the area. But can provide a service people require. It's a win win.
They often don't take ebt... So ppl can't necessarily afford it
My house is fortunate to have vehicles and can afford groceries, but even I work a job that wouldn't allow me to go to a Friday or Sunday market; which is common of people who work hourly jobs.
Brilliant idea I think that's doable
@Pro-White Advocate, End Black Privilege lol you're such an edgelord
@Pro-White Advocate, End Black Privilege muh???
If you have ever lived or even visited Memphis, you know there is A LOT being left out of this video.
Could you name a few things? Never been there.
they destroy their stores
I live in Memphis, there was a supermarket/small store right before you got to 201 poplar but it got shutdown because of crime, and close to where I live one store owner got shot and the store closed. So crime is a defining factor in placing stores in high crime areas.
I wish the video had addressed this. Memphis is notorious for it's high crime rate. And businesses don't want to set up shop in an area where their employees are very likely to be robbed and/or shot on a daily basis. Opening in the sketchy parts of Memphis would be more expensive and risky because the owner's insurance and security costs would be WAY higher than if they opened in a neighborhood with less crime.
This issue will never be resolved if the big chains don't feel safe opening stores (and, more importantly, placing employees) in those areas
True, like she said poverty breeds crime. How else are people supposed to get by if they can't either get hired or even get to a job or make enough to pay bills?
@cobainzlady Corporations do not care if their employees get shot. Violence is not the cause of this.
@@glt918 They can create something, they can build something like generations of humans have. Requiring someone to give you a job or cater to your needs is what pets' do.
I used to live in a community without a store. We set up an organic food co-op and the farmers delivered fruits and vegetables direct to us. There are ways around this problem if you can't build a store.
People should start growing their own food. A garden can be put almost anywhere. It doesn’t solve the problem, but it would help.
They have actually fined some people.
SheLearnsLife which is a crime against humanity your not allowed to grow what you need to live because they are want to force you to support thier industries
You need time and knowledge to do that.
I was thinking the same thing. They have started community gardens in other cities. The residents got permission to grow gardens in open abandoned lots and the price was to help in the garden.
@@kikikareema5912 For a garden????
it's always high crime areas that create food deserts
If I own a grocery store chain. I would be disincentive to do business in a neighborhood high in crime, because I am more likely to be robbed.
If people cannot have a viable store in a community; maybe it's the community?
💯
@@Tsar-Czar dam true
In America you won’t starve, but you really have to pay if you want to eat healthy.
Not really, but it takes much more effort to prepare a meal from scratch, and to be honest, too many people just don't know how to cook.
thats why theres sooooo many fatties in 'murica
How mentally deficient would you have to be to not know how to cook? If you can follow basic directions, you can cook, and if you can't, then you have more serious problems than being morbidly obese.
5%LowBattery you’re very ignorant. I’m poor and I barley had food growing up. Ate expired food that was donated from my school. Some nights had no food! IF YOU THINK POVERTY DOESNT EXIST IN AMERICA YOURE IGNORANT
@@arminiusofgermania - It's not that people don't know how. It's that cooking takes actual time, and people don't want to put in the effort. Rice, beans, and potatoes can be found almost anywhere, and they're very cheap yet healthy at the same time. Frozen vegetables are also pretty cheap, but like rice, beans, and potatoes, they have to actually be cooked. Also, people prefer the taste of potato chips.
Turn all those lawns and green spaces into gardens.
Mamadou. Gardening is great (access to garden material required), but there should be no food deserts in the USA.
Yes, buy seeds and grow vegetables and fruit
@S R you can plant using seeds from fruit you eat. my family has grown apple trees off of apples we eat
@S R Find an outlet selling seed labelled as 'Heritage Seed.' Very popular with British gardeners now (we also don't like the idea of terminator genes bred into plants, so there's been quite an upsurge in interest in Heritage varieties).
As an addition, I have researched and collected seed from lots of edible wild plants, not just from Britain but around the world. Since quite a few are perennial, this helps cut down the work load. However, I think the greatest bonus is the taste and texture of edible wild plants.
So glad to find so much more common sense in the comments than in video.
The one comment I haven’t heard is the real reasons for the food deserts. Most businesses can’t stay because too much theft. It’s up to the community to assist in stopping the shoplifting and/or creat gardens.
Stop robbing stores.
Fact.
Hour and a half each way on the bus to the grocery store!! damn
Don't they deliver?
@@everready2903 not even close. Especially not to those neighborhoods unfortunately.
@Mellivora Capensis and how are they supposed to carry their groceries on a bicycle? I mean Are you seriously thinking about your questions.
@@everready2903 delivery cost money. Most of these people are probably receiving some type of food assistance? So you can't pay for delivery with food assistance Finance.
@Mellivora Capensis You're Expecting low-income people that have the resources to do this. And then they just can't get on the road with a little trailer. They have to get permission. The fact is no human being should have to go through this. And it's not realistic because what about people that are disabled? There are so many variables in this just build a grocery store and every neighborhood. That would solve the answer. But if you never had to think about how you going to get to the grocery store then you was saying yeah imma just get a bike.
Government Stop interfering in other countries, and sort out national issues
You think they are stupid? They are doing all that on purpose!
R M If ive said that once ive said that one thousand times. It's done on purpose of course.
The government is the ones creating this issue
The main issue that I've been hearing about for the past three years is that we don't have enough immigrants, the border crossings should be decriminalized, and it's inhumane to deport anyone. Basically, all I hear about are illegal immigrants. Nothing about helping our damn citizens.
What’s the government had to deal with massive amounts of shoplifting.
Get real
I wonder if crime has anything to do with grocery stores leaving these areas?
Terrible.
But watching this I was thinking: all those neighbourhoods had lots of lawns and other greenery. Why don't people grow their own? It's a warm climate
Because the average American doesn't know how to garden.
blackchemist2013 but all that info is on the internet. You don’t event have to buy seeds, seeds can be harvested from grocery store produce. My boyfriend does it all the time
@@sketchpadangel What if I live in poverty, don't have internet access, and the nearest store with produce is over 2 miles away?
Cause its easier to complain.
blackchemist2013 I understand that there’s serious poverty. I find it hard to believe that every family is lacking in internet access. Poor folks in the US are usually the first ones to have gadgets they can’t afford.
We need more community gardens
So allotments? Yes! As long as there is someone in the community willing to regulate and educate on how to cultivate plant life depending on the season and seed I think this could be the single most beneficial thing to happen in a community. That and shopping trolley loaning for anyone not taking the bus, these could be brought back into a local storage room for the next person to use. If the community is a close one, there could be a community meeting group where for two hours a week someone lends a hand with the shopping, or even chauffeurs families who are part of a healthy eating program on a rota. Incentives like free travel would drastically decrease the inclinations families might have towards dopamine filled foods which are often a last resort comfort. Sometimes all it takes is collective support and understanding.
Agree
@@Blueocean881 wat
Im also surprised why it is uncommon for Americans to grow food in their backyards when so many lives in their own house with a garden where one has full control over what grows there
Lol. You're gonna need a big garden, luv. The problem is there's no time to cook due to being mainly single parent households. Our men don't make the best fathers or providers (majority)
It’s like this in every hood I’ve lived in.
Liquor stores , dollar stores (PROCESSED FOOD), Little Caesar’s pizza, a fried chicken spot, a bbq/soul food spot, a Burger King and maybe taco bell are basically the norms..
beyond that, if people do go to the grocery store, they don’t know what to eat... fried pork chops, canned corn and fruit punch ain’t that great either
did you hear the lady talk about her "turkey neck" that isnt food, that is used to make gravy or a turkey noodle soup stock, LMFAO
45min walk to the food mart is what she needs, carrots, potatoes, and onions are cheap
Its not that hard. Beans, potatos, rice are all cheap and healthy staples, especially when bought in bulk.
Potatoes, carrots, onions, cabbage, rice, beans, and corn are all very healthy. They're also cheap, and have an excellent shelf life.
Corn literally had no nutritional value. Large qualities of potatoes are starchy and dense and is also not healthy for you. And same goes for beans and rice. While the alternative y’all are Stating as healthy options are healthier than fast food they are not healthy long term options.
@@km-ip9kz - Rice and beans are really healthy. That doesn't mean it will meet all of your dietary needs by itself. You still need to eat some fruits and veggies.
They have robbed the grocery stores blind and now they are going hungry. Smh
Lets address the real issue honestly,why can't grocery stores last in these areas?
@@FleshMann-sp9xdthe biggest reason is the large population of Black people living there.
@@FleshMann-sp9xdBlack people who steal
How much can one carry home on the bus? Poor people gotta haul like mules.
2 weeks shopping by UK standard. For about 2 people. When in uni I used to walk home with about 10 days of shopping in a 25 minute walk
Melissa Lauder yep. I walk down the canal to and from Sainsbury’s, which will take around 20 mins each way. It’s healthy, and also a nice walk.
I did it. Be thankful for bus service.
@Veronika Zimmermann Laziness? You may have 2 hours to spend grocery shopping but not everyone has that luxury. Not everyone can make that several times a week to stock up on fresh foods that go bad in a few days. Not everyone has the money to spend on the trip. Not everyone has a functioning transportation system to take that 30 to 40 minute ride.
Doesn't anyone know how to grow a tomato or a head lettuce anymore?
I agree with the local farming initiative. Grow it. Eat it. Sell it. It creates jobs, generates commerce, promotes healthy eating.
That would destabilize the process towards a nationalization of food production. A farm that feeds its own community is ignoring other communities.
@@scottydu81 no it is not. What part of "sell it" do u not understand?
@@mistresskeke Ah, but what about communities that cannot afford? Now you are a racist!
When you treat criminals like heroes, that’s what happens
Rob, loot and destroy stores. Then wonder why no one wants to operate stores in your area.
Ssshhhheeeiiittt
This is true in South Africa as well. Poorer suburbs sell SUGAR not food.
And that syrupy mess they like to call "tomato sauce" or ketchup....saddest thing ever
And East Africa too.
In any part of Africa if you can afford to buy junk food you are not poor, you are a wannabe. Comparing yourself to how people live in the US. Which to say the least is laughable. Cause all you need to do in any part of Africa is drive, walk or take public transportation to the "poor" neighborhoods fresh produce market. Fresh produce for next to nothing. So please sister do not compare yourself and I should know cause I am African and have lived in the two continents.
In Togo my family had a farm. With chickens too
Here in Jamaica too
I hate to see my people like that.
What do you mean when you say ''my people''?
@@davidw652 She is a Memphis girl, look at her username...
Aunt jemimah RISE UP!
Me too. But those same ppl have to start to hate seeing themselves like that first.
I hate to see any people like this...
I might as well add my story. We moved into a newly built area so there were no shops or anything other than new houses for miles around. More than half new residents didn't have cars or drove but they took buses, taxies, rode bikes and even walked the miles to shop and for other reasons. As teens we saw it as an adventure to have long walks. I even took my toddler niece for a long walk and she was happy on her tiny feet as long as she had a juicy mango to much on. Not everyone was thin but most were and everyone was always moving. New mobile businesses sprung up. New community groups started too. You got daily fresh baked goods delivered, ice cream trucks, watermelon trucks, oranges sold by the sack trucks and even cargobike street food. Some started kitchen gardens. No one thought of it as living in a food desert. It wasn't so much as a problem just new ideas of doing things. This wasn't in the USA though.
Girl has to take the bus to the store yet she has a $1000 I phone in her back poster.
Would be nice to see the community mobilise to grow their own produce. If all that vacant ground were turned to food production, they have the climate to grow all year round. It just needs investment.
"it just needs investment" is the key here; knowledge is sparce, the soil needs to be cared for, the cultivars need to be picked for the region, the cuisine needs to be tailored, the seeds need to be bought/saved, the plants need care, the waste needs to be composted...
It's not just throwing seeds on the ground and voila
@@cdmurray88 yup, of course it's not going to happen by just itself, it does need a lot of effort but still this is the only real solution
Maitre Mark growing for hobby and commercial use with health and safety is a complete different game
@Maitre Mark exactly ! The people in the video semm to all have gardens... what is easier than throwing some potatoes into the ground and sow some beans , salad, etc ??
Maitre Mark How would they get access to solar energy?
And then the bogus “supermarket” they set up in the hood have expired, rotting food.
Yes. And that food is more expensive than it is in more affluent areas too. I used to take a bus to the next town and the better quality produce there was cheaper.
That's real!!
Alex B. Yes! That too!
And I don’t even live in the south and experienced this in New York, Connecticut and now in Massachusetts.
@Travis Heitzman - What a non-original comment from an low-class, unfounded superiority-complex having imbecile like you. Apparently, you lack the understanding of the main idea for the video. 😏
This is true. When I moved to the city I live in I was disgusted with the food stores in the inner city. It smells like rotten meat as soon as walk into the store. In one area of the inner city I went into one of the grocery stories and I swear I thought I was back in 1970. Just sad
No accountability is the problem
I'm at a loss for words, but shoutout to those Moms doing their thing. Love and admiration, but something needs to happen.
@mneisbaar I agree. I think it all starts in the household. you want your kid to have a mother and father figure who can teach him or her how to be responsible and ethical. if you don't they will try to find that connection elsewhere, which couldn't end well.
Birth control needs to happen.
@@punothebear couldn't agree more 🤔
@mneisbaar Because women who have unprotected relations with men who are not committed will not accept blame for their actions. It's the man's fault...or maybe society? Have we tried blaming white people yet? What about the wealthy, like Bezos or Musk? Maybe it's their fault, too, somehow. Or maybe popping out babies for an extra $250 a month from government subsidies is sort of a bad decision that gets made. Just keep incentivizing single motherhood! What could go wrong?
The big retailers won’t go in because of crime and concerns about safety. The little shops that are there are like fortresses.
@S R so what is the solution? should the grocery store be forced to operate there and just deal with the crime? I mean, what is the solution?
samson Gov. should provide services that allow ppl, including former criminals, to find jobs. For example, universal healthcare would allow ppl to look for sustainable jobs, rather than just he medical bills.
@@bobsteve4812 I agree, great idea.....I assume by government you mean tax payers.....my question is should the tax payers have a say in said programs? Also, if crime is the reason why private enterprise has not been able to set up grocery shops here, why would it be different if it were a government program? In addition, what jobs would "government programs" be able to offer? Do you mean government would have to force by fiat for private enterprise to hire people even if they don't need or want to? An what is this "former criminals" that you speak of? you mean private businesses should not be able to decide if they can choose to hire a former criminal or not? My friend you may be able to say some nice sounding things and get by when you talk to teenagers, but it won't fly with me. Im open to hearing some ideas, but some specifics need to be talked about. You have, in essence, said nothing.
samson They will see the benefits. Less crime, a faster growing economy because there are more consumers, and they will always have healthcare. The US currently does ‘welfare’ in the worst way possible; only for poor ppl and only for very particular groups of poor ppl. This makes the safety net near useless.
@@bobsteve4812 ok, I agree, but you still haven't provided any specifics. My question still stands, does the tax payer get to have a say, a vote, on how you use their money? "they" will see benefits, who will, the tax payer? how do you know this? There seems to be little evidence of that, and quite a bit of evidence to the contrary. Again, you have essentially said, trust me or else. Here's another question for you, let's say there is a government program, and it doesn't work, or in fact it gets worse, what then? what is your solution then, they didn't do it right?
I currently live in a food desert. We have one grocery store for about 40k people. The place I lived before here had 3 large stores for about the same amount of people and there was an abundance of healthy food options. When I moved to the place I live now I was quite shocked by how little fresh food options there were. The majority of it was cheap junk. It has gotten a bit better in the past 3 years, but it’s still pretty terrible in comparison to what you can find in surrounding towns. There are a few programs in place that help get fresh, healthy food to the poorer folks around here. They will hand out fresh produce for families at schools. There is also a community garden and you can use snap/ebt at the local farmers market. But considering healthy foods are so much more expensive than $1 banquet meals and Raman noodles, a lot of people choose the junk food in order to make the most of their small food budget.
Is it possible for you to grow your own food?
@@dynamitedingo7720 they probably dont have enough space/time
To be honest things like rice and beans, peanut butter banana sandwhiches, and more are not that expensive and long to make.
I dunno man.
Right across the street I got a grocery store. 8 min I got another one.
All walking distance... In the country.
Your government wants you to die.
Bottom line.. not sugar coating it.
Love Canada 💯
@@connormcnamara1284 I see a lot of standing around doing nothing stop waiting for someone to save us when we can save ourselves
A store can only be robbed so many times. That's why they close down, that's why they don't come at all.
By the way this didn’t just happen to Memphis it’s been like this for years! I moved away 11 years ago in 2008 and it was like this ever since I could remember. But back then there was no Whole Foods or sprouts just Kroger, Aldis. They have a Sav-A lot and Dollar General in nearly every neighborhood but all they have is generic junk food which is worse than the name brand junk food.
It seems like the push for big city industry is a worldwide thing.
@@dontevercalmdowntsegai It's also a sort of lost knowledge. The more urban we become, the less we need (or so we believe) to grow vegetables. I'm from Portugal and schools around here do their best so children learn how tho grow and appreciate vegetables; houses have backyards with fruit and crops, sometimes even chicken. Who lives in flats and want to farm even do it vertically! But only if they know how.
I personally have a hard time doing it because I go by trial and error, but already have some bell peppers in my fridge from my balcony, on a 6th floor apartment.
Obakhan Jones so it isn't just white flight. All different kinds of folks are moving out of a run down area if they can? Why was it posed that way? In Britain the hate is on working class/ poor people.
Save alot is a grocery store. You can purchase healthy foods there. All grocery stores sell foods like fruits and vegetables, brown rice, and oatmeal.
To be fair, Dollar Generals are being remodeled around the nation to fit a small area of produce in.
No one has the right to judge someone using food stamps or EBT. Those programs help a lot of people and feed many children.
food stamps should only be used for the very basics, not fired chicken, soda and sweets- the "middle class" is just about ready to rebel
@@ApertureRH Middle class? Yeah right. They most likely have easier access to a grocery store.
@@ApertureRH Do you know how much of your tax money actually goes to food stamps? It's not a lot. The middle class has more urgent things to worry about than helping the less fortunate with a minuscule cut of our taxes. It's crazy that we're blaming poor people for our financial woes when the upper class is the one that keeps screwing us over
@@ApertureRH what else is it going to be spent on if the ppl can't get to the stores that sells fruits and vegetables. If junk food is all that's accessible then that's what it is going to be spent on. Did u even watch the video??
@@SissyFlower5, seriously? What are the rich doing that directly targets you? You aren't even on rich peoples' radar. So, how the hell are they screwing "us"?
As a lower middle class person, the poor are not on MY radar, either. Why? Because I have my own household to be responsible for. I don't have the time or the patience to worry about the poor.
Stop robbing your local grocery store and they won't close down and leave.
You want to know why?
One word. Shoplifting.
These Memphians do it to themselves.
smh this lady saying she doesn't know the ingredients in Grape Drink - sugar, water, PURPLE!
That Purple stuff
Errhka That’s not what she meant. She read all the ingredients, and it’s a bunch of chemicals that she doesn’t know, and neither do you.
You forgot all of the chemicals
Purple is not an ingredient!
I think y'all are missing the point. It was a joke. I for one found it funny
Buying healthy is expensive sometimes. I spend up to 180 a week to feed a family of 6.
that's not bad for 6 people eating healthy
It's still a lot cheaper than going out to fast food all the time.
Depends on what you buy. Rice, beans, and potatoes are cheap, but the flavor can be kind of bland.
Ultimately, health is driven not by availability, but by preference. Poor people in American don't want to eat rice and beans five times a week, so they don't. Poor people in other nations don't have a choice, so they eat healthy.
@S R - There's an abundance of cheap and healthy food in the United States. It tastes bland. That's why people avoid it. People in third world countries don't have a choice, and when faced with a choice between starvation or bland food almost everyone chooses to eat boring food.
@@cerebraldreams4738 people know they can season the rice and beans but i think culture plays a huge role. I grew up in a privileged african American family and we ate southern food and fast food all the time. Southern food is not very healthy and is loaded with salt and sugar. I am not well off financially like my family so beans and rice are not a choice. I try to find deals on meat and fruit. Alot of african americans only know how to cook southern food. I actually was stuck on what to cook because all i knew was my upbringing. I advise people to look up other ethnicities and look for ideas on recipes.
The whole foods in Lafayette, Louisiana sends out all of the food they would normally throw away to the downtown community garden, the entire neighborhood loves it.
Wow I will never complain to walk 8-10 to my grocery store ever again. When the first mom showed us her groceries I thoughtI not even a banana or a apple is in her house. I hope they get help
Sounds like Community gardens are needed in those neighbors, the women in those neighbors need to get together and start gardens and do a trade off for whatever they grow!!!
Exactly. Growing peppers, tomatoes, lettuce, onions, potatoes, celery is not difficult.
@Keep Rocking! Ah, someone with a realistic and helpful solution. Throughout history, we know poor people have done a great job at not having children, because that's a natural and normal human response to economic difficulty.
That’s just what I was thinking. a community garden or even a “liberty” garden like those in people’s front yards during WWII. Would not only would help feed the community but it will strengthen the community’s bond. Also I’ve been through Memphis a few times many years ago. The land there is so fertile! I have no doubt that it will yield a great abundance of fruits and veggies.
@Keep Rocking! contraceptives are not free.
They got a lot of space I'm this yards for food gardens. Even if it's just a few raised beds... Maybe hidden behind a green tarp or under a green house. I know ppl are poor but there's a lot of tutorials online on even apartment style cheap food growing for people stuck in the middle of a city. They can just move that stuff outside.
There needs to be a dual focus of helping those who are struggling, and looking into the policies and political structures that brought about these conditions in the first place!
Well said! Hit it from both sides. 👍
Please don’t be so naïve.
All over the country in the cities is the same story.
Grocery carts cost $300 apiece and they’re stolen on a daily basis.
That on top of the high level of shoplifting no one in the right mind is going to open up a grocery store there.
But you white people don't care about that. You only care about electing who you want in office
@@vespa9566 RACIAT AND JUDGEMENTAL MUCH. I LIVE IN A NICE AND WHITE NEIGHBORHOOD AND I SEE MORE WHITE PEOPLE TAKING THE GROCERY CARTS THAN ANYONE ELSE.
YOU DO REALIZE MANY DO THIS BECAUSE THEY HAVE GROCERY THE PHYSICALLY CAN'T CARRY FOR MILES. I SWEAR STUPIDITY LIVES IN THE BRAIN OF SOME OF YOU PEOPLE
@@queenroyaltyrules55 Well, everyone should care about electing who they want in office. That is just silly. Everyone should vote their own interests.
Let's get to the point...
Theft is the number one reason a grocery store leaves an area or won't build in an area.
Factor in why stores arent in these areas.
1. Will they be profitable
2. Lack of staffing
3. Safety
4. Community needs to change there behavior
I also think the one family zoning has a hand on it too. Houses are so far apart. Very low population density.
If people living in those areas are poor it can never be profitable, like you said. No business, no jobs, less money in the community.
If that convenience store sold more fresh produce, why wouldn't it be profitable? That's food that people buy on a regular basis anyway. Stock up basic fruit&veg every saturday, they will all be bought up until sunday afternoon. No leftovers and losses.
When a store is in a high crime area,and thefts are high,and people are afraid to go there,the owners have no choice but to close up.This just happened in my area.It was part of a major food store chain,and they just could not afford to stay open.The store did offer free shuttle buses to their next closest store for awhile.
I think theft is an important reason why this problem exists. The grocery industry has razor-thin profit margins and shoplifting can easily force a store to close!
S R wrong. Relative poverty leads to crime ie covetousness
It’s bc of violence and robbery
@@surbon514 It is THE reason why this problem exists. The media will just tell you it's all because of white racism though.
@@zacsimillionTheft is a HEART problem, not an economic problem
Dang I've never felt so privileged. I have a grocery store 12 mins away from me by car
Your privilege is called respect for the law
@John Kimber sounds like somebody is jealous.
Agreed I can walk to a grocery store and I have mass public transportation. I feel for these people and change needs to come about.
Don't feel privileged, markets do not exist in these areas because the of incredible rate of crime and shop lifting.
I’ve thought about this more and more over the years but I don’t think just saying, “This person chose to commit a crime - they don’t deserve any of the same things” is necessarily the answer... sure, there are consequences to crime. But you’ve got to look at a bigger picture and ask why a crime has been committed. Is there not enough money in a household for other reasons? Is substance abuse a factor? If so, let us find help for these issues and do what we can to provide our fellow citizens and community members with what they need. It’s a matter of looking with empathy
Omg,such bad food. I read that those grocery stores don't stay in those neighborhoods,because they get robbed all the time, I wonder if they touch on that,in the middle of the video
I'm french, my 15 years old penpal lives in Memphis, so it is really interesting (and weird to me) to see how BIG are the culture's differences. Especially when it comes to food
How would you say it is like for you? Are there similar situations in France?
@@simonpusateri3527 no there’s not like this processed foods arent as cheap in Europe
@@simonpusateri3527 non the more processed the more expensive it is .
But they are quick to take Aid to other countries but don’t take care of their own
Exactly
who is "they?"
@wolfumz 🇺🇸
@@jennywinter3025 jenny... that's just a flag! The amount of food USAID sends abroad has fallen 60% in the last 15 yrs. US gives less food aid, than many countries in europe, even though our economy is much bigger. We are _not_ giving too much when it comes to global hunger.
wolfumz the government who else🤷🏻♀️
This is happening in the richest country in the world. Something ain't right.
Top 1% own most of the wealth
@@charlesscott27 but it's not. That's a lie you tell yourself to feel better. No decent country would charge their citizens enormous amounts of money to receive healthcare.
They need to teach families how to cook. Like, for real, instil a culinary culture that will last and be capable of inspiring people, alleviating their distress and enabling their creativity.
@Michael Combs I live in Germany, poor People have more Kids then rich People. So I guess its not a Black / White Thing.
@Michael Combs I live in Germany, and thats the Standard everywhere. Successful People have 1 or max. 2 Kids - Poor People 3 - 6 Kids.
This is one major thing I noticed visiting even Texas from Australia, fast food chains everywhere and not a grocery store in sight
Even the "rich" areas didn't seem to have that many supermarkets
lots of space to grow your own food. i would immediately start growing corn and beans on those free acres. you should also fight for a new bus route and start a community garden so that everyone can learn how to grow stuff.
wow 1.5 hours with the bus to the nearest supermarket? that's crazy. i can walk 5 minutes and have 2 supermarkets near me
This is probably more a testament to a bad system of public transportation than anything else. There is no area in Memphis where it takes more than 20 or 25 minutes by bicycle to reach a supermarket..
I'm from Memphis it's really like this smh. Its one of the reasons I left at the same time it's one of the reasons I intend on coming back. ...when I have the tools to help
Awesome. The whole world needs more Indigenous Earthlings. 👍✌🥰
That’s awesome 💕
I agree, I am not a native Memphian. I did reside in the Midtown for a couple of years. When to other parts of the city as well. Left last year to come back home to Texas.
Cuddos to you mama's sometimes you have to leave your comfort zone
I grow vegetables and herbs in my garden and when Aldi and Lidl finally made it to my area, I drove one hour every month to do my produce shopping and stock up on canned and basic things too since they were so much cheaper than the stores where I lived. I know I can afford to buy more produce now that we have Aldi in the area. Before that it was apples and maybe a water melon ever so often, but the rest of the food was too expensive. I used to stock up on frozen veggies on sale and combine with coupons to ensure we have vegetables available. Aldi has made produce affordable and now I have an Aldi only 15 minutes away - it is like heaven.
Theft and crime concern are also major reasons. Profit margin of grocery stores is razor thin (average 2%), most business just don't think it's worth the risk.
Every mid size and small city in every state has food dessert's! Hell, our water is still bad here in Flint!
Thankfully he in Memphis Mayor Herrinton cleaned up our natural tap water years ago some say it's better than bottled water. Hopefully Flint, Detroit, and other cities alike are properly taken care of for the betterment of its citizens.
Wonnie Lee I sure do miss Memphis tap water. I have to buy bottled water here in FLORIDA.
What do y'all do for y'all water supply Butter Pecan?
How do you guys get access to water? It’s a damn shame the govt acted like that was a crisis during election seasons and for PR but then left Flint behind. Sending blessings and best wishes for xmas
They will NEVER clean that water!
this is very sad. people should always have access to fresh fruit and veg :(
They do!
@Claire fitzpatrick In India even day labour with 6 dollars a day eat the fresh vegetable. It doesn't seem plausible to me. I, myself, have plenty of fruit and vegetable though no meat(as a vegan) with less than 300 dollars a month. A rich country like the UK must have far more food than a third world. It can't be true!
Only 1 side of the story presented here. No mention of theft, burglary and violence.
this is important stuff, I'm glad people are bringing attention to it.
Me too, glad people are seeing that the communities are to blame. Crime is affecting the food they eat. Now everyone knows who to blame when they cry about social injustice because they don't having grocery stores.
Germany and France make supermarkets donate all leftover fresh food and it is re-sold in deprived areas for much less. That way, even the poorest get a very nutritional and balanced diet.
My mom had to walk 7 miles each way after a full day of work to buy us milk and groceries. We didn't have a car for a long time and we ate pretty well all home cooked meals.
@Shutupand Sitdown it was 7 miles from our home. A lot of these folks in the video say they have to take a bus to the grocery store because it's 3 miles away.
And its a sad situation any way that you look at it. Americans have to stop trying to normalize terrible situations.
@@alh9569 I totally agree. All I am saying is that 3 miles is much less than 7 miles.
@stan sorensen if our ancestors did it I'm pretty sure we are capable of walking that long in the heat
"Inside Americas hunger capital", I bet the obesity rate in Memphis says otherwise.
THANK YOU!!!
I have been saying that for years. This is the reason why i want to move. Two whole foods stores are in Germantown. Memphis is an unhealthy place to live. I shop at Sprouts. Majority of people I speak to have NEVER heard or shopped at Sprouts which I live by. Smh. That store has the best produce and offer free food as BUY1 GET 2 or 3 free some days.
Shout out to all MEMPHIANS💪🏾💜
The speaker is great. She isn't selling an idea, it is what it is. I'd be more inclined to help if it was presented to me this way.
EFFECTIVE MEANS OF DEPOPULATING BLACK NEIGHBORHOODS ...THIS IS ETHNIC CLEANSING IN SLOW MOTION
👏🏿
That woman had 5 kids.
Not race related, wealth related. No matter your skin colour rich people just don'r want poor people about
@@dantaylor7344 both are true
@500 triumph real talk
I am disabled and cannot do my own grocery shopping without help. I am so grateful that I can use shopping services to get my groceries delivered to me. Yes, it costs a little extra, but to me it is worth it. I wish south Memphis reisdents could have those services, too.
♥️♥️♥️
Love and light.
@Therese Mast No, I don't. I get that help from the money my father and grand father (both US veterans) and my mother (who worked for the state government but died before she was able to collect her pension) paid into the system. So I get nothing from you well, except undeserved grief. I hope you never have to live with being disabled...it doesn't sound like you'd be able to handle it. Blessings.
Shoplifting and the lack of punishment for the crime, is the reason for this.
All of this stuff was created to put us where we're at today. Those same high end stores throw away so much food it's pathetic.
It really really isn't like that. So many people go above and beyond worrying about their own lives in order to help black people do things that most people take for granted.
My goodness, this is so depressing. It's these types of educational videos that remind me how very fortunate I am to live in a city where I do have the choice to buy fresh produce everyday. The grocery store, along with the drugstore, is directly across the street from my home. A torrential storm could be taking place, and I can still get fresh groceries in less than 15 minutes. I have so many reasons to not take my life for granted.
Growing a garden would certainly help, seeds are cheap.
Did you really just say seeds are cheap?? Is it also cheap to farm the land? People really think you can just grow a squash and corn in the middle of Memphis and feed the entire block 😂😂
But you need room for that, not to mention tools and supplies. Plus food takes MONTHS to grow. Unless it's a massive project, a family'll probably make enough for one solid meal in a few months. Assuming they actually get a solid harvest that is.
@@spiritofchaos58 you do realize that growing their own food is how families ate for centuries?
@@kaischmidt8030 You also realize that it was their job to grow food? People do not have the time or space needed to grow their own food in an urban environment. I work 80 hour work weeks and imagine everyone shown in this documentary do as well, I don’t even have enough time to get a full night‘s sleep, nonetheless grow a garden.
@@boolosboi7503 No, many people grew their own food for their own consumption. MOST people in days past would supplement their diet with homegrown food. This isn't even to mention "victory gardens" which were mandated by many governments in WWII
Businesses go where people pay for things. Duh
A Whole Foods in a low income neighborhood would only lose money, this all comes down to private companies making business decisions.
but shouldn't they? I am still confused to the solutions here, nobody seems to have a solution.
Add to that a danger of being robbed, looted and burned and no one wants to take the chance. They just created a food desert in parts of Minneapolis by destroying local Targets and Walmarts.
@@sark4786 There's DEFINITELY a solution - but it's too high for most peoples' sensibilities. Single motherhood and the government funds that incentives it are the problem. I am willing to bet that if you took a gander at the demographics, it's probably like 90% single motherhood.
@@TomiAdewoleAdetom , nailed it.
You shouldn't need a pretentious Shop to seell fkn fruits and vegetables to people.
Memphis is growing zone 7a-b. Every square inch of the land surrounding these homes can be used as growing spaces. We live in Gary, IN. Frankly, it looks just like these impoverished areas of Memphis. We’re in growing zone 5b. We converted the lawn around our home into productive growing space where we grow about 200 varieties of fruit, vegetables, medicinal herbs, and mushrooms. We could grow more and extend our season if we lived in zone 7. Access to food can be accomplished when people roll up their sleeves and make it happen.
Exactly i've lived in Memphis, if you have a car and can drive around it's not hard to find fresh, healthy, quality food, I drive from south memphis to east memphis, to north MS to find whatever i need
I agree. No one says it best than Geoff Lawton from Greening the Desert...All the world's problems can be solved in the garden. He designed a Food Forest in inhospitable land. 2 km from the Dead Sea, 400 m below sea level, hardly any rainfall. Permaculture
we have more than enough wealth and resources for everyone to have food, transportation, education, and healthcare, but so many have none of it
It’s because the people at the top don’t share their wealth and give back to the communities. Amazon doesn’t even pay taxes. These billionaires and multi millionaires have enough money to last 10 lifetimes for each family member. Yet it’s being held on to, and spent to live a life of excess. I know it’s not freedom but there should be a cap on how much money people are allowed to have.
@@Ashley-cr4ow If you do that, the big companies will just go away and settle business else where which is just gonna worsen the problem. Economics are a lot more complicated than you think.
@@tokebakissitesacramentcali1877 okay but the money would still be getting circulated throughout the population instead of staying in one place. Are you saying if Jeff bezos started giving a fraction of his dollar to build poor communities in America that wouldn’t help? I’d say more jobs would open up, and there wouldn’t be such a divide between the classes. Greed is greed and it always affects the lower income population whichever way you look at it.
@@Ashley-cr4ow No. That's precisely not what I just said... Read again.
This video is several years old, but just popped up on my RUclips recommendations, which is interesting because Walmart just closed two stores in Portland that were in areas like this, and Aldi has just done the same in a similar neighborhood in Chicago. The Southern city where I grew up had grocery stores close in similar areas of the city because they were repeatedly robbed and vandalized. I realize this is not the fault of most of the nearby residents, but you cannot blame the grocery stores for avoiding areas they feel are dangerous and unsafe.
I live in 10 miles from Portland Oregon
The dichotomy of Memphis is what drove me away. But in my heart, I want to return.
You should then return home brotha.
Strawberrysmoodie why move to a city with no personality of its own 😂😂
You haven't a prayre in memphis.
It is really hard to manage a business in a high crime area with a lot of theft
Sadly, grocers don't want to open stores in such areas because of the extreme amount of theft.
The woman in the beginning showing her "groceries" from grocery store. It was literally all preserved (canned and frozen) food. That is not grocery. That comes in the definition of quick foods.
Frozed or canned vegetable is still better than nothing, if you have hard time to get into supermarket.
@@timkom2289 Bro as a student in university I used to ride my bike or take a bus to go to Walmart and buy fresh food cuz local grocery store was way too expensive. The Walmart was about 3 miles away. It all depends on what you truly wanna eat and driving a bike for 2-3 miles twice a week is healthy plus you get healthier food choice. Idk I don’t wanna put my choices on anyone else but it does seem that people make it sound harder than it really is.
Insurance costs way more in those poor crime ridden areas, and the reality of exposing your employees to abuse and violence will deter any business from starting up in these communities.