I thought that the entry Small bottle, large lesson that Genevieve posted a few weeks ago was really interesting. I especially liked how she tied in a reference to the Cosby Show. While this is a fictional account it reminded me that issues reflected in the archaeological past are still relevant today. In particular I was reminded of a newspaper article I read last year. The article is entitled First Grocery Store In Almost Ten Years Opens In Ward 8, and tells about how this predominantly African American section of Washington D.C. has gone without a full-service grocery store since 1998.
Here is the link to the article: http://www.nbc4.com/news/14798498/detail.html
Having easy access to a grocery store is something most of us take for granted. In a poor area like Ward 8, not having access to a grocery store severely limits the options for places where residents can purchase food. Perhaps residents would not be able to make the trip to another grocery store because they do not have access to a car, because they cannot afford public transportation or because of the difficultly of transporting groceries on a bus or the Metro. Residents are therefore forced to shop elsewhere for food, most likely at local places such as corner stores or fast food restaurants. These alternatives certainly would not provide the same healthful options as a grocery store and likely are more expensive per meal. This unequal access to goods has both financial and health repercussions for this poor, minority group. Through this article we see how issues of class and race in relation to consumerism are still relevant today.
For more information on the demographics of
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