Substance Abuse and Mental Health

Most of our informants denied any problems with people from other racial groups. The general sentiment seemed to be that race relations, particularly between African Americans and Whites, were not a problem. One man said, "In this area, from here towards the south (of Durham), Blacks and Whites are cool, they're all together, wherever they're at. Hispanics stay in a different area; they walk to the store, four of them at least. More for show, it's just to make them feel comfortable." Another man said, "For me, I don't judge nobody. It ain't none of my business. Blacks and Whites - you see all of that up here - you see a lot of interracial couples here. Very rarely you'll find somebody who makes comments about that. Very rare." However, some interviewees expressed negative feelings toward Latinos. When asked about her impressions of Latinos, one woman said, "Oh! They okay when they sober. Nasty, they just nasty. Rude, too. Say things to women."

Although these and other comments about race relations were informative, it might have been valuable if there had been more interview questions that looked into the relationship between racism and the causes of homelessness. A visit to the shelters or the Community Kitchen gives a strong and immediate visual impression that most homeless people are middle-aged or older African American men. It seems reasonable to assume that racism (affecting opportunities, education, and employment) must surely be involved, though none of these connections were directly identified in the community member interviews.

Substance Abuse and Mental Health

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