The Favelazation of America

What is Dead May Never Die

Sharing some new writing, two separate pieces using the undead as central metaphors. Not sure why it shook out this way, it wasn’t intentional, I suppose I have zombies on the brain.

For American Mind I wrote about Paul Fussell’s 1983 classic of American class Class. In his era, the very top and very bottom of the class spectrum were “out of sight”—defined by their invisibility. I argue that as the middle class disappears, the very top and very bottom emerge into sight. The Favelazation of America.

Take a look at the most recent videos of homeless encampments in San Francisco and Portland. What do they look exactly like? Why, South American slums. As the middle class evaporates, favelas accrete. The reason why we see more “out-of-sights” is because there’s simply too many of them to hide. Parts of San Francisco look like Third-World slums because that’s exactly what they are.

Walk down to one of the open-air drug zones in San Francisco, as I have, and ask around. The paid “community faci…