Douglas S. Massey

The concentration of poverty in cities during the twentieth century has also led to a concentration of crime and violence, asserts Douglas S. Massey in the following viewpoint. The poor frequently adopt a violent and aggressive demeanor in order to reduce their risk of victimization by criminals, an attitude which becomes ingrained and which can spill over into other areas of their lives. As the affluent segregate themselves from the impoverished, the problems of the poor will only get worse, Massey contends. Massey is the former president of the Population Association of America and a professor of population studies at the University of Pennsylvania.

As you read, consider the following questions:

1. Why was crime not as serious a problem among the poor in preindustrial times as it is in modern times, according to the author?
2. Why does the segregation...