In 2008 I was on an East Coast road trip. For part of the journey, I was with a friend. And we were trying to remember what the "deadliest city in America" was. Never could remember. Then, later on the trip I was rolling solo through Philadelphia and low on gas looking for a gas station. Well, ended up making a right turn where I shouldn't have. Sent me across the Benjamin Franklin bridge and into Camden. It was at that moment when I remembered the answer my question. Well, great. So I end up in the middle of the ghetto out of gas. I call AAA and am told it'll be an hour. I told them the situation and that I can't wait an hour. They asked for me to describe the area around me and I'm like "um, just a bunch of brick buildings with graffiti and broken out windows." Not wanting to be just sitting there, I decide to start pushing the car. At that moment, a man comes out of one of those buildings with broken out windows. And another comes from the other direction on the sidewalk. Both men asked how they could help. One said he has a gas can and can drive me to the gas station. Well, I took a leap of faith. Got in his car and got gas. Wasn't murdered. Goes to show that there are good people everywhere.

@420doggolover5

2 жыл бұрын

THAT'S A BEAUTIFUL STORY. THANKS FOR SHARING. WE NEED TO HEAR MORE OF THESE KINDS OF STORIES. 😊

@googlbond

2 жыл бұрын

You're lucky man, perhaps.

@jesusdiscipledon1499

2 жыл бұрын

Amen!

@kmdaye04

2 жыл бұрын

Yep, can’t judge. Just because you live in a poor area doesn’t mean you’re bad.

@royce6485

2 жыл бұрын

That's great! I'm about to travel solo through Philly soon and I'm pretty nervous. This makes me feel better : )

There’s always those few houses in the ghetto that look like they try really hard to make it look like they don’t live in a ghetto. Nice, clean yard and a decent looking house. Those people are legends

@laffybaby2153

2 жыл бұрын

My house

@rjlovell1

2 жыл бұрын

And the amazing part is that others don’t catch on. Being poor, or uneducated doesn’t mean you can’t take pride in where you live. Just pick up your own trash, right? Gentrifying? Drop the label and just clean up.

@mzmoey

2 жыл бұрын

@@rjlovell1 💯

@beneachus4901

2 жыл бұрын

@@rjlovell1very true

@oldsalt8011

2 жыл бұрын

@@rjlovell1 I'll never understand the litter. Hell, get the a burn barrel and a bottle of Thunderbird if that us what it takes.

To answer your opening comments: Amongst the many reasons why people click more often on the bad neighborhoods is the fact that they can travel with impunity through the well-kept middle class and working-class neighborhoods. Someone who travels through these rundown blighted areas does it at their personal peril. Thanks for allowing to vicariously visit these wastelands.

@bluerfoot

3 күн бұрын

Also because ruins have their own type of beauty. As long as you don't have to live there.

I was born and raised in Chester, Pa..... I was very fortunate to move out. I still don’t know how I did it sometimes. I just thank God. Its a very rough and life there. But it’s also the place where I had my first kiss. Where me and my friends would climb trees and talk about WWE. Where we dreamed of being doctors and racecar drivers and football players. It’s where my mom read me bedtime stories about dragons and castles.It’s where my mom took me to church every Sunday. It’s where I blew out my birthday candles after making a wish for a new bike. It’s where I went to my first school dance..... it’s also where my friends turned to drugs when we realized we wouldn’t be doctors or lawyers because going to school was more dangerous then staying home. It’s where after getting robbed at 12 you realize you may need a gun just to get home to see your mom again. It’s where depression is considered a good day, at least you weren’t killed. It’s where your denied fair paying jobs because they see the word “Chester” on your application. Not everybody is capable to overcome great struggle. Most succumb to the environment around them. It’s no excuse because the world does not owe anyone understanding. I just hope that as you see these towns and these people please remember, before we realized we were poor and destined to great hardship, we really thought we would do great things for the world. We thought the world loved us. As a kid if I would’ve known where I was instead of wishing for a new bike, I would’ve closed my eyes and wished for my friends and family to have had a just reasonably fair chance.

@NickJohnson

3 жыл бұрын

Aww ❤️❤️❤️❤️

@dy9278

3 жыл бұрын

@@NickJohnson Comment is condescending and in poor taste

@grimtea1715

3 жыл бұрын

Respect bro ✊

@bethhurst6231

3 жыл бұрын

Thank you for sharing your perspective to help others better understand. You changed my view.

@kathyinwonderlandl.a.8934

3 жыл бұрын

Wow you about said it all. Everything. This comment should be framed. Who would have thought when we were dreaming about how it will be while up in the highest branches of the tree I could get.. never ever thought it could get so bad and at the same time always hearing from the politicians “ we live in the greatest country in the world blah blah .. I was a fool to believe that. Every year it kept getting worse while the policies made it easier for the wealthy and much much harder for the regular Joe..now what? It’s so scary..

The thing that's always the saddest to me is you can mentally peel back all the decay and imagine just how beautiful these places once were...

@noelleonard2498

Жыл бұрын

Yea, at one point probably back in the 50's they were nice family neighborhoods i bet.

@lcam9241

Жыл бұрын

Yes. Some of these homes appear to be huge too. I can definitely imagine them in their heyday.

@brotherlouie123

Жыл бұрын

@@lcam9241 exactly

@midaughtry1995

Жыл бұрын

Before white flight

@lcam9241

Жыл бұрын

@@midaughtry1995 so even if that's the case, why do the properties decline this much? I've heard the argument that the government deserts the area as well as in roads are not maintained, etc. But I wonder what's really the root of this?

I'm a paramedic, and I have responded to horrific calls in some of the poorest (ghetto) parts of my state's capitol city. the people in those lower class, run down homes and struggling to feed their families on almost poverty level wages are some of the most polite, gracious and appreciative people I have ever come in contact with. in contrast, up in the hills where homeowners in their million dollar estates who spend their summers in their vacation homes in the U.S. Virgin Islands are some of the most elitist, conceited and miserable people to have to deal with.

@jonnyrobcr

5 ай бұрын

Money stinks greed! Everyone has addictions weather it’s drink drugs money none make you happy! I’ve been to Africa where the kids are the happiest kids n they don’t have much at all just the simple things n they don’t know any different.

@edleroy7593

4 ай бұрын

This world is unfair...

@Tazmanian_Ninja

4 ай бұрын

I can relate. I was part of a volunteer service that brought food out to homeless, addicts, mentally ill people - and the "worst" places to go (junkies, vs "just" homeless) were much nicer and more polite persons than the "better off" homeless people who actually sometimes earned better than I did as a student back then - because they had charm and were good at making passers by give them money.

@Curious_Skeptic

Ай бұрын

I rest my case. FAMILIES IN THE GHETTO> Who decided it was a great idea to have FAMILIES in GHETTOS! STOP MAKING DAMN BABIES into poverty! Problem solves itself! You don't go making more kids when you can't fee yourself and are on drugs! We need a sterilization program! Look at third world countries! India, China, on and on. FILTHY WATER. FILTHY Conditions. Living like animals.

@john99776

24 күн бұрын

Those elitist, miserable people are paying the taxes, taking care of their houses and contributing something to society. Being a good person involves more than whether they have a personality which you like.

The music was perfect. I watched it like meditation and fell asleep. So sad but peaceful somehow. Good one sir.

@bdleo300

22 күн бұрын

Yeah, it's like watching post-apocalyptic wasteland...

I'm from England and we have plenty of slum areas too. I really believe this is a generation thing. My grandparents were poor but they had pride. They did everything they could to keep their houses clean and presentable. Their children had enough food, decent clothes on their backs and encouraged to work hard and be honest. Fast forward 50 or 60 years and people have no pride. They are happy to live on benefits, dont care about their cildren and quite happy to commit crimes. Drug gangs have taken over many run down areas, when my grandparents were alive, communities got together and would not allow this.

@NickJohnson

6 ай бұрын

The world has changed Carrie

@carriedudley8593

6 ай бұрын

@@NickJohnson and not for the better.

@decc0484

5 ай бұрын

How could you simply put this down to a generational thing? Surely the generations that were taught to work hard and be honest would pass that down no? You're clearly quite uninformed of the litany of socio-economic factors that cause these types of areas to appear. Particularly in America a lot of largely black/immigrant communities in the inner city were neglected and half demolished because of the post war suburbanisation and car dependency that basically moved the vast majority of middle and upper class families to the suburbs. So you're left with large communities of extremely poor people who were still being legally discriminated against due to their race. Throw this in with the failed war on drugs that Nixon coined in the 70s, which only increased crime, incarceration, addiction and violence in the poorest areas of not only America, but across the globe. In the UK, large housing schemes built just to house the poorest people with very little support, mix that with the increase in drug related social problems through the 70s and 80s and you have the situation we have now. Same happened in Ireland, Spain, Italy, France, etc. When you don't really know what you're talking about it can just seem like a generational thing, but society doesn't just change for no reason.

@New-Adventures

4 ай бұрын

Which ghetto places do you no in England

@New-Adventures

4 ай бұрын

From what I can see there’s no comparison to this am not saying there’s not but this is something else

What actually breaks my heart is that a lot of those abandoned and run down areas could potentially be quite beautiful.

@venod3134

Жыл бұрын

They all were at one point. Especially in Detroit. But when people just up and move and nobody else moves in or those that do are renters who sometime lower the property value... these are the results.

@brendendavis8596

Жыл бұрын

Actually its the results of ur people moving in, no offense

@venod3134

Жыл бұрын

@Brenden Davis well if you are a boot starp theorists, this may be your answer. But it's deeper than that, much deeper.

@robertkurthjr5187

Жыл бұрын

My family from North said it used to be where all the rich people lived.....over on state street

@Talk2WandaVision

Жыл бұрын

That's because they all WERE at one point in time.

Detroit ghettos in Detroit seem very unique with how many of the houses are so large with huge porches. Some even have large columns and two story porches. Those must have been beautiful neighborhoods in Detroit's golden era.

@frankk1512

2 жыл бұрын

That's due to the city being built for 3x the population it has now. They were so sure it was going to expand they built it for tomorrow X3. Not only did it not it's population went down

@tinatutt6607

2 жыл бұрын

I am a Detroit native...I was born and raised in the Eastside of Detroit. The homes are beautiful or should I say what's left alot of the Detroit neighborhood has been regentrified since. most of the homes were BLACK OWNED. A home back in the 90s or early 2000s would rent between $600 to $800 a month..4 to 5 bedroom homes. I miss the nostalgia of my city.

@aimeegargus61

2 жыл бұрын

They were! I've seen and was born in Michigan. Beautiful in the day.

@karenhampton804

2 жыл бұрын

Jesse...I was born in Detroit & lived there as a child, several family members there, too. A lot of the bigger homes with the double porches are stacked Duplexes...they are lovely homes & some have been rehabbed beautifully. There are ghetto areas there, absolutely, but overall, Detroit IS improving....its definitely NOT Camden, Philly or even Chicago these days...

@monicajimenez2047

2 жыл бұрын

9

Very good video. Yep, I have witnessed ghettos and they can be scarey but many who live there are short on choices.

Camden really does make me sad. I grew up about 20 minutes from there and I always remember a Boy Scout trip I attended (I went with my brother) where we served food at a homeless shelter. The people living there had some of the most character I’ve ever seen, and they were also some of the nicest people. My parents also grew up about 20 minutes from Camden and I remember them telling me how drastically it deteriorated since their childhoods. Camden used to be a strong working class community (my grandma worked at Campbell’s Soup in Camden) and now it has been left to be forgotten. It really does make me sad to see a place with so much history and past life turn into this.

Kind of sad that the United States is more interested in giving money to other countries when we have places that look like this.

@KrazyC2008

3 жыл бұрын

So true.

@nate978x

3 жыл бұрын

Tu Pac lyrics stated best “ got money for war can’t feed the poor “

@est6464

3 жыл бұрын

Exactly

@joelp5093

3 жыл бұрын

It's kind of obvious now that the government wants people to be poor, sad, and unhealthy

@MoviesNGames007uk

3 жыл бұрын

The UK is the same.

Sad to think that at one time each of these houses were someone’s pride and joy, someone washed the windows, swept the stoop and sidewalk, raised their children, celebrated Christmas or a new birth, mourned the passing of another. All gone now.

@arnoldarnoldr5114

2 жыл бұрын

Very well said. You drew both a beautiful and sad picture.

@angelachristina

2 жыл бұрын

That were just my thoughts on some of the homes shown. You could see they were once loved and well kept 😢

@Azathoth00000001

2 жыл бұрын

truth

@blondie9422

2 жыл бұрын

Yeah it’s so easy to forget ❤️

@Paula-rj3fx

2 жыл бұрын

I was thinking the same thing. If the people who had those homes built could see what has happened to that home and neighborhood, they would be, I'm sure, just devastated.

Hello! You are doing great with these videos. I teach sociology, and I think you are doing the public a great service! God Bless.

You have done an amazing work getting the United States on video.

I love how you give us silence as you roll through the towns. It lets the mind wander. So many narrators "narrate" and don't let the viewer feel or absorb. Perfect.

@gloriathompson4010

Жыл бұрын

Funny I see no one walking along the road. Gives me the Cream of a place that's dying

@sdpickens33

Жыл бұрын

I agree with both of you! We are Americans! Every neighborhood should be representing us. No one should be living in poverty! I feel that these sports teams need to go and clean up the communities they are in. On the off season, athletes tend to get in trouble; give them something to do! In Las Vegas, the casinos need to be cleaning the communities they are in! Mayor Carolyn, you get a huge fail with how Vegas proper looks for those who live there! I wish every politician could stay two days in poverty, they would get it and things would be different. I know that sounds naive but if empathy can help, they all need to do it. Mandatory! Now!

@margiemontgomery3528

Жыл бұрын

You know I'm sure there's just a lot of poor people that just needs a helping hand with all the money we send to foreign countries why can't we help the poor people out it worked all their lives they're tired give a helping hand

@gloriathompson4010

Жыл бұрын

@@sdpickens33 the poor will be always with us. Those are the words of Jesus

Giving tax breaks for factories to move overseas and then keep wages down back home for 4 decades was probably a bad idea in hindsight.

@nathanialkester6782

2 жыл бұрын

not to mention state funded homewrecking where they punish you for being married rather than a single parent

@atrillatheyoung9244

2 жыл бұрын

Itll trickle down I hear. Us poor people just gotta wait our turn and cut our corporate overlords some slack.

@pabloseykata6930

2 жыл бұрын

Well it was a GREAT idea if your intention was to make the Wealthy even wealthier. That was the REAL intention of "Reaganomics", or trickle down Economics. Trickle Down Economics was and is a joke and its proponents knew it all along.

@cambridgelee7742

2 жыл бұрын

Don't need hindsight to see that cheaper labor abroad is bad for the US. Unemployment for cheaper labor and subpar products. Money for their pockets is all they care about. Sad.

@seanwilliams7655

2 жыл бұрын

"What do you mean? It worked out great" - CEOs and Hedge fund managers.

Heck...that looked like a good day in Kensington! But yes it should definitely be up there in the worst area's in the US. If not number #1. Great video Nick as always. I love your work.

Dig your soundtracks. Don't know if you are creating that music but it totally fits the rides

I live in an upscale area of Austin, TX. There was a black gentleman walking my street with torn up shoes and overall looking Disheveled and out of place. He came to my front door with a clip board, and since my husband was home I felt comfortable opening my door. Upon closer examination, I saw he had a piece of his ear missing. Despite, his outward appearance he had a kind yet shy demeanor. He told me he was in a program for ex-convicts learning skills to help reintegrate into society successfully. The program he was in had him selling children’s books on this specific day. He shared with me that he grew up in Camden, NJ and felt he had no other choice but to turn to crime but was on the path to change his life. I told him I don’t have children to buy the books for but I wanted to give him some cash and get him a new wardrobe. I asked for his size and told him to come back that evening. I spent the day shopping for him and bought him enough clothes and shoes that he could throw away all the tattered clothes he was hanging onto. Never in my life have I experienced such gratitude from a human being. The look on his face was of true disbelief anyone would ever want to do this for him. He believed I was changing HIS life but he was changing MINE. He made me see different that day- that we are all the same no matter how different our lives may be. He taught me true compassion. I think of him from time to time and only wish he is achieving all he could dream of. Thank you, Xavier.

@Cycology_Major

3 ай бұрын

There are no legit prison rehab/ ex-con selling schemes; they are SCAMS. I hope he was bettered by this demonstration but, yeah, it’s been dangerous &/or foolish for most who fell for it.

@StanKeszka-zt6vh

3 ай бұрын

You are an Angel .❤😊❤❤❤

@truecrimeraw4545

3 ай бұрын

And now you are a mark... gratz

@LeeGordon-fp9zf

3 ай бұрын

Yr comment made me think. Thank you. Bless you and the gentlemen you helped.

@barbaraolsem5150

2 ай бұрын

Bless your heart. That was the best thing you could have done for him, he got some dignity back and no matter what the repubs insist I would bet that he didn't return a week or a month later asking for more did he? The repubs are the party of mean. Most of today's problems can be traced back to one person, one year, and one policy. Reagan, 1981, and trickle down economics, which never works because the wealthy who benefit from tax cuts will never let anything trickle down my God that would be socialism a hand out and that's the last thing poor people need. They need to work even if it's for slave wages and that is the problem. Most people living in poverty have jobs but the jobs don't pay enough to survive. Well they say then they need to get educated well fine but somebody still has to clean up the messes left behind by others and there's no reason those essential jobs can't pay a living wage. I'm not saying enough to support a family but certainly enough to support one person. But the owners of this country prefer to pay their labor poverty wages and let the government pick up the slack. So tell me who are the real welfare bums?

You can be poor and still take pride in your home and yard. I grew up poor and lived on a dirt road in MS. We had a trashy car and an old house, but we didn't have trash in our yard and the house was maintained. I see a lot of homes where people have no pride.

@mauriziofavento7890

3 жыл бұрын

Right.. Ten times right

@Jarretthicks12

3 жыл бұрын

Exactly. One my friends grandad use to always tell us even if you don’t have a lot treat your stuff right.

@melissahouse3488

3 жыл бұрын

Totally agree and i was just saying this to my business affiliate as we've been looking at homes to buy and invest in, economics has nothing to do with living like filthy pigs and sadly that's how many we've experienced present their property's to potential buyers while demanding outlandish prices. I won't repeat what we have encountered or run into, as it's too digusting and repulsive quite frankly but this has to do with no a financial or economic class, but the kind of class one conducts themselves with and I completely & entirely agree!!!! Just because one doesn't have loads of money, doesn't mean you can let your property go and live like dirty rats, it reflects on you and your lack of caring or effort, being mindful of a clean & sanitary environment, manners, being grateful, and these people presenting these filthy infested homes actually wonder how come they're not selling and that same pile of pitbull #2 will still be at every inch not picked up and the same wreck as it was a month ago when we inspected the property or viewed it. It take all but two minutes to sweep up the hundreds of cigarettes by the door, this is about laziness which I guess reflects their ill will & lack of ambitions but I still think rich or poor, care about what you have in life and keep it as nice as you can. Be grateful!!!! It doesn't require you be well off to do your chores!! Maybe it is all a packaged mind-set now. Which is why i am moving where it's nicer and people own their homes and take care of things, that positivity spreads just as negativity does. Seeing slums all around you is not motivating, let's face it. Or maybe it is?

@vdog4799

3 жыл бұрын

Its the condition of the heart. No community spirit. No respect. No love. Love comes from something to believe in. Like Jesus. No hope

@vdog4799

3 жыл бұрын

@Puppy Lover Yep. Me too

Excellent video tour of the worst hoods and ghettos of America, true no-go areas at night !

I have always loved the look of run down neighborhoods, beautiful.

@notmebutyou8350

Ай бұрын

😂😂😂

@animejoe4041

22 күн бұрын

Makes me feel way better about my neighborhood. 😆

You hit it on the head in Montgomery: "Poverty isn't what defines them". Having grown up dirt poor didn't define me and my friends back in the day. Having complete families and getting proper education to move out of it defined us.

@malkum77ify

Жыл бұрын

Socially speaking, poverty does define them. Is just that sometimes people get to a place where they just accepted as it is and learn to live with it.

@malkum77ify

Жыл бұрын

The poorest places are in the red states. The entire state.

@HermanWillems

Жыл бұрын

Soul reason I'm for free education. Give people same chances, regarding their background. A level playing field to start your life. Let not your parents define your future. Only Scandinavia understands this.

@pyrexmaniac

Жыл бұрын

"Them?" WTF.

@marktrain9498

Жыл бұрын

"Poverty" has become a euphemism for certain things we're not allowed to talk about. I've been broke in my life, but I've never been like that.

The thing that strikes me about Detroit is that I can see how grand many of the old homes and buildings once were. It must have been a great place to grow up in the 1950’s and 1960’s. It is amazing what a little yard work, a coat of paint and picking up garbage can do to make any place quickly look so much better.

@michaelriley4020

Жыл бұрын

Detroit's corrupt government and the bailouts really screwed them

@jamesrobert4106

Жыл бұрын

Or stopping scum living in them. Look at the demographic between 50s / 60s and current. We know why it has turned into a festering third world dump.

@mattcosner8681

Жыл бұрын

Paint your house all you want. That won't change the fact that it's in Detroit.

@roberttroxell4006

Жыл бұрын

@@mattcosner8681 True, it won’t work miracles. You really need to have all or most neighbors in a neighborhood doing the same, and doing it before many houses are abandoned, or it likely won’t work. So many abandoned places have such potential to return to prior glory, but you aren’t going to put a lot of money into rehabbing one building if the rest of the neighborhood is in shambles. You might even make your rehabbed home a target, if it appears to be the only place worth robbing. On the brighter side, it is amazing how the urge to rehab is contagious, when others see that someone cares about making their home nice again. I haven’t done much rehabbing, but what little I have had done has sometimes resulted in a neighbor coming to me and asking who I hired to do the work, as they are interested in improving their home. It can happen.

@guyfawkesuThe1

Жыл бұрын

This is NOTHING compared to Minneapolis and St. Paul in May of 2020. 180 buildings were looted and burned with another 1500 damaged! People harassed firemen trying to put out fires and then they would not respond to fires. Total lack of leadership from Liberal Democrat MN Governor Tim Walz, Minneapolis Mayor Frey and St. Paul Mayor Carter!?! They along with the Lt. Gov. should be in jail for not doing their job to protect the cities!!

The fact that you made it through Chester during the day is a miracle. I lived not too far from Chester and I never went there. Chester has been that way since the 80’s. If you were there during the night you definitely would not have came out.

It's very strange to see that some of these homes held large families at one time these houses were built at a premium I'm sure . It's depressing the families that had roots and memories there . Thanks Nick for the video .

The Northeast has so many horrible Ghettos because we used to have amazing manufacturing jobs, but after those jobs moved overseas or where no longer needed it left big populations of people with no or poor paying jobs. The mass exodus of people out of some of these cities only furthers their economic decline. Growing up in the Northeastern USA I see towns like this all the time and there are millions living in areas like this with no hope of getting out.

@Suga29838

3 жыл бұрын

You are correct..they always fault the people who live here

@313barrygmail

3 жыл бұрын

No you’re wrong BLM is what made the cities the cities

@allcallingmariam3711

3 жыл бұрын

@@313barrygmail huh????

@zeusapollo8688

2 жыл бұрын

Midwest too

@belindakennedy5828

2 жыл бұрын

@@Suga29838 it is their fault,burning down buildings,smashing windows,spray painting and dumping trash on the streets,being poor is no excuse allowing your area to be trashed by others,action should have been put on the local government to keep the streets and empty buildings and grass verges cut and in some sort of order.

It's a shame, there are so many beautiful homes literally rotting away. And on the other hand there are so many people in need of a home. A strange and cruel world we live in.

@luvkayakn

2 жыл бұрын

Non-resident property owners and landlords should be fined higher property taxes for dilapidated properties. Resident home owners should be offered low interest loans or grants to bring property to community standards. It's baloney cities allow blighted, depressed neighborhoods, which always encourage high crime.

@shaybelle8495

2 жыл бұрын

That’s what I was so shocked by! A lot of those houses were phenomenal!

@angelachristina

2 жыл бұрын

@@shaybelle8495 absolutely. I couldn't believe some of the homes shown were abandoned.

@dianevanderlinden3480

2 жыл бұрын

some of the houses just look so sad. I cried along with them.

@louish4420

2 жыл бұрын

Man on our legs man, we rob some dummies like you we make from them some stacks on the table like this 💸💸💸💸💸💸

I recommend the book Eviction by Matthew Desmond for greater understanding of the problems in these areas. The piles of furniture at the curb, sheriffs at the door at 6am, U-Haul truck packing up and a lot more is explained.

The last video with the windshield wipers in the rain. And the sound of driving is like ASMR at 10:20 at night That being said I love your videos cause I travel a lot and I travel by car and I really enjoy going through areas that have just been Left to die and it’s sad but very intriguing

I find videos on ghetto and run down cities so fascinating because they're a glimpse of old America, like old memories, faded over time. The average thriving American city is full of suburban homes, parking lots and fast food restaurants. But driving through these old run down ghettos, the average homes and businesses were built long ago. You drive past an old abandoned home, probably built before the 30s and you wonder, who lived in this home? What kind of memories were made within those walls? This is why I love videos like these so much.

@loralarose9615

Жыл бұрын

My house from 1935 it doesn’t look like that it just them not keeping it not fixing the roof

@michaelcesco2970

Жыл бұрын

I'm originally from DC, now living in Maryland. DC has an area in South East off south capital street. It's a little run down but its almost plush compared to Kensington street in Philly. Never seen so much homelessness, trash, and people sleeping on the streets. I've been to Philly about 20 years ago but I didn't see it in that kind of condition.

@michaelcesco2970

Жыл бұрын

There's a lot of boarded up run down houses, some with collapsed roofs. Government won't tear em down, it'll cost too much and they don't have dumping grounds big enough.

@CalebBlock

Жыл бұрын

Dead mall videos are also interesting for similar reasons

@Ronaldomadridmysticmac

Жыл бұрын

Yeah no. When I watch these I think of the countless drug house trap house malnourished bums and killings robbing a etc that happened in these neighborhoods. This isn’t a rich neighborhood uphills it’s a garbage dump of a hood. Nothinh much positive happened here .

Not surprised at all that someone told you to “Get the F out” during your trip to West Baltimore, which is in fact the worst part of Baltimore you can find yourself riding through. Ppl literally walk right out in front of you while driving which is scary because you don’t know if your about to be car jacked or not. I run a lot of red lights when I drive though Baltimore because I have no business sitting around longer than I need to. I’ve seen a few robberies, a stabbing and I’m pretty sure I saw someone ditch a gun once while driving through that part of town. Glad you made it out of Baltimore untouched. Thanks for the video.

@TheElegantpleasure

2 жыл бұрын

I was in West Bmore one day and this chick jumped in my truck and told me to drive. I was in shock to say the least. She said you get out with me and get yourself some food too. I was like OoooK. I just did what she said and all was good. Not the norm of course. That was a good encounter for once. Normally, you are lucky to get out without seeing something bad.

@wyattearpswoman838

2 жыл бұрын

Isn't Baltimore where someone tried to car jack him? (It's in another video)

@billarroo1

2 жыл бұрын

Even in Los Angeles, about 8 months ago I had 2 guys walk out in front of me one with a pipe, I had nowhere to go, so I beeped my horn and floored the gas, the guy with the pipe I hit, as he tried to smash my car with his pipe,, he was trying to force me to stop, as he wouldn't move until I beeped the horn and floored the gas, he didn't move in time. But that's his fault !! 😃😃.

THANKS FOR SHARING THIS WITH US. REALLY TEACHES US THERE ARE ALWAY PEOPLE DOING ALOT WORST THAN OURSELVES AND TO BE THANKFUL FOR HOW WE LIVE AND WHAT WE HAVE.

Nice videos, from South Africa.

I just hate seeing those beautiful old houses in that condition.

@darthvaldez999

3 жыл бұрын

I think the same thing!

@clo1187

3 жыл бұрын

@Sightless Sniper yup, 100% correct here..sad..

@stephensjurset6832

3 жыл бұрын

@red diamond71 I guess that you are the only one that doesn't know.

@jasoncoomer1226

3 жыл бұрын

@@stephensjurset6832 He is mad his neighborhood was one featured in the video so he tries to play"bully"

@iananderson3799

3 жыл бұрын

@Sightless Sniper People made them that way.

Looking at those large, decaying homes in Detroit makes me think… those homes were once people’s sanctuaries. Memories were made on those properties. Children played in those yards. They were once a part of the American dream. So sad.

@richarddupree2924

2 жыл бұрын

Your very right..

@ChelleSimon

2 жыл бұрын

I thought the same thing

@TerryAnnOnline

2 жыл бұрын

Sad in some aspects. But moving is part of human history. People go where the opportunities are.

@yungdripjones6494

2 жыл бұрын

Lots of banging after kiddos went to sleep...

@junodonatus4906

2 жыл бұрын

@@TerryAnnOnline In the United States, more so than elsewhere, the norm is to move. My parents come from Europe and I can walk to the house where my mother was born, where my great grandparents lived, etc. You feel a connection even though new houses go up the old ones remain or are renovated. It's the same with the "city" areas. There is so much (ancient) history and little change that one feels a connection when walking the same cobblestone streets that one's ancestors walked. In the states, everything is flipped constantly. Neighborhoods change so fast one doesn't recognize them after a decade or two. Point is, in Europe, people stay where they are so even neighbors become like family after a few generations. In comparison, America is cold and impersonal. We follow the money and chase "standard of living" but never have quality of life. In America these two are thought of as the same, but they are not.

When I was a kid, I used to visit my cousin in Camden quite often. The loss of jobs was only one thing that hampered Camden. Camden wasn’t always the way it is today.

Really impactful video, it's tough to see the hardships. Thanks for shedding light on these areas

What really gets to me is that every house was once somebodys dream. I build and restore houses so this is how my mind reacts. Creepy feeling!

@ThisWontEndWell

Жыл бұрын

Gets to a point the value of the home is so low the repairs cost more than the house value, however house proud you are you just stop throwing good money after bad and eventually you abandon the property.

@oskarsmom7552

Жыл бұрын

That's what I see and feel when he drives through these neighborhoods, how they once we're. So sad

@fahgedaboudit

Жыл бұрын

Just goes to show how dreams can become nightmares.

@timothyodaniell9119

Жыл бұрын

@@fahgedaboudit Haha

@Arltratlo

Жыл бұрын

my town is over 800 years old, my fathers family lives here for over 400 years, his birth house is from the 17th century, still owned by family members... they survived the 30 years war, 7 years war, Napoleonic wars, WW1 and WW2.... the USA looks at some places like the wars i listed happened just a few months ago, all at the same time!

I’m 64 and grew up about 20 min from Camden and Kensington and as far back as I can remember they were horrible places. You’re right Nick, the states just gave up on them. It’s so sad because at one time they were very nice places. My Grandmother who was born in 1885 insisted on being married in Camden because it was such a beautiful wealthy city. Hard to believe that now!😢

@frank-xp6pj

11 ай бұрын

Well keep in mind that people have to change first….you could build all new houses where those dilapidated buildings are but within a very short time MOST of those homes will be destroyed, until people can learn to appreciate & take care of what they do have then given them new homes etc is gonna be a waste of time & money.

@brianew

6 ай бұрын

@@frank-xp6pj It's a sad fact that many don't want to know about, but slums/ghettos are created from within. Yes, politicians and corporations are not exonerated, but the problem mostly comes from the people who call these areas home

@troysatterfield8817

6 ай бұрын

😢 I've watched Kensington videos on KZread and I know this was 2 years back I'm curious if they are taken. In a small area and know where to go or if it's really gotten that much worse than then or ??? Glad you are a survivor and hope you are doing the best in life you can

@MultiSkyman1

6 ай бұрын

@@frank-xp6pj Agree.

@MultiSkyman1

6 ай бұрын

@@brianew True. Do normal people leave old tires and garbage piled high in their front yards?

I lived in the ghettos up N.NJ and you'll always know you're in the ♥ when you start seeing Boost Mobile stores around ~.~

From a little town in Sweden: Thank you for your informative videos about USA! I watch your videos because Im interested in real life around the world. (Sweden have one of the highest taxes in the world it helps a bit really, nothing in this world is for free)

@rhondahope4135

3 ай бұрын

Nothing is free and I'm not an opponent of capitalism but in the USA we don't understand that sometimes a low tax rate actually costs us more. We love to shop at places like Sam's Club and Costco yet fail to see that some things are better paid collectively.

@Bell_plejdo568p

2 ай бұрын

@@rhondahope4135what higher taxes isn’t going to help

@tedmur

Ай бұрын

@@Bell_plejdo568pit does in places like Sweden and Norway

@goldensloth7

Ай бұрын

@@Bell_plejdo568p they absolutely have in many countries. higher taxes on the rich sounds good to me.

The reason why rundown areas spark the interest of people is that most of us wouldn't go there ourselves. It's more comfortable and safe to watch a KZread video about it.

@shyphyre

2 жыл бұрын

And judge democrats, liberals, the welfare state, big gov't, the lazy residents who do not want to lift themselves up, yada, yada yada.... the term about four fingers pointing back when you point at others is appropriate here

@duMaurier15

2 жыл бұрын

I agree. I admit I make very harsh but frank comments about these ghettos. But I do want it to get better but it wont.. and it never will. We all want these ghettos to become a safe and flourishing neighborhoods but there are a select few too many that prevent this from happening.

@evanswatson2989

2 жыл бұрын

@@shyphyre Republicans made the policies that made these circumstances. Please look up how Ronald Reagan cut grants for programs that helped children and single mothers join the work force. This has little to do with Democrats. Most state legislatures are controlled by republicans and they hate the poor and minorities.

@shyphyre

2 жыл бұрын

@@evanswatson2989 I lived through the Reagan era and remember those budget cuts the Republicans made. I never cared for him or his party. The GOP still denies responsibility for destroying poor neighborhoods

@philipmoogk

2 жыл бұрын

@@shyphyre One of the biggest problems in these neighborhoods in the breakdown of the family unit. And you can thank the Democrat party for the that. They incentivized women on welfare not to have a father in the home. If they did they would receive less money. Both parties have legislated harmful laws to these communities. Pointing your finger at just one is evidence that you don't understand the whole picture.

Whenever I watch these videos all I can see is what these neighborhoods would’ve been like in their prime and how proud so many of these families were to buy and live in these homes. A great reminder that life is fleeting.

@NickJohnson

2 жыл бұрын

I know Sarah!!

@snoopu2601

2 жыл бұрын

That's exactly what I wrote these old neighborhoods have rich history. Newly built neighborhoods will look old after 100 year's or less.

@Philip_Taylor

2 жыл бұрын

Yes, me too. I see all the old cars, the kids running around, occasional leaking fire hydrant in summer...thankfully my home town is thousands of years old and still thriving.

@sabrinacle

2 жыл бұрын

I do that too

@tungsongkhai4880

2 жыл бұрын

I saw it the same way as Sarah.

Thanks for the video. One comment though. THREE obscure little towns in PA that no one has ever heard of, and NO mention of Chicago on the list whatsoever?

I think that I have gotten my dose of sadness and depression for the night. Thank you.

I'm British. When we see houses that are sizeable, we presume that it's a nice-enough area. Our roughest areas tend to be either all terraced houses or high-rise blocks of flats. It's hard for me to see detached houses and think that's a run-down area. This makes me think: someone (maybe even me) should do a British version of this.

@christopherdouglas512

Жыл бұрын

Yeah, I’m half British and I’ve visited England several times…. trust me, brother, England and America are two different planets. America is a genuinely toxic culture. I guess we got it from those Nasty ones that set up shop here in the first place! (Capitalism +Religion Kills)

@plantlovaaa3471

Жыл бұрын

As an American I’d love to see that. That sounds miserable tbh 🥲

@jamesrobert4106

Жыл бұрын

Start in Bradford.

@EdwardAveyard

Жыл бұрын

@@jamesrobert4106 As it happens, I live in Leeds now and am from Ossett originally. Up until the mid-noughties, some villages near Wakefield (e.g. Fitzwilliam, South Elmsall) had roads that were virtually all abandoned. Those houses have long since been demolished though.

@renacleerican7824

Жыл бұрын

Same in France, our ghettos are big deserts of concrete, few trees, no gardens, big buildings full of misery. And in the vids , even the cars I see look pretty fine too^^ seems that they are not doing this bad in USA, they are just f*cking lazzy and dumb, just have to take a little bit care of their beautifull neighborhoud. Americans ghetto look like middle class European suburbs😅( with more blcks and garbages tbh)

“Poverty isn’t what defines them.” For some reason I like that statement. Thanks for seeing the positive in some of these sad places.

@Jenifer_G

3 жыл бұрын

I spotted the lovelt houses straight away. Even if poor can still have a standard for ones home. Stop the Govetnment from sending money to other countries and face these issues for their own people.

@dannyc.jewell8788

3 жыл бұрын

I noticed that comment also , maybe they are just poor in spirit ,

@kimberlyoldschool

2 жыл бұрын

Having been raised in the Deep South, in areas where there was plenty of poverty, both family and religious ties are still extremely strong there. Both of those are strong defenses against despair - not enough to save people at times, but enough to give them hope.

@pravinasings8254

2 жыл бұрын

@@dannyc.jewell8788 ?

@pravinasings8254

2 жыл бұрын

What you own doesn't define who you are. Some of the brightest, shining faces, eyes full of love, I found in a small rural village in India, and they owned next to nothing. In my experience, if you have basic needs met, and connect yourself to God, this is the source of happiness. Everything else is superfluous.

The fact that you go to all these places on rainy days makes it much more enjoyable. That must take good planning to go on cloudy/rainy days

because nick ,we all want to know where not to move.. ty ;). but I like to watch the nice ones too!

When the liquor store is boarded up all hope is lost.

@tungsongkhai4880

2 жыл бұрын

Did the Buddha said that ?????????????????????????????????????????????????????

@workingprogress2951

2 жыл бұрын

@@tungsongkhai4880what the hell are you on about ?

@jademelrose8765

2 жыл бұрын

Too right 🤣

@lens8714

2 жыл бұрын

No that’s good, we need less liquor stores in the hood.

@dylanmartino7975

2 жыл бұрын

Lmao 🤣

exploring at dawn before they “all got up” 😂🤣😂😂😂

@af7119

2 жыл бұрын

yeah criminals aren't typically early risers.

@queennoneya601

2 жыл бұрын

Crack heads dont sleep. They troll all nite. He found an abandoned part of the city at 6a.m. and narrated him a story. This was some detroit hater-aid $hit.

@julieanntumlin3993

2 жыл бұрын

More like they just went to bed!

@aintnoplum

2 жыл бұрын

Import the 3rd world you get the 3rd world

@lisaharris8074

2 жыл бұрын

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🙅‍♀️

The spa music is an interesting touch 😁

Cleaning up the litter alone would greatly improve the look of these neighborhoods.

@franciscosamir5256

21 күн бұрын

Its the broken window theory, and it works

@mkp3824

16 сағат бұрын

These individuals in the ghetto litter like it's their job.

I'm a trucker. St. Louis, Gary, and Baltimore are places that I pass through regularly. Having traveled most of the country, the entire states of West Virginia and New Mexico take the cake for being the most devastating places that I have visited.

@OneSlyGhost

2 жыл бұрын

Yes, southern Albuquerque is really really dangerous and full of ghettos. It is one of the highest ranking areas in the country for car theft and its murder rate is climbing. Some parts of southern Albuquerque look worse than like 70% of the ghettos on here.

@XMANIAFLYYY

2 жыл бұрын

Not surprised about New Mexico. West Virginia… eh… not surprised either…

@johncole2469

2 жыл бұрын

You need to visit the Black Belt and Wiregrass of Alabama. Awful. Deserted. Horrible schools.

@PALIKY7

2 жыл бұрын

West Virginia is one big ghetto on a mountain

@tonyosborn1073

2 жыл бұрын

Yeah

When other drivers aren't stopping at stop signs. You know you're in a bad hood

@Aria432

3 жыл бұрын

haha, so true

@myothernameisnana7188

3 жыл бұрын

I wondered if that was why that happened! I would have floored it and got the heck out of Dodge!

@erikio123

3 жыл бұрын

Sactown all way

@manlymcstud8588

3 жыл бұрын

i wonder if he flagged the other car to go around. then again, these places are basically the wild west, so who knows.

@michellem7300

3 жыл бұрын

@Steven Darkins my son got stranded in jackson mississippi for about a week or more and he made friends with a homeless black guy who told him which areas to avoid there. They also found a couple abandoned cars in some run down empty building lol

I was born in N.C., but raised in Bmore (slang!) This breaks my heart to see it like this. I joined the USAF at age 17, in 1962. Retired at age 38 and left the US, 3 months after I retired. I'm 78 years old now and living in the Philippines since 1983.

@enjoyenglish1721

7 ай бұрын

You understood you had to get out of there, not only the neighborhood but the whole country!

@theodethomasa6358

7 ай бұрын

@@enjoyenglish1721 YOUR COMMENT IS SPOT ON! I had no other choice!

@mrttripz3236

3 ай бұрын

Your backstory makes you sound like Gary from The Corner

@theodethomasa6358

3 ай бұрын

@@mrttripz3236 Sorry, I don't know who that person "Gary" is. Would he be a friend of yours?

@timmcgrath7127

2 ай бұрын

A lot of the Philippines is beautiful, but there are some extremely slummy areas there, too. Far worse than anything I’ve seen in the U.S.

Great soundtrack!

I would have loved to see some of these neighborhoods in their primes. Alot of these abandoned homes look like they were absolutely gorgeous homes at one point in time. I actually try and imagine some of these places during their glory days and how clean and cared for those neighborhoods used to be. You're right Nick Johnson, its sad to see how these places ended up trashed instead of cherished pieces of history

@ceegabe1555

2 жыл бұрын

The home owners certainly weren't the poor people.

@wandering2320

2 жыл бұрын

@@ceegabe1555 most of the rowhomes were always working class neighborhoods, but some time ago working class had decent standards because there was still an industrial presence in these cities

@michaeljwarren

2 жыл бұрын

You can. Just need to vote every democrat out of office there.

@mariamarinucci2251

2 жыл бұрын

I totally agree! My own hometown is only a shadow of what it once was. I'm just glad I was raised there as a child before it all went south!

@acreativename7999

2 жыл бұрын

@@michaeljwarren neither party actually cares about the poorer people, they say they care but they're just lying to get our votes.

the craziest thing is some of us are scared to go there or would never want too. Then there is the kid who calls it home.

@CJ-pm3mg

3 жыл бұрын

That’s deep!

@meagiesmuse2334

3 жыл бұрын

When I grew up in N. Philly, I didn't know we were poor. And some of the scary situations I was put in just seemed normal to me as a child. The thing that struck me most in this video is all the nice cars. Back when I grew up there, few had a car, and nobody who had one would park it on the street, or it would be gone by the next morning.

@aeneascarter5509

3 жыл бұрын

I’m Close to philly and yeah it’s just the norm when your from this

@nancy8676

3 жыл бұрын

I am so blessed

@brent450R

3 жыл бұрын

When you grow up in it not only are you accepted, it's normal.

I drive through E St Louis for work. Ive actually seen new houses being built in certain sections. City still has a LONG way to go, but its the first new developments ive seen there in years.

Do Americans realise why others don't want the American 'dream' in their country?

My dad had a restaurant many years ago called Mario's Steakhouse in Camden. Sold cheesesteaks, Italian water ice and such. Somebody burnt it to the ground. Parents divorced and me and brother ended up in foster care and then back with my mom at 2105 Westminster Ave, McGuire projects in Camden. Our saving grace was both of us joining the military. Many years later I took my kids to see Camden on a visit back home. They were into gangster rap. I told them I will show you the gangster life style. After 2 minutes in Camden they beg me to leave. Walt Whitman wrote Leaves of Grass just down the road from Camden so it had to be a beautiful place at one time. God bless Camden.

@narcissistinjurygiver2932

Жыл бұрын

lol. that is funny.

@Marciacontrado

Жыл бұрын

Thanks for sharing. That’s a tragic and really sad story. I’m so glad for you that it’s only Part of your story you’re not done telling yet. You sound like a good dad. Have a happy life, a great purposeful life. ❤️

@Itallaboutwatithink

Жыл бұрын

The military give us underprivileged kids a way out of bad situations. Glad all went well for you. Sad story but inspiring at the same time. 💪🏽😎

@xxz2275

Жыл бұрын

I went and stayed there for an entire week, for a school service trip

@theultimatereductionist7592

Жыл бұрын

"My brother and I ended up in foster care".

The way nature is taking back Detroit is kinda beautiful, in a postapocalyptic kind of way

@JoePCool14

2 жыл бұрын

I think it's the best hope for these sorts of places. Then in many years or something, they can be completely redeveloped into something new and better.

@WS-zs1ss

2 жыл бұрын

@@JoePCool14 I've lived in Chicago for the past 37 years and Gary In . is a hell hole since than . There is no hope to idiots who run those places down . You can be poor but you can be clean .

@tannerthepanman9202

2 жыл бұрын

@@WS-zs1ss I thought they were making a revival in places like Chicago and Detroit…?

@WS-zs1ss

2 жыл бұрын

@@tannerthepanman9202 Gary is not in Chicago . It's a hillbilly hellhole in Indiana .

@tomjordan688

2 жыл бұрын

@@JoePCool14 No! The people had to change or lt'll be the same thing!

great video.. thx! no East Cleveland/Flint...

Thanks You for your show it was really good because this is Reality

I grew up very poor, I lived with my grandma and all the money we had was from her widow's pension. The old house we lived in had no insulation, it was cold in the winter. But I never missed a meal and our house and yard was kept clean. There is no excuse for being dirty.

@mattyrock2467

2 жыл бұрын

agreed

@angrycannibal6625

2 жыл бұрын

There are also no more widows’ pensions. There were no pensions for widows of color then and very little now. There are plenty of missed meals, poverty wages and kids left alone in an unsafe world. Cleaning has a low priority, especially when there are drive bys and people have to sit on the floor to avoid being shot. Your childhood was idyllic. Theirs’ causes undiagnosed PTSD and a live unworthy of living.

@aGradeDubstep

2 жыл бұрын

addiction

@rebeccaa2433

2 жыл бұрын

@@aGradeDubstep exactly. When you are an addict you don't care about anything else.

@fendermon

2 жыл бұрын

@@angrycannibal6625 Interesting post, Thank you. I can't relate to it personally (never experienced it), but I have seen pensions go the way of dinosaurs. Your post rings true.

Man, I bet those houses used to be really nice back in the day. I know nothing lasts forever, but this deterioration is still depressing to watch.

@muthah3013

3 жыл бұрын

No, Nanakanisurra. These neighborhoods have been like this since the 1950's.

@Nanakanisurra

3 жыл бұрын

@@muthah3013 Wow, that's even more depressing.

@rabbigoldbergsilverstein2899

3 жыл бұрын

Yes before they became BLK

@muthah3013

3 жыл бұрын

@@Nanakanisurra These people are renters. People who own the properties and take rents, do not do their moral duty to fix and maintain the properties. It is their responsibility, is it not?

@Nanakanisurra

3 жыл бұрын

@@muthah3013 Good point.

Kinsington street in New Haven CT. Also many parts of Bridgeport CT. So many neighborhoods in CT are far worse by the looks of your 1st 5. Still watching.

I drove through Camden once on the way to the aquarium and my first thought was “why is every building pretty much burned down?” … also side note… one dollar houses in Gary, Indiana? I’m moving there!

The wealth disparity of this country is depressing. I recently started a job installing home security systems, and I find myself in some of the richest and poorest neighborhoods in the DC area. Had two jobs the other day-one in a multi-million dollar home in Cleveland Park, and the other in a run-down house in Capitol Heights. Generally, the folks in wealthier areas get these systems to protect their expensive belongings, whereas the folks in the less well-off areas get them to protect their lives. One thing I've learned from this job is that we're all the same. Most people are born into their situation, be it wealth or poverty. Stereotypes serve no purpose other than to divide us.

@tammywines7343

2 жыл бұрын

Amen ! I am in the eastern panhandle here in West Virginia ( born and raised in these beautiful blue ridge mountains) the rich have started their moves out here ( 50 miles from the sewer of D.C.) The homes here are now so high. We gave yes gave our oldest son our house ( we could have sold it for $300,000 ) my hubby and I said no the home will stay in the family) the crime here in Charles Town isn't bad. I sure hate all the farmland being sold, Apple and peach orchards all gone for cookie cutter houses.

@jacquelynejohnson9127

2 жыл бұрын

@@tammywines7343 dad sold his part of the land in West Virginia moved to Florida, next to his part was my uncle's, his part went to pay for the old people's home he was put in, the man who bought my dad's property said they sold it cheap, wish he could have bought it I agreed then it would of stayed in one person's family. When I said I was going to look at my uncle's land, he told me to warn me I would be shocked , it would not be anything at all like it was, my uncle's part was a wildlife sanctuary, - they had cut down the trees, most all of them , land divided and left by my great great ( and another great?) Grandma, taxes took the land except what part my dad sold.

@aliciageary9665

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you. What an astute and very true statement. Can't judge a man without walking a mile in his shoes.

@josepharmenijr4372

2 жыл бұрын

l like the way you said that,truth is !

@josepharmenijr4372

2 жыл бұрын

I always wondered,what do they get out of that! I guess we are short on hate,in their eyes!

As a carpenter for 38 years I just want to fix these homes

@george25199

3 жыл бұрын

I would say 80% are beyond repair do to water damage.The framing and sub floors are just rotten to the core.

@craftpaint1644

3 жыл бұрын

As a sometimes junker I wanted to haul stuff away to fix up 👩‍🔧🇺🇲🇷🇺

@ufarkingicehole

3 жыл бұрын

So they can be destroyed again the next day.... cool

@mikeybarboza3086

3 жыл бұрын

I feel your desire but thats not going to change the systemic reasons why these and other areas have fell into this level. Of chaos and poverty.

@arielsea9087

3 жыл бұрын

Family breakdown plays it’s role.

It’s just something about a run down poor area 🤣🤣🤣 11:50!the music 🤣

Because some of never see nor realize this. Thank you for bringing the realization to us.

Some watch to realize how fortunate they are, others to realize they're not alone in the struggle.

@Michael-hy2ud

3 жыл бұрын

I grew up in Cincinnati and it is horrible. I am blessed to have left the shithole.

@joe18425

3 жыл бұрын

Some also watch to gloat.

@raymondlealjr.2348

3 жыл бұрын

Very fortunate

@claudiacastle9480

3 жыл бұрын

So true.

@stuff4826

3 жыл бұрын

@@Michael-hy2ud whatever it was that got you out, you need to keep moving. its spreading. so if youve found a way to avoid shitholiness, use it like hell.

Its messed up that all these houses are abandoned, given the homeless problems we have.

@wintersongs1

3 жыл бұрын

I'd be curious know what would happen if the homeless actually moved in and lived side by side with those people there. I imagine the homeless wouldn't stand a chance.

@mauler43

3 жыл бұрын

That’s funny, the homeless would say thanx but no thanx, I’ll stay at the underpass, lot safer.

@AuntMaggie

3 жыл бұрын

Exactly what I was thinking. Tear down and hire and train the locals to build tiny homes for the homeless and affordable housing and grocery stores, pharmacy, training schools. Get the gangs out - hire massive security forces. How can we afford to waste so much money on immigration and refugees when we don't even bother with our own?

@valfletcher9285

3 жыл бұрын

Apparently many homeless perfer to be outdoors if they can network for drugs it is a consequence of addiction and there are even more drugs coming over the southern border as we sit here watching this. 99% due to alcoholism and drug addiciton just as it has for a long time with alcoholism.

@anti-trollcomedian1664

3 жыл бұрын

@@valfletcher9285 Drop the border crossers off there and they will beg for a bus back to Mexico.

Pretty good top 4 as for looks and yes those are 4 are rough but when it comes to places rougher than these south chicago, st.louis, Memphis, orlando parts you wouldnt get out the car or walk during daytime

Really fascinating presentation. Have travelled north to south within the United States. Didn't realize that your rust belt has been so neglected. Too bad once hard working proud cities. Our rust belt cities rejuvenated themselves with new industries and government work here in Ontario Canada Toronto area.

It’s amazing that one of the worst ghettos has beautiful brick streets that you can’t find anywhere.

@tonescape1

3 жыл бұрын

Timothy MacDonnell: I mentioned in another comment that Camden NJ won the award for Most Beautiful City In America in 1948. By the time I was growing up in the 1970s it had already become what it looks like now. It was a combination of two huge employers (RCA and Campbell's Soup) closing down, and the race riots of the 1960s.

@Idawelch

3 жыл бұрын

This is the worst example of media depiction I have ever seen. But so expected by a Millennial

@Darkly007

3 жыл бұрын

ya u talking about b more tim?

@obsoleteprofessor2034

3 жыл бұрын

Signs of better times

@ralzvy

3 жыл бұрын

Well, here in the Netherlands we have tons of brick streets

My father was from Camden, over on Howell St. When he was doing refrigeration repair back in the late 1940s two guys jumped him and robbed him. He caught up with one of them and was beating the guy in the head with a wrench when a cop came running over and grabbed him. He thought for sure he was going to jail with the thief laying on the ground covered in blood. The cop told him to move his refrigeration repair truck, he was blocking traffic.

@potcrak1

3 жыл бұрын

Damm Ed. My guess is the cop knew the guy your Dad was beating and would of thanked your Dad if he wasn't blocking traffic.

@romaskincare9138

3 жыл бұрын

In the 1940s? Wow. Sounds like Camden went downhill a long time ago.

@ducatirottie

3 жыл бұрын

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

@ducatirottie

3 жыл бұрын

@@romaskincare9138 Camden used to be an economic powerhouse back in the day.

@I_am_milan

3 жыл бұрын

OMG. That took me out.

You need to come to Globe or Miami Arizona, also old mining towns, so depressing.

This makes me realize that however humble my home is I am so blessed.

Some housing projects are even worse than these places, he's just smart enough not to go to them.

@Yourmomgoestocolledge

3 жыл бұрын

No he exploits places where there's no people out and about so he doesn't get hurt 😒😒😒

@michaelc.682

3 жыл бұрын

Hey Phil, I wouldn't call this exploitation. The people who live in these areas are exploiting everything from minors to government programs. You could always provide us with a tour of those really dangerous areas. How about it, tough guy?

@dethkon

3 жыл бұрын

@@michaelc.682 In my experience, after a few years of walking through open air drug markets in extremely neglected and poverty stricken neighborhoods (Mostly, but not always, in Miami): Overtown, Pork n’ Beans housing projects (Liberty City), the Triangle a bit in Opa-Locka, and so on, it’s my opinion that there aren’t really any places in America anymore that are unsafe to walk through during daylight hours (provided that you dress appropriately and know how to carry yourself). The drug gangs do a very decent job making sure that their customers don’t get attacked or accosted. It can be intimidating the first several times you do it, but eventually it becomes routine. And once you’re known in the neighborhood as someone who’s just coming on a regular basis to spend a little money, everyone pretty much is fine with you. I mean, I was there often enough that people knew me and sometimes would give me extra bags for taking the trouble to come to their spot consistently without causing problems for them (asking for shorts, drawing attention, whatever). I’ve driven through them and walked through them, even hung out in them for a while making small talk with the people there. Nobody cares. It’s not like people are just there constantly shooting at each other in the streets, in broad daylight. And if they are, they’re not trying to drop some random white boy. REALLY bad for business. Maybe I’m just lucky, but it seems like if you develop even the smallest amount of street smarts, don’t make a fool of yourself out in the drug zone, and mind your own business, nobody’s going to hassle you. Except the police- I had more trouble with them than any of the residents. They know why you’re there, too... All that being said, I quit doing dope about 4 years ago, and I’m very happy that I don’t have to visit these places on a semi-daily basis anymore.

@westtexas806

3 жыл бұрын

For sure. If he goes down a road with a culdesac he wont post anymore videos he will be the video.

@leobrad2199

3 жыл бұрын

@@Yourmomgoestocolledge and I don't blame him. That's smart on his part.

Philly. This was 1993 and hubby drove over the road trucking. I rode with him for a year and one place we had to go (and trucking takes you to some shady places) was ghetto Philadelphia. We had a delivery at some place that was a nightmare to get to: burned-out tenements lined the street; cars up on blocks, barely room to drive the truck through at times. Get to the business and it was surrounded by a high fence topped with concertina wire. It looked like a prison, but this place was like that to keep criminals OUT. Hubby was exhausted, and innocently asked if he could park in their lot for a few hours to get a nap after unloading. The supervisor narrowed his eyes and said, "You don't want to be here after dark." So we left. Back to threading through the dystopian streets slowly working our way at maybe a 5 mph crawl. Then some guy came angling out of an alley toward us. Hubby saw this and started cursing. Of course being a company driver he had nothing to defend himself with but a tire checker. This guy intended to jump up between the tractor and the trailer and pull the air hoses which would lock the brakes. His accomplices would then hijack the truck and steal its contents at their leisure. The female passenger would have been an unexpected bonus prize. The driver would have just been in the way and ventilated most likely. We were on our way to being screwed. Just as the guy had closed the distance by half, a cop car nosed around the corner, and the guy changed direction and ducked back into some other alley. We kept going of course and soon found the main road out to the interstate. I told hubby that I would never set foot in Philly again, and he agreed that we were lucky to be alive. TL;DR Nearly got hijacked in Philly ghetto.

@absolutely5376

3 жыл бұрын

Always pack. Better to be tried by 12 than carried by six. After 3,000,000 miles in a truck, they are words you will LIVE by.

@NickJohnson

3 жыл бұрын

Man o man

@petuniasevan

3 жыл бұрын

@@absolutely5376 Yeah. He was not allowed by his company to pack. This was when he was new to truck driving and scared to death that he'd be unemployable if they fired him "for cause". Things are a lot different now.

@petuniasevan

3 жыл бұрын

@@idagirl814 Thank you kindly.

@monarchbutterfly3154

3 жыл бұрын

@@absolutely5376 Reminded me of when I worked in behavioral health. Everyone in the office had some type of self defense item in case a client came at us. It was against the company policy but at the end of the day, no job is worth dying for.

Well run down neighborhoods But they all have nice cars and Trucks Thank you for the video 😂

Just imagine being a mailman/woman having to deliver mail every day in these areas. That could be a KZread channel in itself, POVing the routes.

@donnaocasio45

3 жыл бұрын

I’m a mail carrier, 25 years , I’ve delivered in the finest neighborhoods to the ghettos , public housing complex to college campuses , rural and city . I’m in the south so I haven’t dealt with some of the bitter winters the north has just the suffocating blazing heat . I salute my fellow carrier’s that deal with the extremes of these areas .

@robins.2749

3 жыл бұрын

I was a letter carrier and for 11 years worked in inner-city Milwaukee. It's not so bad, actually because they know the feds come down on folks who mess with gov. employees, and most people dont' mess with carriers because we brought the checks...not pleasant, tho, for sure

@tonystout1545

3 жыл бұрын

Most are wise enough to know a federal felony and want nothing to do with that. Postal carriers really have zero issues in these areas.

@NoNORADon911

3 жыл бұрын

From my experience these people generally don't harm anybody that might benefit them, cable TV installer, mailman bringing the welfare check, gas delivery, etc, but come to turn off the elec, turn off the cable, tow the car behind on payments, that's another story.

@Total_Recall1984

3 жыл бұрын

They want their mail though, I'm sure he's left a lone.

Being an Argentinian, one thing that surpises me is that most of the cars are pretty much brand new and all the streets are paved. The ''villas'' here (that's what we call ghettos) make these places look actually decent.

@alyssamangum2535

2 жыл бұрын

good luck to ya'll 🖤

@wyattearpswoman838

2 жыл бұрын

I know. Americans do not have a realistic perspective on true poverty. The homeless in America are still wealthier than the most impoverished of some other countries around the world. I think the expectations are a bit too high. We all need to be very grateful for what we do have. The entitlement mentality of our culture is a big problem.

@williammunson2508

2 жыл бұрын

Guess I better move to Argentina then. 😄

@brunocokiz

2 жыл бұрын

@@williammunson2508 not sure you got the point...

@R4d3K98

2 жыл бұрын

It surprised me that the first comment I see is a fellow Argentinian. Also remember that the houses in our villas are mostly improvised with scrap metal, wire and wood planks, in the US you get houses of 1 or even 2 stories that are just deteriorated. I'm talking about the NON homeless of course.

Thanks for risking your life for this footage.

You should have stopped by Baltimore, MD on your way to Pennsylvania. The street my mother grew up on looks like something from an urban war movie set.

the fastest way to be noticed as an outsider is stopping at stop signs in the hood.

@queennoneya601

2 жыл бұрын

Dirty south: Keep it movin chester! We watching you.

@DA-rc8xc

2 жыл бұрын

Yep. Don't stop at stop lights either

@sarahbethkeith375

2 жыл бұрын

Yes I noticed he did that and the other car just went around him

@RCAvhstape

2 жыл бұрын

A buddy of mine got pulled over by a cop, who asked him why the F he stopped at stoplights, and told him he needed to get the F out of the neighborhood.

@greenbriar07

2 жыл бұрын

@@RCAvhstape Same thing happened to my dad in the 70's. Cop pulled him over and told him to scoot if he didn't have any business being there.

One thing that struck me about many of these ghettos, was how beautiful the architecture of some of the old buildings and houses is. Some were even in pretty good repair/recently painted and spruced up. All some of these neighborhoods need is a little TLC and modernization of the infrastructure.

@paulhunter9613

Жыл бұрын

Ghettos do not occur naturally, they are created by the people living there

@Jonny-pw7dj

Жыл бұрын

Yeah and people

@davehart9972

Жыл бұрын

they need white people, like back when they were beautiful neighborhoods.

@poopyfartboi

Жыл бұрын

@@davehart9972 newsflash buddy white people live in all of the hoods in the country lmfao get that shit outta here

@wildfire9280

Жыл бұрын

@@davehart9972 Evidently it’s doubtful they need segregationists like you.

The first video clip looks like McKeesport/Pittsburgh, PA. I’m always up in that area

I lived west of Detroit when it was in it's hayday and the automobile factories were full with people and not any robots, every street was filled with houses. Most of them were brick too. I-94 cut right through those neighborhoods. All the streets stopped at I-94. Rouge River was burning. There were tours in the factories. You could see steel smelting. Almost all my friends who had jobs in the factories were set for life - why finish college? I had one friend who rotated jobs when people were off, it was a full time job! Now they are all gone.

In the beginning of the video when you came to a complete stop at that stop sign, that SUV passed you like, "We do not stop here, not in this neighborhood"!

@leobrad2199

3 жыл бұрын

I was thinking the same thing!!

@theresakelly1915

3 жыл бұрын

Thought the narrator was gonna be the victim of a drive by when that SUV passed him!

@campervanelvisitoofonyou8720

3 жыл бұрын

Hommies don't stop for Stop signs, red lights in Brooklyn New York.

@rexlv2011

3 жыл бұрын

where is the nearest McDonald's? if you start to get hungry. that way you will never be far from home because they are everywhere! you know the menu. walk in like a boss.

@dancalmpeaceful3903

3 жыл бұрын

I went to a job interview once at a plant on the one bad side of Cleveland (there are several). As I was about to leave, a worker there grabbed me and said, "You see that stop sign at the corner there?".....I said, "Yeah"....he said, "Don't stop...RUN IT." They did offer me the job but I found something that paid better and it was in a helluva lot better neighborhood. Side note: The entire parking lot was fenced in......surrounded by barbed wire. It looked like a small prison.

I just think of "if the walls could talk", and all the memories that were made in these places, lives that were lived- growing and surviving that took place, and it makes me terribly sad to think the people are gone and the building is left to rot. It's nice when someone can rehab old places, unfortunately desperation due to terrible economic climate forces poor people to take drastic measures like gutting their neighborhood for copper. It's sad, unfortunately America has been hijacked by the elites and we no longer have the strength to stand on our own.

@fausto8932

2 жыл бұрын

When we are happy, we don't imagine that everything can end.

@charlesjordan4933

2 жыл бұрын

It's true💯 ,that when people no longer inhabit them, that the house itself "dies" so to speak. It becomes a shell almost. The paint wears off quickly, floors and roofs collapse. Houses live, with lives in them ! 💯

@niatoolit

Жыл бұрын

@@charlesjordan4933 true 🤔

@jeromestarkey5927

Жыл бұрын

I see these row houses and wonder what it was like in the 1950's with neighbors sitting on stoops and talking about their lives and children playing jacks or hop scotch on the sidewalks .

@thatgui88

Жыл бұрын

@@charlesjordan4933 Thats such a good observation, which is why it is really important to maintain your house. It carries a piece of history; it is also good to hang pictures of those who lived in them.

Very surprised not to see anywhere in Jacksonville, FL on this list. A large portion of my job duties working for the city government are driving around the city and the first 2 or 3 of these areas looked normal to me.

I like watching something i can relate to. Also love history and seeing things decaying and poor upkept neighborhoods is interesting. Weathly places are okay, but there are more people less fortunate than not.

I think what you are doing is fascinating Nick. You are in many cases documenting the decline of America. Places that would have been alive in the 1950s or even 1970s reduced to haunted American Gothic shells. Stunning stuff.

@NickJohnson

3 жыл бұрын

There's bunches more

@joestewart8914

3 жыл бұрын

Having lived and worked in Northeastern cities for almost 80 years I can testify that all these places were indeed alive and I can detail to everyone exactly how they were destroyed. But since they are all now destroyed what does it matter? Nobody wants to hear my story anyway.

@hededcdn

3 жыл бұрын

@@joestewart8914 i do, Sir.

@jamesrobert4106

9 ай бұрын

​@@joestewart8914The problem seems obvious.