Does Wal-Mart Destroy Cultural Character?

Will a new Wal-Mart Supercenter destroy the West African cultural heritage of Sandfly, GA?

1 minute read

March 8, 2004, 11:00 AM PST

By Chris Steins @planetizen


"Scores of communities have fought the arrival of Wal-Mart, citing the discount behemoth's propensity for draining the life out of Main Street. But here in Sandfly, which lacks a quaint commercial heart, the argument is somewhat different. Opponents do worry about the prospect of increased crime and round-the-clock traffic that would make it hard for older parishioners to walk to church, but mostly they see Wal-Mart's coming as disrespectful to a community that feels intense pride in its past and its roots in West African culture."

Thanks to Eric Arzola

Saturday, March 6, 2004 in The New York Times

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