Moving From Mn To Ga

[rcsteiner]

Originally Posted by Scraper Enthusiast

I've always found it rather odd that some northerners talk of "being afraid to move south", as in indicating that they're afraid of "racial overtones", yet they themselves have lived in a much less diverse place. Odd. Very odd.

The South has a long history of certain attitudes and social conventions towards certain races which much of the northern US doesn't share.

I'm not saying those attitudes don't exist in the northern US (they most certainly do in many areas), but it *is* harder to be racist when literally everyone you meet on a day to day basis is of German or Scandahoovian descent. Uff-da! :-)

Case in point: I grew up the 60's and 70's in Minnetonka, a semi-wealthy middle-class suburb of Minneapolis, and I don't remember more than a half-dozen black or oriental folks in my entire school (Hopkins school district) growing up.

Most of us were more concerned with beating Edina or Bloomington at hockey or soccer than thinking about esoteric subjects like race relations because such things were literally not a part of our lives. The few folks who were different from us were curiositities, but also largely accepted. It just wasn't a big deal. I played roleplaying games with a black guy who was going to the U of Minn, and the only thing that was different about him was the fact that he grew up in Minneapolis and not a suburb. Big whoop.

Our move to Atlanta was a very large change in many respects. I think largely for the better. But I see a lot more racially and religiously motivated discriminatory crap down here than I saw up there except in smaller towns. :-(

Small minds are everywhere, of course, but in the Twin Cities I think our tendency towards disliking folks different from ourselves was usually directed at Cheeseheads, noisy East Coasters, and pinecone-eating folks from Cali-for-ni-ay. :-)

[Scraper Enthusiast]

Originally Posted by rcsteiner

The South has a long history of certain attitudes and social conventions towards certain races which much of the northern US doesn't share.

I'm not saying those attitudes don't exist in the northern US (they most certainly do in many areas), but it *is* harder to be racist when literally everyone you meet on a day to day basis is of German or Scandahoovian descent. Uff-da! :-)

Case in point: I grew up the 60's and 70's in Minnetonka, a semi-wealthy middle-class suburb of Minneapolis, and I don't remember more than a half-dozen black or oriental folks in my entire school (Hopkins school district) growing up.

Most of us were more concerned with beating Edina or Bloomington at hockey or soccer than thinking about esoteric subjects like race relations because such things were literally not a part of our lives. The few folks who were different from us were curiositities, but also largely accepted. It just wasn't a big deal. I played roleplaying games with a black guy who was going to the U of Minn, and the only thing that was different about him was the fact that he grew up in Minneapolis and not a suburb. Big whoop.

Our move to Atlanta was a very large change in many respects. I think largely for the better. But I see a lot more racially and religiously motivated discriminatory crap down here than I saw up there except in smaller towns. :-(

Small minds are everywhere, of course, but in the Twin Cities I think our tendency towards disliking folks different from ourselves was usually directed at Cheeseheads, noisy East Coasters, and pinecone-eating folks from Cali-for-ni-ay. :-)

You've already made my point. Race wasn't an issue because the area was overwhelmingly homogeneous. There has been tons of research on the issue of social relations and race. In diverse areas, people withdraw and become more protectionist. They also tend to be exposed to all the differences, even negatives of diversity. As a result, they are turned off by differences and often show their lack of acceptance to differences. It's also going to happen more, anyhow. Think about it. If one areas is 60% of one race and forty percent of another, there exist greater opportunity for greater conflict, as opposed to the homogeneous area where there does not exist the same opportunities for conflict.

In overwhelming homogeneous areas, people generally do not feel as uneasy about other races, as their neighborhoods and way of life aren't in danger of being changed by the other group's presence. The few minorities in the area are more likely to culturally and socially adjust to the majority demographic, as they have to. In more diverse areas, the two different groups can live amongst their own and have their own cultures, so much so that they are allowed to thrive. The differences between the races are, thus, accentuated. The person in the homogeneous area doesn't see the differences in the races, as he/she never sees those unlike him or has to deal with them. They tend to think "everybody is the same", naievely and ignorantly. Little experience yields this, particularly when they have a media brainwashing everyone with "we are the world" propaganda. They then go on to think that more diverse areas are less accepting, when in reality, it is the same that it has always been in diverse areas. Conflict and tension have always come with diverse areas, whereas social cohesion, stability, and peacefulness overly areas that are most homogeneous. History tells the tale.

[DoveDiva]

Originally Posted by Scraper Enthusiast

Cobb County Schools aren't so great anymore, and the Smyrna area "Cobb County Schools" are pitiful, namely because they're filled with low-performing black and Hispanic students, with the white student population now hovering around 20-25% of the total.

Over half of the county's schools are no longer good. There are two big clusters where "good schools" can still be found, and they are in the northeastern quadrant of the county, east of Sandy Plains Road, Bells Ferry Road, and north of Piedmont Road. The other section is found in west Cobb, north of Dallas Highway and west of Highway 41. These are the two areas of the county that still retain schools with a white majority. They will likely maintain that majority into the foreseeable future, considering that they are amongst some of the most wealthy areas in the county.

There was a time when Cobb County Schools were elite, at least to Georgia standards. Now, they're downright mediocre. Considering trends, in another ten to fifteen years, they might as well be Dekalb County schools. Cherokee County and Forsyth County are the "new Cobb Countys". Cobb County is the new "Fulton County", in terms of the schools and demographics go.

This right here.....

#1: Not all Smyrna schools are bad. Teasley and King Springs are good schools in the Smyrna area. Some may think they are bad schools simply because there are a number of minority students there.

#2: May I ask what you base your views on? Are you a CCSD employee? Do you have kids in the district? I must say that while CCSD isn't perfect, this is definitely one of the better districts in Georgia, if not the Southeast. I can say this as an educator that has taught in three states and in districts ranging from inner city, majority-minority, to cookie cutter suburbia.

I get the feeling that you think an area/school/etc is bad simply because it isn't white majority. Correct me if I'm wrong.

[KevK]

Race is not an issue in Cobb County. Folks here get along pretty well with each other.

[Scraper Enthusiast]

Originally Posted by DoveDiva

This right here.....

#1: Not all Smyrna schools are bad. Teasley and King Springs are good schools in the Smyrna area. Some may think they are bad schools simply because there are a number of minority students there.

#2: May I ask what you base your views on? Are you a CCSD employee? Do you have kids in the district? I must say that while CCSD isn't perfect, this is definitely one of the better districts in Georgia, if not the Southeast. I can say this as an educator that has taught in three states and in districts ranging from inner city, majority-minority, to cookie cutter suburbia.

I get the feeling that you think an area/school/etc is bad simply because it isn't white majority. Correct me if I'm wrong.

I grew up in Cobb County. I went to schools in south Cobb. I witnessed and experienced them first hand. I also substitute taught in them for five years. The schools stink, namely because of the ever-increasing numbers of minorities, but also because Cobb County is prone to fads and social promotion.

[aries4118]

Race problems are not based on proximity. Racial problems throughout the world for the most part stem from a historical context.

The reason many Northerners may have less racial animosity towards diversity or minority groups (while living in less diverse areas) comes from not being historically conditioned to have this racial animosity like many white Southerners have been.

For example, in Great Britain, Indians and Pakistanis have much more racial animosity directed towards them than do blacks. Why? The historical context. After World War II, the British invited immigration from the Caribbean. However, Indians and Pakistanis started coming to GB in large numbers without necessarily being invited.

Another example, if an African-American is to visit or live in Australia, he/she will be a rock star. But, ask an Australian how they feel about their native Aborigines...(!)

One last example, the level of interracial (black/white) dating/marriage in European countries compared to the United States. It is much, much higher in Europe. Why? Historically in the U.S., interracial anything was a big "no, no".

[aries4118]

Smyrna is a great area! I believe Smyrna and Tucker are the best suburban areas in Metro Atlanta.

Why is Smyrna good for you?

1. Perfect for a biracial family. Smyrna is very diverse...economically, socially, and ethnically.

2. Good Schools. The schools are diverse (socio-economically), and many still post high test scores. As an educator, I can tell you...that is the perfect sign of a good school.
*Good schools of note in the Greater Smyrna area: Elementary-Teasley, King Springs, Nickajack, Mableton, and Brown; Middle: Griffin; High: Campbell, South Cobb, and Pebblebrook

3. Awesome Academic Programs. Of the aforementioned high schools, all good mind you, Campbell gets the cake. It has a top-notch International Baccalaurate Program and uses its diversity and strong sense of community to its advantage. Plus, Campbell is the alma mater of Julia Roberts! South Cobb has a strong Math/Science Magnet Program and strong community spirit. Pebblebrook is a nationally-recognized/known Performing Arts Magnet with several famous showbiz success stories.

4. Location, Location, Location. You could not pick a better location in the Metro Atlanta area for easy access to almost all of the major job centers: Cumberland/Galleria, Buckhead, Midtown, Downtown, the Airport, and Perimeter Center.

5. Cumberland Mall...fantastic shopping.

6. The Silver Comet Trail.

7. The area is beautiful. (Well, all of Atlanta is beautiful.)

That's it for now. Let me know if you have any more questions.