Racial relations in Atlanta (White: gated, work, home)

[atlantagreg30127]

Originally Posted by mg83

White males make up the majority of men in the United States; just based on population, it would make sense that white males comprise a large portion of the sex offender registries...

Really? That's not always true.

My area which by the way is 70%+ white: Georgia Bureau of Investigation (type in "Powder Springs" in the city, "30127" for the zip, and "Cobb" for county - you don't need to fill in the rest of the fields).

[atlantagreg30127]

Originally Posted by SoFlaMom

I am a white woman who has worked in predominantly black schools for 13 years. I could sit here and rattle off just about every profile you want on every race to burst your little stereotype bubble. Black kids who are gentle, well-spoken, and as smart as Einstein - violent white kids who I am afraid of shooting me when I yell at them - Latino students who speak three or four languages and want to work for the United Nations ...

A couple of points however...

Your experience is not necessarily the same experience that everyone else has had, and the area you live and work in is not necessarily similar to all other areas in the very large United States.

Those young black kids who are gentle, well-spoken (which for the record are two words many blacks consider insulting to hear), smart as Einstein kids may populate Seattle or Austin or Portland by the thousands, but their counterparts in New Orleans might be carjacking people at the age of 13. The violent white kids from Kentucky might be replaced by gentle white kids from Kansas. The multilingual Hispanic kids in your area might have counterparts that are dealing drugs before they can drive a car in New York or Chicago.

So it's hard to convince white residents in New Orleans or even parts of Atlanta or Baltimore that there are droves and droves of gentle loving black males when "in their areas" the statistics show otherwise. It's hard to make a black family in rural Kentucky understand that there are tons of whites who WON'T burn down their homes in most other places in the U.S. You can't expect the entire country to adopt a Kum-Ba-Yah attitude about all races, when many people of all races have very limited exposure to those of other races. In some of those areas some of the races aren't exactly the shining jewels of that race, either - black, white, hispanic, whatever. In others they shine as the future leaders of this country. Either way, different areas in the U.S. have different levels of achievers as well as stereotypes, and you can't expect all Americans to just go, "Oh, well, it doesn't matter what I've seen in my area then at all - I'm only seeing the small picture". They can only identify with that small picture if that's all they know. You've apparently had a nicer picture than some have, and that's great, but not everyone has been exposed to that same snapshot of America.

Originally Posted by SoFlaMom

WE'RE ALL THE SAME! We all love our children...

As a school teacher I'm surprised to see you type that. Surely over the years you've taught you've come to realize that it's a very unfortunate reality that not all parents do in fact love their children. Most school teachers see this first hand. Some children are so physically and/or mentally abused by their parents it's no wonder this last generation has elements within it that seem to be completely missing a part of the brain that tells them right from wrong.

Likewise, we are not "all the same", either. There isn't a scale large enough to measure the vast differences that families have regarding morals, thoughts, work ethics, love, religious faith (or not), etc. Each family and each person is different. Skin colors may be different but it goes beyond that and all humans are different from the inside out. We're taught in today's idealistic fantasy that we should all embrace each other, but if you could see inside the minds and lives of everyone around you, it's really quite amazing that we're not stoning each other in the streets, really. We should learn to be civil with each other and to treat others like we wish to be treated for sure, but no, we're not all alike, and no, not all children are loved unfortunately... otherwise most of our social problems would not exist.

[Love Cobb]

I don't think racial tension in metro Atlanta as a whole is as bad as it looks on this thread. I mean metro Atlanta is pretty much open terrriotry for most everyone who comes here. If you have the money you can move, shop, go to school pretty much where you want to. I believe segregation is economic more than racial in metro Atlanta. This is by no means to say that it is a utopia or that exclusionary practices do not exist, they do. I think most people are venting on unjustified prejudiced fears that they may have gotten from the media or as a result of their upbringing. No one on the thread has come forward with any real life experiences that would justify their condeming a whole gender and race of people. That in itself is a big mistake and will open them up to a life of racial profiling and paranoia. I'm happy to be in Marietta since 91 and raising 3 well adjusted children in a multi-cultural and diverse environment.

[afonega1]

Originally Posted by CountryGal05

Thank you so much! But what other city is close to Fort Valley? I would like to move in the house, but i dont want to be around that kind of enviroment. Is the other cities like that one?

I didn;t mean to suggest that things are bad there now.They used to be.I can't say for sure about actually living in the neighborhoods,Im only going by appearances and what i have heard others say.Everyone agrees that things have come a long way fast.When you talk to black and white ,people are proud of their town now.I would suggest driving around town,eat in the sqaure,talk to a few residents and see what the attitude is.I only go to visit during football games over the years,and.My Dad returned to work there as a Dean at the University now and he says he seen a difference almost day and night from when he graduated there in 1968.We left that area in the late 1980s.I went back after getting out of active duty Air Force in 1995 and finished my degree there In 1998.I stayed with my grandmother at her home in Perry.When I left things were just beginning to turn around. .I grew up in nearby Warner Robins and Perry in Houston County.Perry is a typical older southern city with old homes,But Warner Robins which is only 50years old does not have a downtown per se.It grew up around the huge Air Force BAse(Robins AFB).I think it is a wonderful place if you have a family and want to raise kids,but as a single person,it can be boring at times.About 50,000 people live in Warner Robins.Very fast growing city with beautiful neighborhoods,but not historic at all.Perry as about 13,000 and also growinig.It's like Fort Vallet,without the S.T.D. problem(lol)By the way i don't know how much of that S.t.D. problem is still prevalent.Then there is the biggest city in the area.Thats Macon.Macon has some beautiful old homes.I would definately recommend it but,the crime rate is high.If you keep your city senses about,you will be fine .The downtown area is really on the way up.I must warn you that some people have negative opinions of it.I myself like it.I will be by some investment properties in the near future.The city has been aggressive and successful at attracting new businesses to the area after a period of record job losses.

[pirate_lafitte]

Originally Posted by afonega1

I feel like I cannot allow you and others to speak of half truths.I have many things id like to say to back up your statements about Atlanta.Let me start off first by saying i am a strong believer in diversity as well as ethnic awareness and pride,and freedom to live and do as one pleases in this world.Atlanta has its tensions of race.We agree.What we do not agree on as to the level and the reality of how bad it is.That can be because most people do not agree to what and who it it relates to or even what racism is.One only needs to address history as to how things are in this spot.Here some factual points against your statements about Atlanta's "Too busy to Hate "phrase and according to you not owning up to there racial problems as yo say.1)Atlanta was called the City to busy to Hate because of the fact that throughout the period around the 1920's Atlanta growth really took off because mainly the leadership on both sides of the color line.People such Henry W.Grady whose coined the turn "New South".Also former mayor Ivan Allen Sr. with the Forward Atlanta campaign ,Willam B. Hartsfeild(fmr mayor)who with the urging of informal mayor of "Sweet Auburn"(the richest area for blacks in the U.S. at the time),to allow African-American to to began serving as Police officers.Years later when Martin L. King was to arrive from Memphis after being shot to the death,,unlike Birmingham,Detroit,L.A.,Chicago etc,rioting broke out,Atlanta leaders elite such as Mayor Ivan Allen jr,Robert Woodruff(Coca-Cola),got together in private and paid and arranged for his homecoming because of the racial tension there,and everywhere else they were also aware the world would have eyes on the the city so as to avoid any negative views.Also of note,that the Junior Allen Mayor, was also the only southern elected official to testify in favor of integration in front of congress at risk of alienation from his southern counterparts.Well before the 1964 civil rights acts was written ,most of Atlanta's business leaders got together with the Mayor and others in government and decided to integrate the restaurants and stores.Through a track record of working together with the goal of growing an economy the phrase came as a slogan.Not overnight,and certainly not without strife and tensions.2)What bombs in Atlanta are you referring to? The Olympic bombing?As i recall,it was in Montgomery at (at the King residence),Birmingham the 4 little girls at the 16 Street Baptist Church and countless other places in Mississippi and throughout Alabama.3)No city can hide from injustices because there is always someone somewhere who will uncover them.Atlanta has never been able too escape an image that is not all true to it.Atlanta by virtue of its location in the South AND also its own doing(negative history),is always seen other regions as no different than say a Birmingham,Jackson,New Orleans etc.This is one reason Atlanta's identity cannot be easily marketed.Yes it is part old south,yes it is liberal in civil rights for gays and blacks.Atlanta's particular model for affirmative -action was the model for the rest of the country.It allowed for several woman and minority companies to thrive to become today some of the largest minority owned business in America.Domestic partner benefits for city and county employees exist.They do not for Birmingham and other southern cities.My point is ,if you look at states such as Mississippi ,Alabama,South Carolina,Although they are growing companies and people are not moving there at the rate of Atlanta or even Georgia because the attitudes are among not all but too many people are still behind the world.In other words the situation of these areas are in proportion to the attitudes of that area.4)The majority of my friends are from every country,race and ethnicity.We hang out in public routinely.I can honestly say that they or I have never experienced any racial tension while in the city when we hang out.I am African-American I also have friends in majority wealthy black area of the Cascades and other wealthy black enclaves for African-Americans.These havens in most others cities do not exist.Most of them are from OUTSIDE the SOUTH.They are not prejudice but they like to feel like their culture and way of life is forefront rather than less the mainstream.Its just easier for some to live among those who have had the same journey.5)this may be slightly off topic but it does relate to perception vs. reality.Miami is very diverse however the tensions in Miami between different ethnicities are legendary and currently so.Yet because of Miami Beach people ignore the racism and prejudice the because of how the city is divided.A French friend of mine recently had a short stay in for 3months in North Miami Beach.The landlord told him that the area was becoming nicer because the black are being forced out.Miami although geographically speaking is in the South, is not culturally southern.They have had riots and skirmishes constantly.Here in Atlanta it is a matter of choice and most people don't care what you choose to do.Yes I know Atlanta has issues,but you must give credit where credit is due,fiction and half truths are totally misleading.

I'm just going from what I see and experience.

[CountryGal05]

Originally Posted by afonega1

I didn;t mean to suggest that things are bad there now.They used to be.I can't say for sure about actually living in the neighborhoods,Im only going by appearances and what i have heard others say.Everyone agrees that things have come a long way fast.When you talk to black and white ,people are proud of their town now.I would suggest driving around town,eat in the sqaure,talk to a few residents and see what the attitude is.I only go to visit during football games over the years,and.My Dad returned to work there as a Dean at the University now and he says he seen a difference almost day and night from when he graduated there in 1968.We left that area in the late 1980s.I went back after getting out of active duty Air Force in 1995 and finished my degree there In 1998.I stayed with my grandmother at her home in Perry.When I left things were just beginning to turn around. .I grew up in nearby Warner Robins and Perry in Houston County.Perry is a typical older southern city with old homes,But Warner Robins which is only 50years old does not have a downtown per se.It grew up around the huge Air Force BAse(Robins AFB).I think it is a wonderful place if you have a family and want to raise kids,but as a single person,it can be boring at times.About 50,000 people live in Warner Robins.Very fast growing city with beautiful neighborhoods,but not historic at all.Perry as about 13,000 and also growinig.It's like Fort Vallet,without the S.T.D. problem(lol)By the way i don't know how much of that S.t.D. problem is still prevalent.Then there is the biggest city in the area.Thats Macon.Macon has some beautiful old homes.I would definately recommend it but,the crime rate is high.If you keep your city senses about,you will be fine .The downtown area is really on the way up.I must warn you that some people have negative opinions of it.I myself like it.I will be by some investment properties in the near future.The city has been aggressive and successful at attracting new businesses to the area after a period of record job losses.

Well I still want to live in Fort Valley, just because of the house. I love that house. I have always wanted to live in a Plantation house and to be in Georgia!! omg i would love it. But i am single. I would come there probably by myself. But I jsut dont want to hang out with the people there if they have STD's haha i dont want no trouble! haha but i would like to find other cities there with like you know high paying jobs, nice people. I was also wondering...so do a lot of blacks live in fort valley in those historic houses?

[Georgia to Northeast PA]

"Skin colors may be different but it goes beyond that and all humans are different from the inside out." I am sure there are many others like you that believe this propaganda because for what ever reason we want to believe that we are either superior or inferior to other people but the truth is we are all the same because we come the same source. I am truely sorry that you and others are unable to see this and will spend this time we have on earth asleep.

[afonega1]

Originally Posted by CountryGal05

Well I still want to live in Fort Valley, just because of the house. I love that house. I have always wanted to live in a Plantation house and to be in Georgia!! omg i would love it. But i am single. I would come there probably by myself. But I jsut dont want to hang out with the people there if they have STD's haha i dont want no trouble! haha but i would like to find other cities there with like you know high paying jobs, nice people. I was also wondering...so do a lot of blacks live in fort valley in those historic houses?

Yeh...the STD thing would be a big turn off.lol.They had a poverty and drug problem,that was mostly in the poorer areas.Most people do not have them.At the time (10yrs ago),it was higher than the average.Im sure it has decreased alot with all the other positive changes.

Those old houses in the context of history are on the side of town where the influential whites live have always lived.Many of those families have died off,moved away,and some have learned to take it all in stride.There are some black families thier now.I think you will be fine.Most people are just happy the city is growing again after so many here in despair.You wont find many troublemakers of any race.You will spend most of you time in Macon,Perry,or Warner Robins because of lack of shopping and things to do in Fort Valley.There only 10-20minutes away.Fort Valley State University is a historically black university.I forgot to mention that before.That is what i meant by back in the day it was the University and the town.Now the 2 work together on so many projects.Its encouraging.I can see why you fell in love with Fort Valley.Those old homes are beautiful.So much attention to detail.Large porches and huge trees.If it were not closer to a big city like Atlanta,i'd buy one too.

[drkman]

Originally Posted by atlantagreg30127

Those young black kids who are gentle, well-spoken (which for the record are two words many blacks consider insulting to hear

Just curious as why you would think that those two words, to many black people, are insulting to hear? I have never heard anyone state they felt insulted if someone said that unless it was said with the implication that it was some kind of miracle. That is where the offense is at, not the words or description but how they are being used.

[Scraper Enthusiast]

Originally Posted by kayrob

It might alter your prespective if you had any acquaintances outside of the Klan.

How pathetic, your little snide remark is.

What is the truth? Are there very many white men dating or marrying a black female? No. The truth is, very few people even date outside their race. Why? They don't desire to, for the most part.

Use logic!!!!