Looking for majority white areas of the Metro (Atlanta: salons, hairstyles)

[FromCLTtoATL]

Well, the bottom line is this: Whether one's personal motives are benign and he or she simply feels more comfortable around other white people or the motives harbor something more unpleasant, any white person who moves to Atlanta and hopes to escape general and regular exposure to black people and black culture is going to wind up rather disappointed, I would think. (Unless they can find one of these white pockets, work in the neighborhood and NEVER leave).

Unless I stay in my house all day long (I live alone) or stay just on my small, mostly white, street and only white neighbors venture forth (there are both black and whites where I live), this white male is going to see a black person. Every single day. And I'm just fine with it. I hope some of these people become my friends. I'm a newbie, rather lonely and would welcome the friendship of anyone of any race or ethnicity.

[Lucario]

Originally Posted by atlantagreg30127

White people can't cut black hair?

My local Great Clips is in a predominately White area and they seem to only hire Black employees, yet, they know how to cut White hair. Why would White stylists not be able to cut Black hair?

Largely, no, they can't. Or they don't even want to try. In my 40+ years of experience, if I walked into a barbershop with a White clientele, I would be told by the barbers that they could not cut my hair. And yes, that has happened since I was a young child. I did once get a cut by an Italian woman who did a great job. But the men in the place were aghast that she would even let me in her chair.

Usually it's even more stark a separation for Black women.

[Lucario]

Originally Posted by DeaconJ

So only black people can learn to care for black hair? That's funny.

It's not that only blacks can do black hair; just that non-blacks usually don't show any inclination to want to do it. There are only two non-African American groups that have made real inroads in black hair care in America; Dominicans and West Africans (principally Senegalese). Both are black ethnic groups; the Dominicans are very good with straightened hair, and the West Africans usually concentrate on braids and locks. You will find on this very forum that many black American women prefer Dominican stylists. In Georgia, for instance, lots of Dominican women have done very well in the past few years when they set up salons.

[RoslynHolcomb]

Originally Posted by DeaconJ

So only black people can learn to care for black hair? That's funny.

Interesting straw man. Please don't put words in my mouth that I didn't say. It's rude and tacky. I didn't say that only black people can care for black hair. I said that black hair care is not taught in beauty schools, and most white stylists aren't interested in learning. Most black stylists learn on the job as there is nowhere else for them to learn.

[wxjay]

Originally Posted by Sunil's Dad

It's not that only blacks can do black hair; just that non-blacks usually don't show any inclination to want to do it. There are only two non-African American groups that have made real inroads in black hair care in America; Dominicans and West Africans (principally Senegalese).

West Africans are not African Americans? I don't understand that... I guess I could see if someone was from northern Africa like Egypt or Libya, where is more Arab than what we consider Africans (i.e., black). But people from the West Coast of Africa appear to fit the definition of African American, at least as far as I know it. But I am not an expert on the definition of course.

Secondly, regarding white vs. black haircutting, as a white male, I have received frowns when stepping into a barbershop that is predominantly (but not completely) serviced by black barbers. In my experience, some black barbers have no idea how to cut "European" hair, as I was told once in a shop. So the knife cuts both ways.

[Lucario]

Originally Posted by wxjay

West Africans are not African Americans? I don't understand that... I guess I could see if someone was from northern Africa like Egypt or Libya, where is more Arab than what we consider Africans (i.e., black). But people from the West Coast of Africa appear to fit the definition of African American, at least as far as I know it. But I am not an expert on the definition of course.

Secondly, regarding white vs. black haircutting, as a white male, I have received frowns when stepping into a barbershop that is predominantly (but not completely) serviced by black barbers. In my experience, some black barbers have no idea how to cut "European" hair, as I was told once in a shop. So the knife cuts both ways.

No, West Africans are not African Americans. Are French, British or Italian people European Americans, or white Americans? No. West Africans are people from Africa. African Americans are American born people descended from African slaves. If you are of African roots from somewhere else in the world (such as Dominican or Senegalese, for example), you are black, but not African American, which is a distinctive culture all its own.

As for the second part of your post, black barbers have been cutting white hair for centuries. In barber school, you are taught to cut white hair from the beginning. And I didn't really cite any perceived or real problems white men might have in getting haircuts, because you can literally go to any city in America and get one. We can't do that. There is a difference between a white man not being able to get a haircut in a black salon and a black man not being able to get a haircut at all because there are no black salons. Our choices are far more limited. It is simple demographics.

[wxjay]

Originally Posted by Sunil's Dad

No, West Africans are not African Americans. Are French, British or Italian people European Americans, or white Americans? No. West Africans are people from Africa. African Americans are American born people descended from African slaves. If you are of African roots from somewhere else in the world (such as Dominican or Senegalese, for example), you are black, but not African American, which is a distinctive culture all its own.

I think once you become a citizen of the US, you are an American. I don't particularly like white, black, African, or European to be used as a prefix for citizenship in this country. Sure, you can have a heritage and a culture for your family, but in terms of a citizenship, it's not necessary. We're all Americans.

As for the second part of your post, black barbers have been cutting white hair for centuries. In barber school, you are taught to cut white hair from the beginning. And I didn't really cite any perceived or real problems white men might have in getting haircuts, because you can literally go to any city in America and get one. We can't do that.

Well, I shared my experience with some barbers. Certainly you have had your experiences as well. However, I question your last statement here. Where I grew up (RI), while the black population is less than here in GA, I frequently saw black patrons in barbershops having their hair cut by white men/women. So, I think that, like other aspects of life, if you live in a large populated area of the country, there are resources available from multiple cultures and races. As another example, I wouldn't expect to be able to go to some small rural town in Texas and go up to the local diner and order a Triple Mocha Cappuccino Grande with a chocolate chip scone either.

[Lucario]

[quote=wxjay;6408959]

I think once you become a citizen of the US, you are an American. I don't particularly like white, black, African, or European to be used as a prefix for citizenship in this country. Sure, you can have a heritage and a culture for your family, but in terms of a citizenship, it's not necessary. We're all Americans.

That's great and everything, but it still has nothing to do with culture. I am not using African American as a term of citizenship; even when I am asked what my "nationality" is, I always say "American." My race (black, or African), or ethnic background (African American/Latino) or heritage (Haitian/Cuban/American) or ancestry (African/French/Canary Islander/Chinese) are different things altogether.

I lived in Japan for a while. No matter how much time I spent there, or how much of the language I learned, I would have never been able to become Japanese. Even if I gained citizenship. Same with being African American. Even though the African American culture is much more inclusive than most (Barack Obama, for instance, sees himself as African American and is seen by most of black America as one of "us"), neither a black African person born outside of the US nor a white person from Africa (ie. Charlize Theron) who is a US citizen, is African American. They can be Africans who are American citizens, but they cannot be African American.

Well, I shared my experience with some barbers. Certainly you have had your experiences as well. However, I question your last statement here. Where I grew up (RI), while the black population is less than here in GA, I frequently saw black patrons in barbershops having their hair cut by white men/women.

Where I grew up, in Chicago and outside Philadelphia (which I do know are two of the most segregated places in America), I NEVER saw this.

So, I think that, like other aspects of life, if you live in a large populated area of the country, there are resources available from multiple cultures and races. As another example, I wouldn't expect to be able to go to some small rural town in Texas and go up to the local diner and order a Triple Mocha Cappuccino Grande with a chocolate chip scone either.

I think this reference is a bit of an esoteric stretch away from the discussion of something as basic and fundamental as access to a barber.......

[inyo55]

Afonega1, Ok, good answer. Where in the counties adjacent to Fulton are the best suburbs in terms of neighborhoods kept up by their owners (predominately homeowner neighborhoods). Neighborhoods where graffiti is absent, where parents know what their kids are doing and are involved in the public schools? Age of the neighborhood is not a factor.

[Windu]

Originally Posted by Sunil's Dad

Even though the African American culture is much more inclusive than most (Barack Obama, for instance, sees himself as African American and is seen by most of black America as one of "us"), neither a black African person born outside of the US nor a white person from Africa (ie. Charlize Theron) who is a US citizen, is African American. They can be Africans who are American citizens, but they cannot be African American.

Wow. Did my copy of the official definition get lost in the mail? See, now I'm pissed. I missed the vote on who is and isn't an African American and everything. I wonder if I made the cut. They didn't use the paper bag test or anything did they? I'd sure hate to have to tell my wife I'm white now.