Looking for majority white areas of the Metro (Atlanta, Sandy Springs: loan, new home)

[Lucario]

Originally Posted by Windu

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.

What?

[aries4118]

Originally Posted by RoslynHolcomb

Interesting straw man. Please don't put words in my mouth that I didn't say. It's rude and tacky...

[aries4118]

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.

African-American means people who can trace their ancestry to being African slaves or freemen prior to the American Civil War.

Someone who moved here recently from the West African country of Senegal would be Senegalese-American.

This should clarify your confusion (and contempt).

[aries4118]

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.

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.

Extremely good post and explanation!

[aries4118]

[quote=Sunil's Dad;6409329]

Originally Posted by wxjay

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.



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.




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.......

Sing it, Father of Sunil! Another great explanation and clarification. I wish more people would understand the distinct people/culture that is African-American.

A lot of people don't realize, Barack Obama is not African-American.

[aries4118]

Originally Posted by Sunil's Dad

What?

Yes, I didn't understand his point either...

[afonega1]

Originally Posted by Jeff Jarrett

Most Blacks also want to be around their own kind. There are many Blacks here on City-Data who when they move to a new city start threads asking people which part of town do most of the local Black population live in because that is most likely the neighborhood they are going to move to. So you might as well consider them to be full blown bigots as well for not wanting to live in areas that are not majority Black.

Actually you are not quite correct.Black people want access to their culture without being made to feel inferior or having to measure up to what the overall mainstream(meaning white).Living among the majority historically and culturally ,even though blacks and whites came to this country around the same time in mass numbers,they both have had the same yet very different upbringings.The word counter -culture comes to mind.African traditions merged with the traditions of the Europeans.We have a lot in common but also have plenty that is different.When you are a minority,by the very meaning of the word "minority",you are overshadowed most of the time by the majority.This is not a bad thing ,but all races and ethnic groups must hold on to there own traditions and customs before they loose themselves in negative ways by notions of inferiority.This is already happening in certain segments of the African-American community.As well as in the native American populations.

Not to mention its not likely anywhere that I know of that if a white person moves in a well to do or middle class neighborhood that they will be treated poorly.Now or in the past.Not saying NEVER but rarely. The difference is that you have many neighborhoods that still exist today that do not welcome black people and are vocal about it.KKK crosses on the yard or vandalism with racist graffiti on the cars and property.No i will not say i believe it the norm,but it is common especially in small rural towns.

Can't say I know why White people who generally want to be among themselves?Im not white so I guess I have to take someone at there word if they say they are not racist,but that said,if you are smart enough to know that all black people are not the same then what is the reason?The United States is a European based country with western ideas as it mantra.All races that live here that are nonwhite except that by just living here day to day.You cannot escape it.Blacks in America have the the ancient traditions of our African forefathers past down through generations,they are watered down fragments today that are reminders that like Europeans in America, we African Americans have much to be proud of and and our "ways" are therfore worthy of being celebrated and remembered in the way we worship,the foods we eat,the way we dress,our hairstyles,our languange without judgemental,glaring eyes,people too ignorant to except that we can all be good citizens and work toward a better country without sacrificing our unique cultural traditions to what is defined as now an addition to what is becoming soley American culture.So that said, what are whites escaping.Why do they want to be alone?Your culture is advance by being a in the majority.

You are partially correct when you stated that there quite a few blacks that are looking for majority black places to settle.Are they biggots?Maybe.I do'nt think the same standard applies.(im sure you will disagree,but hear me out and think about it).

Example:I have many black firnds from Canada.They love Atlanta because of the African American culture,history and experince that they cannot get in Canada.Most know little about African or Black history contrbutions world wide.Growing up they seem to not know where they should fit in.Someone says to you"you're different" and ask "why"? all your life.You be able to have answers.Does not make you anti-majority but its like leaving out important tales in a story about the history of how they came to be where they are or who they are.Yes I do know blacks that want to be by themselves but not because of bigitry.Bigot=A bigot is a person who is intolerant of opinions, lifestyles or identities differing from his or her own, and bigotry is the corresponding attitude or mindset. Bigot is often used as a pejorative term to describe a person who is obstinately devoted to prejudices, especially when these views are either challenged, or proven to be false or not universally applicable or acceptable.Black people cannot exscape such issues as they are an ingrained apart of the society in which we live.The only distinction really are class,age,sex.

Just a thought.Its in all our best interest to think about things before we make off the cuff remarks.This is what feeds racism,Dialogue and understanding tell the true stories behind peoples actions.If we really do believe that we are all equal,then we should conduct ourselves in a manner which makes this evident.

[afonega1]

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?

Its partially because white barbers do not have to learn how to cut black hair to make money.My barber is in a really nice shopping plaza.Its state of the art with 6 46in flat screen t.v.,surround sound,and it looks more like a really nice spa.It's owned by black people and most of their clients are black but I often see whites there as well.
Most of my white friends who are throughout my life are amused when i say i have to brush my hair even though to them it appears only to be very little.They rarely know what a fade is or "waves" are or how to get them.

[rcsteiner]

Originally Posted by aries4118

African-American means people who can trace their ancestry to being African slaves or freemen prior to the American Civil War.

Someone who moved here recently from the West African country of Senegal would be Senegalese-American.

This should clarify your confusion (and contempt).

I don't believe the US government agrees with that distinction (at least once the Senegalese person becomes a US citizen) -- they become an African-American at that point, and when one has to check a box on an employment form, it's the government whose definitions seem to matter the most.

[Lucario]

Originally Posted by rcsteiner

I don't believe the US government agrees with that distinction (at least once the Senegalese person becomes a US citizen) -- they become an African-American at that point, and when one has to check a box on an employment form, it's the government whose definitions seem to matter the most.

In the sense of official government statistics, yes, you are partially right. In reality, though, these people are simply African immigrants with American passports. The late, great percussionist Mor Thiam and his wife both came from Senegal. Their son, Aliaune Thiam, was born in Atlanta and raised both in the U.S. and Senegal. He is now known as pop star Akon. So is Akon an African American because he was born in the USA? Many US-born children of African immigrants identify with their parents' country and do not consider themselves African Americans, even though they may be seen as such by America in general and by their black peers. Others (like Barack Obama) do fully identify as African Americans. Are Mor Thiam and his wife African American? Is Akon? Akon pointedly still refers to himself as African and is often referred to in the press as a Senegalese-American.

As well, the government's racial classification system (while I agree that there should not even be one, it is both entrenched and necessary at this point) is still flawed.

One example: all people from Egypt, because they are from an Arabic-speaking country and "Arabs" are considered white (or at least Caucasian), are called white by the U.S. Government. Problem is, a large percentage of Egyptians (and, consequently, Egyptian Americans) are obviously black. Some have even sued the government because they do not want to be included in the "white" category. And before the government partially figured it out, all Hispanic/Latino people were called white. Sammy Davis Jr., Sammy Sosa, George Stanford Brown, Celia Cruz, Franklin Chang-Diaz, my own family and millions of other American citizens were quite bemused at this.........