RACE QUESTIONS... The avoided "taboo" conversation... (Atlanta, North Atlanta: middle-class, neighborhoods)

[Psykomonkee]

My statement first: In my experience, I find that blacks and latinos (depending on where) are more likely to WELCOME different races into their 'kept' neighborhoods than whites and asians. My opinion.

*When I say "KEPT" neighborhoods, I am talking about when a neighborhood is identified as an all white area, all black area, all chinese area, all Italian area, all Polynesian area, etc...

The question: Who agrees and who disagrees with my statement?

###We can be honest and adult about this without getting upset and offended, right?###


The truth or falseness of my statement may vary depending on city, so that's something we can discuss.

[southgeorgia]

i disagree.


and you say "depending on where".

so the argument would have to be on specific places and not a generalization. so tell us what places you think they are more accepting and maybe we could share thoughts on that.

[Psykomonkee]

Uh... Well, in my experience, I would say so in general.

As far as where goes, I wouldn't say the same for Latinos in California. But then again, in my experience, it doesn't seem like ANY race welcomes other races into their kept neighborhoods in California.

Lets's start with Atlanta. Do you find that a black man is more welcome in an all white neighborhood in North Atlanta than a white man is welcome in an all black neigborhood in South Atlanta?

[aries4118]

Originally Posted by Psykomonkee

My statement first: In my experience, I find that blacks and latinos (depending on where) are more likely to WELCOME different races into their 'kept' neighborhoods than whites and asians. My opinion.

*When I say "KEPT" neighborhoods, I am talking about when a neighborhood is identified as an all white area, all black area, all chinese area, all Italian area, all Polynesian area, etc...

The question: Who agrees and who disagrees with my statement?

###We can be honest and adult about this without getting upset and offended, right?###


The truth or falseness of my statement may vary depending on city, so that's something we can discuss.

I agree and it's true.

(Now watch the tarantulas tear this thread apart...)

[southgeorgia]

i don't know.

i don't live in atlanta. but there are some places where all people get along, and some places where they don't; no matter their color.

i once got lost in the MLK corridor of atlanta and did not feel too welcome. it was a situation that almost got out of hand.

its not so much a race issue as it is a location issue. different areas have different mindsets.

[MidAtlanticNative]

You know, I just joined this forum about 10 seconds ago (really!) to do a little research on a few potential relocation options, but saw your post immediately and decided to respond.

In a word, 'yes'; I agree with you that many ethnic neighborhoods seem less exclusionary than some predominately white communities. Not sure why - I'm not a social or cultural anthropologist, so any theory I might posture could easily be shot down by someone with expertise. I will say though that I have had positive experiences in various Hispanic, Black, Asian, Russian and Italian enclaves on both the east and west coasts. Maybe it's all in the attitude of the visitor. Showing respect for and interest in a person's community and lifestyle is a simple approach that's appreciated by everyone, no matter where they may live. People pick up on those attitudes and react accordingly. Sounds like warm and fuzzy crap, but I believe it. Cynics, start your engines!

[Divine Shadow]

it's more about social class than it is about skin colour...

-a|ex

[aries4118]

Originally Posted by MidAtlanticNative

You know, I just joined this forum about 10 seconds ago (really!) to do a little research on a few potential relocation options, but saw your post immediately and decided to respond.

In a word, 'yes'; I agree with you that many ethnic neighborhoods seem less exclusionary than some predominately white communities. Not sure why - I'm not a social or cultural anthropologist, so any theory I might posture could easily be shot down by someone with expertise. I will say though that I have had positive experiences in various Hispanic, Black, Asian, Russian and Italian enclaves on both the east and west coasts. Maybe it's all in the attitude of the visitor. Showing respect for and interest in a person's community and lifestyle is a simple approach that's appreciated by everyone, no matter where they may live. People pick up on those attitudes and react accordingly. Sounds like warm and fuzzy crap, but I believe it. Cynics, start your engines!

Also, numerous studies (by anthropologists and sociologists) have shown that Whites (in general) prefer areas that are no more than 20% minority (especially when this minority is black+hispanic). Levels of up to 30% minority may be tolerated (in general). Once levels start going above 20%, the flyin' begins!

On the other hand, studies have shown that blacks (in general) prefer areas that are mixed-ethnicity/half+half...example 40-60% Black or White in either direction. But, as we can see, it' hard for communities to truly maintain this long-term.

Now you can see the issue...these two general notions of "ideal community make-up" don't mesh...


I've read a few studies that Latinos and Asians (in general) prefer to go where the whites are located (The Ideal American Dream Mentality).

[rcsteiner]

Originally Posted by Psykomonkee

My statement first: In my experience, I find that blacks and latinos (depending on where) are more likely to WELCOME different races into their 'kept' neighborhoods than whites and asians. My opinion.

*When I say "KEPT" neighborhoods, I am talking about when a neighborhood is identified as an all white area, all black area, all chinese area, all Italian area, all Polynesian area, etc...

The question: Who agrees and who disagrees with my statement?

This might be splitting hairs, but while there are majority black or white areas in Atlanta, I don't think anything like an all-latino, all-chinese, or all-Italian area exists in the Atlanta metro.

That said, I don't have an opinion because I have no real experience with the subject. I'm a white midwesterner living in a mixed middle-class subdivision here in South Cobb, and I came from a place which was certainly majority white but where suburban racial tensions were not overt at all ... some under-the-table tension existed, especially for older people, but nothing like what I've seen here in Atlanta, especially here on the C-D forums.

[aries4118]

Originally Posted by Divine Shadow

it's more about social class than it is about skin colour...

-a|ex

No.