Segregation

[afonega1]

Originally Posted by StPaulEastSider

Bob & Equinox :

Thx to both of you for a good discussion. I think Equinox's personal observations are something which should not be undervalued in this discussion.

The kids of today, they really do not have the hang ups we have, do they?

The singularly or few black students in a mostly white school really has been accepted since the 80s - that's probably not new. What Equinox writes rings true to me from my experiences, and from my husband's experiences. He was the only black guy in a Catholic Youth Group in South Georgia in the 80s and he still has life-long friends from those years, all white.

The fact white, and asian, students are doing well at the 98% black school in Dekalb where Equinox works, I think that really speaks to the kids of today. The kids of today are being raised in a multi-media culture which likely serves to break down all the real and imaginary boundaries which us older folks fear and perpetuate.

That's not to say the kids are not aware of, and mindful of, history. The day of Obama's Inauguration my 17-year-old said everyone in her class held their breath as soon as Obama finished saying his oath, she said they all thought if he was going to be assassinated that day, that's when it would likely happen.

They are mindful of history, but they are moving forward. And kids today, they know how to communicate, how to talk through problems and work out conflicts. If you take the time to REALLY listen to them you'll find they are wise beyond their years, far beyond their years. But it's a new world, the world of computers, text messaging, 24 hour news, social networking, on and on... If you have a teen, it's hard to keep up - I say that, and I LOVE technology.

Equinox, black goth kids? Really? Our 17yo daughter went through a goth/amine stage when she was in the mostly white suburban school. Her dad would remind her she's black, and "blacks are not goth". When we moved into St. Paul proper our daughter more fully embraced her black side, since she was in a school with more than one other black student for the first time in her life, and she dropped the goth stuff. Except for the black nail polish, which her dad rails against. Now I'll have to tell her dad black kids can be Goth. LoL this is going to be good. Actually, I don't know if she every really gave up the Goth, but she's thankfully not so "dark" these days. Having found Jesus she's now into radical Christianity and talks of living in a commune with other Christians... which irritates her dad as much as the Goth thing because he fears she is going to run off to the jungles to drink the koolaid! Methinks she just knows how to push her dad's buttons. We laugh a lot as a family ;-)

Teens, gotta love 'em!

+++++

Equinox, best wishes with your business interests. Rather than courting corporate hdqtrs, think "franchises". Also look up IDA Savings Account Programs, to help individuals launch a business. United Way of Metropolitan Atlanta - Youth Individual Development Account Program This link is for a program aimed at youth, other organizations can also be found to administer this program, check credit unions in your area. The rules are different from organization to organization, so the qualifications at the United Way Program IDA Savings Account will not be the same as a credit unions guidelines.

The IDA Savings Account Program is an account where money an individual saves, up to $1,333.33 is matched 3:1, so once the individual saves the thirteen hundred, he/she has $5,000 for his/her goal, which can be to start a business. A viable business plan has to be presented and approved and the money is only released to vendors. There are also IDA Account programs for home ownership and educational expenses.

I am going through "Neighborhood Development Center" in St. Paul to start up a business, they provide support for writing a business plan, getting financing and networking. A similar organization in your community could help to jump start the economy by supporting entrepreneurs with their start ups. Neighborhood Development Center (NDC) - St. Paul, Minnesota

The franchises will give a "corporate face" to your community and will, hopefully, lead to big box retailers opening stores close by... prove that it's a viable community which can support the businesses, and the businesses will come.

Best wishes!

Funny !!Yeh i would have to take a picture of a black person in the "Goth" scene!!!and Koolaid?LOL.I hope not either!!LOL!!

[afonega1]

Personally as a black man who has lived and travel all over the world.I do not see Atlanta being any worse when it comes to race relations.Is it different?Yes.But not worse.(at least not in Atlanta)It is more outspoken in the South,just more hidden in other areas of the U.S.

[wennypoo]

Originally Posted by equinox63

Here's an example,

Make three lists:

1. Besides Grady (and maybe Lakeside), list the most evenly mixed Metro Atlanta high schools.

2. Then list the predominantly Black metro Atlanta high schools.

3. Then list the predominantly White metro Atlanta high schools.

I'd predict that the 2nd and 3rd lists would be FAR longer than the 1st...

Also, if you really want to make it interesting... map where those schools are located. I think you would start to see the pattern illustrating what i am talking about...

Why should Grady and "maybe" Lakeside be excluded from the list?

[equinox63]

Originally Posted by wennypoo

Why should Grady and "maybe" Lakeside be excluded from the list?

I was just saying that both schools seem to be pretty equitable racially... (at least in terms of blacks and whites).

Feel free to add them to the relatively evenly integrated schools list. The overall point was that (even including Grady and Lakeside in the racially diverse category,) schools that are predominantly only one race (over 80% white or black for example) would far outnumber schools with more even ratios of racial dynamics (like a Grady, or a Lakeside, or even a Druid Hills, etc.)

Initially this thread was a hotbed of debate until many of the opinions posted became more clarified based on people's perspectives, locations, and situations (as well as correcting my initial errors - like typing Dunwoody instead of Doraville). So now I know segregation in Atlanta (while it does exist) is not as cut and dry or as black and white (excuse the pun) as I initially thought.

However, I do still believe that the majority of metro Atlanta schools (as well as certain large regions and small pockets of metro Atlanta) are wildly segregated. Based on the commentary in this thread, some think that is a problem and others would not have it any other way... which I guess is okay... Several others just say that racial segregation is just a natural way of life and nothing can or should be done about it and that I should just be glad that I don't live elsewhere, where racial segregation is far, far worse...

[cherokeecc]

It's only as segregated as the residents want it to be and you can't force them to become more intermingled than any one race wants, that's the beauty of being in America. We buy/rent homes in the neighborhoods we want to live in. Every one does their own research to determine if it's an area they want to live. As far as the income levels you live where you can afford to live...