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I lived in Houston a while back and the no zoning was really interesting to me. There are few places where you will see a shoe box next to a mcmansion. Granted it was several years ago, but I thought Houston was one of the least integrated cities that I lived in. People kept to their own group. On the boards, it appears that it has changed. There was a level of snobbiness that competed with the elite West and East coast and a lot of old oil money. The wealthy areas within Houston break off and form their own town with gates and security. The burbs where snobby as well, it is Sprang (spelled Spring) do not say Sprang. Having said that it was dirt cheap, good food and most of the people I met were nice. Although, you would see the confederate flag on lots of pick up trucks but most of the time people are harmless. It was really spread out, I never felt like I lived in the city but had access to a lot of things.
Good Luck.
Quote:
Originally Posted by atariwhizkid
I don't know anything about the segregation of Houston, though I'd imagine it falls along socioeconomic levels like everywhere else. I do know that from a development standpoint, they are miles ahead of Baltimore and almost every other eastern city, as it has no zoning law and it's very easy to start a business there. I heard that it takes less than a day to incorporate a new business in Houston, and all permits can be received in one office. God knows how many Baltimore bureaucrat asses you must kiss to get a new business started here.
Location: In the basket with the other deplorables
130 posts, read 386,867 times
Reputation: 216
To the OP, thank you for your honesty. I have never been to Baltimore, but I was considering applying to Univ of Maryland for pharmacy school next year. I will possibly be rethinking that choice because I know I will not be able to afford to live anywhere "nice" until I finish school.
As a Black female, I really do appreciate your assessment. I dont see a whole lot wrong with it. I live in NE Las Vegas right now and I relate to alot of what you have said and see it in my own city. I am often shocked by what people deem to accept as normal. I often find it embarassing that I might possibly be linked to this class of people because of my skin color. It sucks that I have to overcompensate and "smile real big", so I wont be seen as surly. However, it is what it is. If you think that certain classes of Blacks are only "surly, piggish, disrespectful..." to only whites, you are wrong. This kind of attitude is spewed to anyone within their radar, personally I find it sad and depressing. I cannot wait to leave Las Vegas at this point.
I have zero tolerance for racial ignorance (I'm from L.A.) and I find that quite a bit here in NE Vegas, from black to white. My current partner is white and although I can ignore it, I still find it ridiculous at times to deal with. So, I just wanted to thank you for the honesty and I will keep it in mind when applying to PharmD schools.
I would have to whole-heartedly agree with Sibelian on many of the points offered. Although I don't know why this person chose a black person as their partner after being bombarded with so many of the low-class blacks of Baltimore City.
Also, why is it everytime non-low-class blacks on why so many of their kind are so annoying in places like Baltimore City they sit back and enable it! Stop! Why? Because your all the same race?! I don't see upper class white people love low-class white trash.
Stop sitting back and enabling it. It's inexcusable. All of the snotty, loud, ignorant low class blacks in that city? It's ridiculous to sit back and make up excuses just because your all the same race. This is part of the "stop snitching" fad that was so popular when I lived there.
How stupid can you get? Non-thug blacks in lower class neighborhoods would not report crimes that are happening right in their face! You know guys, there is such a thing as making an anonymous phone call from the comfort of your own house. I don't think these people have a see-through house so what's the deal?
Also, I've heard at least one person play the slave card. Don't even bother. It's tiresome. And I'm not one of these "politically correct" Liberals who will just not speak their mind because it's not "polite'.
Here's another thing about me. I am a native of Baltimore and had the misfortune of going to a mostly black Baltimore City public highschool. I know first hand how annoying they can be. That was actually one of my main reasons for leaving the Baltimore area.
I'm the O.P. I haven't been on this forum in a while, so it took me a little while to read all of the comments here since I last posted something.
To isisosiris: my partner and I predate our residency in Baltimore. We met a long time ago on the west coast.
We're now in Houston, and I have to say: it's great. A wonderful place. The people are nice, super friendly, open, accepting. I wouldn't go back to Baltimore for triple my salary.
To queenvic: consider coming here for pharmacy school. The Texas Medical Center is probably the greatest collection of medical institutions in the world, and there are lots of jobs. I work with PharmD's every day. No one should have to put up with attitude, day in and day out. I got out ... you can too. Best of luck.
I'm the O.P. I haven't been on this forum in a while, so it took me a little while to read all of the comments here since I last posted something.
To isisosiris: my partner and I predate our residency in Baltimore. We met a long time ago on the west coast.
We're now in Houston, and I have to say: it's great. A wonderful place. The people are nice, super friendly, open, accepting. I wouldn't go back to Baltimore for triple my salary.
To queenvic: consider coming here for pharmacy school. The Texas Medical Center is probably the greatest collection of medical institutions in the world, and there are lots of jobs. I work with PharmD's every day. No one should have to put up with attitude, day in and day out. I got out ... you can too. Best of luck.
Glad you are enjoying Houston. I'm orginally from Houston and miss it sometimes. I really do think it is an underated city, and has many great areas for families. I wouldv'e figured you would have moved to DC though. It's not too far and has many of the world class cultural options that Baltimore doesn't.
I know that this is an old thread and no one will read my post, but I'm the one looking for a colorful neighborhood on another thread.
I look very ethnic--people expect me to barbeque a goat if that gives you any indication--and that has created distance in some small towns I've lived in (husband was military). I'm probably over educated. I grew up in Boston, have lived in Portland OR, DC, SF, Tucson...and just came back from 6 months in Buenos Aires where I was volunteering in a 'disadvantaged' area (that my friends who had visited the city never knew existed). Knowing that I probably would find another volunteering gig, my husband held out Baltimore, a city I have spent many weeks at a time consulting in over many years. Granted that is not living here, but we are renting and looking for a home as we get to know the city.
But this is what I want to say: Everyone I strike up a conversation with ends up talking to me. I'm volunteering at a school where only four of us are white with 2nd to 6th graders and they tease us and share their ideas with us. Oddly, one of the volunteers has never been on a Baltimore bus while since July I had only taken my car out once until this volunteering began because I take public transportation (all types). More of my friends in BA were assaulted than in any other city I've ever lived. I've only feared for my safety in Madison Wisconsin and Iowa City. When I go to a party across the hall and I'm the only white woman it's just a point of interest (as it was to be the one with poor Spanish in BA). I knew what parts of each of the cities I've lived in to avoid (from talking to people in the old days and reading forums like this now). I try never to live in fear but to act safely. And smile and say hey. In BA I really learned about having absolutely nothing of value on my person apparent and I think that any time a society is economically divided this becomes a good safety rule. My husband's colleagues think that he is nuts for having moved here for me, but I like the sandpaper finish and the quirkiness and for some reason, the friendliness of the people I meet. Maybe it is because my quirkiness and olive skin don't stand out so much. Maybe it's because I've been lucky, but then I've been lucky doing risky things (in other people's eyes) in other cities because of that fearlessness. And I'm pass AARP age, so it's not youthful folly. I'm volunteering because I want to contribute something on a small scale to those people who will be around when I'm in an even older demographic. I love all those cities I've lived in. This one is just the kookiest. Seriously the only rudeness I've encountered is from one of the volunteers who told me that what mattered here was where I went to high school (hint hint). I love Houston too, BTW, but it has a different tension. Everplace does. I'm guessing that, for example, the religious intolerance I've experienced just doesn't show on the surface--but it's still bigotry and it still comes at me in daggers in many small towns if I don't lie about my beliefs. I'm not trying to be a pollyanna, but I think we need to become one with wherever we are. The most racist place I ever lived was Green Bay...and the only AA were Packers, and some Oneidas and that was about it for minorities. I was flabbergasted at things people said about the athletes...but I still pushed to be part of my place without losing my self and it just took more time.
So, even after this extraordinarily depressing read, I'm still going out with the realtor tomorrow, with hope. And not only because it is cheap and easy to fly to Boston (my family) and Memphis (his) but because I want to be here.
I'll check back in after we find a neighborhood and after, oh I forgot my husband already had his car broken into.
I think that on an anonymous forum, most members both black and white, feel they need to provide a disclaimer before they say what they have to say. I'm black. Being that as it may, I'm expected to disagree with the OP. But I don't, at least not entirely. I don't want to throw my race under the bus so to speak, but some of us (blacks) in this city leave much to be desired and there isn't much I can say to excuse the deplorable behavior exhibited by too many of us. It is truly embarrassing, and I personally hate being lumped in the category of rude, ignorant, insensitive blacks who prevail in some of the city's more economically depressed neighborhoods just because an outsider sees me and that's his immediate assumption.
While there are plenty of us who are hard working, educated, respectful, good people, unfortunately there are not enough of us in Baltimore to balance the perception. To the OP, sorry you had a bad experience here. A lot of good does come out of Baltimore, and there are a lot of good people here who are black, white, latino, etc. It might not help offset the negative experiences you've had, unfortunately, so I hope you find happiness in wherever you plan to move next.
I'm Black as well and agree with and have experienced much of what the OP is referring to in NYC, Baltimore, DC and Rochester, NY. It's really sad how civility has crumbled in the black community. Which is more perplexing when you consider how many churches there are in black areas.
Actually, I've spent a great deal of time thinking about this issue. When I mentioned to my mom that I would probably go through with the purchase, she was fearful for me (LOL, and I'm initially from NY). Baltimore must be bad if even New Yorkers are fearful!!
Obviously, my decision not to purchase in Baltimore was based on a number of important factors...Citi data merely confirmed what I had been thinking all along.
Now to answer your question, yes, I'm college educated.
I lived in the South Bronx for 7 years and it was a cake walk. I mean even the drug dealers around my building were polite.
NYC is a lot calmer crime wise than before. I remember reading in the Times a while back how foreign blacks and their children outnumber American blacks in NYC. I think that is a small part of the reason NYC's crime went down.
I lived in the South Bronx for 7 years and it was a cake walk. I mean even the drug dealers around my building were polite.
NYC is a lot calmer crime wise than before. I remember reading in the Times a while back how foreign blacks and their children outnumber American blacks in NYC. I think that is a small part of the reason NYC's crime went down.
Funny that you mention that. One of my co-workers is Nigerian. He tells me emphatically that other than their skin color, African blacks and American Blacks have very little in common culturally. He is terrified to drive through some of the rougher black neighborhoods in Baltimore and takes the freeway instead, even if it takes longer.
Baltimore Maryland!!! I applaud thee! But no disrespect to you all, but I don't beleieve in racism, although I am black, coming from the city of Detroit. Baltimore is rich in history. Baltimore is by D.C! D.C!!! Baltimore is on ethat took part in the U.R.
-Detroit on the other hand, is the birthplace of cars, the automobile. Detroit is known as the motown district. Go to Motor City Casino folks. It's fantabulous. Go downtown at dark, it's bodacious. Have Respects because they boh still in Ameriica.
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I would have to whole-heartedly agree with Sibelian on many of the points offered. Although I don't know why this person chose a black person as their partner after being bombarded with so many of the low-class blacks of Baltimore City. 
moved here on purpose
Baltimore Vs. Detroit
