I want to move to the south....is Charlotte the city for me?? (Raleigh: apartment, new home)

[tetrust7]

Even though I am African American, I am not necessarily looking to move to a black community. I will make my decision based on the job market, school system and overall affordability. It is just important for me to know if that if my search leads me to a predominately black neighborhood my self and my son won’t be view negatively for living there. I encounter that way too much in the NE and to be honest I am sick of it. Which happens to be part of the reason we are moving. I can’t wait to start checking out the zip codes you just listed!! Thanks.

[lovesMountains]

Originally Posted by brri

No. That's not the case. There are many predominantely black areas, or subdivisions ( I live in such one) which are not dangerous. Though some predominately black areas are in fact high crime areas it is primarily the result of it being low income and Not because it is predominiately black. I don't think the poster meant it the way it sounded.

No, I did not mean it that way, thanks for understanding

Here is my point, in Charlotte, (and I know some of you reading this for the umpteen time will be bored, but it bears repeating to help newcomers understand life here) we do not segregate ourselved by race the way older cities like maybe New York or Chicago have.

In Charlotte, blacks, whites, asians, latino's, we all live together based on our income.

The only "color" that really matters in Charlotte is green.

Your shade of green determines where you are able to live. It also indicates what shared interests and values you might have. For instance, I am not green enough to live in a golf course neighborhood. My neighbors and I tend to share an interest in the neighborhood pool or growing gardens in our backyards instead.

Unfortunately the majority of predominantly black areas are made up of mostly low income people, people on fixed incomes, people on welfare. This is not in any way to malign black people, I am just stating the reality of what is. My middle class black friends live where other middle class people live - even they say there would be no way they would live in certain parts of Charlotte. Even though they might look like they fit in in the predominantly black areas just because of their skin color, in reality their education and middle class status make them uncomfortable in those areas. It is a sad fact of life that poverty and high crime areas often go hand in hand.

So in short, what I am saying is this, don't come to Charlotte thinking you will find middle class black neighborhoods - we don't have that too much anymore. What we have here are just middle and upper middle class neighborhoods (not to mention our rich neighborhhoods). This is good news I think - that here in the south most of us try to look beyond the color of a person's skin and accept our neighbors for the values we share instead.

[cydena]

that last paragraph lovesmountains, well said, hopefully what's going on in Charlotte can spread throughout the rest of the south, because in my home town in NC and in neighboring towns' neighborhoods are still divided by race

[cydena]

Thanks everybody for the feedback and please keep them coming, but lets not make this an issue of race please. All I want is information on neighborhoods were I can find a nice, affordable apartment, where I can look across the street and see white, black, mexican, jamaican, puerto rican, and etc. I dont want to go to a neighborhood were people are going to assume that I'm black and automatically I am stereotyped as being impoverished and come from a welfare home. I love my people and I want to be around them and other cultures as well. And I am sure that there are neighborhoods with successful, black families, that live in neighborhoods that is predominantley black. I just can't see that all the black neighborhoods are considered ghetto (short from what is being said). Even here in NY, I live in a nice, middle class area in Queens that is atleast 98% black. The homes are nice and the people are making a living pretty well, even though NY is very expensive; and the area has no different danger that can happen anywhere else. And when I was growing up in NC, I've seen similar neighborhoods too. I am sure that they exist in Charlotte, from what I am told by family and friends I meet from Charlotte it does. You have to experience before you judge. You can't assume that all black neighborhoods are the same.

[brri]

Charlotte does have majority black middle class areas. Quite a few considering from where I grew up, in the NE. However, these "areas" lie within larger areas and are mostly subdivisions. Remember, Charlotte is a very large geographically (245 square miles)therefore a 'neighborhood' of Charlotte can be much larger in area than what folks from the NE are accustomed to. So yes, as Lovemountains said, there are no majority black middle class "areas" (as in whole sides or districts of Charlotte)) but there are plenty of small communities in various parts of the city that are middle-class and predominately black.
I'm not trying to steer anyone toward a predominantly black area. Just pointing out what I have personally seen when we were house hunting and since we moved here 2 years ago.

[stmaarten]

[quote=cydena;1189321]Thanks everybody for the feedback and please keep them coming, but lets not make this an issue of race please.QUOTE]

No offense, cydena, but when you stated:"...I want the area to be a mix, but predominantly black..." you kinda made it a race issue yourself. (JMHO) That's why I asked, in my post, why a white neighborhood would be out of the question.
I'm sure you'll find something that will suit you just fine. Have no fear. Charlotte is a great city...for all colors! And, just as lovesmountains stated, how much "green" you have will determine where you can live.
Good Luck!

[lovesMountains]

Originally Posted by cydena

Thanks everybody for the feedback and please keep them coming, but lets not make this an issue of race please. All I want is information on neighborhoods were I can find a nice, affordable apartment, where I can look across the street and see white, black, mexican, jamaican, puerto rican, and etc. I dont want to go to a neighborhood were people are going to assume that I'm black and automatically I am stereotyped as being impoverished and come from a welfare home. I love my people and I want to be around them and other cultures as well. And I am sure that there are neighborhoods with successful, black families, that live in neighborhoods that is predominantley black. I just can't see that all the black neighborhoods are considered ghetto (short from what is being said). Even here in NY, I live in a nice, middle class area in Queens that is atleast 98% black. The homes are nice and the people are making a living pretty well, even though NY is very expensive; and the area has no different danger that can happen anywhere else. And when I was growing up in NC, I've seen similar neighborhoods too. I am sure that they exist in Charlotte, from what I am told by family and friends I meet from Charlotte it does. You have to experience before you judge. You can't assume that all black neighborhoods are the same.

I promise, I am not making any assumptions - I know there are many successful black people all over Charlotte, which means that the areas they live in are most likely very nice. But like Brri said, it's more like pockets of places not whole neighborhoods. Regardless, I am sure you will find your niche when you get here - you really are only limited by your bank acct, and we have neighorhoods that meet all levels of green. Welcome to Charlotte!

[lovesMountains]

Originally Posted by brri

Charlotte does have majority black middle class areas. Quite a few considering from where I grew up, in the NE. However, these "areas" lie within larger areas and are mostly subdivisions. Remember, Charlotte is a very large geographically (245 square miles)therefore a 'neighborhood' of Charlotte can be much larger in area than what folks from the NE are accustomed to. So yes, as Lovemountains said, there are no majority black middle class "areas" (as in whole sides or districts of Charlotte)) but there are plenty of small communities in various parts of the city that are middle-class and predominately black.
I'm not trying to steer anyone toward a predominantly black area. Just pointing out what I have personally seen when we were house hunting and since we moved here 2 years ago.

Well, I wouldn't say there are a majority at all, but regardless maybe you could list some specific areas to help her know where to begin looking?

[Dave O]

If you like NYC then you should stay.

[tetrust7]

Loves Mountains
I'm sorry that you are having to repeat something that has been explained here before, but as a newcomer I would like to thank you for taking the time to explain. It really helps to know that many communities are mixed. Sounds the city in general is all that I hoped it would be.

So am I correct in assuming that an apartment for $650.00 or more will put me a nice neighborhood?