Moving to south suburbs of Chicago (Cicero, Tinley Park: middle-class, private school, college)

[whitecollarboy]

Originally Posted by ajolotl

Wrong with parents paying more for the security of their kids. No. Should I?

Dechee: we're having a different conversation -- click back a page or two.

That's my point.

If you have African American's who are def middle class who moved into Homewood, Flossmoor, and Olympia Fields in hopes of providing their children with a better education and chance at life as well.

But, now some of the neighbors are taken it like... and are moving or sending their children to private schools due to the influx of minorities in the school.

THATS THE PROBLEM I HAVE...I have seen it time and time again. My own mother who is WHITE hears these conversations and it hurts her feelings. Because, we're biracial and she knows the truth. There are people who do not want their children tainted. She's told us time and time again that she refuses to move. She thinks its stupid because, the neighborhood hasn't change and several of her girlfriends have moved from Homewood to Orland Park, and Monee. Clearly........they are moving to these "Lily," towns for a reason.

[ajolotl]

If you are saying that white flight is a problem, I certainly agree. If you are saying there is absolutely no valid justification for it .. I don't see it that way. I think it is a mixture of rational thought processes with a degree of fear born in some cases out of false stereotypes and wildly exaggerated notions of what blacks are like. I don't "agree" with it, but I have no right to be on a high horse judging anybody for the fears that cause them to leave. They are not completely without justification, even if they are self-fulfilling.

Pokerplayer has made a good point on this forum, though -- one that I have witnessed first hand many times. Many successful, earnest, hard working, middle class blacks aren't too far removed from the ghetto lifestyle. In Woodlawn we have good neighbors who have the most unsavory relatives. I dread the holiday bbq in the courtyard, am sure not to be around that weekend.

[whitecollarboy]

Originally Posted by ajolotl

If you are saying that white flight is a problem, I certainly agree. If you are saying there is absolutely no valid justification for it .. I don't see it that way. I think it is a mixture of rational thought processes with a degree of fear born in some cases out of false stereotypes and wildly exaggerated notions of what blacks are like. I don't "agree" with it, but I have no right to be on a high horse judging anybody for the fears that cause them to leave. They are not completely without justification, even if they are self-fulfilling.

I didn't judge. I said it's not right and there is a problem with that...I am a product of BOTH worlds.

[ajolotl]

Not sure how old you are, but when you actually borrow and lay down the hundreds of thousands of dollars for a property ... it changes you. For many people dramatic depreciation brought on by blight is the difference between a comfortable retirement and working at 7-11 till age 80. Call them paranoid, but better that than the last idiot standing in the new Englewood. In many ways, you HAVE to play it safe.

I have to be honest that some of my willingness to live on the fringes comes from having huge equity in my properties. If they went to zero, it would suck, but it wouldn't change my retirement date. I have no right to judge anyone in a tougher position.

[whitecollarboy]

Originally Posted by ajolotl

when you actually borrow and lay down the hundreds of thousands of dollars for a property ... it changes you.

This is true. I understand this completely. I just don't get why they can't attempt to stern up the rules some. There has to be a way to "protect," your community to some degree. Especially, in the burbs - more land to do so...

[ajolotl]

who is "they"?

Originally Posted by whitecollarboy

This is true. I understand this completely. I just don't get why they can't attempt to stern up the rules some. There has to be a way to "protect," your community to some degree. Especially, in the burbs - more land to do so...

[deechee]

Originally Posted by ajolotl

Wrong with parents paying more for the security of their kids. No. Should I?

Dechee: we're having a different conversation -- click back a page or two.

Oh, lol, now I feel stupid.

[Humboldt1]

I assume by "they" you mean the ruling class, those who pay taxes vs those who are net beneficiaries of tax dollars, which is most of the working poor and welfare class.

Buppies don't want to live around ghetto blacks anymore than white yuppies.

Most blacks I work with HATE hip hop ghetto culture and do everything they can to prevent their kids from acting and dressing like clowns.

[FleeTheRustBelt]

Originally Posted by deechee

.......and?

And it shows that there just aren't that many white families with children in that area anymore, for whatever reason. Also that black families are starting to avoid the public schools around there as well.

[suburban_boy]

Originally Posted by belowground

country club hills, hazel crest....not that they are horrible, just lower income and different from Homewood/Flossmoor. I agree that you are going to find nicer towns next to lower income towns all around the suburbs, so it's not as big of a deal to me. She likes Crete because it is surrounded by country.

What is lower income to you? When I think of lower income, I think of anything below 40K and that might be pushing it. Country Club Hills median income is close to 70K (up from 57K in 2000) and Hazel Crest's is around 60K (50k in 2000) and Glenwood is close to 65k (53K in 2000).

If that's low income, you must have some very high standards. I'm asuming you make well over 6 figures?