Chicago for single black professionals, or nah? What say you? (Lincoln: condos, crime)

[beaniemac]

Originally Posted by sfcambridge

Agree. The North side is shockingly white.

30's black professional?

Oak Park.

Hyde Park.

Maybe... West loop, or South loop.... but not really.

evanston is diverse also right? I think theres a good number of black people there.

and yes I agree, that the northside is predominantly white. there's really no question about that anymore.

[coldwine]

Originally Posted by kxr203

Thanks for the input. I think $1300/month on rent would need to be the max. Being in the Northeast, sticker shock ain't an issue at all for me. Just a little background on myself: I'm 36, born and raised outside of NYC. Lived in the Philadelphia area for 12 years now, and have no interest of planting roots in or around Philadelphia. New York and North/Central Jersey are still options, but I wanna see what else is out there...in case cost of living, fatigue of the area, etc...become issues later on down the line.

I mean, let me put it to you this way:

Absolutely nothing here is ever going to be as bad as Philadelphia.

Chicago has a very distinct and very workable system of corruption. As a person of color, you will find it easy get by once you know the rules. They aren't any more complicated than what you would find in the northeast.

It is easier to avoid many of the things you already know to watch for than it is in many other parts of the country.

In a sense, your money will buy you much more safe space than it does in Philly. The downside is that Chicago is a city-state, and you will very much be a citizen of Chicago. Literally every block here is a world unto itself, but as soon as you leave... The potential for things to go very badly instantly rises by an order of magnitude.

But like I said, it's very workable. Chicago is a city that learned to a startling degree to take money from all hands without respect for their color. Just don't ever make the mistake of forgetting to fork over the cash when demanded, because they will shake you down hard.

[Atlanta_BD]

Originally Posted by kxr203

You're the first one that's said anything negative about CHI so far. Where are you at now...I'm guessing you're not even in Chicago anymore, right?

He's an Atlanta booster who hates Chicago who posts under many different names.

[Atlanta_BD]

Originally Posted by kxr203

Yes...Charlotte over Atlanta. Does that bother you? If you read my responses, you would've noticed I said I don't need to be in the "black mecca". Just something that is doable and decent for blacks. If I wanted the black mecca I would strictly be looking at ATL or DC. I also mentioned that I have no interest in ATL and that I ain't sure about DC.

A lot of Atlanta boosters pop into the Chicago forums to bash the Chicago--most of whom have never lived there. They want to believe that Atlanta is on the same level as Chicago but it's not. Not even close. Honestly I think they are jealous Atlanta isn't as awesome of a city as Chicago is.

Also, don't believe when people say there aren't a lot of black professionals in Chicago. There are lots. There are also blue collar blacks in Chicago who earn good salaries (and often own rental property in addition to their jobs), who are highly conscious and intelligent, and are overall doing well for themselves. A lot of black Chicagoans are also self-employed. Cook County, IL has more black-owned businesses than any other county in the country.

Being a black person from the Philly area who is single, don't move south. I am from Chicago and I have lived in Atlanta (hated it). Atlanta is no black mecca. Now I live in Dallas and I don't like it here either. Avoid the south at all costs!

[coldwine]

Originally Posted by Atlanta_BD

A lot of Atlanta boosters pop into the Chicago forums to bash the Chicago--most of whom have never lived there. They want to believe that Atlanta is on the same level as Chicago but it's not. Not even close. Honestly I think they are jealous Atlanta isn't as awesome of a city as Chicago is.

But Atlanta is an awesome city in its own right. I wouldn't knock it. I don't understand this particularly strange rival.

[Atlanta_BD]

Originally Posted by coldwine

But Atlanta is an awesome city in its own right. I wouldn't knock it. I don't understand this particularly strange rival.

I personally feel no rivalry between Atlanta and Chicago because they are completely different and are not alike in any way.

Lots of people love Atlanta and that's cool. I lived there for years and just didn't care for it. That's just my opinion, as Atlanta was not a good experience for me. I just didn't like the overall vibe or culture of the city.

[beaniemac]

Originally Posted by NealIRC

Kxr203, upper-class Black men don't tend to live in Black neighborhoods in Chicago as it turns out, the exception to this are Black police officers, and they (after probationary period) start off at $72,xxx a year.

At your age, I'm guessing you're not looking to find someone to have kids with, so you probably have a diverse dating pool.

Bronzeville is probably the most expensive Black neighborhood, and parts of east 71st street somewhere. Ask Beaniemac for the specifics.

If you are looking to have kids, Chicago needs more upper-class Black men.

both my wife and I are professional and make more than the figure you mentioned above. and we live in a predominantly black neighborhood. I don't think bronzeville is the most expensive black neighborhood. hyde park is. and after that is beverly. even though I don't think either of those neighborhoods is predominantly black. south shore in the historic jackson park highlands is also expensive as well.

[kxr203]

Originally Posted by coldwine

I mean, let me put it to you this way:

Absolutely nothing here is ever going to be as bad as Philadelphia.

Chicago has a very distinct and very workable system of corruption. As a person of color, you will find it easy get by once you know the rules. They aren't any more complicated than what you would find in the northeast.

It is easier to avoid many of the things you already know to watch for than it is in many other parts of the country.

In a sense, your money will buy you much more safe space than it does in Philly. The downside is that Chicago is a city-state, and you will very much be a citizen of Chicago. Literally every block here is a world unto itself, but as soon as you leave... The potential for things to go very badly instantly rises by an order of magnitude.

But like I said, it's very workable. Chicago is a city that learned to a startling degree to take money from all hands without respect for their color. Just don't ever make the mistake of forgetting to fork over the cash when demanded, because they will shake you down hard.

Not exactly sure of what to make of parts of this post...but, thanks anyway.

[kxr203]

Originally Posted by Atlanta_BD

A lot of Atlanta boosters pop into the Chicago forums to bash the Chicago--most of whom have never lived there. They want to believe that Atlanta is on the same level as Chicago but it's not. Not even close. Honestly I think they are jealous Atlanta isn't as awesome of a city as Chicago is.

Also, don't believe when people say there aren't a lot of black professionals in Chicago. There are lots. There are also blue collar blacks in Chicago who earn good salaries (and often own rental property in addition to their jobs), who are highly conscious and intelligent, and are overall doing well for themselves. A lot of black Chicagoans are also self-employed. Cook County, IL has more black-owned businesses than any other county in the country.

Being a black person from the Philly area who is single, don't move south. I am from Chicago and I have lived in Atlanta (hated it). Atlanta is no black mecca. Now I live in Dallas and I don't like it here either. Avoid the south at all costs!

You know what's funny to me? I noticed that too. Why are there so many in ATL that have an issue with CHI? I don't get it. Like I said before, Atlanta was never on my radar, and DC and DFW are falling off of my radar with every passing day, I swear. Charlotte is still a consideration at this point, regardless of what anybody from Atlanta thinks. Have you thought about moving back to Chicago? If not, where would you go? Atlanta didn't work for you, and it seems like Dallas ain't working either.

[Atlanta_BD]

Originally Posted by kxr203

You know what's funny to me? I noticed that too. Why are there so many in ATL that have an issue with CHI? I don't get it. Like I said before, Atlanta was never on my radar, and DC and DFW are falling off of my radar with every passing day, I swear. Charlotte is still a consideration at this point, regardless of what anybody from Atlanta thinks. Have you thought about moving back to Chicago? If not, where would you go? Atlanta didn't work for you, and it seems like Dallas ain't working either.

I would love to move back to Chicago. I'm hoping to transfer back with my current company. Seattle is also on my radar. The south is just NOT the business!

Atlantans like to claim that Atlanta is the New York or Chicago of the south. And those of us from those places are just like, "Nah, dude! Try again!" They don't like that we call them out on the comparison maybe. I don't know.