Black Professionals on the Northside of Chicago? (Decatur, Evanston: section 8, 2009)

[ERS-One]

Originally Posted by Lookout Kid

There are several places in Uptown and Rogers Park that cater almost exclusively to African Americans, but they certainly don't cater to professional African Americans... Places for professionals do exist on the South Side and South Suburbs, however.

Whoops, you're right. That's what I had meant to write.

[Ron.]

Good post,Lookout.

Originally Posted by Lookout Kid

Expanding on what Ron is saying about people wanting to live with "their own", there was a study done in Oak Park by an "ethnographer" from Temple University. In one of his writings about this integrated community, he points out that even though African Americans make up about 13% of the population of the United States, very few are comfortable living in communities that are 87% non-African American. He postulated that there was a threshold below which a minority group starts to feel uncomfortable, somwhere around 30%. Of course this is a TREMENDOUS generalization, but it's an interesting concept. If every community in the United States were perfectly integrated, every town would have demographics like this (taken from the 2006 Census estimates):

White: 80.1%
African American: 12.8%
Asian: 4.4%
Native American and Alaskan Native: 1.0%
Native Hawaian and Pacific Islander: 0.2%
Multi-racial: 1.6%
Hispanic or Latino (of any race): 14.8%

Note: The numbers don't add up to 100% because many Hispanics and Latinos identify themselves jointly as other races in addition to Hispanic or Latino.

Does this sound like any city you know of? Many minorities would be uncomfortable living in towns with these demographic proportions, even though this is a snapshot of the nation as a whole.

[Ron.]

I'm glad you understand my post. I realize I made a ton of typos in that post because I was typing so fast but thanks for overlooking those mistakes and understanding my point.



[quote=xenourtv;3855536]

Originally Posted by ChicagoRon

Look,I'm going to say this one more time, if you don't get it that's going to be your problem. I are speaking in terms of Diversity, all of which I said was a good point. The Op specifically stated Black Professionals, not diversity. If she had netion diversity in her post, you response what have been valid. She's not talking about different ethnic groups, she's talking about blacks. As a whole there ARE NOT large numbers of black professionals on the Northside.

I feel you, and I wish most people understand where you are coming from. This is coming from a black professional. I was raised in uptown and the Edgewater/roger park neighborhoods. For most of the 90's and even during the 2000's I really believed that the neighborhoods I mentioned were one of the few places in the north side where black professionals could mingle, socialize and get together. At least for myself it was great interacting with people of different ethnicities, but what I liked so much about growing up in those neighborhoods was the advice given to me from the many black professionals who lived near me and who I encountered routinely. They inspired me to always strive for success. Now with all this gentrification that is going on in uptown, Edgewater and roger park, I rarely see any black professionals.

Those neighborhoods will soon be carbon copies of LP, WP, and Lakeview. I would not be surprised in 10 years the entire north side would be concentrated with transplants and yuppies alike, the ones I met during those miserable times living in Lincoln Park and Lakeview.

Living in LP and LV kind of motivated me to move to a more progressive and dynamic city (the ATL). I thought living there would make me feel so above the world, and a sign that I made it. Instead most of my friends did not want to come over, and I just got tired of being the only black face wherever I went. I also felt I was losing myself. With 10 months left on my lease I was looking forward to the end of my lease. Unfortunately I was witnessing the neighborhoods a little up north changing to something I wanted to get away from so much. I literally had no other option…I had to leave my hometown.

As stated the original poster wants to interact with black professionals and there is nothing wrong with wanting to mingle with your own. Not once living in Atlanta did I not feel uncomfortable. It really is a great city for black people, but unfortunately it is too crowded, very competitive, and does not have the culture Chicago has. To the original poster it is going to be rare finding a hotspot for black folks in the north side, but if you find one let me know. Chicago will always be home, and I have been to the south and west side of town, but in reality I am north sider and I wish uptown, Edgewater and Rogers Park stayed the same. Now it is probably going to becoming another transient, trendy neighborhood. It is a shame that such a diverse city could be so segregated, and any integration among ethnicities is rare.

[Ron.]

LOL.....you sound upset!

Originally Posted by Drover

If it's not about diversity, then you shouldn't have brought up the issue of diversity. If you don't want to be called on it, don't talk about it.

[PRDivaX5]

Hi Everyone,

Thank you for your comments and insight. I just wanted to clarify -- though, not sure it is needed-- but I was asking specifically about where black professionals live, congregate, etc.

I am from NYC where black professionals abound and it is important to me to have an eclectic mix of friends (white, black, Asian, etc).

To that end, I have decided to focus my apartment search in Wicker Park, Bucktown and East Village. And will just have to work hard to make sure I am traveling to various parts of the city.

Thanks again for your insight.

Veronica

[oakparkdude]

Originally Posted by Lookout Kid

Expanding on what Ron is saying about people wanting to live with "their own", there was a study done in Oak Park by an "ethnographer" from Temple University. In one of his writings about this integrated community, he points out that even though African Americans make up about 13% of the population of the United States, very few are comfortable living in communities that are 87% non-African American. He postulated that there was a threshold below which a minority group starts to feel uncomfortable, somwhere around 30%. Of course this is a TREMENDOUS generalization, but it's an interesting concept. If every community in the United States were perfectly integrated, every town would have demographics like this (taken from the 2006 Census estimates):

White: 80.1%
African American: 12.8%
Asian: 4.4%
Native American and Alaskan Native: 1.0%
Native Hawaian and Pacific Islander: 0.2%
Multi-racial: 1.6%
Hispanic or Latino (of any race): 14.8%

Note: The numbers don't add up to 100% because many Hispanics and Latinos identify themselves jointly as other races in addition to Hispanic or Latino.

Does this sound like any city you know of? Many minorities would be uncomfortable living in towns with these demographic proportions, even though this is a snapshot of the nation as a whole.

Of course the tragic reality of race in America is that many whites would feel uncomfortable living in a city with these demographic proportions too, and would be absolutely petrified to live in a city with 30% minority population.

Perhaps these preferences explain why its so hard to have a stably integrated community. African-Americans avoid towns with a miniscule minority population, and whites flee towns once the minority population exceeds the "tipping point".

[sharkylittleton]

My story is the same but slightly different. I am an asian american transplant in Chicago. And really It's no different than the western suburbs I grew up in. I grew up around me being the token asian, and I'm used to all of this so when I decided to pack up and move to the city I knew EXACTLY what I was getting into. In my opinon, all of the neighborhoods I considered moving to are predominantly white including WP, LP, GC, RN, LV. Again, in my opinion, the minorities that do exist tend to stick together, or hang out in cliques. I for one dislike ethnic cliques and refuse to be a part of it. This is something I've seen all throughout my childhood, through high school, college, and to this day it has not changed. It does nothing about learning and understanding different cultures or the human condition. These cliques are created and formed naturally when a minority exists, they tend to embrace characteristics and qualities of their heritage. I understand the need and want to be with people of your own heritage. What I don't embrace is the one sided aspect that i find typical, and the purposefull denial of anyone not a part of that culture. Its almost like a mob mentality and taking a step back in time. So if your a progressive individual of a minority, you might find yourself in disbelief with the narrow minded tendencies of the small group of blacks, asians, indians, etc that do exist in these predominantly white neighborhoods. People, please take this with a grain of salt. This doesnt apply to all, and my point is heavily emphasized regarding the social scene. The OP needs to be aware of what she's getting into. If you do understand, as I did, you need to find your nitch. It's there, just you have to work harder. There is no way around this in which i've learned.

[BG0508]

Originally Posted by sharkylittleton

My story is the same but slightly different. I am an asian american transplant in Chicago. And really It's no different than the western suburbs I grew up in. I grew up around me being the token asian, and I'm used to all of this so when I decided to pack up and move to the city I knew EXACTLY what I was getting into. In my opinon, all of the neighborhoods I considered moving to are predominantly white including WP, LP, GC, RN, LV. Again, in my opinion, the minorities that do exist tend to stick together, or hang out in cliques. I for one dislike ethnic cliques and refuse to be a part of it. This is something I've seen all throughout my childhood, through high school, college, and to this day it has not changed. It does nothing about learning and understanding different cultures or the human condition. These cliques are created and formed naturally when a minority exists, they tend to embrace characteristics and qualities of their heritage. I understand the need and want to be with people of your own heritage. What I don't embrace is the one sided aspect that i find typical, and the purposefull denial of anyone not a part of that culture. Its almost like a mob mentality and taking a step back in time. So if your a progressive individual of a minority, you might find yourself in disbelief with the narrow minded tendencies of the small group of blacks, asians, indians, etc that do exist in these predominantly white neighborhoods. People, please take this with a grain of salt. This doesnt apply to all, and my point is heavily emphasized regarding the social scene. The OP needs to be aware of what she's getting into. If you do understand, as I did, you need to find your nitch. It's there, just you have to work harder. There is no way around this in which i've learned.

Well said, Sharky. I suppose it takes growing up in areas where you are literally "the diversity" to arrive at this conclusion.

I will be moving to Chicago soon and have already decided on the northside. I have never been the kind of person to "stay in my place," which is obviously the southside demographically speaking. I'm moving to Roscoe Village because it's reasonably safe, the schools are great (I have a preschooler), and I can afford it. Do most of the people I know live in Lakeview and Lincoln Park? Yep, and most of them are White. Am I going to move the southside just so that I can walk down the street and see other dark brown faces? That is not what is important to me. If it was, I wouldn't move to Chicago in the first place!

The simple truth is that, as a Black professional, finding a place that feels like home is going to be difficult. Some of us want and need to see faces like our own in the neighbourhood as well as the office, and I respect that. I have never needed that as much as others do. The more diversity, the better. I don't mean "color," as I live in a predominantly Hispanic area of the country now and I hate it because it is NOT diverse. I dislike Atlanta for the same reason. I also wouldn't move to an extremely White city or state because I would feel uncomfortable. Ethnic enclaves can be terribly stiflling.

This is what I ask Black professionals who complain (rightly) that there is no place for them: Why not MAKE one, wherever you are? Why not convince, say, 100 folks you know across the country to literally integrate a neighborhood, a block, a building? Start some businesses, demand services that you want and will pay for, raise test scores in schools, demonstrate that decent Black folks, just like other decent people, want to live out their lives in peace and prosperity. If some White people or others leave in protest, wave buh-bye and snatch up their properties. I guarantee you many more will stay or even migrate to this new oasis. Many people actually DO want diversity, they just don't want to feel unsafe in the midst of it. I can relate because there are certainly places I wouldn't live precisely because of the type of people who live there.

Atlanta didn't make itself and neither did NYC. Both of these cities have long traditions of racism and ethnic segregation that individuals had to overcome. It takes commitment and perseverance. You'd have to love the place you choose and work hard to shape it. If you love Chicago or a neighborhood in general I say there is a lot one can do to make it into the place one would feel comfortable in as a Black professional, and I think it'd be much easier to do on the northside than in a still gentrifying area if you have the cash. What kills me about Black folks (and any other people with a high level of complacency) is that THEY can do more to solve this problem. No one is going to hand it to them (us) and when we have recognized the simple truth of that statement, we have moved mountains. We didn't get this far in America by waiting around for someone else to solve our problems.

I'll get off the soapbox now. Great thread!

[Lookout Kid]

Originally Posted by BG0508

This is what I ask Black professionals who complain (rightly) that there is no place for them: Why not MAKE one, wherever you are? Why not convince, say, 100 folks you know across the country to literally integrate a neighborhood, a block, a building? Start some businesses, demand services that you want and will pay for, raise test scores in schools, demonstrate that decent Black folks, just like other decent people, want to live out their lives in peace and prosperity. If some White people or others leave in protest, wave buh-bye and snatch up their properties. I guarantee you many more will stay or even migrate to this new oasis. Many people actually DO want diversity, they just don't want to feel unsafe in the midst of it. I can relate because there are certainly places I wouldn't live precisely because of the type of people who live there.

I think the suburb of Homewood is a place where this has happened. There are many well-to-do African American families there, the crime is low, and the schools are good. Oak Park has many African-American professionals. I'm sure there are other pockets as well, but I'm not exactly an expert. However, these suburban options are geared more towards African-American families that are led by professionals. I get the feeling that the OP was looking for a trendy neighborhood in the city where younger professionals congregate. Its seems like neighborhoods like Bronzeville, Kenwood, and parts of Hyde Park may be leading this charge in the future, but they have a long way to go before the ammenities match the North Side.

[VDUB75]

Hello Veronica

Don't let anyone tell you that there aren't any black professionals in Chicago. Barack Obama lives right around the corner from me. We just typically don't live on the north side. It’s a segregated city, so is NYC at least from my perspective. After 5 o'clock it seems that many black people in NYC hustle uptown or cross back over the bridge to Brooklyn. Most of the black professionals in Chicago live on the south side. We typically live where we can get our hair did(done) and get soul food or jerk chicken, preferably at the same time. The young people on the North Side tend to be young white people from the burbs or rural towns throughout the Midwest. They move into the city for a few years, hit the bars, go to Cubs games, get married, and then move back to the burbs. Here are my top five areas for young black professionals.

1. South Loop (Almost downtown but not quite, enough diversity for everybody to feel comfortable)
2. Bronzeville/The Low End (rapidly being redeveloped will remind you of a baby Harlem, but of course there is only one Harlem).
3. West Loop (As Borat would say Niiice)
4. Hyde Park/Kenwood (Kind of lame, you will do most of your hanging out elsewhere. Near the University of Chicago)
5. South Shore (This is about as grimy as you want to get)

There are many nice neighborhoods throughout the city, but I wouldn't recommend them for a transplant.

Good Luck
VDUB