Racial Balance/Mixture Question. (Columbia, St. Andrews: lower-class, section 8, apartment)

[thechappells]

is there a racial issue within lexington county? we just moved here and the one thing we (my husband & i; we're an interracial couple)hear ALL THE TIME is how "progressive" lexington (i guess the town) is. that seems to be the buzzword around here.

[waccamatt]

I don't know of any particular racial tension in Lexington, but I wouldn't call it "progressive". Richland County is much more diverse and more liberal than Lexington County by a long shot.

[thechappells]

that's what i figured, but if it makes the folks feel better to say they're "progressive", then to each his own. we haven't encountered any racial tension (if it was there, i've ignored it), actually the opposite. almost like folks are bending over backwards to show how "progessive" they really are.

i guess that sounds a bit sarcastic, as i've met folks who are truly very nice and genuine.

[midwesterner7]

Wow, 2001 was how long ago? I think you are wrong about blacks being underpaid in state gov. There are rules/regs and salary schedules. I don't feel it is possible to base pay on color only. From my observations, there are always going to be those of any color/class with a chip on their shoulder who are always going to think someone is being treated better than them. There are a lot of ways to boost your self esteem. Attitude is everything! P.S., as far as the Columbia area, crime statistics pretty well tell the story here.

[Huckleberry3911948]

dont know colombia but for me its not bout mixing never was. its about getting some skills and a good job and getting into a better neighborhood, one where they are not longer accept crime as normal- unlike the one i came from. color coding is irrelevant. if i get treated good what do i care what color it comes in. safety is always the same color.

[Blackbarbiedoll]

Hello Midwesterner 7,

No, I'm not wrong about Blacks being underpaid in State Government in South Carolina. All you have to do is go to www.thestate.com, look at the Salary Base for State Government, and you'll find in every S.C. State Agency, those with salaries over $50,000, are predominantly white and male. Yes, it's 2008, and 2001 was a long time ago (Re: artical in The State Newspaper, Feb. 6, 2001), but it's still happening, especially now, since people are losing their homes and jobs at an alarming rate. This kind of institutional racism is written about in a number of books, and by a number of authors who have published statistics on the phenomenon of "institutional racism".
Nonetheless, it is happening quite prolifically in state government jobs, throughout South Carolina, and unfortunately, in all other states as well. Institutional racism is not "overt", it is extremely subtle, and one knows it is happening with the subtle promotion of whites with less education and less experience. Look at the republican VP Nominee for example. That's a powerful example. Nice lady, but not experienced enough to be VP of anything, however, she's being touted as "qualified" to be VP of the United States!!!!!!!!!

[waccamatt]

Barbie, how can you tell from the list what race they are? Also, that list only shows those making over 50K, it doesn't show averages.

[midwesterner7]

waccamatt: Exactly..... That list is not anything to look at and base a correct opinion. Some people just like to complain and point fingers and go "poor me," "see how horrible we're being treated."

[MoonlightFlight]

Students in Lexington County are tracked according to their academic skills, not their color. An eagerness to learn is not color coded. If students have a willingness to learn, they will succeed in life no matter what color they are.

Leadership experience? Well, let's see....a freshman Senator and a 35-year Senate veteran versus a 21-year Senate veteran and a state governor. I'd say we have pretty even qualifications there, but I wouldn't want to be called a racist.

Perhaps, if Blackbarbiedoll would focus on the future, rather than concentrating on past statistics, she could contribute to the movement away from racism, instead of perpetrating it. It's all in the attitude we portray to our children.

[107main]

There are all sorts of subdivisions that you speak of. The city over the years has received Federal money and used it to artificially do race mixing. They wholesale tore down places like Henley homes and others low income apartments in town, some on Harden street and relocated the tenants all out in other neighborhoods that are out of town. This is part of the subprime failure that the Democrats forced on the banks to loan money to those who could never afford it.

Lets just say that the races get along. There are a regular supply of "no brains" thugs that seen to run around all over the area robbing/killing people and robbing businesses. Most get caught, due to "no brains in the first place". They do a little time and then come right back to do it again. If I owned a business, and a robbbery occurred, someone would go out to the morgue on a stretcher. That is the only way to slow this no brained stuff down! SC does have a conceal carry law, so you can protect yourself most places you go, but there are exceptions.

Now if BO gets beat in the election, I look for there to be trouble. That is bad, but I fear it. If BO does get elected, I think there will be a possible attempt to impeach him after all/some of his info that he wont release gets out. BO is bad news and needs to be no where near the White House. This senario may cause trouble too. We have a dangerous future ahead of us! Pray that it dont happen!

Originally Posted by 3 Seconds

From looking at the numbers the # of Whites & African Americans in Columbia are close to being equal. I have never been to Columbia myself, so my question is....

Is Columbia a segregated city or do the races mix together peacefully for the most part? Are there big 'white' or 'black' parts of town or is it more a nice integrated mix.

Another question:

Even if it is pretty integrated is there a lot of racial tension with in the city?

Thanks for your replies.