Racial Balance/Mixture Question. (Columbia, St. Andrews: homes, neighborhoods, buying)

[Jchristine]

I.d say based on the history of SC and where it has come from...Columbia is pretty racially diverse. The sad thing is that its easy to notice the racial lines in columbia. For instance you know the sides of towns that upperclass whites live in, middle-classes mixture of races, and then the lower-class/poorer neighborhoods filled w/ minorities. The HBCU's have the poorer neighborhoods surrounding those schools, while condo's are built next to the Univ. of SC. Same thing w/ the h.s's. The nice homes are next to the predominantly white, mixed race, or military brat 'blue ribbon' schools, while the predominantly black h.s's have "hoods" next to them. But I'm sure its like that all over the country.

Also, some ppl try to act like racial tension isn't here. I'm a 23yr.old african-american female and I notice it. My other black female counterparts notice it too. I felt the tension esp. as an undergrad studying journalism at predominantly white USC. But nonetheless I enjoyed my experience there...life is what you make it. Whatever ppl dislike/hate u for...let 'em hate...even if its color...hating is fuel to my success!

[sonofaque86]

Originally Posted by Jchristine

I.d say based on the history of SC and where it has come from...Columbia is pretty racially diverse. The sad thing is that its easy to notice the racial lines in columbia. For instance you know the sides of towns that upperclass whites live in, middle-classes mixture of races, and then the lower-class/poorer neighborhoods filled w/ minorities. The HBCU's have the poorer neighborhoods surrounding those schools, while condo's are built next to the Univ. of SC. Same thing w/ the h.s's. The nice homes are next to the predominantly white, mixed race, or military brat 'blue ribbon' schools, while the predominantly black h.s's have "hoods" next to them. But I'm sure its like that all over the country.

Also, some ppl try to act like racial tension isn't here. I'm a 23yr.old african-american female and I notice it. My other black female counterparts notice it too. I felt the tension esp. as an undergrad studying journalism at predominantly white USC. But nonetheless I enjoyed my experience there...life is what you make it. Whatever ppl dislike/hate u for...let 'em hate...even if its color...hating is fuel to my success!

I disagree...Columbia is not that segregated....Columbia High School is over 95% black and is in the middle of a middle class neighbhorhood not surrounded by "hoods"...Or is the new Keenan High School....The only one I can think of is Eau Cleaure and CA Johnson....Heck, I think a majority of the schools in Richland County (Spring Valley, Ridgeview, Blythewood, Richland Northeast) are over 50% black and are not surrounded by "hoods"...You may want to rethink your answer...

[Jchristine]

Originally Posted by sonofaque86

I disagree...Columbia is not that segregated....Columbia High School is over 95% black and is in the middle of a middle class neighbhorhood not surrounded by "hoods"...Or is the new Keenan High School....The only one I can think of is Eau Cleaure and CA Johnson....Heck, I think a majority of the schools in Richland County (Spring Valley, Ridgeview, Blythewood, Richland Northeast) are over 50% black and are not surrounded by "hoods"...You may want to rethink your answer...

You're welcome to disagree...and I NEVER said that Columbia is segregated...but i do think that its geographically divided...and a big notice of that divide is race. The history of segregation is when blacks and whites could not attend schools together, blacks were not allowed to eat in the same restaurants, blacks were not allowed to ride the same buses, drink from the same water fountains...separate but considered 'equal' while very much unequal...but I never said anything of segregation. Segregation, my friend, is the separation or isolation of people by enforced or voluntary residence in a RESTRICTED area. This is indeed not the case in Columbia...there is NO place here or in America I hope that a black person is RESTRICTED to live in. So plz don't imply that i said sc is segregated.
I'm black and I myself attended RNE which is in the predominantly white NE area. But RNE has less racial divides than other schools b/c RNE is known as a racially diverse h.s.from being so close to Fort Jackson....so of course you will get a good mixture of races there.

Nonetheless, I've lived here for EIGHT years and in that time I've learned ur 'white' side of towns and ur 'black' side of towns. How many white people do you see watering there lawns over on Broad River Rd./St.Andrews area???...trust not many. But that area is FILLED w/ poor neighborhoods, liquor stores, and rim shops. And what types of ppl live over there...poor minorities(along w/ their children). And I lived in Crownelake...a luxury apartment area in NE and when blacks started to move in that area...many whites left and moved further out to Clemson road...which I think had a big effect on the creation of the Summit/Clemson road area and the expansion of the Harbison area too. Now that middle-class blacks have moved and conquered to live in those areas...they are expanding the blythewood area.

you DEFINITELY can notice the racial divides here. EVERYONE who's lived here for a decent amount of time knows that District 2 schools have better programs, better teachers, better schools, etc...than District 1 schools. And the district 1 schools are in the predominantly black areas...that's no irony. Now what spurs those divides...i don't think could be pinpointed down....but you definitely notice it. Even on USC Campus...lots of white kids lived near Greene St./Horseshoe area in the better, more expensive 'honors' dorms...i was fortunate to get in w/schloarships... My dorm was known as a 'diversity' dorm...and out of 200 students, less than 5 of the accepted residents were black, 10-15 were asian, 1 was indian, and there were NO hispanics. when I became president of that dorm and accepted more minorities many of the white kids tried to have me kicked out of my position. Nonetheless I held my ground...turned my dorm into a truly 'diverse' dorm...got the best USC experience of my life...and a good south carolina experience at that. But nonetheless i didn't even see other black or minority students until i ventured to the other side of campus where the dorms were smaller, older, dirtier, and had less amenities...and its a proven fact that USC has accepted less and less african-american students in recent years...now i wonder why...hmmmmm. perhaps w/ all the new condos in place...they just won't have the money to fit those w/o money in.

So please don't tell me I need to rethink my answer b/c I don't...maybe you should open your eyes a little more and recognize your surroundings.

[waccamatt]

Jchristine, I'm glad you've lived here for 8 years and your perceptions are certainly valid, but I've lived here for over 30 years and I know that Sonof has lived here most or all of his life, too, so I think our perceptions and opinions are valid, too. There are plenty of racially diverse neighborhoods. I don't know the exact percentages, but I live in Keenan Terrace and I know the racial mix in this neighborhood is close to 50/50. I've also lived in Cottontown and there is a similar mix there.

As far as dorms on USC's campus, the costs for different dorms vary greatly. I lived in the Towers, which were rather inexpensive (now torn down) in the 80's and they were very diverse, probably more so than the overall campus. As far as condos are concerned, what in the world does that have to do with the number of minorities accepted into USC? Did you know that USC is the main state university with the highest percentage of African-American students in the country?

In response to Richland District 1, I grew up and attended schools in District 1 and it is sad to say that schools with a wealthier student population tend to have better test scores, better resources, etc., but a lot of that has to do with students having better resources - computers at home, a set of encyclopedias at home, parents with the time to help with their homework. This is true whether the schools are in predominantly white areas or predominantly black areas. In my opinion there should be only one school district in South Carolina and every school should be funded in direct proportion to the number of students - this would avoid the "rich district, poor district" problem, which exists in many states, not just South Carolina.

[ctownchica]

Originally Posted by sonofaque86

I disagree...Columbia is not that segregated....Columbia High School is over 95% black and is in the middle of a middle class neighbhorhood not surrounded by "hoods"...Or is the new Keenan High School....The only one I can think of is Eau Cleaure and CA Johnson....Heck, I think a majority of the schools in Richland County (Spring Valley, Ridgeview, Blythewood, Richland Northeast) are over 50% black and are not surrounded by "hoods"...You may want to rethink your answer...

Keep it real, Columbia High is only 95% black and in a so-called middle class neighborhood because it started out white, then the whites took flight as they saw the Broad River area becoming more and more black.
Pine Valley may still qualify as a middle class neighborhood, but I wouldn't like to walk through it at night. As a kid we used to play all through Pine Valley and Emerald Valley any time of the day or night. The last time I drove through Pine Valley at midnight it was gangs of people frolicking in the middle of the street. Wouldn't move even when they saw the car, acting like im crazy for driving on the road. Maybe that was a bad night, idk. I know some of those homes are on section 8 too. They've even had drive-by shootings out there.

Of course the new Keenan is not surrounded by the hood, who would build a new school in the hood.

[Palmetto Heel]

Originally Posted by waccamatt

I'm going to have to answer your question as "all of the above". There are predominantly white neighborhoods, predominantly African-American neighborhoods and those that are mixed. There are few, if any, neighborhoods that are all one way or another, and that is probably more because of class than because of race, so all are mixed to some degree. The neighborhood I live in is probably about a 50/50 mix. I don't notice any racial tension, either at work, at play or at home. I'd say the one place that is the most segregated are houses of worship.

Originally Posted by Blackbarbiedoll

I would say that the most segregated thing in Columbia, S.C. is the pay scale. The average salary for Blacks in State Government is $20,000. (Most work 2 jobs) The Average Salary for Whites in State Government is $50,000. This information according to The State Newspaper (Tuesday, February 6, 2001) The article has a glaring headline that says "Best state jobs usually go to whites". They do not have to worry about racial mixing or balance here. The unspoken "segregation" happens monetarily with "gated" communities and overpriced housing. The vast majority of people making over $60,000 annually, are white males, some with only High School Diplomas!!!!! In public schools, the segregation happens in the classroom, with thousands of black youngsters relegated to mediocre subjects, while white students are tracked very carefully into college prep and college credit courses. In colleges, the average black college student is a black female. While black men, are few in number, these women graduate and are relegated into lower paying jobs. This is just a brief description of racial balance in the Columbia, S.C. area.

I am a white man who grew up in the South, moved away, and then moved back. Growing up I would have agreed with Waccamatt but nowadays I'm inclined to agree with Barbiedoll. That said, race relations are MUCH better today than they were 20 or 30 years ago.

[Woodlands]

Originally Posted by ctownchica

Keep it real, Columbia High is only 95% black and in a so-called middle class neighborhood because it started out white, then the whites took flight as they saw the Broad River area becoming more and more black.
Pine Valley may still qualify as a middle class neighborhood, but I wouldn't like to walk through it at night. As a kid we used to play all through Pine Valley and Emerald Valley any time of the day or night. The last time I drove through Pine Valley at midnight it was gangs of people frolicking in the middle of the street. Wouldn't move even when they saw the car, acting like im crazy for driving on the road. Maybe that was a bad night, idk. I know some of those homes are on section 8 too. They've even had drive-by shootings out there.

Of course the new Keenan is not surrounded by the hood, who would build a new school in the hood.

Broad River Rd. between St. Andrews Rd and I-20 has also had a few problem night spots that opened and closed over the years. Several had events or parties that turned Broad River Road into Columbia's version of Ocean Drive in MYB. This went on for several years and there were some high profile incidents.. all of which may have discourage some homeowners from buying into the surrounding neighborhoods.. There is a nice new community called St. Andrews Place that I once considered.. mainly because the homes were reasonable and I liked the builder.. opted to go to SE Cola for commuting purposes. St. Andrews Place is at the entrance to Pine Valley.. given the market not sure how it is holding up today.....

[Jchristine]

Originally Posted by ctownchica

Keep it real, Columbia High is only 95% black and in a so-called middle class neighborhood because it started out white, then the whites took flight as they saw the Broad River area becoming more and more black.
Pine Valley may still qualify as a middle class neighborhood, but I wouldn't like to walk through it at night. As a kid we used to play all through Pine Valley and Emerald Valley any time of the day or night. The last time I drove through Pine Valley at midnight it was gangs of people frolicking in the middle of the street. Wouldn't move even when they saw the car, acting like im crazy for driving on the road. Maybe that was a bad night, idk. I know some of those homes are on section 8 too. They've even had drive-by shootings out there.

Of course the new Keenan is not surrounded by the hood, who would build a new school in the hood.

AMEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Jchristine]

Originally Posted by waccamatt

Jchristine, I'm glad you've lived here for 8 years and your perceptions are certainly valid, but I've lived here for over 30 years and I know that Sonof has lived here most or all of his life, too, so I think our perceptions and opinions are valid, too. There are plenty of racially diverse neighborhoods. I don't know the exact percentages, but I live in Keenan Terrace and I know the racial mix in this neighborhood is close to 50/50. I've also lived in Cottontown and there is a similar mix there.

As far as dorms on USC's campus, the costs for different dorms vary greatly. I lived in the Towers, which were rather inexpensive (now torn down) in the 80's and they were very diverse, probably more so than the overall campus. As far as condos are concerned, what in the world does that have to do with the number of minorities accepted into USC? Did you know that USC is the main state university with the highest percentage of African-American students in the country?

In response to Richland District 1, I grew up and attended schools in District 1 and it is sad to say that schools with a wealthier student population tend to have better test scores, better resources, etc., but a lot of that has to do with students having better resources - computers at home, a set of encyclopedias at home, parents with the time to help with their homework. This is true whether the schools are in predominantly white areas or predominantly black areas. In my opinion there should be only one school district in South Carolina and every school should be funded in direct proportion to the number of students - this would avoid the "rich district, poor district" problem, which exists in many states, not just South Carolina.

Your perceptions are indeed valid...i just posted mine b/c someone felt the need to say that i needed to change MY opinions when like you said they're just as valid as the next person's.

And you ask: As far as condos are concerned, what in the world does that have to do with the number of minorities accepted into USC?

Well seeing that they are being built DIRECTLY on USC campus...in fact in the EXACT spot where the towers were torn down just last year...I'd say it has a LOT to do w/ the number of minorities accepted. Students will NOT be able to afford this type of housing...I don't even think their going to be open for anyone other than young professionals, primarily research grad students.

So they tear down the dorms housing HUGE percentages of minorities...you call it "DIVERSE"(I quickly found the school LOVED to use that term when they didn't wanna say lots of blacks...lmao) dorms on USC grounds and they build dorms that poorer ppl, esp. poor minorities will not be able to afford...and you ask what that has to do w/ the number of minorites being accepted? Again I digress, a LOT! it's common sense really...they have nowhere to put poor minorities...so why accept a large bulk of them? And if you don't believe me look at the numbers for yourself...they've been dropping dramatically in recent years...the recent 2007-2008 African-American freshman entrance was one of the lowest in a long time.

Now this is not to say that minority=poor or that the towers were torn down primarily for the rich(I mean the buildings were old and nasty). But I am a 2007 USC alumni and sorry buddy but a LOT has changed since the 80's. The racial divides whether they were there back then(which I'm sure they were) are still on that campus TODAY....right down to where ppl sit and eat in the Russell House...and like I said it's not surprising b/c Columbia itself is geographically racially divided imo.

And as far as the h.s. education system here...I won't try to force my opinions on anyone. I was fortunate enough to go to a good school, not that I didn't experience racism in the indeed "diverse" RNE...but I know I had it better than a lot of other African-American students. Nonetheless, I know the system and deny,deny,deny as much as you like but district 2 does not have a better schools b/c there are merely encyclopedias in the kids' homes...lmao. They are better schools b/c the WHITE kids are going there...bottom line. and hoping that they will somehow magically put the two districts together is indeed a dream...a dream that sadly should become reality...but nonetheless a dream.

[Jchristine]

Originally Posted by Jchristine

Your perceptions are indeed valid...i just posted mine b/c someone felt the need to say that i needed to change MY opinions when like you said they're just as valid as the next person's.

And you ask: As far as condos are concerned, what in the world does that have to do with the number of minorities accepted into USC?

Well seeing that they are being built DIRECTLY on USC campus...in fact in the EXACT spot where the towers were torn down just last year...I'd say it has a LOT to do w/ the number of minorities accepted. Students will NOT be able to afford this type of housing...I don't even think their going to be open for anyone other than young professionals, primarily research grad students.

So they tear down the dorms housing HUGE percentages of minorities...you call it "DIVERSE"(I quickly found the school LOVED to use that term when they didn't wanna say lots of blacks...lmao) dorms on USC grounds and they build dorms that poorer ppl, esp. poor minorities will not be able to afford...and you ask what that has to do w/ the number of minorites being accepted? Again I digress, a LOT! it's common sense really...they have nowhere to put poor minorities...so why accept a large bulk of them? And if you don't believe me look at the numbers for yourself...they've been dropping dramatically in recent years...the recent 2007-2008 African-American freshman entrance was one of the lowest in a long time.

Now this is not to say that minority=poor or that the towers were torn down primarily for the rich(I mean the buildings were old and nasty). But I am a 2007 USC alumni and sorry buddy but a LOT has changed since the 80's. The racial divides whether they were there back then(which I'm sure they were) are still on that campus TODAY....right down to where ppl sit and eat in the Russell House...and like I said it's not surprising b/c Columbia itself is geographically racially divided imo.

And as far as the h.s. education system here...I won't try to force my opinions on anyone. I was fortunate enough to go to a good school, not that I didn't experience racism in the indeed "diverse" RNE...but I know I had it better than a lot of other African-American students. Nonetheless, I know the system and deny,deny,deny as much as you like but district 2 does not have a better schools b/c there are merely encyclopedias in the kids' homes...lmao. They are better schools b/c the WHITE kids are going there...bottom line. and hoping that they will somehow magically put the two districts together is indeed a dream...a dream that sadly should become reality...but nonetheless a dream.

Originally Posted by waccamatt

Did you know that USC is the main state university with the highest percentage of African-American students in the country?

And I'm sure it does!....there are like what 5 sub-campuses of USC in the state? IMO....w/ all the mini-campuses it has...along w/ being a premier 4yr.-university in the state...I'm sure when u add all the numbers up against all the other schools(counting out schools w/ only one campus, single gender colleges like Columbia Univ, and the HBCU's) they DO have the highest number of African-Americans. Like lmao...DUH!!!!

That doesn't mean that they accept less and less. And it doesn't mean that USC is not a good school. Like I said I was a hard worker at USC, my 3.5 GPA proves it. I partied just as hard and I was regularly involved w/ campus events and activities...esp. the football games. But I also saw a side of USC that ppl in Columbia don't like to talk about. They want to ignore it...pretend as if it's a mere figment of the imagination in a black person's mind. Sadly...its the SAME problem that America itself is dealing w/....racial issues...the problem some ppl in this country do not like to speak of.