Is Highland Park racist? (Dallas, Austin: homes, school, living in)

[Rakin]

Originally Posted by Macbeth2003

But HP seems to have more than their share.
That was certainly my experience, and I was told by my boss that they had that problem all the time as well. I can put the number much higher than 3-4 from my own personal experiences.

Do you think it's more racists than say... South Dallas?

[Grainraiser]

I know HP use to be racist but so was the rest of the city. I have no idea if they are now or not. Is it HP fault that no minorities have recently moved in or has no minorities attempted to move in the area. I hate to throw the racist term around when there is no proof either way or the other.

[Lakewooder]

See: http://www.city-data.com/forum/dalla...periences.html

[Lakewooder]

See: http://www.city-data.com/forum/dalla...periences.html

http://www.city-data.com/forum/dalla...sturbed-2.html

http://www.city-data.com/forum/dalla...park-area.html

http://www.city-data.com/forum/dalla...expensive.html

[Macbeth2003]

Originally Posted by Rakin

Do you think it's more racists than say... South Dallas?

More racist than some areas, yes, than others no. I can only report my experiences, which is what I was doing.
I know fantastic people in the park cities as well, but many of them will admit there is a large degree of casual racism. A women at our church who moved there a few years ago said she was amazed when a number of people at a party started telling black jokes to her, when she said she was offended one man responded "but you aren't black." As if he couldn't understand why she would be offended. The racism I have seen there is not of a violent nature, but it is seems to be accepted by many as just a fact, the sky is blue, the grass is green, white people are a little better, so could we have a white photographer please. Certainly not all of the park cities, certainly not a majority, but it seems to be a more sizable percentage of the population than say in East Dallas, or Plano.

[FarNorthDallas]

Yes, from my experience there's racism in the Park Cities towards blacks and Hispanics.

[the princetonian]

Please don't get me wrong, I'm usually not this blunt, especially in regards to race, but I've never lived in the South, nor have I had any direct experiences there.

I know that Highland Park is a very insular community, and has been that way for years. I know there are a small number of blacks living there because as of the 2000 census, the city had about 40 blacks.

The responses so far have been of great help, and I appreciat them.

[Philip T]

Originally Posted by the princetonian

Please don't get me wrong, I'm usually not this blunt, especially in regards to race, but I've never lived in the South, nor have I had any direct experiences there.

I know that Highland Park is a very insular community, and has been that way for years. I know there are a small number of blacks living there because as of the 2000 census, the city had about 40 blacks.

The responses so far have been of great help, and I appreciat them.

Blunt is a good thing on this topic. You have to speak straight to be straight. Watch out for the folks speaking whispers and "code."

One thing struck me a little funny is the Princeton reference. That will not tend to carry much cultural capital down here.

The local yokels all think SMU (Southern Methodist Univ -- in the Park Cities) is the pinnacle of edumakation, and will not tend to track the difference between Rutgers and Princeton.

Most of folks have at least one degree and most of the housewives in Highland Park have an MRS degree (typically Masters, Fine Arts).

[Big G]

Here's an external link that might be of interest:

For the first time in history, Highland Park, Texas, a town of about 9000, surrounded by Dallas on three sides, and by University Park on the other, has a Black homeowner:


Burnt Orange Report's Journal - June 9th 2003

[FarNorthDallas]

Hey now, I think the school of choice is UT-Austin. Check it out:
http://www.city-data.com/forum/dalla...ians-high.html