Is Highland Park racist? (Houston, Dallas: income, to live, oil)

[Grainraiser]

Originally Posted by TurtleCreek80

Not true! There have been way more than 2 black students in HPISD. There were at least 3 in the classes surrounding mine in the late 90s and at least a few more when my younger sibling was there in the early 2000s.

I know you have a major beef with HP as this is not the first city-data thread I've seen you quote completely incorrect facts regarding HP's history with minorities. You're welcome to have an opinion, but please use correct facts! (I would say the same whether we were discussig sports, politics, religion, pop culture, etc).

I do not have any beef at all with HP. I have recommended it to many posters on this board. I love to see a list of black graduates in the history of Highland Park HS to back up your statement. Here is a interesting article I found on HP. I personally know Mrs. Watson because I use to work with her.


Highland Park is one of Dallas's most exclusive
suburbs. President George W. Bush lived there at
one time, and Dick Cheney still maintains a home in
Highland Park. When it was developed in 1913,
restrictive covenants applied to every home. After
Brown v. Board of Education in 1954, Highland Park
sent its few black students to school in Dallas
rather than allow them to attend Highland Park
schools. Eventually this was overturned on the basis
of Texas's desegregation laws, to which an
alderman suggested that the city ask homeowners
to fire their live-in servants (the parents of those
black schoolchildren). In 1961, the city of Dallas
stopped accepting children from the suburbs, and
at least one white employer paid rent for a Dallas
address for her black servant's children.

In 1981, 104 people filed a class-action lawsuit
against the town, alledging discrimination and
racial profiling by police against African Americans
and Hispanics. The police often charged people of
color with being "drunk in car", a crime which the
plaintiff's lawyers pointed out was not actually on
the books. Although the police denied the
allegations, the Justic Department became involved,
and reached an agreement with the town to halt the
practice.

A black couple who purchased a house in
Highland Park in 2003 are believed to be the first
black homeowners in the city. According to a June
2003 Newsweek web article, the local paper ran a
story about the couple on the front page, with the
lead "Guess who's coming to dinner? and staying
for a while?" The article also referred to the female
of the couple as "girl". The woman, Karen Watson,
told Newsweek she was "disappointed" with the
lead but happy that race and racial discrimination in
housing were being discussed. Watson is a
mortgage officer and reported that she had seen
racial discrimination in her work.

The city has a reputation for exclusivity applied
any outsiders, not just people of color. Eating lunch
and picnicing is forbidden the local parks. The city
also required fishing permits to fish in any waters
within Highland Park, which violates Texas law as a
state fishing permit is good for all public waters in
Texas and all of the waters within Highland Park are
public. Usage of tennis courts in the public parks is
forbidden to Dallas residents. Two white graduate
students were arrested for violating this ordinance
and offered the choice of a $5 fine or a night in jail.
The students chose jail.

http://sundown.afro.illinois.edu/sun...ow.php?id=1216


Any resident of Dallas knows about the history of Highland Park and trying to sugar coat it is just that. If any minority ask about moving to Highland Park it would be simply wrong not to point of the issues that person would face. No one on this board could convince me that HP is minority friendly. NO ONE!

[TurtleCreek80]

Whenever I see someone asking about Highland Park, I assume they are asking about the Park Cities (Highland & University Park) since they share HPISD. To me, they are the same. So while that couple may have been the first black homeowners in HP in 2003, they were certainly not the first in the Park Cities.

I am not going to post a list of black graduates from my HP era and start a witchhunt. (I wouldn't want my name posted on an Internet message board if I had been one of a handful of whites at a 98% Chinese/ Black/ Indian school). But if you're really wanting proof, I bet there are old copies of HPHS yearbooks at the HP Library for you to puruse.

I agree that I would point a wealthy black relo to areas other than the Park Cities.

Ps- George W Bush never lived in HP. They lived in Midland, Preston Hollow, Austin, DC, and now Preston Hollow again.

[REA88]

Racist Racist Racist. I am getting tired of hearing about all this phantom racism that exists around every corner. Yes, I am white. No, I am not Naive. Racism in the 21st century is dead in the mainstream America. And it has been for 20 years. Most white people are utterly terrified of saying anything even remotely offensive. There couldn't be a more petty thing for minorities who are now truely free, and moving up in society, to waste there time, abilities and opportunities, complaining and worrying about non-existent racism. And that is the truth.

[Grainraiser]

Originally Posted by TurtleCreek80

Whenever I see someone asking about Highland Park, I assume they are asking about the Park Cities (Highland & University Park) since they share HPISD. To me, they are the same. So while that couple may have been the first black homeowners in HP in 2003, they were certainly not the first in the Park Cities.

I am not going to post a list of black graduates from my HP era and start a witchhunt. (I wouldn't want my name posted on an Internet message board if I had been one of a handful of whites at a 98% Chinese/ Black/ Indian school). But if you're really wanting proof, I bet there are old copies of HPHS yearbooks at the HP Library for you to puruse.

I agree that I would point a wealthy black relo to areas other than the Park Cities.

Ps- George W Bush never lived in HP. They lived in Midland, Preston Hollow, Austin, DC, and now Preston Hollow again.

The original question was "Is Highland Park Racist". My response is I doubt most of the residents are racist. The vast majority choose to live in HP and Park Cities because they have great schools, great neighborhoods and it is a great place to raise a family. I would not steer anyone from living in HP unless diversity is important to them. I have no idea why this view is seen as me not liking HP. The town itself has a racist past and in my personal opinion they have not done much to change it. Having said that I don't believe the majority of the residents are racist. I doubt being racist had anything to do with settling in HP.

[frogandtoad]

Originally Posted by REA88

Racist Racist Racist. I am getting tired of hearing about all this phantom racism that exists around every corner. Yes, I am white. No, I am not Naive. Racism in the 21st century is dead in the mainstream America. And it has been for 20 years. Most white people are utterly terrified of saying anything even remotely offensive. There couldn't be a more petty thing for minorities who are now truely free, and moving up in society, to waste there time, abilities and opportunities, complaining and worrying about non-existent racism. And that is the truth.

I certainly don't think racism is as rampant as it is often portrayed, however as the white mother of a black child, let me assure you it is not dead. I was not aware of it before adopting in the way that I am aware of it now.

That said, I still don't think an area is "racist" just b/c it is not ethnically diverse. There would need to be a lot more information about what specifically makes it "racist" than that.

[Grainraiser]

"That said, I still don't think an area is "racist" just b/c it is not ethnically diverse. There would need to be a lot more information about what specifically makes it "racist" than that. "


This is the point I was trying to make.

[frogandtoad]

Originally Posted by Grainraiser

"That said, I still don't think an area is "racist" just b/c it is not ethnically diverse. There would need to be a lot more information about what specifically makes it "racist" than that. "


This is the point I was trying to make.

Yep, I got that, thank you! Your information has been really helpful (as has others'!).

[REA88]

Originally Posted by frogandtoad

I certainly don't think racism is as rampant as it is often portrayed, however as the white mother of a black child, let me assure you it is not dead. I was not aware of it before adopting in the way that I am aware of it now.

That said, I still don't think an area is "racist" just b/c it is not ethnically diverse. There would need to be a lot more information about what specifically makes it "racist" than that.

I didn't say it was completely dead, I said it was dead in the mainstream. It would be understandable why people would be curious or maybe even a little blunt, when they meet you and your child at first. And some might be downright judgmental and nasty but some people are always going to be like that, and as long as they don't harm you or your child as a result that is there right. At the end of the day, you have adopted a child which is a very positive and difficult thing to do.

[George_of_the_Jungal]

Highland Park as a whole treats people respectfully...they do however make a diligent effort to watch out for people who seem not to fit in much the same as crime watch. They are no doubt predominately white...matter of fact they do not allow blacks at the Dallas Country Club...get over it there are many organizations that cater to only women ect.
Bottom line: don't be surprised if folks give you a second look if you are black in HP...they would give me a second look if I were unshaven ect. ONCE they figure out you are not casing the joint they will try to make you feel comfortable and with time you will feel right at home there as they will watch out for you as well. After all this is a community of very wealthy and influential people with security needs few could understand. Don't ya think if I was to snoop around Snoop Doggy Dog's house people would wonder what I was up to??? (I am a 48 year old anglo with a buzz cut blue eyes ect.)

[CMDallas]

in all honesty, since your part of the educated elite...
come on... you really do know the answer to your own question.

In fact I think they lower income black neighborhoods are more likely to be biased against white people all together, simply because they will have had little exposure to them and will antagonize most of the with being racist.
It's not race, it the way you present yourself.
If you go around with baggy jeans sagged past your crotch with a baggy t shirt saying how "you dem hoes", then you're in general going to be looked at funny(Regardless of race...) in the this upscale of a neighborhood unless your a famous rapper (at which point it's part of a more respectable culture and plus you wouldn't care).
Don't worry about it... really.