Is Warren really that bad? (Detroit, Sterling Heights: section 8, crimes, houses)

[rucks]

A friend and I were talking about race realtions here in the MetroDetroit area. He mentioned areas that he would NEVER live in. One was Warren. I was a bit surprised. I mentioned that I've spent time shopping/socializing in Warren and have never had a problem. I also said,truthfully,that I would live in Warren if I found the right house without hesistation. My friend laughed and said that would be a HUGE mistake.
I understand Warren has had it's share of racial tension through the years but I thought things had gotten better.
My question:Is Warren still a highly segregated biogoted city? Are non caucasian people harrassed(or worse)if they choose to live in Warren?

[FromABuick6]

There were some racial problems in Warren in the past---there used to be a certain mayor that inflamed them. Keep in mind, though, that Warren is a large, diverse city and that neighborhoods in the northern half of town are very different from those closer to 8 Mile Rd.

[MIEng]

Originally Posted by rucks

My question:Is Warren still a highly segregated biogoted city? Are non caucasian people harrassed(or worse)if they choose to live in Warren?

No they are not, it is an exageration. There are ignorant racist people in Warren but its not any different than any other majority white suburb. Warren always gets put down because is a blue collar middle income area. It is not glamourous or ritzy and some parts of it in the south are definitely not pretty, but the rest is fine specially for how affordable it is. Is there crime? yes, are there people that uses drugs? of course but not to the level that some people make it seem here. They make look Warren like south Bronx in the 80's.

[us66]

I wouldn't consider it a tolerant place, but it would most likely be a better experience than the old days. I haven't heard of any cross burnings or the like in Warren recently. Neighboring Eastpointe has made the news lately with the hate mail. Macomb County in general doesn't seem to be a terribly tolerant place. I don't think it's a dangerous place for minorities, but not everyone welcomes them with open arms. South Warren may get a bad rap in this forum (I know I've dragged it through the mud a number of times) but it's a depressed, depressing, dreary place with a minimal future.

[Dexterguy]

Warren does not see the racial tension problems today as it did in the past, but it is still a racially segregated city without a doubt. South Warren (below I-696) is a much more diverse area than the northern area closer to Sterling Heights, but even thats changing.

As us66 pointed out, Eastpointe recently made the news because of racial hate mail that some African American families recieved in the mail. It's very sad to see that in the 21st Century these types of hate motivated crimes still continue. Whether you live in the suburbs along 8 Mile or Telegraph or the upper class suburbs of Bloomfield Hills you must know that all of metro Detroit is going to continue to get more and more diverse, you can either accept it or not, but I would certainly hope that people give new neighbors a chance.

[rucks]

Thank you all for weighing in.
us66&Dexter I've heard and seen the reports about Eastpointe. Funny thing is I'd been thinking of moving to Eastpointe before all of the 'trouble' started. I've been house shopping in that city several dozen times before and after the letters&the fire and I've not had any experience that would make me change my mind about moving there. Granted,I was only visiting(things may be different when/if I move there)but everyone was cordial and friendly. I'm not naive enough to think that everyone was doing cartwheels seeing me walk down the street but that's the way life is.
Thanks all.

[edub]

Why is everything a matter of racism?

Warren is a large city. S. Warren is practically Detroit - ghetto as hell with houses going for less than $10K. N. Warren still has some nice areas. People in N. Warren do feel strongly about keeping their neighborhoods safe and desirable as do folks in most E side neighborhoods.

I guess ignorant people who can not muster a logical thought might construe that as bigotry or racism. To me it's just an issue of logic.

[rucks]

I appreciate any and everyone who takes time out to respond to my posts here.
Having said that have you anything to add that directly(bluntly yet respectfully)answers the question I posed in my original post?
Thank you.

[fmax]

Warren is fair North of 12 Mile. South of 12 Mile in Warren; a lot of Section 8. Subsidized housing devastates Detroit and the Inner Ring.

[edub]

Originally Posted by rucks

I appreciate any and everyone who takes time out to respond to my posts here.
Having said that have you anything to add that directly(bluntly yet respectfully)answers the question I posed in my original post?
Thank you.

Warren is a big city. S. Warren is ghetto - N. Warren is (or was last I was there) a decent middle class neighborhood. The further North, the better.

Does that help?