Blacks in Livonia (Detroit, Troy, Southfield: school, living in, move to)

[elisabetm]

Honestly, I'd look elsewhere. Try Van Buren Twp. More diverse and newer housing. Livonia has changed a lot and not for the better. Unfortunatley, the school board and administration has a lot to do with that. They did close particular schools a couple of years ago. They reconfigured the grade levels so that your kids will most likely board a bus for a 30 minute traffic-filled ride to attend a school across town. Really a crazy plan for a city as dense as Livonia, something you'd expect to see in more rural areas like Howell or Fowlerville. Any way, people are exrememly frustrated with the schools. On top of that, they brought in a new math program for k-4 this year, called Everyday Math. I understand that other states do not even allow this program in any of their schools. This is an extremely good source of info that I hope the mod will allow. Look at livonianeighbors.com It is a local forum. I think it would give you a begining glimpse into Livonia and it's residents.

[and the]

How does anyone ever know when something like that happens?

Because the uninformed spread capricious rumors.

Ever heard about black Detroit cops "racially profiling" when they stop a white guy in an all black neighborhood at 8 Mile and Wyoming because their experience tells them he's probably looking for a ***** or dope? No? Why not? Because it doesn't happen?

[reconmark]

Thanks everyone for your replies. I have decided to relocate to West Bloomfield mainly because of the reputation of it's schools. I've found a home and will be moving in a month or so. I will truely miss being in the city but I had too many problems with other people's children not knowing how to behave and socialize in her school. I feel she was receiving an excellent education and had a wonderful, caring teacher but it is coming to the point where she would rather stay inside during lunch in order not to have to fight or be picked on by the boys who bully the girls on the playground.
I have to leave before I put my hands on some kid with too much mouth and attitude and not enough home training.
I did drop her off one morning and just stuck around, the profanity I heard from some elementary school kids pretty much cemented my coming to term that I had to relocate for the good of my children.
Again, thanks the everyone that took the time to reply.

[Michiman]

My family is dying to get OUT of Livonia. The schools are going down hill. We've lost several hundred kids due to the board of education and their grade reconfiguration. Here's a good source for info: http://www.stevekingchronicles.blogspot (broken link). com/

[dj0114]

I live next door to Livonia (Westland resident- 17 years) and can attest that Livonia doesn't appear to be friendly to minorities. There are still residents in Livonia that are not open to having minorites living in their city (hence the ugly moments during the Wal Mart Superstore hearings in which several residents expressed racist concern about that storte being built on the old Wonderland Center site... as a compromise WalMart grudgingly accepted the store being closed from midnight to 0600).

It isn't as bad as when I first moved to Westland yet there is a reason why Livonia was once voted the 'whitest' city in America (it had the lowest percentage of minorites of ANY city with a population of 75,000+ in America). The schools are top rated, property values remain high and crime is low- yet you must consider how your neighbors might treat you if are a minority buying a house there.

[momonkey]

Since no one would ever stop a white person on the street to ask him or her the real motivation for a resentful look or just a funky attitude, perhaps I can help give you some useful information from a white suburbanite's point of view. First, believe it or not, resentment from European-Amearicans towards African-Americans has little or nothing to do with skin pigmentaion. I, and others like me, deal constantly with dark skinned persons in an accepting way. My doctor is of Indian heritage with very dark skin; I like and respect him. But problems occur for persons of my European ethnicity when we are blamed for just about every single problem that persons of African heritage encounter including the after effects of slavery in America that still seems to be a stumbling block to this day. Some European-Americans seem to feel that they are unfairly being blamed for the consequences of poor decision making by others. The resentment you may be experiencing quite possibly may be due to real world penaties (the white tax) laid upon European-Americans for doing nothing other than scoring higher on standardized tests, not getting pregnant or going to prison for committing a felony. And look at the treatment Dr. Cosby has received for attempting to address these issues without citing white racism as the priciple cause. He is called "Uncle Tom".
As long as whites are the go-to group for blame-shifting, the resentful looks and unaccepting attitudes will continue. I believe the real racist point of view belongs to those who feel they can continue to blame whites for black disfunction and expect to welcomed with open arms. It insults our intelligence.

[Nearborn]

Livonia is in Wayne County. There ARE no European-American bastions in this county anymore. If you're experiencing racial hostility in this county, you're either looking for it, or experiencing an anomoly. Certainly no more hostility than a European-American would experience near City Aiport or while trying to take care of city or county business at the Coleman A. Young (Former City/County) Building.

There are still residents in Livonia that are not open to having minorites living in their city (hence the ugly moments during the Wal Mart Superstore hearings in which several residents expressed racist concern about that storte being built on the old Wonderland Center site... as a compromise WalMart grudgingly accepted the store being closed from midnight to 0600).

They didn't want the CRIME increase that a Walmart would bring to the area. Livonia is close enough to Detroit that most of the criminals at that Walmart will be from Detroit. The only racist angle to their complaints is that most of these criminals will incidentally be black since most of Detroit is black. How exactly is that racist?

[RJ17015]

I hate to admit it but racism still exists everywhere. But not with everyone.

I think Livonia is a wonderful city, and has great schools, and some great people (we used to live there, and have family there). A lot of opportunity for families and kids.

We moved from Northville to South Carolina -- my kids went from a primarily white school to a very racially integrated, along with diverse income levels. First day of school my daughter was told she couldn't sit in a certain area of the bus because it was the black side -- she got off the bus in tears, not knowing how to respond or what to do.

Bottom line is we told her she needed to toughen up. Not react because of the color of the skin, but look at them as a "bully." I'm afraid you'll probably need to do the same with your girls. I hope this doesn't sound racist, but a population of the school acts "ghetto" while the other population does not. We have whites that act "ghetto" and whites that do not, along with blacks that act "ghetto" and blacks that do not. I think people have more an issue with the "ghetto" acting, and the reverse racism. Anyway that's my opinion -- and my issue.

But as for you -- I think for the future of your girls Livonia would offer a great education, strong community, sports. They might have to toughen up to the few ignorant racist (bullies) that may still exist there, but that's everywhere. My other advice is girls can be very "catty" by time middle school arrives, so the earlier you make the move the easier it may be on the girls. If they can make good friends prior to Middle School it will be easier on them. Have you ever seen the movie "Mean Girls" not to far off for Middle School girls.

If you decide to move to Livonia, get the girls involved in activities -- sports (soccer), girl scouts, join a local church (if you attend church) they will soon make friends through those activities. If you have time -- get involved in the PTA, volunteer at school. Try not to see the color of one's skin, if others do that't their problem. When we moved from city to city -- trust me we've moved the kids a lot, it always helped to have me at the school volunteering... moreso in elementary school. I realize if you're working outside the house this may be difficult, but it's a suggestion. Maybe a vacation day to attend a field trip, or class party, or attend PTA function.

HTH -- Good luck to you and your family, and I pray whatever you decide it turns out for the best!

[DISGRUNTLE IN MICHIGAN]

I can only speak , from my own personal experience i have been and my mother who drives a 2007 mercedes convertible have been pulled over for no reason in that city , that is why i choose not to ever go there again, my little brother who is a doctor him and his wife who is also a doctor where looking at a 3,000 square feet home and the neighboor said to my mother i hope you will keep up the grass, ( thinking she was buying the home ), my mother turned around in said well he grew up in 6,700 square feet home in palmer woods and he took very good care of my grass, ( first of all livonia isnt all that however,) the people that live there seem to think it is ,i would rather move

somewhere where people dont mind me being there neighboor , sherwood forest , palmer woods , green acres or the university district, where the area is mixed but premodiemtly black keep you children in mind, you dont want them to be chaistized because of the color of there skin.

[Nearborn]

So why wasn't your brother the doctor looking for a house in Palmer Woods instead of Livonia? What is it about Livonia that is drawing him? It's not all that, he can probably afford to live wherever he wants, he can get a lot more house for his money than in Detroit, but he picked Livonia. Why is that?

And when you got pulled over, what did they SAY you did?