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I don't live in NWA but what I can tell you is NWA is a part of Arkansas that historically had a very small black population. Most African Americans in Arkansas live in Central Arkansas and the Delta. Over the past 30 years though NWA as become diverse, especially with Hispanics moving to the area and some Asians and pacific islanders. The African American population has also grown a lot, but still small by southern standards or when compared to Central Arkansas and the Delta. I know of several families from my native delta county that have located there and apparently like it quite well. Including my sisters partner is from NWA and his whole family lives there.
Whether or not they will be excepted or be able to find businesses with expereience or knowledge about their salon and cosmetic needs is a common issue that any African American moving to areas where the black population is small is going to have questions about. Those are small things that people usually take for granted but it is important to know that those needs can be taken care of if you are potentially moving into an area.
I don't live in NWA but what I can tell you is NWA is a part of Arkansas that historically had a very small black population. Most African Americans in Arkansas live in Central Arkansas and the Delta. Over the past 30 years though NWA as become diverse, especially with Hispanics moving to the area and some Asians and pacific islanders. The African American population has also grown a lot, but still small by southern standards or when compared to Central Arkansas and the Delta. I know of several families from my native delta county that have located there and apparently like it quite well. Including my sisters partner is from NWA and his whole family lives there.
Whether or not they will be excepted or be able to find businesses with expereience or knowledge about their salon and cosmetic needs is a common issue that any African American moving to areas where the black population is small is going to have questions about. Those are small things that people usually take for granted but it is important to know that those needs can be taken care of if you are potentially moving into an area.
I think the difference in NWA as you have stated and some of the other areas like the Delta are like night and day. It has been mentioned, if someone is black etc they may get stared at or some comments made. This can be said about any area, big or little city, rural or urban. For the most part, as you seem to realize, a good part of NWA is educated though still rural in some places. We are diverse, we represent many cultures and are no more biggoted than anyplace else. Someone mentioned Christian conservatives: that has little to do with being open or closed minded. And I will say, which I have over and over already, NWA isn't primarily poor, uneducated, rural or nececarrily "good ole boy" I wonder if people realize, with so many major corporations having headquarters here you will probably run into more people from other states than from AR.
Historically out of all the communities in NWA, Fayetteville has had the "largest" population of blacks. As late as the 1980's, blacks did not live in Springdale. I suspect this has changed given the influx of other minorities to Spgd.
Today, yes, there are blacks who live in Fayetteville. I'd suggest you contact the HR dept where you job opportunity is. Ask them for referrals for hair salons and other traditionally black services.
You don't say if you have a family eg school aged children. If so, this will affect where you'll want to live as well.
Historically out of all the communities in NWA, Fayetteville has had the "largest" population of blacks. As late as the 1980's, blacks did not live in Springdale. I suspect this has changed given the influx of other minorities to Spgd.
Today, yes, there are blacks who live in Fayetteville. I'd suggest you contact the HR dept where you job opportunity is. Ask them for referrals for hair salons and other traditionally black services.
You don't say if you have a family eg school aged children. If so, this will affect where you'll want to live as well.
you are right, the majority will be in the Fayetteville area, but you will see blacks in Bentonville, Rogers, Springdale, etc.
Nita
ps: just did a quick research: here is the breakdown for the 4 major cities in NWA;
Rogers: 1.5% black
Fayetteville: over 5%
Bentonville: just under 2%
Springdale and Bella Vista: less than 1%.
I think you will find that NWA is very receptive to all people and many of us are actually color-blind - not caring what color or nationality someone is (in fact, I love to learn from people different from me) and I know I'm not alone. As others have mentioned we have become very diverse in our population (66 different people groups are known to have a presence here), and I don't think the stereotypes of old are applicable anymore - if you look you may find racism but not anymore than where you're at now, and I'm pretty certain it would not compare to the overwhelming number of just good decent people you'll meet!
I'll go with the group that suggests Fayetteville as your future home - unless, of course, the college kids would make you nuts! :-) I think you mentioned in another post that you and your husband are middle-aged with no kids. Me, too, at least on the middle-aged. I have to admit I'd think twice about moving to an area with a bunch of 20-year-olds, but that's only because I survived that era with my own children and like them a whole lot better now. But I digress...
You are going to be fine. F'ville is so very diverse with the University, and with several large corporate HQ also located in NWA the area is growing, changing, and very accepting. Your laid back life will fit right in, but there's plenty to do if you want to go out for a while. Unless life throws you a curve ball and you end up somehow having to use I-540 for commuting, I'd think F'ville to Springdale would be an easy drive. I'd just want to stay closer to F'ville for the amenities it offers and the more active social life.
We do hope you choose Arkansas as your new home - and come back to the board with any questions - these folks are mighty helpful in a pinch and can get you going the right direction!
In the spirit of full disclosure, NW Arkansas is not overwhelmingly white by accident. This region is one of the epicenters of historical racial cleansing in the United States. Please feel free to read below:
The Encyclopedia of Arkansas History and Culture: Sundown Towns (http://encyclopediaofarkansas.net/encyclopedia/entry-detail.aspx?entryID=3658 - broken link)
Quote:
Originally Posted by nmnita
sorry, you are about 100% off base on this one. The only part you have right is, yes, NWA is predominently white as you put it. Other than that, we have about every nationality, race and religion there is, living here. You see as many mixed marriages as you do blacks for that matter and with rare exceoption, I have never seen or heard a biggoted remark except from a few Rednecks. living in some of the very rural areas, like my X grandson in law.
And I don't know about it being 100% off base but your statement is corroborated by the entry from the Arkansas encyclopedia which states the following:
"For fifteen years after the 1964 Civil Rights Act, motels and restaurants in some sundown towns continued to exclude African Americans. Today, public accommodations are generally open. More than half of all Arkansas sundown towns have given up their exclusionary residential policies, mostly after 1990. Of fourteen suspected sundown counties in 1960, eight showed at least three African American households in the 2000 census.
Moderator cut: snip
And before the common defense of "that happened a long time ago" escapes your fingers onto the next message, please note that in the article racially exclusionary practices and instances of active discrimination were documented at least up through the early 2000s. So if this discrimination has completely ceased within the past 10 years then it was a long time coming after 100 years of being an anti-black racial cauldron. And don't bother to make personal attacks against me for posting a link about verified Arkansas History and Culture: you can contact the authors in the published and verified sources cited at the bottom of the webpage from the link.
Last edited by Kimballette; 01-24-2012 at 09:53 AM..
Reason: Please post *brief* snippets only per Terms of Service.
In the spirit of full disclosure, NW Arkansas is not overwhelmingly white by accident. This region is one of the epicenters of historical racial cleansing in the United States. Please feel free to read below:
The Encyclopedia of Arkansas History and Culture: Sundown Towns (http://encyclopediaofarkansas.net/encyclopedia/entry-detail.aspx?entryID=3658 - broken link)
And before the common defense of "that happened a long time ago" escapes your fingers onto the next message, please note that in the article racially exclusionary practices and instances of active discrimination were documented at least up through the early 2000s. So if this discrimination has completely ceased within the past 10 years then it was a long time coming after 100 years of being an anti-black racial cauldron. And don't bother to make personal attacks against me for posting a link about verified Arkansas History and Culture: you can contact the authors in the published and verified sources cited at the bottom of the webpage from the link.
love people who spread hate!! You, obviously do not live here and have no clue to what it is like in NWA. What happened geneations ago and what happened in places like Harrison does not represent the entire state by any means. I just read the posting/articles and it has nothing to do with NWA in this generation.
Steelers10, aren't you in Maryland or thereabouts? Abnormally warm weather there, isn't it?
Moving on - did you really read that article all the way through? Most of it dealt with "a long time ago" - and here's a news flash - there is active discrimination everywhere <gasp> TODAY! I myself was treated rudely and whispered about at the local skateboard pipe - I think they wanted me gone - probably, I'm 54 years old...
Good grief - do NOT run this OP off unless you live in NWA and can speak with some authority or some personal experience - which you did not relate to us, so I am assuming it didn't happen to you. I can tell you the moon is blue cheese - don't make it so....
Steelers10, aren't you in Maryland or thereabouts? Abnormally warm weather there, isn't it?
Moving on - did you really read that article all the way through? Most of it dealt with "a long time ago" - and here's a news flash - there is active discrimination everywhere <gasp> TODAY! I myself was treated rudely and whispered about at the local skateboard pipe - I think they wanted me gone - probably, I'm 54 years old...
Good grief - do NOT run this OP off unless you live in NWA and can speak with some authority or some personal experience - which you did not relate to us, so I am assuming it didn't happen to you. I can tell you the moon is blue cheese - don't make it so....
I just deleted a diatribe I wrote but my "experiences" in Arkansas, those of my relatives, and where I have lived and traveled in my lifetime, my ethnic or religious background, etc. are actually quite none of your business. Moderator cut: snip Everything I have stated is referenced, cited, and verifiable, I will let the entry from the link (http://encyclopediaofarkansas.net/encyclopedia/entry-detail.aspx?entryID=3658 - broken link)stand on its own merits. Take it up with the academicians that wrote the entry for the encyclopedia of Arkansas! Thanks Moderator cut: snip
Last edited by Kimballette; 01-24-2012 at 10:33 AM..
Reason: bickering
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