Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
Chicago is still a pretty racist place. It's not like this is some racial utopia, or anything resembling one. Also, Chicago's black population is the poorest out of any of the top 10 cities in this country. In fact, the only poorer minority are the Latino's in Phoenix.
ha, well I sure's hell never said Chicago was a racial utopia!! I know it's black population has a lot of poverty issues as well. I was just stating that the black population has an organized and vocal voice in politics, regardless of racism or income.
Philadelphia may be another city, as it is the metro where the first HBCU was created(now known as Cheyney State), has had Black folks in various positions, has another HBCU in the area(Lincoln University) and a long history in the area. It also is around 45% Black, if I'm not mistaken.
Philadelphia's a good example. The first American abolitionist society, Society for the Relief of Free Negroes Unlawfully Held in Bondage, was founded in Philadelphia and the African Methodist Episcopal Church was apparently founded there. Also early African-American businessman James Forten came from Philadelphia. Although more of a small-city Petersburg, Virginia looks to have a long and notable A-A history and I think is still mostly black.
i say any southern area, heck in some rural areas are mostly black. them northern city are a different breed of blacks.
You gotta point. Savannah, Montgomery, Tallahassee, Jackson, Natchez, Baton Rouge, Shreveport, Little Rock, and Pine Bluff are a few small southern cities/towns with large black populations. I would also include the entire Black Belt of the south.
Pretty much any city which has or has had (in recent memory) a black majority: Atlanta, DC, Detroit, Newark, Oakland, New Orleans.
I also agree with your point on Chicago vs New York. It probably has something to do with Chicago's population having mostly Southern US roots, while a large number of New York has foreign roots, especially from the West Indies.
As for Atlanta the city proper is mostly black but it's gentrifying with a lot of whites moving in tired of their long commutes, but the metro overall is majority white, out of 5 million residents 4 million are white and other races but we have over 1 million blacks which is still a lot and certain counties in the metro are mostly black like DeKalb, Clayton, Douglas and Rockdale.
What are the cities and metro areas where you feel a very strong African American presence- not just in terms of population, but also regarding cultural presence and influence in the region.
Looking at cities over 100K only.
It is a fairly well - known fact that 7 out of 10 of the cities in America with the highest violent crime rate are from the 20 largest African American majority cities (by percentage).
Jackson MS has the second largest African American population in the country but a relatively low rank by violent crime rate.
There is no hard and fast rule, but the AA majority cities in the south have a lower violent crime rate, and some of the cities in the north that seem to have better economic opportunities also have a lower violent crime rate.
Why do you suppose Jackson is a major exception? (Respectful answer only please).
City Population: Ranked by Highest Violent Crime Rate for 2011
Flint 102,357 *
Detroit 713,239 *
St. Louis 320,454 *
Oakland 395,317 (Multicultural city: White persons not Hispanic, percent, 2010 25.9%)
Memphis 652,725 *
Little Rock 194,988 (Black & White city: White persons not Hispanic, percent, 2010 46.7%)
Birmingham 213,258 *
Atlanta 425,533 *
Baltimore 626,848 *
Stockton 295,136 (Multicultural city: White persons not Hispanic, percent, 2010 22.9%)
The three largest cities, New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles while not majority AA cities, by virtue of their size have large AA districts.
First Black mayor of Chicago wasn't until '83.
First Black mayor of Philadelphia wasn't until '84.
First Black mayor of Houston wasn't until '97.
* Meanwhile back at the ranch, other cities that are have low black populations (e.g. Denver and Seattle) had Black mayors in '91 and '89 respectively. Denver is currently on it's 2nd Black Mayor in the past 20 years.
**So when the question is posed, I look to places like these that demonstrate true presence when they actually have decision-making ability within the entire city and not just from a community organizing perspective. I've lived in Atlanta, Chicago, and New York, all of which have the numbers. However, when it comes down to brass tax decisions, I wouldn't say that neither of the three stand out to me.
i say any southern area, heck in some rural areas are mostly black. them northern city are a different breed of blacks.
Yes we are
I've been told that every time I go south. Once you go south of DC, black people tend to be a lot more old fashioned, well mannered, and country (this increases the further south you get until you get straight up dixie).
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
VCR cities & AA majority cities
