I would never ask this question, but... (Atlanta, Macon: transplants, neighborhoods)

[jazzrose]

after reading the threads on this forum, I must say that I am a little apprehensive about moving to GA. I get along great with all races but it sounds like "race" plays such a big part in this state?... It may make me and my kids uncomfortable, which I do'nt want.
Where are the Upscale African American neighborhoods? I would never ask but it think I should.
I just want to be in a good community with good schools for me to raise my kids.Maybe Atlanta is not the city to move too.

To the Georgia residents, are you so unhappy that you are ready to relocate or you just do not want an more transplants. What's up?. There are alot of complaints but no one ever says that they're moving. Why are there so many different views of one State. I wanted this exprience to be fun and exciting, now its just scary and confusing.
Any thoughts?

[TakeAhike]

There have been a number of threads about this in the Atlanta forum.

I suppose there are some problems but overall people seem to be getting along pretty well.

Here's a thread>>
http://www.city-data.com/forum/atlan...ndertones.html

[deja-zebbie]

jazzrose,

I'm so sorry to hear you're feeling scared about your possible move to Atlanta.

In terms of race coming up on some of the threads that are not on the Atlanta "sub group" (don't know the proper name for this), the question of race has often come up BY PEOPLE THINKING OF MOVING TO GEORGIA. That is, a number of times people who are thinking of moving to Georgia have expressed their concerns about what they have heard OUTSIDE OF GEORGIA in regards to racial harmony IN Georgia.

Right off the bat, I can think of two people who appear to be genuine and very nice who have raised these issues prompted from what they have heard OUTSIDE of Georgia. I can also think of one person who --->had recently moved to Georgia<----- and was IMHO warning someone about moving to areas that might have large Black "populations". I was personally really put off by that comment and replied with a pretty snotty comment.

Recently there was also post which pretty much was very "racial" in nature. I had read other posts by this same person and because of those prior posts, didn't give what was written much credibilty.

On the other hand there was a post recently by a Black person (woman, I think) who seemed unhappy that her neighbors weren't Black, though there were Black people in her area. The woman seemed very nice and I did understand her point, but I still found the post upsetting. I kept thinking how her comment would have been viewed if she were a White person and considering moving because her neighbors weren't White.

Here's what I suggest that I hope will make you feel more at ease. It will take extra time, though. If you see a scary comment about race, take the time to read other post by the same person by using the search function. That way you can get a better "handle" on the person who is MAKING the comment.

If you can decide on what you're looking for in terms of a community (not just good schools, but the TYPE of life you want for yourself and your family, what you see yourself and your family DOING) then I think people on this list will be better able to help you try and find that. Also, I figure you have a clear reason for your possible move?

We don't live in Atlanta, but live in the metro Atlanta area in a rural area, so I can't offer any advice about Atlanta (except if you need docs or a hospital we think the Emory docs and hospital are top notch).

I feel strange writing "Black" and "White". I come from an area in the West where we used "African-American" and "Anglo" and using the term, "Black" was considered poor form. I spend my days with "Black" people and that's the term they use, so I've kind of adopted it. As for myself, as we used to say in the West, I'm "Native American" and
"Anglo"...and not Native American from some distant past.

Only you can decide about the move, but I really think the people on this list will help.

All the best,
zebbie

[johndoeboy]

Yes race is a problem in ga. Racism and bigotry is alive and well even in atlanta which is supposed to be a model for ga. That should tell you if atlanta has race problems you know the good ole boy mentality is in smaller citys and towns. Alot of ppl dont care about race and just want to live a regular life. But alot of ppl in ga are stuck on race especially over 40. The younger generation seem to be friends, and are even dating each other. So yeah the small towns and some suburbs around the metro cities do have a race problem

[jpowalowski]

Shocking! I just don't see it being any more of an issue than it is anywhere else in the US. Of course there is always going to be someone ignorant and old school that causes a problem. I live in a suburb north of Atlanta that was very well known as being "racist" not too long ago, now people of all races are moving to the area and living in harmony. I just started reading the forum on this website yesterday and I am amazed at all of the discussions regarding this issue. Maybe it's because of where I live that I just don't understand??? Wow!

[jazzrose]

Thanks for the repsonses.
I have relaxed a little after doing some more research. I'm not thinking about moving into the city of Atlanta but I will be working there. What cities should I consider with good Schools and a good neighboorhood to raise children. Remember if you currently live in GA, please be honest. Thanks again for the replys.

[pirate_lafitte]

Originally Posted by jazzrose

after reading the threads on this forum, I must say that I am a little apprehensive about moving to GA. I get along great with all races but it sounds like "race" plays such a big part in this state?... It may make me and my kids uncomfortable, which I do'nt want.
Where are the Upscale African American neighborhoods? I would never ask but it think I should.
I just want to be in a good community with good schools for me to raise my kids.Maybe Atlanta is not the city to move too.

To the Georgia residents, are you so unhappy that you are ready to relocate or you just do not want an more transplants. What's up?. There are alot of complaints but no one ever says that they're moving. Why are there so many different views of one State. I wanted this exprience to be fun and exciting, now its just scary and confusing.
Any thoughts?

I am just giving my account of Atlanta from my perspective. I don't go into the city of Atlanta. There are racial overtones, it is all under the surface because Atlanta is suppose to be a model for the rest of the South. Atlanta's biggest problem is pretensions. The younger generation is starting to get better, but there is still racial tension in metro Atlanta. No one likes to talk about it and some will go further by saying that the North is worse. My thoughts are that the north is not much better or worse than the South and the South isn't that much better or worse then the North, just different. In the north, there is no place that is suppose to be the "model city" and the fact that alot of older cities like Philadelphia, Baltimore, Boston, etc. have had more ethnic groups settle in the area earlier, so they established ethnic neighborhoods. The South didn't have this so much unless you count New Orleans or St. Petersburg,FL. Not as many ethnic groups, so while it doesn't "feel" as segregated, it's there. Atlanta's ethnic diversity came much later and because it is a relatively young, relatively low density city, any areas that are segregated tend to be further apart, so you can't tell just by looking. Subdivisions and not much socializing outside of subdivisions in the suburbs can hide segregation. There are alot of all-black subdivisions in DeKalb County and Fulton. Atlanta has it's integrated parts too. In older, Rust Belt like cities, segregation is easier to point out.

[bleighorr]

I'm a GA transplant from NC and originally from NY and i'm moving back to NC next month. THe economy is the single worst factor where i'm at, which is Camden County, GA. You're either rich or not. No in between. No really racial issues here b/c it's a military town. Better racial climates in towns with Air Force bases, military installations, etc. Sometimes places with several universities tend to be less racially charged.

Most of these towns in southeast and working towards western Ga are good ole boy networks, rednecks, etc., so if you're looking for racial harmony, stay closer to a big city. I know places like Waycross, Macon, etc. still have issues.

[gahomes247]

Originally Posted by jazzrose

Thanks for the repsonses.
I have relaxed a little after doing some more research. I'm not thinking about moving into the city of Atlanta but I will be working there. What cities should I consider with good Schools and a good neighboorhood to raise children. Remember if you currently live in GA, please be honest. Thanks again for the replys.

Look into the city of SUWANEE which is Gwinnett County, Dacula ,some parts of Lawrenceville and Buford are afortable if you are looking in the lows 200K. Good Luck


Make It a Great Day...

[charolastra00]

It really depends on where you live in the Atlanta metro or exurbs in terms of racism. Most areas have gotten much better. I grew up in Forsyth County shortly after Oprah marched there (and you would be AMAZED at how many people across the country remember that when they find out where I'm from!!) as a Jewish girl from Massachusetts with a liberal family, so yeah, when I post, a lot of what I say is tinged by that experience. A lot has changed in the 15 years since I was a 5 year old girl who let it slip that I was Jewish in elementary school and had a cross burned on my lawn (probably mostly people from Dawsonville anyway- which now, ironically- has one of the best Chinese restaurants I've been to in the South).

I probably wouldn't recommend an African American to move to Cumming- but hey, even in the 4 years from the beginning to the end of high school, I saw a RADICAL change in peer's views of some of the African Americans moving into the community. It's still a very small population, but that is changing.

Alpharetta, Roswell, and Marietta don't have the history that Cumming does in terms of race and so a lot of the racial tensions are minimal to nonexistant.