Growth in black population (Jacksonville, St. Augustine: high crime, homes, buying)

[apvbguy]

Originally Posted by zaddisw

It seems as though most african americans are in the heart of Jacksonville and not smaller areas like St. Johns. Why does anyone think that is? My family is African American and we are thinking of relocating to FLorida. St Johns has the great schools but such a small number of african american children/families. I do not want my children to be such a minority at the schools or in their neighborhoods. Any suggestions? it seems that the larger populations of AA's in Jacksonville in certain areas have not so good school ratings. I am BIG on education. Any suggestions would help on where in Jacksonville to move to. Thanks

NIKKI

a lot of the reason is economics and tradition, st johns is a more expensive place to live than duval, and st johns has only recently developed while duval is a much older area. so while blacks have lived for a very long time in duval, as st johns built up few blacks moved there. you have to make the choice, either you move to st johns and deal with being in a small minority or move to a traditional black area of duval where you may feel more "at home".

[apanda]

Also, before the 70's a lot of properties were deed restricted to where blacks could not live on the Southside of town or in some areas or the beaches. Most people tend to keep in the same areas that their families have been in for years. I would not worry about whether or not your child is a minority, I would be more worried about schooling and crime.

[riveree]

Originally Posted by zaddisw

It seems as though most african americans are in the heart of Jacksonville and not smaller areas like St. Johns. Why does anyone think that is? My family is African American and we are thinking of relocating to FLorida. St Johns has the great schools but such a small number of african american children/families. I do not want my children to be such a minority at the schools or in their neighborhoods. Any suggestions? it seems that the larger populations of AA's in Jacksonville in certain areas have not so good school ratings. I am BIG on education. Any suggestions would help on where in Jacksonville to move to. Thanks

NIKKI

It's hard to compare the 2 counties apples to apples because there are some important differences, the first of which being their populations.

St. John's county, even with the "boom" of the last few years, hasn't reached a population of 200,000 yet. Duval county is well over 800,000+, or 1,000,000+ if you include the unincorporated parts (the Beaches, etc.).

St. John's has traditionally been a heavy tourist and retirement location, while Duval has been a medium-sized working Southern city. African Americans have populated both counties, but in smaller numbers in St. John's, understandably. Retirees that have relocated to St. John's over the decades probably weigh more towards white, I would imagine, and still make up a good percentage of the population today. The topic of "white flight" has also been brought up regarding the current young family influx into St. John's County .

St. Augustine has been a regular part of my life since I was a kid in the 70's, and I lived there full-time for a few years as an adult before moving to Jacksonville. It has seemed to me to be more segregated in St. Augustine. There are traditional African American enclaves in St. Aug, but those locations are not going to get you the schools you desire .

I think you can go either way, really. You can find good schools in Duval county, there's just some inconsistency that is frustrating. For example, in Duval, you might find a neighborhood where your elementary and middle schools are A-rated, but your high school is terrible. Right now, St. John's county is flush with cash and still has a low population, so they don't face some of the same struggles the Duval county system faces and most of their schools rate well. St. John's also has a very small school system in comparison to Duval, so it may be more manageable due to sheer size.

A benefit of Duval county, school-wise, are the options. We have a Magnet program and we also have a large selection of private and parochial schools, so you don't have to be completely dependent on the regular public system.

Both counties have plenty of nice, family-friendly areas and beautiful neighborhoods, so it's a toss-up there .

[Tony Bowlasoupa]

Originally Posted by riveree

I don't think it is that bad here. There is plenty of room for improvement, like most American cities, but it's not as bad as some people will have you believe.

I think people are more prejudice than racist here, or anywhere for that matter. Most jacksonvilleians don't dislike someone based soley on their race, but more about their apperance and how they carry themselves. If you dress like a hood rat and walk into certain parts of town, or are the epitome of a whiteboy and go into mostly all black neighborhoods, yeah a little pre-judgement might be cast or words spoken because the locals might be scared or worried about what your intent is, but I dont think it's to the level of racial slurs, hateful remarks. People misuse the term racist way too much, racist implies hatred based soley on race. Most White people are weary of thugs, not "blacks" But who knows, I live in the smaller liberal, mixed up core of the city (not a fan of the burbs) so I might be totally disconnected from other people's reality.

[apanda]

I think that you have spoken very accurately, Tony

[cricketfan]

Originally Posted by zaddisw

It seems as though most african americans are in the heart of Jacksonville and not smaller areas like St. Johns. Why does anyone think that is? My family is African American and we are thinking of relocating to FLorida. St Johns has the great schools but such a small number of african american children/families. I do not want my children to be such a minority at the schools or in their neighborhoods. Any suggestions? it seems that the larger populations of AA's in Jacksonville in certain areas have not so good school ratings. I am BIG on education. Any suggestions would help on where in Jacksonville to move to. Thanks

NIKKI

I don't think that African American families that moved to St. Johns Cty were all that concerned about African American neighborhoods any more than Irish or Italian families would be looking for their own hoods. Economics has alot to do with the concentration of AAs in certain areas of Jax and African American retirees in St. Johns may be better off than most.

But since you consider the schools in St. Johns to be the better schools on average and if you are big on education for your children, as you say you are, then part of that education should be how to co-exist with other races because that is going to be their reality outside of school.

[sunnydaaize]

I am thinking of relocating to the Jax area as well, specifically St Johns County for the schools. Since you've first posted, what have you learned about the area regarding African American children/families? I'm having the same dilema as you, so I'm curious. I was thinking of joining the alumnae chapter of my sorority there as I did when I moved to Ft Lauderdale. Any help you've learned is greatly appreciated!

[ShakenStirred]

Originally Posted by riveree

I don't think it is that bad here. There is plenty of room for improvement, like most American cities, but it's not as bad as some people will have you believe.

Except for a few pockets of redneckitis that still still exist, racism from a normal professional white American citizen is virtually gone. The only thing that keeps it seemingly alive is the press, the media and the government. They have to keep it alive. They use it to get votes, and in the process, the create a racism of the blacks towards the whites, and they like it that way. It pisses me off the way the government has manipulated this issue to garner power over it's citizens. IF everyone would just stop talking about it and refuse to participate, it would go away completely on it's own I think (minus the redneckitis, which is a hereditary disease, LOL!) it would just go away and cease to exist.

Just for the record, and this will shock and confuse some of you most likely, but I am a staunch registered white Republican. I will be voting for John McCain. I also have and have had all my life good friends who are black, gay, lesbian and my very first roomate was black. One of my best friends is black. He owns 2 businesses and I use him as a consultant on important business issues from time to time. I judge a man based on his merit, and quite honestly I really don't even think about the color of someone's skin unless they bring it up. It doesn't enter my thought process. I am also PRO Choice, to confuse matters even further. It's nobody's business, especially the government's. Their primary job is to protect us via the military from foreign threats, not personal moral issues that they percieve as threats to ourselves.

These are two of the biggest issues that the Republicans and Democrats like to try and use to pit the American people against each other to gain votes. My point is, the typical media portrayal of the "rich evil white Republican" is a farce. Just like the portrayal of the "tree hugging liberal" is a farce. If there were as much division in basic human values in this country as the government would like us to believe, then we'd be at war with our neighbors across the street. Yes, there are extremes on both sides, but isn't it funny how my neighbors across the street, one black and one Puerto Rican, are both Democrats, yet as we all chat and drink our beer together in the evening, we agree on just about every single issue that affects our lives???

I only hope I live long enough to see a third, more realistic party finally take control and bring things in Washington back to some semblence of order and honesty, but it will be a long time I'm afraid.

Sorry I have turned this topic political, I will bow out now respectfully. The nature of the thread I think was inappropriate as it does nothing but add fuel to a fire that has been trying to die out for decades.

[JagFan27]

Originally Posted by ShakenStirred

Except for a few pockets of redneckitis that still still exist, racism from a normal professional white American citizen is virtually gone. The only thing that keeps it seemingly alive is the press, the media and the government.

I wish that were true, but I hear people talk, and racism is alive. It's just not as out in the open as it was.

[cricketfan]

Originally Posted by JagFan27

I wish that were true, but I hear people talk, and racism is alive. It's just not as out in the open as it was.

You are right, but this is true about most diverse cities, not just Jacksonville, because whether we believe it or not we still have some neanderthals living among us. So yes, it is alive but for a city with a 35% black population I would say that people here get along reasonably well.

My advice to the OP is not to look for it. When you look for racism you usually think you found it even in places where it doesn't exist.