Reality of LA's 'black neighborhoods'

[Reason talk]

thank you

.............

[VLWH]

Originally Posted by think.reciprocity

You must be careful of the stereotypes within your own thinking. My son, who is 19, wears just the clothes you are speaking of & if he had a car it would likely have the ridiculous rims & fixings that you speak of. Unfortunately, he's greatly influenced by the images of success & "cool" in the hip hop & gangsta rap scene that he's interested in.

But, he's just another young man... father... boyfriend... son... employee... citizen... HUMAN just like your nephews, brothers, uncles, fathers, etc. He's a good kid & he's not dressing like a gangsta - just like every other teen who's into that same scene right now. He doesn't carry a gun or belong to any gang (for reasons of his own values - but also because I'd kick his a$$... lol)
[/b]

Wearing those type of clothing, he should be expected to be viewed as a thug/gangbanger by others.

Originally Posted by think.reciprocity

The point of this thread is supposed to be that "Black Neighborhoods" are not simply the stereotype the majority holds - but increasingly so, in LA, affluent, desirable areas to live, grow, raise a family. Why can't we just let it be a discussion about that?

Very true. There are a few pockets of affluent areas where predominately blacks reside.

It does seem in Metro larger cities, such as Los Angeles , it tends to lean mostly blacks and hispanics. In rural areas, such as the rural desert areas, it tends to be mostly white non-hispanics.

A socioeconomic issue, not a racial one.

[think.reciprocity]

Originally Posted by VLWH

Wearing those type of clothing, he should be expected to be viewed as a thug/gangbanger by others.

What a narrow-minded, piggish thing to say. Truly! An entire generation of young people are wearing this type of "fashion" regardless of their skin colour. It's today's fashion for that age group - not a tell tale sign of thuggishness or gang membership.

Is it reflective of something "perhaps" negative? Perhaps. But, it's also about creating new style, flare, & identity. If the baggy clothes, big jewelry, etc had started from Country & Western music in the all whyte suburbs no one would be relating this to thugs or gangs.

You don't understand it so you judge it as bad - the crime of the ages.

Young people of all "races" / ethnic backgrounds are dressing in the very same way today. It's fashion - even if you don't understand or like it. Some who dress in the very same way just so happen to be thugs & gang folk. Some others still, are excellent students, college bound, productive citizens, reliable employees, great sons, partners, & fathers.

No one deserves to be judged because of other people's ignorance & prejudice. It is one thing to have a preconceived notion that someone who dresses in a certain way may be a certain way - but it is another thing entirely to act upon those assumptions without opening yourself up to seeking the truth. Those who refuse to do that will always miss out on a whole host of wonderful people who don't fit the status quo.

Shame on anyone who thinks it's okay, good, or right.

[VLWH]

First of all where in my statement did I mention anything about race? One could base your answer as narrow minded and piggish. Stating thug/gangbanger does not automatically mean black, hispanic, etc..

Second, I never said whether it was right or wrong. It was only an observation of society we live in and how someone who do dress like that should not be shocked when they are perceived as such. I mean isn't that one of the reason why some are dressing like that anyway?

Originally Posted by think.reciprocity

What a narrow-minded, piggish thing to say. Truly! An entire generation of young people are wearing this type of "fashion" regardless of their skin colour. It's today's fashion for that age group - not a tell tale sign of thuggishness or gang membership.

Is it reflective of something "perhaps" negative? Perhaps. But, it's also about creating new style, flare, & identity. If the baggy clothes, big jewelry, etc had started from Country & Western music in the all whyte suburbs no one would be relating this to thugs or gangs.

You don't understand it so you judge it as bad - the crime of the ages.

Young people of all "races" / ethnic backgrounds are dressing in the very same way today. It's fashion - even if you don't understand or like it. Some who dress in the very same way just so happen to be thugs & gang folk. Some others still, are excellent students, college bound, productive citizens, reliable employees, great sons, partners, & fathers.

No one deserves to be judged because of other people's ignorance & prejudice. It is one thing to have a preconceived notion that someone who dresses in a certain way may be a certain way - but it is another thing entirely to act upon those assumptions without opening yourself up to seeking the truth. Those who refuse to do that will always miss out on a whole host of wonderful people who don't fit the status quo.

Shame on anyone who thinks it's okay, good, or right.

[proteus]

Thanks for the interesting post.

**You made it seem as if all Black Atlantans are only middle class in comparison to those in L.A.**

I really didn't mean to imply that. I'm well aware that Atlanta's wealthy communities have a greater black presence than those in LA. LA is only 11% black. I was comparing Atlanta's affluent *black neighborhoods* to those of LA's, not Atlanta's black population in general.

Originally Posted by stvincent

You are right. Plenty of lower income blacks from the west and the north are moving into Atlanta's middle class and upper middle class Black communities, destroying the public schools in those areas. I am Black and live in Atlanta and when it came time to buy a home I wanted to move to Casacde but couldn't bring myself to do it. I noticed teens driving in chevys on 22s and dressed like thugs with grillz in the area. This would be in the same communities where homes were priced in the 400s-500s (which is quite affluent considering our low standard of living). I could never figure out that phenomenon of well off Black kids dressing, talking, and acting like they were from the ghetto. I also could not understand why the schools in these affluent all Black areas performed lower then the schools in the more affluent white sections of our Metro. Now I know. The majority of these families probably come from more lower class areas of the overly expensive west and north.

I live in Vinings, a predominately white suburb of the city just west of Buckhead. My home right now is probably worth around $2 million. You made it seem as if all Black Atlantans are only middle class in comparison to those in L.A. We live in million dollar homes too. We just HAVE to live in white communities if our price range appraoches the millions whereas in L.A. you don't. Most Blacks in this price range can't imagine paying all that money for poor public schools (although most affluent residents of every race in ths town opt for private schools) or for it to look like they live in a more upscale version of the ghetto. Keep in mind that Atlanta has the second highest concentration of Blacks making over $100,000 a year. D.C. of course is number one. Not sure where L.A. ranks on that list.

Due to the large number of upper class Blacks here and the lack of a community of our own in which we can settle in, most of us opt for white communities. Our upscale white areas have more of a Black presence than anywhere in the U.S. I believe. West Buckhed(med. home value $964,000) is 15% Black. Alpharetta, Sandy Springs, and the rest of Buckhead are affluent white communities with similar percentages between 10% and 20%. Beverly Hills, Brentwood, Pacific Palisades, etc. in L.A. all have 5% or lower for the number of Black residents. Our upper class community may not be as homogeneous as Ladera Heights but it's here with more upper class Blacks than L.A. and an ever increasing population. The Black Exodus here is not occuring by accident.

[West of Encino]

Originally Posted by proteus

Thanks for the interesting post.

**You made it seem as if all Black Atlantans are only middle class in comparison to those in L.A.**

I really didn't mean to imply that. I'm well aware that Atlanta's wealthy communities have a greater black presence than those in LA. LA is only 11% black. I was comparing Atlanta's affluent *black neighborhoods* to those of LA's, not Atlanta's black population in general.

Never the less as a black person, I'm never going to leave LA even if the city becomes over 50% white again.

[A.J._in_L.A.]

Originally Posted by West of Encino

Never the less as a black person, I'm never going to leave LA even if the city becomes over 50% white again.

Agreed.

[imaterry78259]

Come to San Antonio and live like a king