blacks living in north/east louisville (St. Matthews, Lyndon: crime, house, neighborhoods) - Jefferson County - City-Data Forum

jannydep · 03-31-2010, 07:59 PM

I got a kinda sensitive question. How safe is it for blacks to live in the north/east ends of Louisville? I mean are these pretty liberal areas? You hear so much bad stuff on the news about racism and I know Kentucky is a very red state with a not so great racial history. Are whites accepting of blacks in those areas? How will I be welcomed? I'm a great neighbor. I'm quiet. I keep a nice lawn, keep my house up. I just don't want anyone throwing bricks in my window or anything like that. What are your general feelings about this?

The Dissenter · 03-31-2010, 08:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jannydep

I got a kinda sensitive question. How safe is it for blacks to live in the north/east ends of Louisville? I mean are these pretty liberal areas? You hear so much bad stuff on the news about racism and I know Kentucky is a very red state with a not so great racial history. Are whites accepting of blacks in those areas? How will I be welcomed? I'm a great neighbor. I'm quiet. I keep a nice lawn, keep my house up. I just don't want anyone throwing bricks in my window or anything like that. What are your general feelings about this?

I'm a black man who will be moving to the greater Louisville area in a month. From my perspective, well-to-do blacks usually have more racial trouble from other blacks who aren't well-to-do than with white neighbors. That has been my experience living in the DC area which claims to be a black mecca, but for those blacks who don't embody someone's version of "black" is anything but a mecca. (Just find The_Fairfaxian on here to see real-life experience.) In respect to Louisville, I don't expect my theory above to change. I've been the only black on the block in nice neighborhoods before and usually if you're a good neighbor the folks will return the favor no matter what your color.

There are only two places in the Louisville area I, as an outsider, would advise blacks not to go. Bullitt County (which has a racist rep that other BRACcies in the DC area want to steer clear of) and West Louisville (which has crime so high I wouldn't have anyone of any color move into.)

LouisvilleKyborn · 04-01-2010, 12:01 AM

I'm in Lyndon and everything is all good here, no racism. Well actually no matter what neighborhood you go there is gonna be some real old people who might still be kind of racist or those select few who were brought up around racism. But yeah I'm in Lyndon which is pretty far east, kind of an cut off from St. Matthews and everything is good here. Idk much bout North Louisville Just don't go to the country places cause there has been and still is a lot of racism out in the boondocks.

ThePoint502 · 04-01-2010, 03:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jannydep

I got a kinda sensitive question. How safe is it for blacks to live in the north/east ends of Louisville? I mean are these pretty liberal areas? You hear so much bad stuff on the news about racism and I know Kentucky is a very red state with a not so great racial history. Are whites accepting of blacks in those areas? How will I be welcomed? I'm a great neighbor. I'm quiet. I keep a nice lawn, keep my house up. I just don't want anyone throwing bricks in my window or anything like that. What are your general feelings about this?

I've lived in the East End of Louisville a good portion of my life and I've honestly never heard of a hate crime in the area. I wouldn't say it's never happened, because those kind of things do just about anywhere, but not once have I ever heard that.

I really don't like the red state stereotypes and all that. I am not black so I really can't say if racism is experienced among blacks in the east end, but I honestly don't think you'll have any trouble when it comes to that.

I tend to hate all the Kentucky stereotypes and generalizations, and I am probably not alone in that sentiment. People label Kentucky as redneck or racist all the time. It's sort of offensive to be labeled that way as a white person from KY. You know, judge each person as they come. That's my philosophy anyways.

But yeah, back to the point, I don't think you'll have any trouble. In fact, I'd be shocked if you did.

pappy van winkle · 04-01-2010, 11:24 AM

I, too, would be shocked if you had any trouble. I wouldn't call anywhere in Louisville a "liberal" area politically (besides the Highlands), but if you mean "live and let live, then yes, most areas of the city are. As Alanboy mentioned, the only area of town I could see you having trouble in is the West end, and that's predominantly black.

tomocox · 04-01-2010, 12:06 PM

I am a white Euro-merican great-great grandson of slaves holders in Kentucky. I am a red necked Republican, and I attend an almost all white Christian church. I am supposed to be every black man, woman, or child's worst nightmare, and I live in 94% white Oldham County, etc, etc.

All that said, I believe we are the most accepting and encouraging state in the union. Very seldom is color seen, while behavior is always observed. Come to northeastern Jefferson and Oldham Counties, and you'll know as much peace as you practice. Blacks, whites, yellow, red, it makes no difference your color here. Accept us, and we'll accept you.

I assure you there will be racists in our area, but who said which race they belong to. I see far more racism coming than racism going.

In my world, if you carry green dollars, bleed red blood, wave a red, white, & blue flag, and respect yourself and your neighbor as equals, you'll do just fine.

bbkennedy · 04-01-2010, 01:03 PM

You'll be welcomed here all over town. Like Tom I'm a little tired of the "lynch em" stereo type but I know that's not your fault. For what it's worth, Louisville played a significant role in the underground rail road and was officially a yankee state. A little more relevant to today- I'd be surprised if you were looked at twice, or sideways, or any other way in any establishment in town. Come on in, the water's fine...

Peter1948 · 04-01-2010, 02:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jannydep

I got a kinda sensitive question. How safe is it for blacks to live in the north/east ends of Louisville? I mean are these pretty liberal areas? You hear so much bad stuff on the news about racism and I know Kentucky is a very red state with a not so great racial history. Are whites accepting of blacks in those areas? How will I be welcomed? I'm a great neighbor. I'm quiet. I keep a nice lawn, keep my house up. I just don't want anyone throwing bricks in my window or anything like that. What are your general feelings about this?

Come on now. Travel more. Louisville is more liberal than you think, and you will have no more problems in Louisville than in ANY city. This is the 21st century.

jannydep · 04-01-2010, 05:49 PM

Thanks all for your replies. You've reassured me. I'm sorry if I offended anyone by stereotyping Kentucky. I will come there with an open mind. My job is moving under the Base Realignment and Closure program coming from Alexandria VA.

tomocox · 04-01-2010, 06:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jannydep

Thanks all for your replies. You've reassured me. I'm sorry if I offended anyone by stereotyping Kentucky. I will come there with an open mind. My job is moving under the Base Realignment and Closure program coming from Alexandria VA.

Janny, What a glorious opportunity! BRAC is giving us the pleasure of showing the world that Kentucky is just that, a stereotype, when in fact, people such as you come here, fall in love with the state and never move away. People even retire/resign to stay in KY. We are honored to have you join with us.

I meant it when I said come and enjoy us and we'll enjoy you!