MA Towns with a notable black middle class community? (Boston: 2015, hotel)

[bowie101]

Got into a conversation with a hotel manager in North Hampton area. He was black and a relatively unusual site to see someone who is black in a management position, in that area. At least I thought so based on my limited experience. I told him that I was looking for acceptable towns to live in , in the area. He went through the divisions of towns by street. A lot of help.

I asked him if he knew of towns in MA where there is a notable black, middle class community. It seems that in every town, if there is a black population, it's mostly poor and seen mostly in that light (drugs, crime, etc.). He said that as far as he knew there were only 2.

1) Oak Bluffs - and only in the summer
2) Cambridge - or rather, there used to be, and that black middle class community (of his father's generation) (this man - the son - grew up in Cambridge) is being or has already been gentrified out.

Does this square with your assessment? Are there any other places we missed?

[CaseyB]

Originally Posted by bowie101

Got into a conversation with a hotel manager in North Hampton area. He was black and a relatively unusual site to see someone who is black in a management position, in that area. At least I thought so based on my limited experience. I told him that I was looking for acceptable towns to live in , in the area. He went through the divisions of towns by street. A lot of help.

I asked him if he knew of towns in MA where there is a notable black, middle class community. It seems that in every town, if there is a black population, it's mostly poor and seen mostly in that light (drugs, crime, etc.). He said that as far as he knew there were only 2.

1) Oak Bluffs - and only in the summer
2) Cambridge - or rather, there used to be, and that black middle class community (of his father's generation) (this man - the son - grew up in Cambridge) is being or has already been gentrified out.

Does this square with your assessment? Are there any other places we missed?

Possibly Milton - depends on what you mean by middle class.

[bowie101]

well right now, I will take what you mean by middle class. Why Milton? Can you describe what you mean?

[BostonMike7]

I'd have to go with Milton as well as the first town that popped into my head.

Originally Posted by bowie101

1) Oak Bluffs - and only in the summer

Not sure I would agree with this one.

[CaseyB]

Originally Posted by bowie101

well right now, I will take what you mean by middle class. Why Milton? Can you describe what you mean?

Well it's the first "good" town right outside the traditional black areas of Boston so if you have some money and want better schools for your children you'd try to move there.

[bowie101]

Originally Posted by BostonMike7

I'd have to go with Milton as well as the first town that popped into my head.






Not sure I would agree with this one.

Boston Mike, are you suggesting that Oak Bluffs is now somewhat year round for middle class black families?

[GeoffD]

Originally Posted by bowie101

Boston Mike, are you suggesting that Oak Bluffs is now somewhat year round for middle class black families?

Oak Bluffs has a history as a black summer resort. In 2015, that has pretty much vanished. The middle class is priced out regardless of skin color. A local in OB is more likely to have some relative from the Azores a few generations back than anything else just like the rest of Southeastern Mass.

In my experience, the Massachusetts suburbs self-segregate along socioeconomic lines rather than race.

[BostonMike7]

Originally Posted by bowie101

Boston Mike, are you suggesting that Oak Bluffs is now somewhat year round for middle class black families?

Quite the opposite actually.

OB had a reputation of being a summer vacation spot for black families in the early part of the 1900's, but these days the people vacationing on MV tend to be more upper middle class to wealthy....which tends to be predominately white.

African-American's have history on MV, but these days they have been priced out as a previous poster said.

http://mvafricanamericanheritagetrai...oakbluffs.html

[vtecluder617]

Honestly, not a lot of towns really come to mind. I feel like the closest to fit that bill would be Randolph.

You're more likely to find towns like that in greater Atlanta.

[Shizim]

Originally Posted by GeoffD

In my experience, the Massachusetts suburbs self-segregate along socioeconomic lines rather than race.

i would agree with this.