Young African-Amerian Male Relocating To Memphis...Your Perspective? (Collierville, Smyrna: college, place to live)

[REPBOY]

Originally Posted by nixstl8484

Hello All
I will be relocating to Memphis for an amazing job opportunity. I currently reside in Saint Louis, MO. I am a 27 year old African American professional male (in college as well). I was just interested in hearing opinions about Memphis from as many people in it as I can, I have a few questions and any insight would be greatly appreciated.

1: I hear people talking about and see posts about how dangerous Memphis is. If one actually does their research; St. Louis is higher up on the list and more dangerous than Memphis lol. But it does not seem like St. Louis is dangerous at all and I have lived here my WHOLE life. I know it is just a matter of perspective and environment and truly where you live…..that being said….is Memphis a dangerous place or just has dangerous area’s (as anywhere)
2: Can I find a decent place to live for a reasonable price…decent to me is no people loitering around the complex, an apartment and vehicle being fairly safe, decent manageable staff and the likelihood of crime not likely?
3:Is there public transportation and what is it like?
4:What are the church homes like?
5:What is the job market like and the acceptance of African-Americans?
6:Also…I know there was a flood there recently and am sorry for anyone affected. How did it impact the city…was it the whole city….are things like this common?
My family comes from Millington TN. A lot of my family is in Millington, Nashville or Smyrna. So I am familiar (have been there to hang out) with Memphis; Nashville more so lol. But I have never lived in Memphis and know it is different; very different from Nashville and Millington. I really focus on work and education but would like to be able to meet people and have fun on the weekends when wanted.

1.) There are more "dangerous areas", as you stated than overall danger. (Unfortunately for the residents of those neighborhoods)
2.) Good home values are available in this market and in this economy.
3.) Public transportation needs improvement and is not now a good alternative.
4.) My well known, large protestant church has a Black assoc. pastor and music director, and displays a billboard stating "Church should be as diverse as Heaven."
5.)Some African Americans whom I know have had visable corporate positions in large Memphis corporations since the late sixties. Now there is widespread application of Diversity standards with few acceptions.

There has been some unfortunate divisiveness attempted for political gain by certain local leaders over the last two dacades which has stalled city progress in some areas, but the corner has been turned on that IMO.

[Snake Plissken]

Originally Posted by ShaunJuan

most people in Memphis don't want Memphis to change

That's not true at all.

[Carlito Brigante]

Originally Posted by Tigertate

What you fail to realize is that everyone's perspective is different. What is shown in bold is you’re OPINION, not FACT. There are positive things going on in Memphis and many people are extremely happy working for some of the great corporations that call Memphis home. Memphis is definitely a work in progress, but people with your opinion of the city seem like you just want to see the city die on the vine. How is my post bringing up the point that Memphis "shuns outsiders and frowns on and discourages people with new, fresh, progressive ideas" when I basically said that the area needs new blood? Encouraging people that inquire about relocating to Memphis to “scratch Memphis off their list” (you said that in another thread) seems more like the mind set you described, than me encouraging people to take a good look at ALL Memphis has to offer, not just the negatives.

You still haven't brought any facts to the table to refute what you call my opinion, so what makes your statements on the topic any truer than mine?

[Snake Plissken]

Originally Posted by ShaunJuan

You still haven't brought any facts to the table to refute what you call my opinion, so what makes your statements on the topic any truer than mine?

It's not that kind of argument, bro.

[Carlito Brigante]

Originally Posted by Snake Plissken

That's not true at all.

Well if most people want Memphis to change so badly, then why hasn't it changed much over the years and why does Memphis continue to fall farther and farther behind most other Urban areas and Soutnern cities in the US? No one is saying Memphis has to be NYC, LA, CHI, or MIA, but when Jackson, MS and Little Rock, AR are starting to make bigger strides than Memphis, then that says a lot...

[Carlito Brigante]

Originally Posted by Snake Plissken

It's not that kind of argument, bro.

Who said it was an argument in the first place, bro? I sure didn't...

[Snake Plissken]

Originally Posted by ShaunJuan

Well if most people want Memphis to change so badly, then why hasn't it changed much over the years and why does Memphis continue to fall farther and farther behind most other Urban areas and Soutnern cities in the US? No one is saying Memphis has to be NYC, LA, CHI, or MIA, but when Jackson, MS and Little Rock, AR are starting to make bigger strides than Memphis, then that says a lot...

Because, like most things, it's easier said than done. Perhaps Memphis is a hopeless case, but that doesn't mean that people don't want it to change in any case.

[Carlito Brigante]

Originally Posted by Snake Plissken

Because, like most things, it's easier said than done. Perhaps Memphis is a hopeless case, but that doesn't mean that people don't want it to change in any case.

I can want a million dollars, but it's not going to just fall out of the sky into my lap. You are proving my point. Memphis is a city full of many talkers, but few doers. If people here really wanted change, they'd get together and back up all the talk with action.

[Snake Plissken]

Originally Posted by ShaunJuan

I can want a million dollars, but it's not going to just fall out of the sky into my lap. You are proving my point. Memphis is a city full of many talkers, but few doers. If people here really wanted change, they'd get together and back up all the talk with action.

Ok.

[Tigertate]

Originally Posted by ShaunJuan

Well if most people want Memphis to change so badly, then why hasn't it changed much over the years and why does Memphis continue to fall farther and farther behind most other Urban areas and Soutnern cities in the US? No one is saying Memphis has to be NYC, LA, CHI, or MIA, but when Jackson, MS and Little Rock, AR are starting to make bigger strides than Memphis, then that says a lot...

Jackson, MS!!!!

Are you serious? That place makes Memphis look progressive. Little Rock also has its share of issues for its relatively small size (i.e. crime, poor schools, etc). I lived in Little Rock for several years and still have family in the area that I visit often. The city has its good points, but it also has its bad; like any city. I enjoy Little Rock and have a good time visiting because I do not allow the negative aspects of the area define it. Unfortunately for Memphis, many people allow the negative issues here to define the city, which is sad.