Why I am Leaving Memphis (violent crime, neighborhood, closing)

[Escape Memphis]

Take a look at today's newspaper at this link... http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2008/may/17/finalists-r233sum233-diverse/ & WREG-TV Memphis - Whalum: "Youthful, Courageous, Black Male" Should Lead School System.

When questioned about a white guy that apparently is qualified for the job opening as Memphis City School Superintendant, School Board Member Kenneth Whalum states...
1) "My personal preference is still the same: that because of our demographics that (the next superintendent) should be a youthful, courageous black man,'' {whites and women need not apply}
2) "Blacks have been in charge for umpteen years and the system is in a shambles,'' he said. "Now that we're in charge, where is the substantive leadership? ...
"I want somebody who can get Memphis City Schools where it needs to be. I think we're on the verge of a takeover.''

Apparently the white guy that hopes to be hired as school superintendent was apparently asked in an interview no less, about being white and potentially being hired to run a predominately black/african-american school system (I thought bringing up race in an interview violates Title VII statute - Oh that’s right, doesn't apply in reverse here). In response to such a ridiculous interview question, the white guy (crackerman) (Gledich) said...
"Color -- race -- is not a factor especially when it comes to educating children,'' Gledich said in a phone interview this week.

I couldn't agree with the white guy more...race makes no difference, unless you're trying to be hired in a Memphis government position of real responsibility/high pay, and you've got the built in disadvantage of being white.

IGNORANCE IS RAMPANT IN THIS PLACE! It's getting worst too. What will this place be like in 10, 15 or even 20 years from now? I know that in a couple of months, there will be one less cracker family here (mine – Hot Springs, AR here we come).

As people like me leave, Memphis moves closer to the utopia that Kenneth Whalum and the other racist politicians in Memphis want...a city that is free of all Caucasians. Bye-bye Kenneth! Maybe you can find someone to run the school that's not only a black man, but is also accepting of the story of a couple of days ago in the newpaper where school officials looked on as city school students were doing the 'Rape Dance' at a school activity. Can you believe it? I am not making that one up either. Look at this link in the paper of two (2) days ago...Schools apologize for 'rape dance' video : Local &News : Commercial Appeal. & WREG-TV Memphis - School "Rape Dance" Video Posted on YouTube Shocks Parents.
Wonderful place for families to relocate to, huh? Yeah, right. The scary thing being that it's all true and reported in the newspaper in Memphis - around here, it's sad but it's just SOP.

[RikBrooks]

I certainly understand how you feel Escape Memphis. It seems such a lost cause.

I'm not ready to give up on Memphis though. I still think changes can be made.

[pushkinswife]

Escape I agree with you 100%. That is what's wrong with Memphis- everything has to be black and white. And thus the cycle continues. I personally believe that parents should be allowed to interview these candidates-not the school board alone. If we do get a candidate they will not stay long as dealing with Whalum and the like will get exhausting. Whalum had the church vote. That is the only reason he is on the school board.

[Escape Memphis]

10-4 pushkinswife, the place is black and white mentality. However, looks to me that if recent migration trends remain, Memphis will be an 70% black equation for babies born here today that become adults 18 years later.

Look at the info from the US Census at http://factfinder.census.gov and compare the Caucasian and African American population percentages over the 6 year period of 2000 vs. 2006. In 2000, whites were a whopping 34.4% of the population here. Six years later after a 3.9% decline (-.66% each year), whites were 30.5%. If that micro trend remains, then in 18 years the Memphis Caucasian population will be down to 14.9% while African American population in the same period of 2000 vs 2006 grew by 2.1% to 63.5%, hence by 2026 may be 69.8% of Memphis population. Now refresh my memory, who's the minority around here? Lol Maybe I’ve got to go to a Memphis City School to learn how majority today = 30.5%; while minority = 63.5%. New (Chinese) math I guess.

All I can say is God help the 14.9% Caucasian population in 2026 because at that point, if Caucasians are still held to account for most of the problems that African Americans endure in this city…holy US Census Batman, that 14.9% saltine population will have a lot on their shoulders with respect to responsibility for an 69.8% black population who may still believe it’s whites that are to blame for problems x, y, z, etc. Those last remaining Memphis Caucasians may indeed, be in a perilous position and times.

God willing, my 5 and 8 year old kids will never be raised here beyond their current ages for fear they might be one of the 14.9% in 2026.

[pushkinswife]

Well all blacks here don't have that mentality (me included) You have those on the Herenton bandwagon and you have the others who want a progressive change. And if your kids ARE still here maybe they and my future kids (gasp) can change this mess.

[Escape Memphis]

I definitely don't think all black have the 'whites are holding me back' mentality. E.g., Another father and his son are going with my son and I to US Space Camp next month for the Parent-Child program they have - the other Dad and his kid happen to be black and are good as gold; my son's best friend from school. I'm from Kansas and was not raised in a black racist environment (the mexicans were all bad to people in Kansas - lol).

I do however feel that black people who have risen above the Herenton sect and made something of themselves are indeed, the real victims here. You're feared by many whites (if you're a black male) and hated by many blacks who view progressive African Americans as Uncle Tom's. The guy I'm going to Space Camp with is one super duper Dad and a great friend. He knows why I'm escaping and while he wishes I wasn't, he totally understands why. He too wants to get out of dodge...he drives a nice car and is educated, talks in an understandable manner and for that...he catches it worst than I ever dreamed of from blacks that somehow believe success is failure or some other twisted thinking that I don't understand.

[pushkinswife]

^^^ Yeah thats a dichotomy that many blacks have to deal with. You make something of yourself -you are not keeping it "real". Or you are not "black" enough. Imagine me at a Disturbed concert (are you laughing yet?)

[pushkinswife]

Originally Posted by Lundan

I hear most of what you're saying. But I know plenty of well-to-do African Americans here who aren't progressive at all. They are just as backwards as the blacks in the hood. I do agree that the black community here has plenty of internal issues. It's like going on a job interview wearing a sweat suit but you complain when you don't get the job. Sadly, you can't change this magnitude of generational ignorance. It's inbred in too many black communities here. Trust me all, I know how these people think. They lash out because of their insecurities. That's why they are so violent and belligerent. They hate anything "progressive". They accuse you of thinking you are better.

But back to your "progressive" statement. I rarely meet any "progressive" blacks in Memphis. Most of the ones I know have relocated. Driving an Infinity M or being a member at World Overcomers hardly makes you "progressive". Like I always tell people, you must start with the children. Adults have to change on their own. That's if they feel the need to. And it's hard to rehabilitate criminals when they've ruined all their opportunities. And we have a lot of young black male criminals in this city. It's a dysfunctional culture where this lifestyle is glorified. They don't have much else so they have to make themselves feel proud of something. And most of them have never been exposed to anything else.

From my experience living here for some 29 years, for a black male to succeed here you have to be agreeable, connected to some black Greek organization, or be a part of some mega-church. And frankly all three suck to me.

You are right Lundy there is a fine line between the two. I look at "progressive" as thinking outside the box. Alot of the blacks I work with that are well off are still stuck in a slave mentality. They think to be "black" there is a list of things you must do and have or a certain way to act. And if you don't you are trying to be "saltine" (thanks Escape) and are not "keeping it real". Crabs in a barrel- you get yours because I have mine. And you are right the true "progressive" blacks leave or are trying to leave. The reason I am leaving is because I do not want to "settle" just because I was born here. There is more to do and see. Traveling has taught me alot more is out there. Closing down parts of downtown when there is a concert or game is so back woods. I have been to some of the biggest cities in the US. Never were the main streets blocked for an event. You are losing money and the travelers have no way of getting around because they are not from here. I could go on and on but this city is silly and backwards and not "fast" enough for me.

[Kabluey]

Originally Posted by Escape Memphis

10-4 pushkinswife, the place is black and white mentality. However, looks to me that if recent migration trends remain, Memphis will be an 70% black equation for babies born here today that become adults 18 years later.

Look at the info from the US Census at http://factfinder.census.gov and compare the Caucasian and African American population percentages over the 6 year period of 2000 vs. 2006. In 2000, whites were a whopping 34.4% of the population here. Six years later after a 3.9% decline (-.66% each year), whites were 30.5%. If that micro trend remains, then in 18 years the Memphis Caucasian population will be down to 14.9% while African American population in the same period of 2000 vs 2006 grew by 2.1% to 63.5%, hence by 2026 may be 69.8% of Memphis population. Now refresh my memory, who's the minority around here? Lol Maybe I’ve got to go to a Memphis City School to learn how majority today = 30.5%; while minority = 63.5%. New (Chinese) math I guess.

All I can say is God help the 14.9% Caucasian population in 2026 because at that point, if Caucasians are still held to account for most of the problems that African Americans endure in this city…holy US Census Batman, that 14.9% saltine population will have a lot on their shoulders with respect to responsibility for an 69.8% black population who may still believe it’s whites that are to blame for problems x, y, z, etc. Those last remaining Memphis Caucasians may indeed, be in a perilous position and times.

God willing, my 5 and 8 year old kids will never be raised here beyond their current ages for fear they might be one of the 14.9% in 2026.

Why bring up the Chinese in describing erroneous math? Is there a reason that they should be associated with inaccurate calculations? I am unaware of that history (unlike "Chinese wall.")

And I don't think there should be anything inherently wrong with whites or any race being a part of the 14.9%. The percentage shouldn't be the problem, nor the minority qualification. It should be who is in leadership. Or this may be the product of the fact that no matter whether blacks or whites are in charge, I will always be in the minority, and it doesn't affect me one bit. I don't fear either one in leadership, and exercise my power to proactively problem solve all the problems I complain about.

The bottom line is there are avenues for progressive minded folks to unite and overcome the racial barrier. Like-minded, color-blinded people. Honestly, based on your posts, I'm not sure if you would feel welcome in one of those groups. I hope your posts are an irrational product of intense frustration and not an accurate insight into your thoughts. In other words, I hope I'm wrong, and if so, I apologize.

If there should be a takeover, it should be of the younger generation taking over, the ones involved in MPact, and Leadership Memphis. As long as their issues don't involve race, whatever issues remain should be perceived as relative progress.

[strumpeace]

If there should be a takeover, it should be of the younger generation taking over, the ones involved in MPact, and Leadership Memphis. As long as their issues don't involve race, whatever issues remain should be perceived as relative progress.

Oh, Dear Lord. If MPact Memphis takes over, they will undoubtedly want taxpayer dollars to subsidize said takeover.