Why I am Leaving Memphis (Bartlett: public school, live in, restaurants)

[expatnortherner]

Originally Posted by pushkinswife

I think that good parents who have decided to stay here want nothing but the best for their kids. Those parents will hopefully have resiliant kids who will strive for excellence and want nothing to do with gangsta wanna-bes. The key is picking a good school and good neighborhood for your kids to thrive. BTW there are gangstas everywhere (corporate America, burbs, etc). They just don't fit the sterotype

If you're not involved i nthe lives of your children then it won't matter where they go to school.

Ex-Pat

[Deck]

Originally Posted by expatnortherner

Memphis doesn't have a race problem...
Ex-Pat

LMFAO, I'm sorry I couldn't get any further than that.

Da Nile.
It ain't just a river in Egypt.

[expatnortherner]

Originally Posted by Deck

LMFAO, I'm sorry I couldn't get any further than that.

Da Nile.
It ain't just a river in Egypt.

I guess my original statement is true:

"1. You haven't traveled enough"

By the way, seen the Nile. Wonderful place.

Ex-Pat

[Miami305Kid]

Originally Posted by estona1983

My family and I moved to Memphis about four years ago from Arizona. My wife had family here and I wanted my children to grow up around their grandparents. However, we will be moving in June. I have lived in Virginia, New Jersey, Arizona, Pennsylvania, and Arkansas. I have never lived in city as horrible as Memphis. Like any city there are some great people and some positive attributes but the bad GREATLY outweighs the good. My primary reasons for leaving are as follows:

1. Inadequate public education system; I am a firm believer in public education; we can afford private school but I don't like what it teaches my children.

2. Corrupt and incompetent government at all levels.

3. Memphis epitomizes the good ole boy system gone way wrong.

4. racial tension and segregation; My family is Caucasian but we value diversity; my best friends here are black not white because I don't identify with many so called southern gentlemen even though I was raised in the South.

5. crime/violence.

6. religious extremists; I go to church here and enjoy it but Memphis churches have way too much influence on public policy; in some cases churches help perpetuate racial segregation in the city.

7. Deteriorating and sub par higher educational institutions.


[color=black]Of course this is only my opinion, I am sure many folks disagree. Moderator cut: cut text

Welcome to what I would like to call a city.

1. Southern cities are known for friendliness, culture, and nightlife, not public education.

2. What city goverment isn't corrupt these days?

3. How could this be when the majority of Memphis is African-American? Obviously Memphis doesnt' have the white-on-black racisim issue otherwise why would so many African-Americans live there?

4. Move to NYC or L.A if you wanna see true diversity at work, other than that most American cities aren't what people would call "diverse"

5. Crime/violence occurs in every major/semi-intresting American city, what else is new?

6. You're in the south, did you expect religon not to be important in the bible belt?

7. Okay I don't know much about that since I don't live in Memphis but you're entitled to your opinon

Your complaints are similar to some people who live in Phoniex, Atlanta, Miami etc. All cities have the same set of basic problems (pollutution, crime, corruption, etc.)

[Pearlbob]

Not sure why there is a need to make comments on a city you don't live in. However, to say "why would black people live there (if there is racisim)" is a pretty ridiculous statement.

[Miami305Kid]

Originally Posted by Pearlbob

Not sure why there is a need to make comments on a city you don't live in. However, to say "why would black people live there (if there is racisim)" is a pretty ridiculous statement.

You're right, I'm sorry for defending Memphis and pointing out that what the problems the OP is complaining about happens in every major U.S city, not just Memphis. And I'm sorry for pointing out that Memphis can't be that racist too African-Americans otherwise why would they continue to live there for generations and more of them move there? I'm sorry I live in Miami so I can only talk about Miami stuff, I should have remembered.

[Pearlbob]

You have the right to your own thoughts. I think if you lived here, you'd be able to give a more informed opinion. Memphis does not equal Miami.

And you're right, black people should all just move away. That should be easy enough for everyone.

Originally Posted by Miami305Kid

You're right, I'm sorry for defending Memphis and pointing out that what the problems the OP is complaining about happens in every major U.S city, not just Memphis. And I'm sorry for pointing out that Memphis can't be that racist too African-Americans otherwise why would they continue to live there for generations and more of them move there? I'm sorry I live in Miami so I can only talk about Miami stuff, I should have remembered.

[DubbleT]

Originally Posted by Miami305Kid

3. Obviously Memphis doesnt' have the white-on-black racisim issue otherwise why would so many African-Americans live there?

Ha-ha-ha. How about poverty? Did I mention poverty? Lack of money, education, and better opportunities? Memphis has a very low cost of living. You think folks can just pack up and move to NYC or LA in order to escape the racism?
Not to mention, as you said, they have been here for generations. There is the whole issue of not wanting to leave your comfort zone. People are familiar with the city and the way things work here, even if it is far from perfect. They have extended family here too. Whole lot of reasons factor into why people stay in a place like Memphis.

[worried4kids]

Originally Posted by Deck

Racism is used as an excuse for our corrupt political leaders to get into office and to excuse their crimes.

Some prominent Memphis "Pastors" (and I use that term loosely) state that they can't support Sen. Steve Cohen because he's not African American.

Edmund Ford, a city council member busted by the Feds for taking bribes, in a televised city council meeting called a white female a KKK member.

Kenneth Whalum, another so-called "pastor" urged the City School System to deny a recommendation for a white man with great credentials to be put in the position because the system needed a BLACK MAN (since Herenton did such a great job I guess?)

In West Memphis, a white officer shot a black kid, who was out on the street at 10 o'clock a night, because the boy pointed a toy gun at him. The community was outraged and forced the officer to resign. A few weeks ago a black officer here shot an unarmed teenager, and it barely made a ripple in the news.

The mayor says white citizens of Memphis who didn't vote for him are racist. And calls them haters.

Promotions are backed up in the Police Department, because a group of black officers filed a lawsuit because not enough of them got promoted. Claiming the test was racially biased!! The questions are job-related, not asking to name off every member of the Brady Bunch, or name Garth Brooks' albums...


I could go and on, but this will be deleted as soon as I post it Im sure. The truth is scarry.

Now I"m worried about the racism. As we're considering moving to Bartlett. My husband is black, and my son bi-racial and my daughter is black. I'm white. Should we expect a problem?

[strumpeace]

Originally Posted by worried4kids

Now I"m worried about the racism. As we're considering moving to Bartlett. My husband is black, and my son bi-racial and my daughter is black. I'm white. Should we expect a problem?

No more problem than you would receive most anywhere else. I attended a church in Bartlett for a while and was amazed to see white folks and black folks worshiping side-by-side every Sunday. (Never saw that in my downtown church.) The Bartlett schools are among the more diverse schools in the Shelby County district. I think race relations in Bartlett are probably as good as you're going to find in the Memphis metro. Not perfect by any means -- but not horrid, either.

Best wishes.