Why I am Leaving Memphis (crime rate, private school, college)

[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

[TheSwede]

I just moved here after my husband accepted a job here. We moved from Washington State. I just am curious over the so-called racial tension. What kind are we talking about? I haven't noticed any racism or crimes other then what they report on the news. The only thing I noticed is bad drivers. Anyway, I have only been here for 2 months so I guess I find out for myself what Memphis is all about.

[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.

[strumpeace]

Originally Posted by TheSwede

I just moved here after my husband accepted a job here. We moved from Washington State. I just am curious over the so-called racial tension. What kind are we talking about? I haven't noticed any racism or crimes other then what they report on the news. The only thing I noticed is bad drivers. Anyway, I have only been here for 2 months so I guess I find out for myself what Memphis is all about.

School board(s), City Council, County Commission, City Mayor's Administration, Thaddeus Matthews, City park names -- These are some of the sources of racial tension in the City. The average, everyday Memphian does not spend his/her time worrying about race. It is what it is.

But race is always an undercurrent, and some people (both white and black) look at every move that occurs in the City through racial lenses.

[Deck]

Go down to the lower level of 201 Poplar, on any given weekday morning.

Hang on to your hat, Washington! You ain't seen nothing yet.

[Memphian007]

Moving to Memphis to live closer to family was probably a big mistake (as you now know). I have lived here my whole life (minus living in East TN for college) and am counting down the days when I can finally leave for good. I am a nurse and tied into a contract, but once it's up, I am going far, far away.

I disagree with you on the school systems. Yes, the city school systems are awful and I would never send my child to them but the county schools aren't bad. I researched all the school's including all TCAP test scores and I sent my son to the school that I thought would be best for him. I am very pleased with my decision.

I am a pediatric nurse and work very close with the underprivilaged A.A.'s in our city. I wish people could walk a day in my shoes at work. ......I wish I could rescue them all, but I can't. All-in-all THAT is where all the anger and hate is coming from.

I am not a racist, but I will say that I am sick of people in this city. The sad thing is that it is only getting worse. My best friend since grade school is black and her and her entire family agree with me. The A.A. population is a lot higher than the white in Memphis and our crime rate (esp hate crimes) is getting out-of-hand. I think our government is to blame for a lot of their "ways" b/c we are telling them that it's okay to not work and have more babies. We will give you more money! I was a single mom working all the way through school and I got ZERO help. According to the government, If I would have stayed at home, not worked, and not gone to school, they would have helped me.

I will get off my soapbox now. But, I would think that it would be wise of you to move far away from here.

[strumpeace]

The only problems with county schools:

1) Constant threat of consolidation with city schools. It's going to happen. It may take a few years, but it will happen.

2) Repeated and arbitrary rearrangement of school zone boundaries.

The education of a child is a 12-year commitment. I would have a hard time putting my child in a school system without having some faith that the system will be constant over at least the next 6 years, if not the next 12 years. With any school system, you expect that minor changes may occur. But with the Shelby County school system, you don't know what tomorrow holds -- much less 6 or 12 years from now.

[dalorax]

The grass may not be all that much greener.
Memphis doesn't have anything on Detroit.

YouTube - Kwame Kilpatrick Drops N Bomb at State Of The City!
Could it possibly be demographics?

[estona1983]

The sad thing is that Memphis could be so much more. There has always been a great deal of potential but much of it has been wasted. There are some good public schools here too despite how little support they receive from the city and parents.

[scottv]

I grew up in Memphis and I know what you're saying...come on over to Nashville! It's AMAZING what a difference a few hundred miles down I40 can make-of course we have our own issues here (illegals, rising crime), but nothing like Memphis...I'm trying to get my sister and mom/dad to move here from Memphis, I'm always paranoid something will happen to my mom especially-she works in the Binghampton area of Memphis. I really dislike going back to Memphis-I will be attending BBQ Fest though, that's a must!