Comfortable/friendly cities for an African-American family? (New York, Buffalo: apartments, rental homes)

[garmin239]

That is a ridiculous comparison. You are comparing apples to oranges. You are comparing affluent suburban areas like Rockland and Columbia to Cities in upstate. How about comparing city to city? Of course there will be more renters in a city compared to a suburb.
Not to mention you seem to be making a point that DC is not more expensive but use "data" from Baltimore areas like Columbia.

[shibainu]

Originally Posted by garmin239

That is a ridiculous comparison. You are comparing apples to oranges. You are comparing affluent suburban areas like Rockland and Columbia to Cities in upstate. How about comparing city to city? Of course there will be more renters in a city compared to a suburb.
Not to mention you seem to be making a point that DC is not more expensive but use "data" from Baltimore areas like Columbia.

It is not ridculous comparison. I gave two area's in maryland because they are diverse middle class. It does not matter if suburb or not the truth is that the upstate cities do not have a African American middle class. Again if you read my first post I was explaining to the person that there is a bigger African American middle class in the state of Maryland than Upstate ny. Columbia was a good example of diversity but I could of used dozens of towns/city/suburbs of D.C. . But it would not matter the data is very comparable. Some of the Upstate cities that were used had simliar population. But show me a diverse suburb area an upstate and we can compare. oh, wait the suburbs in upstate ny are not diverse. So how can we compare.

[garmin239]

It is ridiculous to compare a suburb to a city. Cities have different types of housing compared to suburbs. Suburbs are more spread out and have more owner occupied homes. That is why you see the rental/owner differences. Similar population size means nothing if you are comparing apples to oranges. Many upstate cities do not have a large African American middle class, just like many cities across the country. There are middle class African Americans in the suburbs of every city.
There is more to data than numbers. Many of these numbers you provide make no sense at all. For example you claim that many blacks are living in poverty in one of the Rochester suburbs but somehow many of them own their own homes. You can't own a home living in poverty.

[shibainu]

Originally Posted by garmin239

It is ridiculous to compare a suburb to a city. Cities have different types of housing compared to suburbs. Suburbs are more spread out and have more owner occupied homes. That is why you see the rental/owner differences. Similar population size means nothing if you are comparing apples to oranges. Many upstate cities do not have a large African American middle class, just like many cities across the country. There are middle class African Americans in the suburbs of every city.
There is more to data than numbers. Many of these numbers you provide make no sense at all. For example you claim that many blacks are living in poverty in one of the Rochester suburbs but somehow many of them own their own homes. You can't own a home living in poverty.

I forgot rockville md is a city and almost the same size as Poughkeepsie. Look if an area is economically depressed then then numbers show it and that is what it shows. Rochester and other cities/towns in upstate/downstate are economically depressed. If you really believe my data makes no sense don't listen. I'll I am trying to show is that upstate ny doesn't have a middle class african american community.

[garmin239]

Have you ever been to Rockville? Its more of a suburb to DC than a city. I don't believe your data makes any sense because it contradicts itself. And yes there is a middle class african american community in upstate. I have seen it with my own eyes. Is it as big as communities in Virginia? No. But it exists. You seem to look at everything in black and with using numbers. You can't base opinions on numbers alone.

[pickledcotton]

I live in Liverpool, right on the edge of Clay, right now. I must admit I was startled by the title of this thread because I don't think in black and white... and then I felt it was sad that race had to be a consideration. But I understand.

Our street has two African-American families, I believe. We also have Indians and Asians as well, though I would say the street is 80% white.

I grew up in the Orange County area (Pine Bush). I played softball in middle school and high school and we played Newburgh (NFA) quite a bit... 20 years ago we were always concerned going into Newburgh to play. But to be fair... at that time and in that area there was a LOT of racism. Parts of Newburgh are fine and parts are very run-down... like a lot of areas.

We have the same thing in Syracuse. In and south of the city there are a lot of poor areas which are predominantly African-American. Then you go north into the suburbs where I am and it's fairly white. I've never heard of a hint of racism as long as I've been here, though.

Depending what fields you and your husband are in, I'd be concerned about the job market, though. I'm in a technical field and the job opps have really dried up in the past 10 years.

I wish you luck in your search!

[GPS4ATLANTA]

Currently live in upsate New York. Well qualified, very stable, tried to start a business here and of course, the old you have too much to begin business here question came out from local city, county, statem and some federal government folks. Upstate is not kind to African Americans in this business realm unless you're seeking to open a liquor store, pizza and wings shop or a hoagies place. I am on my way out of upstate as I have never seen a more backwards, racists, poor dunk town in my life.

[bellafinzi]

Originally Posted by GPS4ATLANTA

Currently live in upsate New York. Well qualified, very stable, tried to start a business here and of course, the old you have too much to begin business here question came out from local city, county, statem and some federal government folks. Upstate is not kind to African Americans in this business realm unless you're seeking to open a liquor store, pizza and wings shop or a hoagies place. I am on my way out of upstate as I have never seen a more backwards, racists, poor dunk town in my life.

Where Upstate?

[Golflad]

East Irondequoit is your best selection. I moved here from Rochester 20 years ago and raised two kids that went to the schools here. This part of town has really turned around. Eastridge High School is the best example of the east side turn around,a new principle, recent library addition, first rate teachers, super music department, great students ( white,black,hispainc,asian,muslim,jewish )and best sports teams(football team is best in county). I am a city boy and I wanted a diverse setting for our kids and I found one. We are lilly white and could afford to live anywhere but choose here.

[BuffaloTransplant]

Have you considered what schools are available in Theology? What religion or doesn't it matter? I'd look at that first before I would look for the area. In WNY several universities have Theology degrees, but both I know of are Roman Catholic ( Canisius in Buffalo & St. Bonaventure- that is on Olean). There is also a seminary in E. Aurora, Christ the King. If your husband is looking at a seminary education isn't that different than just a degree in theology? Have you also looked at SUNY Buffalo? I imagine they have theology in there somewhere; they have a philosophy, not a straight theology

While you can find a "cheap starter house" really cheap in a totally ratty area in the city of Buffalo, you can also find one in most areas of Amherst (where SUNY Buffalo is) and where there are African-American middle and upperclass professionals. You also will find jobs in social work and your field here. You need to find a person you know who can give you info on the area from perhaps a relative who lives there.