Comfortable/friendly cities for an African-American family? (New York, Buffalo: rent, house)

[SuperKitten]

Hi,

My husband and I currently live in Los Angeles and are thinking about moving to Upstate New York. He is black and I am black and white. He hopes to go for his PhD in Theology possibly in New York city, or at another school somewhere else in the state. I am a clinical social worker/therapist.

We are planning to have some kids, and would like to buy a nice house (probably a starter house at first, or maybe rent initially), but I can't help but taking the advice here with a grain of salt wondering if it would apply to a black family as well... Which cities upstate are welcoming for African-Americans? I want us to feel comfortable where we live, and for our future kids to feel comfortable as well.

We have been thinking about Saratoga Springs, Albany, maybe Syracuse. We are planning a trip to NY this fall and are trying to figure out where to visit. Any suggestions?

[garmin239]

The upstate cities do not have as many well off african-americans as los angeles. You would not have trouble fitting in as people in the cities are generally accepting but you may feel out of place. Though the street I live on in my suburb is about half black, most suburbs are whitebread.

[I'minformed2]

Garmin....what street in what suburb do you live on that is almost half black?

[garmin239]

Irondequoit. Don't want to give my street name out since I like to keep as much personal information off the net as possible.

[SuperKitten]

Originally Posted by garmin239

Irondequoit. Don't want to give my street name out since I like to keep as much personal information off the net as possible.

Thanks for your honest response garmin Is your street typical of Irondequoit?

[I'minformed2]

haha...I can answer that, NO. Like he said, suburban Rochester is almost all white. Brighton and Henrietta both have somewhat significant asian populations, and Greece and Gates have small Indian (from India) populations...but that's about it. That's why I was so surprised to read that his street was almost half black....in most of Suburban Rochester, it is still considered a "big deal" (NOT really considered a bad thing anymore, just something new and very rare) when even one black family moves into the neighborhood. I love greater Rochester and am very glad that I will be moving into a great house in Greece off English road by the end of August....but if there's one thing I just can't deny about it....its still pretty segregated. The city of Rochester has white neighborhoods, black neighborhoods and puerto rican neighborhoods (really only one neighborhood around N. Goodman street)...and the suburbs are all overwhelmingly white.

[aka_mouse]

Originally Posted by i'minformed

its still pretty segregated. The city of Rochester has white neighborhoods, black neighborhoods and puerto rican neighborhoods (really only one neighborhood around N. Goodman street)...and the suburbs are all overwhelmingly white.

This describes Buffalo also ... pretty much all the upstate cities are like this , Syracuse, Utica and Albany as well, Im sure.

[Mystery Buff]

It is so sad that there are still concerns as to where to live because of race. I also had to ask about it since we are an interracial couple wanting to relocate. I am sorry that this is still a concern in this day and age. Good luck to you.

[scatman]

One thing I learned about my time up in Syracuse (went to SU) was that although I loved school, there's a bit of blatant racism in upstate New York.

But the thing you are gonna have to be more concerned about is the job market, which is not that good upstate. It's been that way for the last 20 years.

[Mystery Buff]

really? That's too bad. I was looking forward to visiting Niagra Falls. There is a place there that I belive I am more than qualified to work at up there.

So, are there no "African American friendly" towns in New york state?