Liberal City in North Carolina (Charlotte, Raleigh: buy, camp, club)

[SunnyKayak]

please re read the op to what the OP was asking

[mdp_az]

Originally Posted by urbancharlotte

No, but I am suggesting that an area that is more than 60% and 70% of one race of people, is not going to be very liberal for all Americans. It is my experience that when one group of people dominate an area, it is that group of people that tend to think it is liberal. Point blank, many blacks I know in Charlotte left their hometown of Asheville because they did not see it as being very liberal for them. I am not at all calling Asheville racists. What I am saying is that caucasians seem to view Asheville a whole lot differently than blacks. I am a black truck driver that makes deliveries sometimes to Asheville. Most of the blacks living there tell me "this place ain't for us". With that kind of knowledge in the back of my mind, I will NEVER crown Asheville as being NC's liberal capital. Sorry, ain't happening. On the same token, few caucasians would describe Detroit as being very liberal. Most blacks however think it is "our liberal capital". Detroit is over 90% black BTW.

My point is that first hand experience has taught me that being liberal has a lot to do with the person who is calling a place liberal and the demographics of the community being labeled as such. This is where Durham and Charlotte shine. These are NC's true liberal communities for EVERYBODY. I say Charlotte is first, and Durham is a close second. Raleigh and Asheville are liberal too. I just don't think they are liberal to everybody the way how Charlotte and Durham are...

On a national scale though, NC is too southern white/black to be considered liberal. San Fran is thought to be VERY LIBERAL. Many blacks I know from the Bay area would rather live in Oakland though. I wonder why? Could it be the 7.8% black population of San Fran?
San Francisco (city) QuickFacts from the US Census Bureau

Or is it the 35.7% black population of Oakland?
Oakland (city) QuickFacts from the US Census Bureau

Demographics matter when ever we dicuss liberal or conservative areas!!!

That sounds more like self-imposed segregation as opposed to the balance of liberals vs. conservatives. Political ideas transcend race...isn't that something we should've learned in this election??? Obama didn't win on the black vote alone. As long as anyone continues to focus on races and not ideas, racism in this country will never die.

Forget for a minute that Durham is 45% black and 45% white and just look at voting patterns and the grassroots organizations in the community - it is undoubtedly quite liberal. FWIW, I'm not saying this as a liberal, myself; I'm a fiscally conservative, socially liberal enironmentalist and remain politically unaffiliated.

[urbancharlotte]

Originally Posted by mdp_az

As long as anyone continues to focus on races and not ideas, racism in this country will never die.

I hope this statement isn't implying that I am racist ROTFLMAO!!!! My wife is a beautiful white girl from Kentucky. I also have a very handsome biracial 5 year old that is eating a happy meal as I speak. I have no way of proving this though because am not (and will not be allowed) to post links to my family pictures. I will say that liberal/conservative/race do play huge roles together.

Asheville is a very liberal area to many. It is not that liberal to all however. Durham is very liberal to many. It is not that liberal to all. Durham is the most diverse city and county in NC however. I think I mentioned it as #1 and Charlotte as #2 in diversity. I place Charlotte's liberalism above Durham's because Durham tends to stare more than Charlotte does when couples like me and my wife walk through the malls together. This is based on a couple of trips we took to Durham together. We got a lot more stares and smirks in Durham than we do in Charlotte. Both communities stare however. One funny thing I've noticed though. In Asheville, whites stare at us the most. In Durham, blacks stared the most. In Charlotte, it is a little of both. In short, NC has a long way to go when it comes to being truely liberal. PERIOD!!!

[cyntmac]

If diversity is the same thing as liberalism you may have a point but I don't think that is what the OP was talking about. I think a smaller place like Asheville would have the most liberal feel of anywhere in the state.

For the person who said Seattle is like a city in NC- you have lost your mind.

[etienne]

We've never been to the South, but are considering Gainesville FL for our winters and would v. much appreciate any comments you might have on living there. We too are liberal --would we fit in there? It has extremely high crime stats --why would this be? Could we find a nice home in a good area for around $160,000.? (ps, we're also considering the Raleigh - D. area, but too cold up there!) thanks for any ideas, etienne (Steve)

[cyntmac]

You should move this to the FL Forum.
I must say though, I have visited Gainesville and it has a liberal vibe to be sure. I really liked the town but way too hot for me.

[SunnyKayak]

Originally Posted by etienne

We've never been to the South, but are considering Gainesville FL for our winters and would v. much appreciate any comments you might have on living there. We too are liberal --would we fit in there? It has extremely high crime stats --why would this be? Could we find a nice home in a good area for around $160,000.? (ps, we're also considering the Raleigh - D. area, but too cold up there!) thanks for any ideas, etienne (Steve)

Gainesville in florida and not north carolina

[urbancharlotte]

Originally Posted by cyntmac

If diversity is the same thing as liberalism you may have a point but I don't think that is what the OP was talking about. I think a smaller place like Asheville would have the most liberal feel of anywhere in the state.

For the person who said Seattle is like a city in NC- you have lost your mind.

I think you hit the nail on the head. Many people in NC are intimidated by large towns. Charlotte to most people in NC is just too large and corporate looking to be liberal. That is so untrue. Charlotte is becoming as "gay friendly" and "multi cultural" as Atlanta. Alternative lifestyles are starting to dominate the streets here in Charlotte and nobody seems to ever stare any more. This is a good thing if you ask me. This is why my vote is for Charlotte being the most liberal in the state. This is coming from a black man that is married to a white girl!!! Here in Charlotte, I can be proud of my wife in public without fear. I see couples just like us all the time. I really love it when I see the elderly interacial couples here. It brings a tear to my eyes to see a southern city like Charlotte. It really does!!! This city is not perfect, but it most certainly is heading in the right direction.

Let's not forget that one of liberalism most important principles is the freedom to pursue ones happiness. A community that does not offer this principle to all of its citizens can never be liberal. Charlotte does offer this to all equally.

[SunnyKayak]

Originally Posted by urbancharlotte

I think you hit the nail on the head. Many people in NC are intimidated by large towns. Charlotte to most people in NC is just too large and corporate looking to be liberal. That is so untrue. Charlotte is becoming as "gay friendly" and "multi cultural" as Atlanta. Alternative lifestyles are starting to dominate the streets here in Charlotte and nobody seems to ever stare any more. This is a good thing if you ask me. This is why my vote is for Charlotte being the most liberal in the state. This is coming from a black man that is married to a white girl!!! Here in Charlotte, I can be proud of my wife in public without fear. I see couples just like us all the time. I really love it when I see the elderly interacial couples here. It brings a tear to my eyes to see a southern city like Charlotte. It really does!!! This city is not perfect, but it most certainly is heading in the right direction.

Let's not forget that one of liberalism most important principles is the freedom to pursue ones happiness. A community that does not offer this principle to all of its citizens can never be liberal. Charlotte does offer this to all equally.

IM sorry but Charlotte is not as gay friendly as you think nor is it liberal about the arts it funds.
Gay News Blog: Charlotte Pride festival cancelled, radical Christian group claims victory (http://gay_blog.blogspot.com/2006/03/charlotte-pride-festival-cancelled.html - broken link)

Project MUSE - Theatre Topics - Advocacy, Activism, and Controversial Art: Lessons from Charlotte
by the way just because someone is gay does not make them liberal.
Besides wasnt the OP asking about jobs?

[cyntmac]

If liberal = gay friendly- you would have to write off many of the large and medium sized cities of the south. But for lots of people liberal may mean something else. I have debated on this topic many times over on city-data. Usually over the issue of people over using the term diversity without explaining what they mean. I seriously doubt this OP is talking about those issues though. I would guess they mean things that are more political in nature.