Racial issues in Akron?? (Marion, Fairlawn: university, closing, diverse)

[bailesjen]

I am doing a project on racial issues in Akron. Is there any? How are people from different races treated? Are they treated the same?

[helen M. perkins]

I'm alright with all races until one acts as if they are better than me. Other than that I treat people the way they treat me.

[CityGrrl77]

I agree with Helen

[ILOVEOHIO]

I was raised in Akron. As a graduate of Kenmore High School (a multi-racial school)...I would have to say that this area of Akron is not very racist. I don't exactly know the percentage of white, black, asian, etc. but, I would have to say that I had never met an overly prejudiced person. I say overly because everyone has a little prejudice in them. From my experience in Akron, everyone just got along with everyone. Also, I'm not talking about what goes on behind closed doors. I know it sounds too good to be true but, really we didn't have huge racial issues.

[ksu sucks]

Haha wait a second, you using a message board in order to obtain facts for a project? Use a book, look up old newspapers about racial conflict, anything! Why this? You can't use someones oppinion as a fact!

[yagisenin]

ILOVEOHIO, when did you graduate from Kenmore High? The Kenmore area, which used to be a seperately incorporated city from Akron, was for many, many years, along with the Ellet area, among the most openly prejudiced and racist sections of the city. It still remains one of the least diverse, at around 93% white. I can't imagine that a whole lot there has changed over the years in terms of race relations, even if things might appear somewhat better on the surface now.

It could be, however, that maybe the older generation for whom race seemed to have particular significance, has quietly faded into the background, while a younger generation less concerned with race is now emerging. This would be much more true if you graduated in from Kenmore in 2000 rather than 1980, when racial tensions in Kenmore exploded because of the forced integration of black students resulting from the closing of Akron South High School.

[yagisenin]

I do think race has long been an issue in Akron, but that relations are far, far better today than they were even 10 years ago. Still I would never go as far as to believe that there aren't pockets of racism and prejudice still present in and around the city. I think the more diverse a community is, the less likely it is that one will experience, witness or perceive racism there, and that this is largely true today of the inner city neighborhoods, such as University Park, North Hill, Goodyear Heights, Firestone Park and West Hill/Highland Square, which are all increasingly diverse communities. I think race plays a more significant factor in the suburbs or fringe neighborhoods, such as Ellet, Kenmore and Fairlawn Heights/Northwest Akron, which have traditionally been far less diverse.

[lcarmon1206]

Try the Copley Fairlawn area. We move last year from Akron to Marion. We are experiencing alot more racism here in this county than in the city. I see very few specks of Afro-Americans here. My children go to schools where they are 1 of 5. My oldest is 17 and he has been called out of his name and mistreated because of his race. Try another City Like Marion.

[HuskerDu]

I remember there being some problems and a few violent situations around Akron U back in the late 80's and I think the city got a reputation for having high racial tensions as a result of those days.

[ILOVEOHIO]

Originally Posted by yagisenin

ILOVEOHIO, when did you graduate from Kenmore High? The Kenmore area, which used to be a seperately incorporated city from Akron, was for many, many years, along with the Ellet area, among the most openly prejudiced and racist sections of the city. It still remains one of the least diverse, at around 93% white. I can't imagine that a whole lot there has changed over the years in terms of race relations, even if things might appear somewhat better on the surface now.

It could be, however, that maybe the older generation for whom race seemed to have particular significance, has quietly faded into the background, while a younger generation less concerned with race is now emerging. This would be much more true if you graduated in from Kenmore in 2000 rather than 1980, when racial tensions in Kenmore exploded because of the forced integration of black students resulting from the closing of Akron South High School.

I graduated in the 90's - it wasn't bad, we still had kids bussed in from other school systems like Akron South & Central Hower. Did you go to Kenmore, too?