african americans in oklahoma city!! (Tulsa, Edmond: sale, amusement park, credit)

[bbprincess]

hello, every one in oklahoma!!! i have a few questions, i would like to know how diversed is it in oklahoma city? i and my family are thinking about moveing there from california. and i would like to also know, is it really racist out there? How is the public transportation, the weather, the food, etc.

[_redbird_]

You can start by reading some of the other threads as many of these and similar questions have been answered...

[Goodpasture]

Originally Posted by bbprincess

........... i would like to also know, is it really racist out there?

yeah.....the Kiowa and Comanche tend to gang up on the Apache; the Muscogee, Chickasaw Seminole, and Choctaw discriminate against the Cherokee (or is it the other way around?). Anyhow there is lots of racial strife..........

Originally Posted by bbprincess

How is the public transportation,

non-existent

Originally Posted by bbprincess

the weather,

changeable

Originally Posted by bbprincess

the food,

fried

[CoreyS]

I've been here for a little over 2 months and I'm half black, and by my looks you can tell I'm obviously not from here, and I'd say it exists but not quite enough to worry about. Sure I would expect more trouble in the more rural areas but people here have been nothing but nice so far and I try to stay in more city-like areas... With that said, I've also noticed a lot of dirty looks (I'm sure you know the kinds of looks) here and there by some older folks when I'm out and about with a white girl on my arm. I'm sure they're just oldtimers living in the past but I have yet to receive any trouble from anybody.

...and for the record, a girl I used to hang with, her parents were racist. So it's definitely out there, some might hide it better than others.

[knrstz]

You should come check it out. There is some racism but this definately isn't the south. I don't know the numbers but OKC seems to have a decent mix of blacks and whites, imo.

[okcpulse]

Oklahoma City by the numbers are as follows...

African American... About 15 percent
Hispanic... About 10 percent
Asian... About 3 percent
White... About 62 percent
Native American... About 4 percent


Take those numbers for what it's worth. Racism was never a serious problem in Oklahoma City. The community was one of the first in the country to desegregate it's public school system, and the community has never been deeply divided by race or ethnic origin. That being said, racism is a human problem, not a geographic problem. No utopia exists in this realm. It is what it is.

As far as public transit goes... Oklahoma City has a well-designed freeway system that gets you anywhere in the metro in a short amount of time. Thus, the bus system isn't heavily utilized. There are 83 Metro transit buses, however the routes are inefficient and a car will get you downtown sooner than a bus. Keep in mind, city leaders are taking a serious look at long term sustainability, and that will include a new light rail system that will be constructed thanks to MAPS3, our latest public improvements packages passed by voters last year (MAPS stands for Metropolitan Area ProjectS). Mayor Cornett also wants the entire bus system overhauled. This is part of an eight year transportation master plan.

Good restaurants... Ted's Cafe Escondido, Cafe do Brasil, 1492 New World Latin Cuisine, Hideaway Pizza, Flips Wine Bar and Trattoria, Deep Fork Grill, The Mantel, Nonna's Euro-American Bistro, La Luna... Take your pick. Don't listen to those that tell you we offer nothing but deep fried barbecue grease. There are many wonderful restaurants here.

Oklahoma City is more of a city than we are ever given credit. Just come and see for yourself.

[stiffnecked]

Originally Posted by okcpulse

Oklahoma City by the numbers are as follows...

African American... About 15 percent
Hispanic... About 10 percent
Asian... About 3 percent
White... About 62 percent
Native American... About 4 percent


Take those numbers for what it's worth. Racism was never a serious problem in Oklahoma City. .

Then you're just ignorant about the history of OKC. Many, many other stories if you took the time to reseach it. Generally negros still keep to the northeast side of OKC. There are still metro OKC communities where they are not accepted.

Springlake Amusement Park Collection | Retro Metro OKC

Racial tension remained an issue for the park. News of a large riot that erupted in 1971 in the park between whites and blacks frightened away potential customers and hastened Springlake’s demise. A change of ownership, poor maintenance, and fire led to the park’s 1981 sale to the Oklahoma City Vo-Tech Board, which closed Springlake for good.

[CoreyS]

There are metro communities where we're not accepted? Really?! Uhh could you share what areas then so I don't end up on the news...?

[okcpulse]

Springlake was not a serious problem. It was bad, but not a serious problem.

Birmingham in 1964 was a serious problem. The Tulsa race riot in 1921 was a serious problem. LA in 1991. Was there mass hysteria in 1971 at a small amusement park that required citywide resources to quell a full-fledged rebellion? No. How about the sit in protests in OKC in 1955. Mass hysteria? No.
My dad and his brother were the only two white kids at Millwood School in the late 1970s. They never had a problem.

As fas as where certain races live, feel free to get on the New York Times website and treat yourself to color coded maps of every major US city. You will quickly realize OKC is not the only one where races are clustered together. And you say I am ignorant?

Besides, today, in 2011, not 1971, most people of all races don't have problems living in OKC. And where exactly are these metro communities where different races are not accepted. Please do share. Since I have friends and family scattered all over the metro, I'll ask them if they concur with you.

[Okey Dokie]

FWIW, I lived in Edmond for almost four years (2006 - 2010) and my neighborhood there was much more racially diverse than the similar suburban neighborhood I now live in in Kansas City.