How come there aren't many black folks here? (Phoenix: transfer, living in)

[xenourtv]

I left the Phoenix area and I am glad that I did, however to this day I say "their were hardly any black people living in the area"? Seriously, if you look at cities in America with populations over 2 million Phoenix is the only city without a significant black population. It is even laughable that it could be right now at only 2 or 3% according to USA today. 2 to 3% black folks out of a metropolis of almost 5 million people. I knew something was wrong when I first arrived in Phoenix and I did not see a person that came close to my complexion in almost two weeks.

The Phoenix area is growing according to statistics calling Arizona one of the fastest growing states, however it is not attracting many black people. Why???...I did not like it here, but I do not speak for all black people and I did meet some good people during my time here. The scenery was nice and you have to admit the weather is pretty hard to beat especially during the winter time. Even though my negative feelings have not changed about Phoenix, I still do not understand why a city so huge, and metro area so vast would not be appealing to many black people out there? Any of you have theories on why? White flight lol.

[silverbear]

Because Phoenix grew to be a major city not only after the Civil War, but also after the great migrations of the early 20th Century that brought black populations from the South to the major industrial centers of the Midwest and Northeast. If Phoenix had been a major city during the 1920s when large populations migrated from sharecropping to factory jobs, it might have gained a much larger black population.

[annken]

Hi,

Gee, I don't have any answers. I was wondering that myself as I was doing research for southwest cities to relocate to. This thread has been helpful, I must say.

My sister-in-law was in Phoenix for maybe 2 yrs then her job just transferred her to California a couple of months ago. She said it was nice but hot, of course. I haven't ruled it out yet. The pictures I have seen so far seem nice.

What didn't you like about it? If you don't mind telling....

[Ponderosa]

Originally Posted by xenourtv

I left the Phoenix area and I am glad that I did, however to this day I say "their were hardly any black people living in the area"? Seriously, if you look at cities in America with populations over 2 million Phoenix is the only city without a significant black population. It is even laughable that it could be right now at only 2 or 3% according to USA today. 2 to 3% black folks out of a metropolis of almost 5 million people. I knew something was wrong when I first arrived in Phoenix and I did not see a person that came close to my complexion in almost two weeks.

The Phoenix area is growing according to statistics calling Arizona one of the fastest growing states, however it is not attracting many black people. Why???...I did not like it here, but I do not speak for all black people and I did meet some good people during my time here. The scenery was nice and you have to admit the weather is pretty hard to beat especially during the winter time. Even though my negative feelings have not changed about Phoenix, I still do not understand why a city so huge, and metro area so vast would not be appealing to many black people out there? Any of you have theories on why? White flight lol.

Phoenix had no history of slavery and thus no residual population following emancipation, was not a destination of freed slaves following the civil war, and did not participate in the 20th century industrialization that drew so many southern blacks north in search of jobs. Blacks are going to have to come for the same reason whites do - weather, jobs, and new beginnings in a sometimes very different environment.

[w1ngzer0]

Why the hell is everything about race in this damn country. I'm honestly sick of it. Coming from a mixed family, i only see rich and poor and i can tell you, leave me with the poor.

To answer your question, there isn't a lack of blacks in Phoenix.

I work with a large group of black folks at work, along with hispanics, some asians, native americans. The big boss is black, but his race doesn't matter, because he is driving the company into the dumpster, any race can do that. The best neighbors i currently have are black im guessing from Canada because they speak French. Then you go to Walmart and more black people, and some that don't speak French but a language i've never herd before.

If you look for something, in a negative way, you will never find it. When most people ask a question about race, like the OP, it is usually open ended. Either trying to seclude itself into others that look a certain way or some other hidden agenda.

[US-Traveller]

The only city with a large black population out west is Los Angeles. Don't complain about Phoenix, what about Seattle or Salt Lake City?

[Howard Roark]

Why aren't there any violet folks here?

These questions are getting rididulous. I'm a mutt, but I'm tired of people concerned about race quotas and such. My favorite friends of various colors are individualists and do not care what skin color they have.

[Huckleberry3911948]

major migration to the south of AA.
major exodus from LA.

[ZonyPony]

Originally Posted by xenourtv

I left the Phoenix area and I am glad that I did, however to this day I say "their were hardly any black people living in the area"? Seriously, if you look at cities in America with populations over 2 million Phoenix is the only city without a significant black population. It is even laughable that it could be right now at only 2 or 3% according to USA today. 2 to 3% black folks out of a metropolis of almost 5 million people. I knew something was wrong when I first arrived in Phoenix and I did not see a person that came close to my complexion in almost two weeks.

The Phoenix area is growing according to statistics calling Arizona one of the fastest growing states, however it is not attracting many black people. Why???...I did not like it here, but I do not speak for all black people and I did meet some good people during my time here. The scenery was nice and you have to admit the weather is pretty hard to beat especially during the winter time. Even though my negative feelings have not changed about Phoenix, I still do not understand why a city so huge, and metro area so vast would not be appealing to many black people out there? Any of you have theories on why? White flight lol.

Okay, let's see... you don't really live here any more, so why do you really care? You're obviously no longer ready to be a part of any solution. My personal opinion is that people like yourself didn't make that much of an effort to try to make changes, so that made YOU every bit a part of the problem. That's the REAL answer.

[barryhussein]

Maybe it has something to do with the snakes.