Racial Diversity In Savannah (Atlanta, Statesboro: college, live, law)

[maggiemay]

I agree with ellie. Downtown seems to be mostly white in the more affluent areas, with a ring of lower income housing that seems to be predominantly African-American. I realize that's a sad statement, but including minorities in the benefits of Urban Revitalization is not an issue unique to Savannah. I won't argue with the poster who said they only noticed African Americans (but so what anyway?). However, that seems about as accurate as well....well I can't think of an example because that statement seems absurd to me. The Caucasian population of Savannah is around 38%. In a city of roughly 131,000 people that works out to be almost 50,000 people. The downtown area is the center of tourism, the arts, and service professions (finance, accounting, law, ect). Many of those people are Caucasian, walking around from place to place and going to lunch. They may work downtown, but many live in the Ardsley Park, the Islands, or Southside, but still, with an estsimated 6700 white residents in the 6 miles that comprise the the entire 31401 district it is hard to take that statement at face value. You didn't see any? Got an agenda?

Your husband will fit in just fine, as will you. When I lived in Savannah everyone on my block was white, but it would not have mattered if someone of another race or ethnicity moved in. We were a pretty friendly bunch. Oh wait, I forgot, one of our neighbors were an inter-racial Caucasian/Asian couple. I had to add that back in as I was thinking about everyone on the block. It was such a non-issue I didn't even remember that part.

What matters most is how friendly are you and how much do you extend yourself to make the first move. It's not that Savannah is exactly cliquish, but like many places with families entrenched for generations, people often to socialize with the people they have known forever. Trust me, be friendly at work and at the gym. Attend a local club or organization of some sort. You will make friends just fine. My attitude about this issue has always been "Who cares about race. I just don't want to live next to Mean People."

[duff30329]

" Racial Diversity" is a load of crap.
To me, diversity means ALL kinds of people.
Diversity, in this day and age means Blacks and only Blacks.
I preferred the old days when we accepted people of ALL ethnic persuasions, not just the darker ones.
Political correctness---please go away!!!

[maggiemay]

I've never understood diversity to mean only racial diversity, nor only black/white racial diversity. Diversity can refer to many factors such as religious diversity, socio-economic diversity, political affiliation, etc. However, many of the postings on this thread are responding with a specific type of information because it is relevant to the question the original poster posed.

[ellie]

With any difficult social or cultural situation, it's hard to simultaneously acknowledge and downplay our respective problems.

Some of us would rather do or say something, rather than nothing, even if it's not exactly right. Sort of like the proverbial 400lb. gorilla in the room. Why not talk about it? The more dialog the better.

[duff30329]

'Sorry....Its that " Racial Diversity' makes me cringe to my very core.
Savannah used to be among my favorite cities. Every Labor Day my wife and I would spend a long weekend there walking around, hand in hand, with no thought of being unsafe.
You can't do that today. " Diversity' , has reared its ugly head.
So. go ahead and move there, walk hand in hand downtown and tell that thug who is holding a gun on you all about "diversity'.
If I sound angry, be assured, I am! A once-beautiful city now held hostage to thugs.

[ellie]

That doesn't seem to correlate with racial diversity. Our racial demographics (at least black/white) haven't changed much in a century.

You can still walk hand-in-hand as safely (and unsafely) as ever. I rather feel things have gotten safer, except in some well-known neighborhoods.

[Lannie]

I think it would be more accurate to state that the "service" jobs downtown / historic district are NOT law firms, accountants or finance companies. Those would be the "professional" jobs. The true "service" jobs are filled mostly by blacks. These are hotel housekeeping, cooking, laundry, food-service, lawn-care, trash trucks, counter clerks, etc. The tourists DO visit the historic district and the chance of seeing black workers everywhere they go is undeniable. Possibly that is what the poster meant when he/she stated they only saw blacks when visiting because they are the ones working the low-paying, low-skilled service jobs there. The point is that Savannah is 60% black. The remaining 40% is white and other minorities. There aren't many black / white couples. A few but not many - lifelong residents; especially blacks, frown upon it. So says a black co-worker who is a lifelong resident of Savannah. So is her mother and her mother's mother, etc. I believe her.

The median income for the state of George is $45,000.00 per year. In Savannah, it drops to $30,000.00 per year. It is NOT a vibrant, wonderful, illustrious city UNLESS you are one of the white elite. These statements can be as "sad" as you wanna make them. Doesn't change the fact that they are TRUE.

[ellie]

Considering we have an African-American mayor and a racially balanced city council and police force; this statement seems to underplay the professionalism of these well-regarded individuals.

[maggiemay]

As a former CPA we always referred to our industry as a "service" industry", but I see your point about service vs. professional.

I'm not sure why you included quotes around the word "sad". I simply meant to convey that it is unfortunate (would that word be correct enough for your standards?) that economic comfort (should I use wealth instead?) has not spread out more to the masses (I don't know...you are free to pick the most precise term to satisfy your high standards.)

Regarding interracial couples: I never intended to convey that it is common, and after reading my post again, I'm not sure what gave pittle that impression. I did intend to convey that for myself and the group I associated with, that race would not be an issue. I don't believe we were unique in that regard. The fact that his co-worker disapproves really reflects on that person not the city as a whole. By the way, it is not unusual to have roots in the city going back several generations. My own do as well. It does not mean that person's opinion is THE TRUTH. It is just their opinion. I happen to have a different opinion.

Regarding what is "TRUE": I have no idea of the median income figures are correct, but I assume they are. That does not mean that it is a "TRUE" fact that Savannah "is NOT a vibrant, wonderful, illustrious city UNLESS you are one of the white elite." Remember when I mentioned having a diverse group of friends, well, they love Savannah too.

Of course, there are different opinions. I would like to know the city or town in which every resident is perfectly satisfied and enjoys the benefits high wages and opportunity. I would like to move there.

[maggiemay]

I forgot to add that ellie is right on target again. Racial make-up of Savannah has changed very little for over 100 years. Crime is not a result of diversity, but rather a societal change, and we are all part of that.