Debating between Atlanta and DC (Washington: home, live, price)

[Bluefly]

I get it. Chip just thinks the South possesses the high standard of great quality of life - the suburban strip mall culture. Any deviation from that norm is perceived as inferior rather than simply different or (gasp!) superior.

I should, therefore, point out that some of the highest poverty rates exist in Miami and New Orleans.

[GeminiQueen]

Grindin,


I was born and raised in the DC area, but now I live in Atlanta. I moved to Atlanta in 1998 after graduating from high school (I’m 28 now), but I moved back to the DC area in 2001 (I’ll tell you why later). Then in late 2002 I moved back to Atlanta. I can’t give you job specific info but I would like to give you some of my thoughts on both areas. I’ve read some of your posts in the past in the Atlanta threads so I am a little familiar in your opinions on things and I know that you are an educated black man.

Here are my thoughts on both areas:




Atlanta is very segregated, especially compared to the DC area. If you are the type that likes to mix and mingle with other races including your own, then DC is a much better choice.

• From my experience there tends to be more ignorant, uneducated acting people in Atlanta (both black and white). Don’t get me wrong, there are some very well educated professional people in Atlanta, but the ignorant ghetto acting folks are more prevalent in Atlanta and they like to “infiltrate” areas where more educated acting people like to hang out. In DC ghetto acting folks hang out in ghetto acting places.

• I don’t want to offend anyone by saying that there are more ignorant people in Atlanta, but the fact of the matter is when I first moved to Atlanta I wanted to live in an urban area with other blacks like myself – high school graduate or greater, well mannered/respectful, with a touch of class. Instead I found Atlanta to be ghetto and country. DC area has a lot more sophisticated acting people.

• Atlanta is the land of opportunity for blacks. Yes DC has plenty of opportunity for blacks as well, but you are in more competition with other races where some employers might choose them over you. In Atlanta race is not an issue for blacks

• Atlanta is very suburban, and in some parts rural. I am from Northern Virginia (DC Suburbs), but even NOVA is more urban than most of Atlanta. This is what I dislike the most about Atlanta. I believe that inside city limits, you shouldn’t have to rely on a car, but in Atlanta you NEED a car. That brings me to #5…

• DC has the cleanest most user friendly rail system. Marta can’t even compare to Metro. You don’t need a car in DC because Metro is everywhere you want to be – even in the suburbs.

• Atlanta is more of a “Chocolate City” than DC will ever be. There are way more educated blacks in Atlanta area than in DC area…and no I’m not contradicting myself from my #2 statement because yes there are more ignorant acting people here too. The reason why I say that there are more educated blacks in Atlanta is simply because there are more black people period here. DC has parts of the city and PG County as the largest concentration of blacks while Atlanta has the city, South Dekalb and South Fulton. Also there is a higher percentage of blacks in the predominantly white areas of Atlanta (like Cobb, Gwinnett, etc) than in the predominantly white areas of DC (like Arlington, Fairfax, etc.).

• People in Atlanta are more real and true to themselves, friendlier, and more accepting of others. People in DC are definitely more fake, more materialistic and everything is a competition. People in DC act like if someone doesn’t have what they have then they aren’t worth sh**. Yes I’m from DC, but the truth is the truth! I can’t stand the way some people from DC look down on others just because they can’t afford brand name everything.The cost of living in DC is ridiculous. I know you said that you are aware of this, but please understand that this is what might ultimately make or break your decision. I bought a brand new 3 bedroom 2 ½ bath house for $150,000 back in November. If I were living ANYWHERE in the DC area, I would still be living in an apartment.

• There are way more things to do and see in DC and everything is in walking distance or a short Metro ride away.

• Once again, the above statements are from a single black 28 year old female from Northern Virginia (with family and friends that live inside of DC itself and Maryland) who moved to Atlanta in 1998. By the way, I moved back to Atlanta because of the cost of living, and I didn’t have to deal with other races acting like I didn’t know as much as they did. Other races are very respectful of blacks in the DC area compared to Atlanta, but there is a silent form of prejudice that you will encounter in the DC area from time to time. In Atlanta I can be around my own people and not have to deal with that; although I do miss the diversity of the DC area.[

I always think about moving back to the DC area, but then I keep reminding myself that if DC was so great, I wouldn’t have left it in the first place. As you can see I have listed my personal pros and cons to both cities. There is so much more that I can say, but my post is long enough.


I hope this helps.

[Yac]

Guys, get back on topic please. You can argue using DMs.
Yac.

[DC's Finest]

Gemini Queen,

I agree with your above comment. DC is a very materialistic city. People who aren't born and bred here don't really understand that aspect of the city.

[53rdSEDCBOY]

lol...This city is very very materialistic!!!....lol

[grindin]

Originally Posted by GeminiQueen

Grindin,


I was born and raised in the DC area, but now I live in Atlanta. I moved to Atlanta in 1998 after graduating from high school (I’m 28 now), but I moved back to the DC area in 2001 (I’ll tell you why later). Then in late 2002 I moved back to Atlanta. I can’t give you job specific info but I would like to give you some of my thoughts on both areas. I’ve read some of your posts in the past in the Atlanta threads so I am a little familiar in your opinions on things and I know that you are an educated black man.

Here are my thoughts on both areas:


Atlanta is very segregated, especially compared to the DC area. If you are the type that likes to mix and mingle with other races including your own, then DC is a much better choice.

• From my experience there tends to be more ignorant, uneducated acting people in Atlanta (both black and white). Don’t get me wrong, there are some very well educated professional people in Atlanta, but the ignorant ghetto acting folks are more prevalent in Atlanta and they like to “infiltrate” areas where more educated acting people like to hang out. In DC ghetto acting folks hang out in ghetto acting places.

• I don’t want to offend anyone by saying that there are more ignorant people in Atlanta, but the fact of the matter is when I first moved to Atlanta I wanted to live in an urban area with other blacks like myself – high school graduate or greater, well mannered/respectful, with a touch of class. Instead I found Atlanta to be ghetto and country. DC area has a lot more sophisticated acting people.

• Atlanta is the land of opportunity for blacks. Yes DC has plenty of opportunity for blacks as well, but you are in more competition with other races where some employers might choose them over you. In Atlanta race is not an issue for blacks

• Atlanta is very suburban, and in some parts rural. I am from Northern Virginia (DC Suburbs), but even NOVA is more urban than most of Atlanta. This is what I dislike the most about Atlanta. I believe that inside city limits, you shouldn’t have to rely on a car, but in Atlanta you NEED a car. That brings me to #5…

• DC has the cleanest most user friendly rail system. Marta can’t even compare to Metro. You don’t need a car in DC because Metro is everywhere you want to be – even in the suburbs.

• Atlanta is more of a “Chocolate City” than DC will ever be. There are way more educated blacks in Atlanta area than in DC area…and no I’m not contradicting myself from my #2 statement because yes there are more ignorant acting people here too. The reason why I say that there are more educated blacks in Atlanta is simply because there are more black people period here. DC has parts of the city and PG County as the largest concentration of blacks while Atlanta has the city, South Dekalb and South Fulton. Also there is a higher percentage of blacks in the predominantly white areas of Atlanta (like Cobb, Gwinnett, etc) than in the predominantly white areas of DC (like Arlington, Fairfax, etc.).

• People in Atlanta are more real and true to themselves, friendlier, and more accepting of others. People in DC are definitely more fake, more materialistic and everything is a competition. People in DC act like if someone doesn’t have what they have then they aren’t worth sh**. Yes I’m from DC, but the truth is the truth! I can’t stand the way some people from DC look down on others just because they can’t afford brand name everything.The cost of living in DC is ridiculous. I know you said that you are aware of this, but please understand that this is what might ultimately make or break your decision. I bought a brand new 3 bedroom 2 ½ bath house for $150,000 back in November. If I were living ANYWHERE in the DC area, I would still be living in an apartment.

• There are way more things to do and see in DC and everything is in walking distance or a short Metro ride away.

• Once again, the above statements are from a single black 28 year old female from Northern Virginia (with family and friends that live inside of DC itself and Maryland) who moved to Atlanta in 1998. By the way, I moved back to Atlanta because of the cost of living, and I didn’t have to deal with other races acting like I didn’t know as much as they did. Other races are very respectful of blacks in the DC area compared to Atlanta, but there is a silent form of prejudice that you will encounter in the DC area from time to time. In Atlanta I can be around my own people and not have to deal with that; although I do miss the diversity of the DC area.[

I always think about moving back to the DC area, but then I keep reminding myself that if DC was so great, I wouldn’t have left it in the first place. As you can see I have listed my personal pros and cons to both cities. There is so much more that I can say, but my post is long enough.


I hope this helps.

Thank you so much for this information! Very informative!

I'm shocked about DC being considered more materialistic than Atlanta. I always thought DC was 'old money' vs. 'new money' ATL. There are so many 'producers' and 'rappers' and 'actors' and 'models' and it seems like the materialistic mentality is here- but in certain circles though.

The COL is defnitely a factor that I'd have to consider. Because even with apartments, what you get with your money here is a lot more that what you get with your money up there.

This is a decision i'm not taking lightly and it will take a lot of consideration and prayer before I make my next move...

Again, thank you.

[Zippy7fo]

My observations
DC- type A personalities rule here. Its Ivy league or people from some of the biggest baddest colleges around. If you don't like to compete dc is not for you.

-Materialistic area...people care about labels and price..saving money is not important here..

-Housing is expensive

-If your AA you can start a business here and do it from scratch or support from Federal Gov't minority supplier/contractor rules.

-Tons of PR opportunities, you'll have no problems finding work/clients

-Metro hands down is the best in the world.

-Diversity-just people from all over who don't live in absolute fear of each other. AA class is just getting it done here. I meet people who are doctors, lawyers, executives, entrepeneurs....


Atlanta-
Affordable-can get a nice home in a nice neighborhood with actual front yard and great landscaping

-no mass transit

-segregated- wow I hate the south backwards ways....



-
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[Scott Summers]

I love my hometown but DC has us beat in every way except year round mild weather. DC has the better transit system.
DC is just more convenient than home. Of course you'd better have the bankroll to pay for living there. If real life were the SIMs then Atlanta would be some type of level six city to get you ready for life in the older and established metros in the country. I sometimes feel that I have outgrown Atlanta but family is what keeps me tied to the city; I would still like to live in DC though.

[BajanYankee]

I am orginally from Philadelphia, went to Morehouse, and am now an attorney in DC. Honestly, I struggle with this question every day, and have considered moving back to Atlanta a number of times.

The job market for lawyers is much better in DC. However, the social scene in DC has become kinda wack. It used to better back in college (99-03). And by wack, I basically mean that you don't see many good looking black women. I don't mind tapas and all types of cultural stuff, but Atlanta is just killing DC in terms of black women right now.

[DC's Finest]

Banjan,

I knew you were a bit touched but your last post is "CRAZY TALK" (said like Chris Rock). DC will give any city a run for its money (ATL included) when it comes to AA females. DC has all the beautiful black women.