West Indian (Carribean) Opinions of ATL (Atlanta, Lawrenceville: home, college, living)

[mclean]

My family is considering moving to ATL next summer. We desire to be someplace with access to West Indian foods, restaurants, groceries, music, culture activites. After 20 years of living all over the world (prior military), my husband wants to be somewhere he can reconnect with his culture (he's Vicentian; from St Vincent & the Grenadines) Some friends told us about ATL. Can anyone who's actually there share your opinion? Thanks!

[rettogo]

Well I've only been in the area 2 weeks and just like you, we are prior military (Air Force). My husband is Bahamian and we are temporarily staying in Norcross. I can tell you that we have eaten at 3 different Jamacian restauraunts so far. If I'm not mistaken, I believe there is a large population of West Indians in the Lawrenceville area. Someone can correct me if I'm wrong, but that's what my cousin told me and he actually lives there. Although I'm a newbie in Ga, feel free to ask more questions and I'll help if I can. Good luck on your search.

[dlh891]

There is quite a growing population in the Snellville area also, my husband is from Jamaica.

[jillmaican]

I'm not sure if this would be the best place to reconnect to Carribean culture. Coming from South Florida I may be spoiled though. There are plenty of Jamaiacans etc. but everyone is spread out so you may have to really LOOK for it.

South Florida is great for Carribean culture if you can afford it. Plus flights home will be affordable.

[grindin]

I know the Memorial Road area out in Stone Mountain has a large West Indian population. But Snellville is way nicer.

[LadyEsquire]

I am originally from Brooklyn and also spent my teen and college years in S. Florida. So I have always lived in areas highly populated with West Indians. Now that I am here in Atlanta, I miss the restaurants, concerts, access to certain music stores, our own radio stations, and even bootlegged tv stations, etc.

Atlantans are spread out and there is no central area for us here. We should post spots we find here as we discover them.

[KevK]

The Jamaicans generally live in Stone Mountain, Snellville and Lawrenceville.

[atlantagreg30127]

There are actually quite large concentrations of people from "The Islands" so to speak, but as someone else said, they're spread out to many different corners.

As far as the climate, I can only speak from the West metro area. There seems to be more of a cultural issue in this area than there may be in others. We've had a lot of people from Haiti, Jamaica, etc., moving into this area, but the cultural differences, attitudes, the way they interact with people - it isn't hitting well with the locals. I know a lot of shop owners in the area and they really dislike dealing with these folks.

It has nothing to do with the fact they're black (before anyone goes to that place) - we have a fairly large black community out in this area and it's been that way for a good while. It's the cultural differences. Hard to pinpoint, but the words I hear the most from the shop owners when describing the folks are "abrupt", "impatient", and "rude". While anyone can be rude I'm assuming it's more of a different way of interacting with people that's very "short" and not really rude, compared to the more long, drawn out bubbly suburban south, but still, there are conflicts.

As a result, the few businesses that have opened up out here (VERY few) from the new immigrants have pretty much all gone under. There aren't enough folks from their native lands to support them, and the locals refuse to shop or eat in them as well. So while you'll find a decent number of people from those areas living out here, you'll find few if any businesses owned or run by them around here.

[DoveDiva]

I think you can connect with your Caribbean roots here, however it wouldn't be as easy to do as it would be in areas such as South Florida or New York.

We have the Peach Carnival every year, and while it's by no means a Caribana, NY West Indian Day Parade, or a Miami Carnival...it's nice. I enjoy myself every year.

There are a decent amount of Caribbeans out here in the West Metro...and a good number of businesses to boot. The ones I frequent are well received by pretty much everyone (C & D Jamerican Restaurant near South Cobb HS...Calibou Cafe in Douglasville (they were featured on Good Day Atlanta a few months back and are doing quite well)...Tropical Ice Cream Cafe' is pretty good too) likes them as well, as they are doing well business-wise as far as I can see.

The Atlanta Caribbean Association as well as associations for individual islands are here, and they are fairly active. They regularly have community service outings and every now and then have a scholarship gala if that's your thing.

Here's their website: http://www.atlantacaribbean.org/Home...6/Default.aspx

Some other links for you to peruse:
http://www.ajaatlanta.org/default.aspx
http://www.atlantacarnival.org/index.php (broken link)
http://www.tntga.org

Hopefully those links will give you an idea (and educate some silent lurkers) on some things happening within the West Indian community here in Atlanta. My best friend's mother just moved out here last summer and she does things here and there with the ACA as well as the AJA.

As far as where to live...I mean...West Indians are everywhere *smile*. However, you're likely to find large concentrations on the eastern side of the metro. May I suggest you determine where you'll be working first, and then decide where to live...because there are quality, family-friendly Caribbean enclaves all over the metro (some larger than others.)

I really hope this helps.

[KevK]

Most popular places for Jamaicans in North America: NYC-NJ, Toronto, ON, Miami FL, Atlanta, GA, Chicago, IL