Is Bridgeport still racist ? (Chicago: homes, to buy, subsidized)

[JoeyPants]

Originally Posted by Hickorydar

It only takes a liberal to actually live in "diversity" to conclude what you have. You are 100% right. Never back down from the TRUTH. Never let liars ever change what you know first-hand.

You need to drop the last six letters of your screen name. That would give the rest of us a good indication of what's to come.

[Hickorydar]

Originally Posted by JoeyPants

You need to drop the last six letters of your screen name. That would give the rest of us a good indication of what's to come.

Personal attacks do not make you an expert on Chicago.

[jonaos]

Originally Posted by JoeyPants

You need to drop the last six letters of your screen name. That would give the rest of us a good indication of what's to come.

Meh, go look at Detroit sometime, thier not far off in thier assumptions.

[M60608]

There are some racists in Bridgeport just as there are racists in ANY other neighborhood in Chicago.

[meany]

does it really matter, we are all humans....!

[chitownperson]

A little history for those who are unfamiliar.

Chicago History -- Racism

[coatsey]

As someone currently living in Bridgeport (on the north end near 26th), I would have to say that while there are very few black residents in Bridgeport it is far from racist. I'd say the largest racial divide in Bridgeport would be the staggering number of Asians who fail to live outside of their Asian community. I'd say the most integration in Bridgeport takes place between the White and Hispanic communities.

[DADASGIRL]

I think most folks are over-analyzing the topic - lets utilize Occam's razor people: simplest answer works. Most black people have no REAL cause to reside in Bridgeport. Think about it. Those that are/were poorest were placed in subsidized housing - projects - concrete jungles...there is one such development near Bridgeport, but history has shown us this demographic wasnt exactly primed to buy up the bungalows of Bridgeport...

Now for the middle class blacks / upwardly mobile etc etc - the entire EAST SOUTH SIDE 47th to 103rd was their stomping ground - LAKE INCLUDED. This region is 80% black. It wasnt always but enough white flight occured so that it ended up that way. Maybe the Bridgeport folks were "standing their ground" in their own twisted way - BUT no doubt there were some no mixing "issues" before and after the Civil Rights movement. As time progressed the eyesore of the public housing developments probably didnt make it any better. Across the Dan Ryan you had the high rise version of the projects next to a world class university IIT - but I digress...

If you were from a black family that could afford to buy a home you had more than enough neighborhood sprawl to choose from. Hyde Park / Kenwood / Woodlawn/ Chatham / If you could only afford rent - there were courtyard bldgs & 2-3 flats a plenty. If there were pro-segregationists lingering in Bridgeport - most Blacks DIDNT CARE!

As far as the here & now - well dressed / non threatening Blacks ( especially male ) will STILL get stares in Bridgeport from anybody under 45 ( which would be odd anywhere else in the world) There are a few bars that I've frequented with my white friends where this has happened. After a Sox game, black men probably shouldnt walk in that neighborhood alone...they may hear taunts & racially charged drunk people acting crazy. In the 90's there were some actual physical altercations but nothing like that as of late.

The only new " race" issue in Bridgeport concerns Black comedian George Wilborn. He wanted to buy a newly built home for 1M & the seller said no-go once ethnicity came out. HOW It came out is unclear - but my guess is that the seller's agent was concerned about ethical practices & ratted him out. When someone turns down 1M USD in this day & age - there has to be a BIG reason. If the seller was worried that an "entertainer" would disrupt the quiet neighborhood thats one thing - but Bridgeport has Asians, Hispanics too. SO one can only conclude that the seller didnt wanna do business with the "darkies".

[AmosBanks]

People have different definitions of racist. As mentioned elsewhere in the thread, somebody will say Bridgeport is racist because residents stare down people who they don't approve of. Other people will say Bridgeport has come a long way because there used to be a time when blacks would get run out of the neighborhood in broad daylight. Now it's just, "Watch out for drunk Sox fans".

[tootsie1006]

as a lifelong resident of bridgeport, i can tell you we are much more diverse than people seem to believe. i'd say the demographics of the neighborhood are pretty much equally divided white/asian/hispanic. no, there is not a large black population, and no, i can't explain why. given the fact a once "white" neighborhood has peacefully transformed into an ethnic melting pot, i would assume black residents would feel safe being here.
the fact is, we're still a relatively safe neighborhood, and anybody who feels they're being stared at has to understand it's the neighborhoods way of keeping tabs on who's coming and going, no matter the race. being proactive will keep us safe, so yeah, if you look like trouble, we're watching you, whether you're white, black or green.