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But my sense is that the black middle-class in Chicago is doing what the white middle-class did in large numbers 50 years ago--leaving the city for the suburbs (or heading down south). Largely middle-class neighborhoods on the South Side like Chatham have lost population. In the case of Chicago, I don't think it's just poor people leaving. Moreover, the loss of black population translates into the loss of political power, which, in turn, translates into the loss of opportunities for the black professional class, especially in a city like Chicago. I get the impression that Philly was not hit quite as hard by the housing crisis as Chicago and that the black middle-class is long-established and holding strong there. Meanwhile the overall black population remains large, ensuring that blacks have more access to political power there than they do in Chicago.
But the same could be said for the white "middle class" in these cities (depending on how that's defined). Much of the white "middle class" in Philly is dying out or moving and being replaced by younger, upper middle class white professionals that grew up in Bucks County or on the Main Line. In Chicago, I'm sure the Al Bundy types are leaving for suburbs like Schaumburg, etc. So I don't think the story is so much "the black middle class is leaving the cities." In large cities like Philly and Chicago, which have historically had larger white middle class populations, the white "middle class" is still leaving. The real story is that white people and black people are leaving these cities. It's just that the decline in the middle class white population is completely overshadowed in the popular imagination by the large influx of upper middle class whites moving into cities.
Doesn't the census also classify Egyptians as Caucasian? Yeah, I don't need the census to tell me what I am. In college I knew Jamaican-Americans from NYC who refused to call themselves "African-American."
But the same could be said for the white "middle class" in these cities (depending on how that's defined). Much of the white "middle class" in Philly is dying out or moving and being replaced by younger, upper middle class white professionals that grew up in Bucks County or on the Main Line. In Chicago, I'm sure the Al Bundy types are leaving for suburbs like Schaumburg, etc. So I don't think the story is so much "the black middle class is leaving the cities." In large cities like Philly and Chicago, which have historically had larger white middle class populations, the white "middle class" is still leaving. The real story is that white people and black people are leaving these cities. It's just that the decline in the middle class white population is completely overshadowed in the popular imagination by the large influx of upper middle class whites moving into cities.
But I think the difference is, as you point out, that the white middle class is being replaced by other, perhaps slightly more affluent, whites. In other words, white out-migration is slowing down. Middle-class African-Americans who are leaving cities are not necessarily being replaced by middle-class blacks from the suburbs. Also, the political implications are quite different for the two groups. Even if blacks surpass whites in a city, it will take generations for them to secure their sphere of influence and build wealth. White folks can remain a minority within a city and still control most of that city's wealth--just look at NYC.
This is a tough one. I've visited both multiple times and I hope to move to one of these two cities in the next year or two. It depends on what you're looking for. My impression is that Chicago, because it's a larger city, has more thriving black cultural institutions. But Chicago has experienced a lot of black out-migration in the last decade, so that is probably changing.
I suppose my vote goes to Philly. It's not quite as segregated as Chicago and the black middle-class is far more visible and powerful there, perhaps because it has been established in the city for centuries (almost before the city of Chicago even existed, if I'm not mistaken). Chicago's black middle-class strikes me as extremely isolated (along with the rest of the city's black population) in neighborhoods fairly remote from the city's center, and, I hate to say it, a bit less urbane (almost suburban in its sensibilities), which I think is ultimately a reflection of Chicago itself (not a racial thing). Perhaps I just admire Philly as a city more -- better use of public space, prettier neighborhoods, less racial tension, more political representation. Philly just has a better vibe to me, plus it's on an upswing as a city, which will, I think, benefit many African-Americans (and, unfortunately, displace some, too).
the only areas in Chicago that looks suburban & remote from the cities center are the neighborhoods in the 100's(roseland,west pullman,etc.)..most of the west side in general is pretty close to downtown, and south side neighborhoods like hyde park,woodlawn, and washington park isn't too far either..all the high rise projects use to be real close to downtown also..
and like you said,Chicago's a bigger city, so idk if you've seen most of(if any) of the nice black neighborhoods in Chicago (pill hill for example),because it's quite a few, onlything is they're usually tucked further inside the neighborhood and tend to get overshadowed by below average or worse houses thats located on the main streets
I'm not really black but I don't understand how people are saying Chicago over Philly (although I guess everyone did state "slightly"). Chicago seems very segregated to me though. It seems AA's have been part of the culture in Philly much longer and have had greater influence in Public Administration, Government, etc.
Philly is also in a better location for Colleges/HBCU (the first in the country-Cheyney University) and networking with other successful AA professionals in DC, NYC, etc.
I'm not really black but I don't understand how people are saying Chicago over Philly (although I guess everyone did state "slightly"). Chicago seems very segregated to me though. It seems AA's have been part of the culture in Philly much longer and have had greater influence in Public Administration, Government, etc.
Philly is also in a better location for Colleges/HBCU (the first in the country-Cheyney University) and networking with other successful AA professionals in DC, NYC, etc.
^This and Philadelphia has a higher Black percentage as a metro. Actually, I believe that Philly is only behind Detroit(and if you count them, Baltimore and DC) in terms of metro Black percentage outside of the South. Cleveland is next. BlackDemographics.com | Black City Population
Doesn't the census also classify Egyptians as Caucasian? Yeah, I don't need the census to tell me what I am. In college I knew Jamaican-Americans from NYC who refused to call themselves "African-American."
You can be Jamaican and be Chinese, Jewish, White, Indian, etc. It's a nationality not an ethnicity. It just so happens that the vast majority of Jamaicans are Black.
I'm not really black but I don't understand how people are saying Chicago over Philly (although I guess everyone did state "slightly"). Chicago seems very segregated to me though. It seems AA's have been part of the culture in Philly much longer and have had greater influence in Public Administration, Government, etc.
Philly is also in a better location for Colleges/HBCU (the first in the country-Cheyney University) and networking with other successful AA professionals in DC, NYC, etc.
What do you mean you're not "really" black? You're either black or you're not.
But anyway, I've already stated my reasons for saying Chicago is better. There are more professional blacks. The scene is better there. I'll be honest and say this is damned near impossible for a white person to understand because there are white professionals everywhere (Seattle, Bay Area, DC, Houston, the local Whole Foods, the ball game, "tons and tons of bars," coffee shops, yoga class, the gym, bike trails, parks, etc., etc.). It's the norm. If you're a white professional living in one of these Creative Class cities, you don't have to worry about Honey Boo Boo and her family crashing your favorite brunch spot and completely f-ing up the vibe.
If you're a black professional, on the other hand, there are only so many people like you and only so many venues that cater to your demographic. Really, Atlanta, NYC and DC are the three best cities for the black professional scene and even those last two are becoming a bit shaky. While Philadelphia may have a lot of black people, they are not the type I really want to be hanging around. The ideal black scene would look similar to this.
You can be Jamaican and be Chinese, Jewish, White, Indian, etc. It's a nationality not an ethnicity. It just so happens that the vast majority of Jamaicans are Black.
You are proving my point. I am referring to black Jamaicans. Black is a race. African-American is an ethnic group. All black people are not African-American. Jamaican Chinese are an ethnic group within Jamaica, just as African-Americans constitute an ethnic group within America. You are confusing race and ethnicity.
Last edited by Devout Urbanist; 06-22-2013 at 10:36 AM..
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