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I'm just impressed everyday that in Houston you can be black all day long but can step be amongst diversity; blacks here can literally have our cakes and eat them too.
I have been hearing a lot of people throw around the term “New black mecca”referring to cities that are in their opinion the new black meccas. People have been throwing around this term a little too much these days. A city can’t belabeled the new black mecca just because black people are moving to said cities. Certain standards and criteria’s must be met in order to claim thetitle. There has to be a standard just like there is a standard that must be met to join the military. Having lived in true black mecca cities such as Atlanta and DC (NYC) there are certain things and a certain lifestyle that these cities have that make them true black meccas from history, having multiple nightlife options with well dressed AA, eventsthat bring large amounts of blacks in the city all the time, dozens of AA neighborhoods, plenty of black businesses, etc. This thread is to set astandard on what a city should have at a minimum to even be mentioned as a black mecca. A city that is a good city for blacks is totally different than saying said city is a new black mecca. Some people don't know any better so this is to inform those people what things a true black mecca city should have
Nightlife: Must have a diverse nightlife for all blacks. All blacks to include professionals, neo soul/spoken word crowd, etc. Does the averageprofessional black person have at least 10 options per night on the weekend for places to go to that aren’t ratchet? In most cities it is easy to find ghetto spots but what about places with well dress professionals? Nightlife should consist of live music, mega clubs, lounges, dive bars, happy hours, networking events, etc. Are there at least two places that are packed on Monday and Tuesday night?
Middle Class/Upper Middle Class neighborhoods: Your city musthave at least 20 middle class majority AA subdivisions. For this topic amajority is at least 80% instead of 51%
Radio stations: Must have at least four radio stations that play either R&B, Hip Hop/Old School music
Black Events: City must have at least five huge homegrown events that bring at least 30,000 people to the city annually. Homecoming and national music tours do not count since they are unique to any city.
HBCU: Must have at least one well known historical black college within the metro area
History: What significant national history does your city have regarding African Americans?
Trends: What trends have your city created? Not local trends but national trends
Black businesses: Your city must have plenty of black businesses. Not just talking about hair salons and wing stands.
Mayor: Said city must have had at least 3 AA mayors in the past 30 years.
Unemployment Rate: Since most cities are out of the recession I decided not to include this
Atl, NYC and DC have set the standard on the different criteria's listed above for the most part. When people visit these cities they can except to have these standardslisted above in above average quantities. With that being said a city might not have everything on this list but overall they are still true black meccas.
Why is this list needed? A standard has to be set. I cant say for example Minot, ND is the new Hispanic mecca if they have no Hispanic radio stations, Hispanic events, etc. I can say it is but I would lose credibility.
In Atlanta we have entire counties filling that bill. Clayton, DeKalb, South Fulton and growing....
I agree because in person, Birmingham is very black.
I think the difference is that Richmond and Tidewater/Hampton Roads are more balanced in terms of where their Black population lives, whereas Birmingham is very black within city limits and certain smaller communities, but some of its suburbs can range from 1-30% Black or so.
I think the difference is that Richmond and Tidewater/Hampton Roads are more balanced in terms of where their Black population lives, whereas Birmingham is very black within city limits and certain smaller communities, but some of its suburbs can range from 1-30% Black or so.
This is true, as I think White flight was more pronounced in the Birmingham metro so those affluent suburbs like Mountain Brook and Vestavia Hills probably aren't all that Black.
In Atlanta we have entire counties filling that bill. Clayton, DeKalb, South Fulton and growing....
Atlanta stands alone. With PG county in the shadows
Anyone got ne word on Baltimore? I haven't heard much about that city. I see the City is 63% black & 28% whit but the county is 64% white and 26% black.
I think the difference is that Richmond and Tidewater/Hampton Roads are more balanced in terms of where their Black population lives, whereas Birmingham is very black within city limits and certain smaller communities, but some of its suburbs can range from 1-30% Black or so.
Ok, but I was just explaining the differences between the areas in terms of the Black population and residential patterns. That's all......
I gotcha!
Have you ever been to Birmingham before? Just asking out of curiosity.
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