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I'm working really hard to get to a job in Atlanta and hopefully will make the move in the next 6 months. I'm starting to receive some interest and it looks like negotiating pay will be my biggest challenge (Dallas seems to pay better on average).
I've been in Dallas for about a decade and I enjoyed it but suddenly all I can think of is Hotlanta. I think Dallas is a beautiful and growing city, top tier attractions here, I make good money here, but I suddenly feel very unfulfilled socially and culturally. The Dallas gay scene is no longer interesting to me, I'm suddenly unable to make lasting connections as easily as I used to, there's a lack of safe spaces for black gay men here, the OUT black gay community seems to be shrinking (it's the weirdest thing), and racial relations in the Dallas gay scene (and Dallas period) are still low-key hostile and awkward. Also I usually feel very isolated from the black community because I work, play, and live in areas that are predominately affluent and white and lacking genuine diversity so that's something I'm looking to change this year.
I visited Atlanta several times and every time it's a great visit. Also, I feel Atlanta is more diverse than Dallas. I always leave with the impression that Atlanta will be a great fit for me socially and culturally. Atlanta's black community and black gay community are more robust and visible compared to Dallas. And I feel like my chances of connecting with black gay men like me (black gay men with advanced degrees and high IQs) are better in Atlanta than Dallas for several reasons. Atlanta simply seems to be the most socially and culturally fulfilling city for a progressive and intellectually curious black gay man with respectable discretionary income.
So thoughts? Am I off-based in my thinking in anyway? Is there something I'm forgetting? And I know Atlanta has terrible traffic and a rising cost of living but the same can be said about Dallas ...
Well, one thing I would point out is that Dallas is more diverse than Atlanta on a statistical level. A lot of people seem to equate diversity with black and it isnt the case.
That said, I cant think of a better city for a gay black person than Atlanta. Youre young. If you want to give it a try, I think it would be harmless move to make if thats what you think youd like.
Location: The Greatest city on Earth: City of Atlanta Proper
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Cowboys fan in Houston
Well, one thing I would point out is that Dallas is more diverse than Atlanta on a statistical level. A lot of people seem to equate diversity with black and it isnt the case.
Oh, I would love to hear your explanation for this. You might want to start with an explanation of how there is no difference between native-African, Afro-Caribbean, Afro-Latin, and African-American culture.
While you do that, the above statement isn't true. Dallas and Atlanta are basically at the same diversity level, it's just that Atlanta has as many Black residents as Dallas has Latin residents, and vice versa. Their White and Asian populations are of similar sizes.
Oh, I would love to hear your explanation for this. You might want to start with an explanation of how there is no difference between native-African, Afro-Caribbean, Afro-Latin, and African-American culture.
While you do that, the above statement isn't true. Dallas and Atlanta are basically at the same diversity level, it's just that Atlanta has as many Black residents as Dallas has Latin residents, and vice versa. Their White and Asian populations are of similar sizes.
No, their Asian populations are not similar sizes. DFW has about 474k Asians and Greater Atlanta has 331k. Its about 1% difference but when the metro areas are as big as they are, 1% makes a big difference.
Ill grant you the ethnic diversity levels are similar. However, DFW is more racially balanced than Atlanta is. Those are just statistics. Nothing to argue about.
As far as the diversity comment equaling black, a lot of people do hold that view and Ive seen it so many times on this forum.
No, their Asian populations are not similar sizes. DFW has about 474k Asians and Greater Atlanta has 331k. Its about 1% difference but when the metro areas are as big as they are, 1% makes a big difference.
I'm pretty sure he meant similar proportions and 1% isn't a significant difference in that context. Of course it will be a notable difference in terms of raw numbers since DFW has 1.5 million more people than metro Atlanta.
I'm pretty sure he meant similar proportions and 1% isn't a significant difference in that context. Of course it will be a notable difference in terms of raw numbers since DFW has 1.5 million more people than metro Atlanta.
In both places however, Asians congregate in just a couple of areas. They arent scattered across the metro area. That does make the difference more noticeable.
In both places however, Asians congregate in just a couple of areas. They arent scattered across the metro area. That does make the difference more noticeable.
Seems like that would make the difference somewhat less noticeable since you're looking at it within the context of the larger area. However, it also depends on which Asians we're talking about. If the bulk of Atlanta's Asians are of Korean descent (and I believe they are, or are pretty close) and the bulk of DFW's are Vietnamese (for the sake of argument), then yeah that would be an apparent difference. This makes waronxmas's point all the more relevant since we don't often look at ethnic diversity within races as much as we should.
Seems like that would make the difference somewhat less noticeable since you're looking at it within the context of the larger area. However, it also depends on which Asians we're talking about. If the bulk of Atlanta's Asians are of Korean descent (and I believe they are, or are pretty close) and the bulk of DFW's are Vietnamese (for the sake of argument), then yeah that would be an apparent difference. This makes waronxmas's point all the more relevant since we don't often look at ethnic diversity within races as much as we should.
I addressed it in my last post. Racial and ethnic diversity are different things. Both have to be taken into consideration.
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