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I'm a black male in my 20s and I live in Manhattan, south of midtown
I'm a transplant like everyone else in the neighborhood
I can live anywhere in the world comfortably, except Monaco and places like the Trump Towers
but some of the stuff I read about happening in and around the city just disturb me! For instance, the ways the NYPD treat blacks and hispanics, the discrimination coming from bouncers at the lounges
I've never been stopped and frisked, but the stats are creating a lot of distrust. Even in my neighborhood where blacks and hispanics are far from a majority, they are the most stopped.
So far I think the way I dress and talk keeps me out of a lot of situations, but I can't confirm that.
I've had some issues with bouncers despite being dressed better than other people going into venues, and you can look at reviews on yelp and talk to other people and see its a common problem (especially with club owners settling civil rights suits left and right, wtf) - again I can talk my way out of being rejected entry, but the pretentious nature of the blatant discrimination does get on my nerves, especially because I know whats going on.
I've been in other places around the country that were expected to be racist and had a completely warm and opposite experience. Now Manhattan is pretty nice, and just like everyone my experience is a "love/hate" thing, but these indiscretions do not represent the whole country. And for a place that is advertised as the center of the free/civilized world, this lack of progression is very annoying.
So yes, FML because of pretentious bouncers, and the threat of being railroaded by racist cops. first world problems? (no problems with employers, restaurants, bars, normal people, casual stuff, etc)
anyway I know a lot of native born new yorkers want to leave if they had the choice, should I move to greener pastures since I have the choice? I just feel like the "smaller" racial indiscretions could quickly escalate into something big
Last edited by gen. specific; 02-26-2012 at 04:32 PM..
If you look more African-American rather than African, I would suggest Paris. It is a stereotype, but in my experience Parisians ADORE black Americans. I have never been so doted upon.
Isn't it a challenge being a black man anywhere in America? I could imagine things could be easier for you in some of the upper class black areas of DC and Atlanta.
If you look more African-American rather than African, I would suggest Paris. It is a stereotype, but in my experience Parisians ADORE black Americans. I have never been so doted upon.
Isn't it a challenge being a black man anywhere in America? I could imagine things could be easier for you in some of the upper class black areas of DC and Atlanta.
I've had great experiences in all regions of the country, both urban and backwoods places
some lounges here in NYC (and some in miami beach) are the only places I've seen such blatant discrimination and promoting stereotypical white privilege. I'm just saying a lot of places are much more subtle about it.
I get by subconsciously with a combination of dress, demeanor, and "who I know"
but the threat of being jumped by cops with guns pointed at my face and then being falsely charged with resisting arrest or having drugs planted on me? I'm not 100% sure my attire is going to shield me from that... (if anyone isn't familiar with the statistics, an overwhelming number of black and hispanics are 'stopped and frisked' with dubious probable cause, compared to the whole nyc population and only 1% ever have anything on them... this isn't just happening in bedstuy)
I don't want to be an activist, I just want to NOT worry about these things. So I'm considering some other place to live
First, if you're liquid enough to live in NYC very comfortably, do not leave.
The NYPD racially stereotype. If you have money, many folks in NYC will think that you're in the entertainment business or a pro athlete. Folks in the outer boroughs will think that you're either in the entertainment business, a pro athlete, or a drug dealer.
On the other hand with money, NYC is the best place to be unless you wish to live in a city with lots of wealthy Black folks. That's Atlanta.
but the threat of being jumped by cops with guns pointed at my face and then being falsely charged with resisting arrest or having drugs planted on me?
Try to limit your interactions with Irish and Italian people and you should be safe from unlawful arrest/civil rights violations.
Also watch out for the willie lynchers. A black person is more likely to be KILLED by a black person more than any other race.
I'm a black male in my 20s and I live in Manhattan, south of midtown
I'm a transplant like everyone else in the neighborhood
I can live anywhere in the world comfortably, except Monaco and places like the Trump Towers
but some of the stuff I read about happening in and around the city just disturb me! For instance, the ways the NYPD treat blacks and hispanics, the discrimination coming from bouncers at the lounges
I've never been stopped and frisked, but the stats are creating a lot of distrust. Even in my neighborhood where blacks and hispanics are far from a majority, they are the most stopped. But there is no point for you for leaving unless a family death back home, you came here for a reason like your white suburban counterparts, if you failed at NYC then you leave.
So far I think the way I dress and talk keeps me out of a lot of situations, but I can't confirm that.
I've had some issues with bouncers despite being dressed better than other people going into venues, and you can look at reviews on yelp and talk to other people and see its a common problem (especially with club owners settling civil rights suits left and right, wtf) - again I can talk my way out of being rejected entry, but the pretentious nature of the blatant discrimination does get on my nerves, especially because I know whats going on.
I've been in other places around the country that were expected to be racist and had a completely warm and opposite experience. Now Manhattan is pretty nice, and just like everyone my experience is a "love/hate" thing, but these indiscretions do not represent the whole country. And for a place that is advertised as the center of the free/civilized world, this lack of progression is very annoying.
So yes, FML because of pretentious bouncers, and the threat of being railroaded by racist cops. first world problems? (no problems with employers, restaurants, bars, normal people, casual stuff, etc)
anyway I know a lot of native born new yorkers want to leave if they had the choice, should I move to greener pastures since I have the choice? I just feel like the "smaller" racial indiscretions could quickly escalate into something big
Sorry to hear about your problems in NYC. I always thouoght Black Transplants from suburbia would probably fair better compared to thier AA contemporaries from NYC who lack education, gun running between NYC and the South and have other social iils and live primarily in public housing projects through out NYC. I met many black Transplants and they seem to have and share a similar vision with thier white and Asian counterparts who are from other parts of America. I can say from the way you dress and the way you talk like talking waspy will probably get you out of most police stops compared some guy say Yall, ya Dig, nah sty. you say sutton. From you post it sheds alot of light. THe thing is many under privliaged New Yorkers sell drugs however many of thier customers are white and live in gentry areas. In gentrified areas if your a non transplant and dressign with your pants down and walking with a super duper fast pace cops will stop and frisk you which I have seen to one black guy in Cristopher street, he got frisked and arrested.
As for the night clubs I have read yelp and google reviews and Im pretty shocked at some of the reviews like at venues such as Tenjune, Kiss and Fly and Lavo have a share of not letting in people of color. Its not only black girls getting rejected, I know a girl who is brunette hair and persian background and tall and she was not let in however they let two of her buddies who are blond and short with red faces were let in. I only got rejected from one club due to the fact my crew was not looking right but I was. They can let me in but not my crew because I dont look or talk ghetto.
Many New Yorkers are leaving NYC due to cost of living and quality of life issues, greener pastures is the key for many New Yorkers to improve thier lives. Even the whtie flight from NYC is still not over yet. I too wanna leave NYC for better oppurtunities however Im stuck due to 2 family reasons that prevents me from leaving the city. I have money saved up to leave but I cant leave.
Only if I had darker skin I can experience some of the problems you have dealt with, to bad for 120 years of interracial mixing on my ancestors behalf.
Are you walking into these clubs with white girlfriends or a black entourage?
can you very bluntly tell me what difference this ought to make?
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(no problems with employers, restaurants, bars, normal people, casual stuff, etc) 
