Best Areas in DMV for Young African American Professionals? (Arlington: crime rates, neighborhoods)

[NOVA_guy]

Originally Posted by BOS2IAD

"Sketchy" doesn't always have "racial undertones to it". I spent most of my childhood in a town that was nearly 100% white and believe me, there were "sketchy" areas that I knew to avoid. The people who lived in those areas were white. As a young kid, I learned to give those neighborhoods a wide berth.

Sure. People call Spotsylvania "Spotsy-tucky" so that's not to say that there aren't class elements at hand, too when we're having these discussions but if we're being completely objective there's a huge racial undertone when people post here about the kind of schools and neighborhoods they're looking for and for anyone here to pretend to be oblivious to that is a joke and intellectually dishonest.


Also, let me be clear, like I don't think people are bad or terrible people because they're spending a lot of their hard earned money and want to ensure their kids get a good education or that they're in a good neighborhood with minimal crime. There's nothing wrong with that but it's annoying when people want to play the gaslighting game and pretend that race in no way whatsoever has to do with those kinds of conversations when we all know it does, just call a spade a spade.

[ersatz]

Originally Posted by NOVA_guy

There's nothing wrong with that but it's annoying when people want to play the gaslighting game and pretend that race in no way whatsoever has to do with those kinds of conversations when we all know it does, just call a spade a spade.

Errr …. cough

[The Dissenter]

Originally Posted by Bigfoot424

Serious question here so please do not think I am trying to start something and I'm certain the regulars on here know that's not what I'm about. But would anyone here bat an eye if I posted the same thing but stated white male professional? Just curious why in today's climate anyone needs to mention their race as all neighborhoods should be pretty much a mix of all kinds by now. I realize some still need some work but adding a race seems counter-productive. Am I over thinking this?

Really? The fact that this question was even asked on this thread highlights EXACTLY why the OP would want to make it known he is of a certain race and is looking for areas he would be comfortable as that race.

As a black male myself, I’d recommend anything on the Orange Line in Arlington. I’ve lived right outside Ballston for three years and feel comfortable enough here.

[EmiSky]

Arlington of course would be good due to proximity to DC and since you’re new to the area, I’m sure you’ll want to explore DC. I would also check out Reston. There are various new apartment buildings near the metro and many of them are vacant, so you could probably get a good deal right now.

For example; the below bldg. was just completed and they’re still working on landscaping. It looks very nice. I’m guessing you could probably get one month fee rent since the bldg. is still mostly empty.

https://www.lincolnatwiehle.com/wieh...ion-reston-va/

Good luck!

[Vernum]

I think one's personality effects who they want to be around, and then one's culture, and then after that, if one's race makes them stand out in a negative or uncomfortable way, then that could matter too, so it surely just depends on the whole of the person concerning how much these things could matter.


Being said, as diverse as Arlington is, it does not have a high African-American population in general, and even less so in certain areas. If race and culture matters a lot to the OP, and which is fine with me, then it's possible that Arlington may not be the best of available choices (and again, I think it just depends on how important race and/or African-American culture is to the OP).


I know a successful African-American woman who lives in Bethesda, MD, and the area looks very beautiful too, maybe check out that area. I can't think of anywhere that I've seen in NOVA that appears to have a hardy black population.

[Vernum]

Originally Posted by Bigfoot424

Serious question here so please do not think I am trying to start something and I'm certain the regulars on here know that's not what I'm about. But would anyone here bat an eye if I posted the same thing but stated white male professional? Just curious why in today's climate anyone needs to mention their race as all neighborhoods should be pretty much a mix of all kinds by now. I realize some still need some work but adding a race seems counter-productive. Am I over thinking this?

I personally would not bat an eye, and I have seen many of these kinds of questions about demographics by white people.

Standing out in some neighborhoods could increase your chances of being mugged, so its OK to just ask, even if you are white.

[Vernum]

Originally Posted by The Dissenter

As a black male myself, I’d recommend anything on the Orange Line in Arlington. I’ve lived right outside Ballston for three years and feel comfortable enough here.

"Anything along the orange line in Arlington" for the OP to commute via metro into McClean everyday for work is not feasible.

Also, the OP stated that she would like a decently sized African-American population, and while you may be a black male, it does not mean that Arlington has around a 20% population of African-Americans as the OP stated is desired - it definitely does not in the Ballston / VA Sqr areas!

Finally -and more importantly- who wants to pay around $2,000 a month in rent just to be "comfortable enough"?

There are wonderful choices for young black professionals, where they don't have to be "comfortable enough" but can actually be very happy.

******Please look into your options in Maryland as well, especially Bethesda (very upscale), but also please see about avoiding most of PG county, which is a frequent topic in the MD forum (another good resource).

[spencgr]

Originally Posted by Vernum

"Anything along the orange line in Arlington" for the OP to commute via metro into McClean everyday for work is not feasible..

Why not?? seems like a pretty east commute?

[ToyVW55]

Originally Posted by Vernum

******Please look into your options in Maryland as well, especially Bethesda (very upscale), but also please see about avoiding most of PG county, which is a frequent topic in the MD forum (another good resource).

These are good suggestions but the commute kind of goes to hell at that point. Even in DC proper, which is a fabulous mix of youngish professionals in all colors of the rainbow, is tough when you're trying to get out of town into Tyson's. It's the very reason my son moved out of DC first chance he got: getting to Tyson's via metro and car was awful. If you can move into DC and situate yourself near the silver line it's much better.

[Bigfoot424]

Originally Posted by The Dissenter

Really? The fact that this question was even asked on this thread highlights EXACTLY why the OP would want to make it known he is of a certain race and is looking for areas he would be comfortable as that race.

As a black male myself, I’d recommend anything on the Orange Line in Arlington. I’ve lived right outside Ballston for three years and feel comfortable enough here.

So my black friends living in Woodbridge/Manassas, now Woodstock and others here in the valley are all living in the wrong locations? Black friends of mine from Manassas back in the 70's after high school that went on to successful careers all lived in the wrong location? Come on now.