African Americans living in Short Pump/West End, Ashland/Hanover, Quinton, or Mosely? (Richmond: cliquey, rental homes)

[stereotyped]

I have read many messages here over the last three years while trying to figure out the Richmond enigma of where to live. My wife and I are both African American. I am an education professional and my wife is a medical professional. Just for background info, the previous neighborhood we owned a home in was in a southern state where we were the only African Americans in the entire neighborhood. There were two families that welcomed us. Over the couse of five years, only those families continued to be nice. No one else ever spoke when we spoke, or waived when we waved. We knew we were not welcomed and really didn't care as long as there were no crosses burned and people minded their own business. But when my 4 year old daughter was playing in the yard one day, some other small girls in the neighborhood were riding their bikes and my daughter asked them did they want to play with her. The girls said their parents told them not to play with the black kid or go into the black family's yard. I overheard the entire thing and it crushed my heart to see my little girl get treated like that. Of couse the girls didn't know any better as it was their parents filling their heads with separatism. I couldn't bring myself to believe so many people there were still living like it was 1950. I grew up in the Woodbridge, VA area in during the late 80's and 90's and never experienced anything of the sort. I was always treated very fairly by all races growing up. We agreed that we could not raise our children in that environment, so we sold the home and decided to rent until we found the right fit for our family.

We began our Virginia stint trying to find the right neighborhood fit and started out renting in Brickshire located in Providence Forge (New Kent). We decided there because there were several nice rental homes that we could live in if we purchased one of the many inexpensive lots there on the golf course and have a custom home built. We were pleasantly surprised to see there was some diversity in the neighborhood. Overall, we liked Brickshire, but it was just too much of a commute to work in Richmond and just to shop. Also, there was not much of a selection for daycare.

[stereotyped]

So the following year we moved to a rental home in an almost all African American neighborhood in Varina where we were basically treated the same rude and disrespectful way the people treated us in the previous state. It was very strange, sort of snobbish. I thought it was very amusing considering the amount of violence and theft that went on in the area. Just look on the crime search on the Henrico County website. And the schools were not very good, barely a PTA. The parents complained about how terrible the teachers were, but they gave no support. I remember talking to one neighbor about living in the West End and he told me I was crazy because no black people lived their. I thought to myself that he was crazy for raising his family in a crime infested area with bad schools. So, we moved again to a remodled older rental(built in 1950's) in the Tuckahoe area were we had the option to buy if we liked the home and neighborhood. I really liked it there, but the home was infested with pests and my wife wanted out immediately. Apparently it was not a complete remodel as the left all the old insulation in the attic that contained nests of mice. Unfortunately there were no new costruction going on in the area and we just totally lost interest in purchasing an older home. So instead of moving around, reading posts, and searching the internet I decided to post this question.

What neighborhoods are there at least a few African American families living in Short Pump/West End, Ashland/Hanover, Quinton, or Mosely? When I research School Digger, and Great Shools, I see how great the schools are in these areas, but the demographics are mostly Caucasian and Asian with 10% or less African American. It is strange because people on the forum talk about diversity in the West End, but just having Caucasian and Asian doesn't mean its diverse. This area seems so segregated as the school in the East End are basically all African American.

[stereotyped]

Are there any other African American families living comfortably in Dalton Park, Hunton Park, Hunton Station, West Broad Village, etc. in the West End? Or in Providence, Ashland Park, Cedarlee, Honey Meadows in Hanover? Magnolia Greene in Mosely? On several occassions I took my kids to play on park playgrounds near some of those areas and families would leave upon our arrival or pull up, look and leave when they see us. Not a very nice thing to blatantly do. Really? So I have to take my kids to some bogus park on East End with people randomly shooting as they drive by just because I am African American? There has to be somewhere here we can live peacefully.

I'm considering just moving to Williamsburg after spending a lot of time there recently and found my family and I to be treated very fairly by Caucasian and African American people. Unfortunately we would have to change jobs and continue to feel like we are running from the racial divide in Richmond. Any neighborhood info relating to acceptance of African Americans other than Richmond City and East End would be helpful, thanks.

[Charlesaf3]

Yes. My African American friends who have lived in short pump have had no issues. Most people with profiles like yours live in the city, though, fan through west end. Chesterfield is also popular, my black friends who live there love it.

I'd truly be surprised if you encountered your previous experience in a west end neighborhood

[adonailoveable]

Have you considered the Northside of Richmond City? (Holton Elementary School district)? We live in the Virginia Union/EdgeHill Rd area and love it.

[cmkrmc]

The problem you are going to run into is that since the 80's Americans have self-segregated themselves, both black and white, through housing. The result is that our schools are far more segregated now than they were in the 70's and 80's. As you noted, the best school systems are majority white, the worst are majority black. Forgoing any argument over past and current socioeconomic statuses, people are going to associate an increase in black residences as a possible decrease in school quality. Since middle and upper middle class whites over extend themselves in housing to try and live in the best school districts, you are pretty much going to get people that are not happy to see you regardless of the location you select. All that being said, I live in the Atlee shool district, and their is a black family that lives on my street and nobody cares.

[novanwbie]

Well, first, I'm sorry you had that experience in any community, I can imagine the pain you felt as a parent. That's just horrid. My family has been looking at Magnolia Green, and there seems to be a real mix of families there. There are certainly African Americans, Asians, and white families, because we've seen them all out and about. You might also look at Fox Creek, I think it is -- we were just there and there were several African American families, too. Obviously urban neighborhoods will be more diverse in all ways. We were at Rockwood Park in Chesterfield and at Pocahontas State Park, and both had very diverse populations, with kids all playing together. I can't remember ever seeing anyone have an issue at Deep Run Park, either. I know our daycare has a pretty mixed population. My son just went to Inventor's Camp at Watkins Elementary, and there was a fairly diverse population of kids there. You might also look at the school pictures on their websites, and see how the school population looks. Areas like Bon Air and Robious, which are excellent schools, are going to have a more diverse population than Bettie Weaver, I would guess.

[CWILKERSON]

Hi, I will be relocating to VA (Richmond) from NYC. I also shared your concern. My fiancée will be having a baby and will probably be a stay at home mom for a couple of years. I just rented a house in the Wyndham area. As a Black professional I wanted to be around affluent black professionals. What I know about VA, that doesn't exist in one area alone. I choose the community based on schools and access to social activities. I don't believe there are many blacks that live in the Wyndham area, however, I found the residents to be very friendly. You will gain more diversity through involvement with social and religious activities. I am a member of a Fraternity and Minister of Music.....

[CandyGal]

Your story breaks my heart. So sorry to hear that about your little girl. I lived in Richmond for a while (Short Pump and Chesterfield) and I found Short Pump/West End to be cliquey and unfriendly, no matter your race, unless you have at least 5 generations there. I am not sure if that has changed now. Chesterfield was just fine. I lived and taught in the schools there and the races got along fine.I have never lived in the other places you have mentioned so I cannot comment. I hope you and your family find the right place.

[snatale1]

First, the term "African American" regardless of how PC it's supposed to be is racist. Assuming all Black people are from Africa (yes, that's what an African American is) is racist, or at least ignorant. If somebody called me a Caucasian I'd call them a moron. I'm White. No need to fancy/PC it up. Anyways. I moved to Short Pump from MA (Boston) so maybe my mindset is different. You and your wife sound like educated good people. You would have no issues in Short Pump, I assure you that. I recently bought in Glen Allen right off Hungary rd. My neighborhood is pretty mixed, Mainly White and Black. Text book suburbs. People say Hi when walking by, wave at cars the whole deal. I'd add Glen Allen (the good side) to your list, which it appears you already know. That's horrible what happened to your daughter, I can't even imagine what that must of been like for either of you. I I haven't been a parent for long, but even thinking of that happening to my son, I can seriously feel your pain. It's nothing short of pathetic that in this day and age backwards people are still raising their children to judge people by the color of their skin. I'm of Italian descent. Since moving to VA it's been very apparent to me and my Wife that theirs not a lot of Italians in the Richmond Area. We identify as American/White as we were born here. But it's also noticeable that were maybe not AS white as others here.(Many think were Spanish/Mexican) which I don't think we look like, but different subject. If I had a nickel for every time somebody speaks loud and slow to me because they think I'm Mexican I'd be rich! I was actually at Lowes once and after talking to a salesman (In English) he shows me a book on Grills (what I was looking at) flips the thing over and goes "IT'S IN BOTH ENGLISH AND SPANISH" I had no words. We can't let the ignorance of the world get to us man! Good Luck. I haven't been a parent for long, but even thinking of that happening to my son, I can seriously feel your pain.