How are African Americans recieved in Seattle (neighborhoods, gated)

[pwright1]

Originally Posted by pirate_lafitte

You have a point there. It doesn't have "plantation history". With that said, Seattle isn't perfect either. A look at the history can show that. On another note, it was voted one of the top 10 cities for interracial families.

Many of the blacks who live here are part of that huge migration in the 40's and 50's from the deep south. Many black Seattleites are from Arkansas, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas. Or at least their parents and grandparents are. I definately see the connection with black Seattle and the south. Also as a former real estate agent in central Seattle many blacks were not push out of the CD. Many sold there homes for record breaking prices and CHOSE to move to newer developments in Kent, Renton, Aburn and Federal Way.

[green_mariner]

Originally Posted by pwright1

Many of the blacks who live here are part of that huge migration in the 40's and 50's from the deep south. Many black Seattleites are from Arkansas, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas. Or at least their parents and grandparents are. I definately see the connection with black Seattle and the south. Also as a former real estate agent in central Seattle many blacks were not push out of the CD. Many sold there homes for record breaking prices and CHOSE to move to newer developments in Kent, Renton, Aburn and Federal Way.

Similar thing with my father's side of the family. My grandparents moved to the North during the Great Migration to Wisconsin. They were from Mississippi. A big part of the reason for African-Americans moving to Seattle was due to the jobs in the shipyards and Boeing.

[JesseJB]

Originally Posted by toughguy

Educated black people get along great in this city, because many white liberals are clamoring to have black friends.

Hahaha yeah its like 10 points if you have one.

[green_mariner]

Originally Posted by JesseJB

Hahaha yeah its like 10 points if you have one.

Points? What are you talking about?

[artemisjack]

it's a joke thing. Kinda like "ten points if you hit that tree with this rock". Points are bonuses in the game of life =P

[dreamboatannie953]

The symbol of King County is Martin Luther King Jr... I think that says a lot for the black community here. Kent is one great burb for diversity.

[LookinForMayberry]

Originally Posted by stvincent

I never felt like a minority here. I am not bothered by the fact that Seattle is so overwelmingly white, I am just concerned about finding a community where I would feel comfortable. I would like to know if there are any affluent areas in Seattle comprised of a good sizable amount of African Americans. I would like my children to be able to identify with their own culture and I would hate to move to a city where people would equate being black with being poor. Is there an abundance of middle class or upper middle class residents in the Seattle area?

I lived in Seattle from '90 - '00, and now have a home in Lake Washington's Northshore area. I know there are affluent African-Americans in Seattle, as there are everywhere, but I am not aware of large communities of them. Seattle is not necessarily predominantly white, but it does give that impression because the metro area is largely self-segregated. I know there are large areas of poor African-Americans on the outskirts of town, mostly in the southern areas.

On the other hand, I think Seattle is fairly open in accepting different cultures -- maybe not embracing, but not refuting. The only obvious refutation I perceive in Seattle is to the poor. There are a lot of services to the poor, but generally most of the city's well to do want them to be helped, but not viewed. This was especially apparent when the tent cities started to move to the more comfortable parts of town.

[green_mariner]

Originally Posted by dreamboatannie953

The symbol of King County is Martin Luther King Jr... I think that says a lot for the black community here. Kent is one great burb for diversity.

It was renamed for Dr. King in 2007. The motion to rename the county in honor of Dr. King was made by Ron Sims(African-American Democrat and former King County Executive) and Bruce Laing(a Republican from Renton). It is the only county in the USA named for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

[Ira500]

Originally Posted by pirate_lafitte

It was renamed for Dr. King in 2007. The motion to rename the county in honor of Dr. King was made by Ron Sims(African-American Democrat and former King County Executive) and Bruce Laing(a Republican from Renton). It is the only county in the USA named for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

But it didn't happen until it was successfully pushed through by African- American council member Larry Gossett, who's been very good at getting things done. Sims was good at spouting ideas, but not good at getting anything passed.

[green_mariner]

Originally Posted by Ira500

But it didn't happen until it was successfully pushed through by African- American council member Larry Gossett, who's been very good at getting things done. Sims was good at spouting ideas, but not good at getting anything passed.

Interesting enough, the push to honor Dr. King has been getting started within African-American communities in the Western USA. Wilma Webb(wife of Denver's first African-American mayor and a Colorado Senator) pushed to make the MLK holiday a state holiday in Colorado. A few African-Americans in Seattle have pushed for King County to be renamed for MLK himself. Interesting that these things are starting in Seattle and Denver.