Would You Live in a Neighborhood which is Predominantly African-American?

roguenuke said:

How about I don't know because I don't make it a point to check the race of the majority of the people in the areas in which I live.

I care about price, nearness to places I would need to often go (work, school, stores, etc.), and how well the place fits my space/looks wants for my budget. I have lived in many different places in my life, and not once did I check the demographics of the area to find out the population distribution. Hell, honestly, I've never even checked on crime rate for any area I've lived in.

So you might call this a yes, since it isn't even something I care to check into when I look for a place to live.

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Bingo. When I look at "who else lives here", I want to see two parent families, with kids roughly my age, who attend a good school system, and if there are a number of good churches generally local.

I grew up in a housing project. Not only did I learn of the various ethnic groups and different religions, I enjoyed a potpourri of music, food and history of the peoples who made up the area and the city from which I hail. In my experience people did not see color; they saw character, showed respect and celebrated those who contributed to the neighborhood. Collectively, we wanted a good life and great memories there was no time for petty racism, those who tried were kept out of the "mix" and cast out on their own. On the other hand, I chose to spend a great deal of time in Harlem listening to music, hanging out with some very nice people, ate some great food and expanded on my days in the "projects".

You people are not answering how the OP wants you to answer. SHAME ON YOU ALL.

So Meathead, have you not looked back at your thread? Have you lived in the USofA? You seem awfully interested in who would live in a black neighborhood. I wonder why.

notquiteright said:

So Meathead, have you not looked back at your thread? Have you lived in the USofA? You seem awfully interested in who would live in a black neighborhood. I wonder why.

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I am American and I have spent about 17 years of my life in SD, Marin County, Arlington VA and Silver Spring MD. None of those areas are predominately black. Having divulged this information, I have no idea what you're getting at.

Done it before. Would do it again. If it is a safe neighborhood, within my budget, has pleasant architecture and well kept lawns, is close to good schools and stores...why the hell not? I can honestly say I never tried to find out the predominant ethnicity of the neighborhood before making my decision. It wasn't until I was already living there that I realized whites weren't the majority. I am sure there are black communities out there that don't want whites moving in. But I didn't experience that. Frankly, as long as the neighbors to the left and right of me are cool, I'm good.

Yes, as long as it's not a high-crime neighborhood and I think the property will hold its value.

No, for several reasons. This answer is also an immediate consequence of choosing to live in an upper-class area.

I think what the OP is doing is trying to get you to admit you guys hate black people. Come on white people. Fall in line and hate black people. DO IT. It's what all the cool kids do.

I put no...i worked in them for many years....and I would suggest most of you put no.....I was raised in a mixed neighborhood and it was great.

Contradiction? NO...the difference economically and the environment and the survival skills needed in an all black neighborhood are huge compared to a full mixed neighborhood.

roguenuke said:

But is that because the people now, buying homes are looking at the race/ethnicity/background of their neighbors, or is it because of the area being close to family or the area they want to live in for their income level.

I do think there are some people who consider race/ethnic background of the people in the area to be important. But I believe that there a whole load of other factors that outweigh this concern and that might also be more of the true deciding factor for where someone lives. I also believe that we will see a much bigger blending of younger generations than we have now. It is at least a smaller factor in the minds of most within mine and subsequent generations. Most of us have a lot more to concern ourselves with than the race of those within our neighborhoods, including the attitudes/behaviors of those within our neighborhoods.

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I don't know this first-hand, but I think many 1st/2nd generation immigrants tend to cluster. This could be for a variety of reasons, though. Many don't speak fluent English -- or are self-conscious about their ability to do so -- ethnic food stores and restaurants -- the right churches. I'd imagine it's very difficult immigrating to the United States. I can't imagine moving 5,000 miles from family. Anything that would make me feel more at home? I'd be in with both feet.

MaggieD said:

I don't know this first-hand, but I think many 1st/2nd generation immigrants tend to cluster. This could be for a variety of reasons, though. Many don't speak fluent English -- or are self-conscious about their ability to do so -- ethnic food stores and restaurants -- the right churches. I'd imagine it's very difficult immigrating to the United States. I can't imagine moving 5,000 miles from family. Anything that would make me feel more at home? I'd be in with both feet.

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Rofl. You're so naive as to why immigrants and minorities cluster together that it's weird. They don't move in together because of ****ing restaurants. They do it to get a sense of security from what are usually clearly xenophobic governments. The Italians and Irish moved in together cause they wouldn't let them move in anywhere else. They were segregated. Black neighbourhoods were created by local governments who didn't want black people living near them. The Chinese in SF were restricted to their neighbourhood by anti-Chinese sentiment. The restaurants, and all that other feel good sense of security **** comes as a result of a majority seeking to isolate a group.

Sure, why not? I work in an area that is predominantly black. So what?

Cephus said:

Sure, why not? I work in an area that is predominantly black. So what?

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Why don't you hate black people?

Hatuey said:

Why don't you hate black people?

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Insinuating that people that dont want to live in an ALL anything neighborhood because they are racist is pure nonesense....people have a RIGHT to prefer their own kind and to live where and with whom they are comfortable and WANT TOO....that does not translate into HATE or any other emotion.
I grew up and worked with and was in the military with blacks that DONT WANT TO LIVE IN AN ALL BLACK NEIGHBORHOOD....period

I have and it was a perfectly fine place to live.

People are people.

lpast said:

Insinuating that people that dont want to live in an ALL anything neighborhood because they are racist is pure nonesense.

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That's not what I'm insinuating. Maybe you should read a little more carefully? I don't really care about the rest of your rant.

lpast said:

Insinuating that people that dont want to live in an ALL anything neighborhood because they are racist is pure nonesense....people have a RIGHT to prefer their own kind and to live where and with whom they are comfortable and WANT TOO....that does not translate into HATE or any other emotion.
I grew up and worked with and was in the military with blacks that DONT WANT TO LIVE IN AN ALL BLACK NEIGHBORHOOD....period

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I have to "mostly" disagree

we only have ONE item we are using for a decision.

Unless you are a first or 2nd generation immigrant I think its weird and stupid for that ONE thing to be a factor of any merit.

These blacks you speak off that dont want to live in an all black neighborhood I would guess (totally guess I could be wrong) were falsely associating it with poverty or crime etc etc (tv, movies, media)

Neither of those are a factor here :shrug:

Race of neighbors should never be a factor and thats the part that I think is nonsense. "IF" the neighborhood has the things I want, school district, good location to work or shops or school or maybe even more personal space, clean, low crime or anything else you or I may want race of neighbors is waaaaaaaaaaaay at the bottom LOL

Now like I said, I say this being an american my whole life and a many generation american. Newer americans I could understand wanting to associate more with their own for security, learning and maybe even easy access to their recently departed culture (food, religion, music etc) but im guessing they would change their minds if that neighborhood had a ****ty school district, high crime, looked like **** etc etc etc

I do agree with you though, I wouldnt go as far as it means "one is definitely racist" you can NOT draw that absolute from the decision unless you ask MORE questions and try to understand why.

But I think what people are getting at in this thread and what the OP "tried" and failed to do is to paint race as the most or highly significant factor. Its just not and if it is, IMO those people might have a serious issue. Id have to ask them why they care and rank it so high FIRST though.

Another GUESS is im thinking people are looking at this thread for what it is, one dimensional and stupid.

Race "alone" in most cases should never be a factor.

for example


Hey mike! I found a really nice house you and you family should look at. Its in the High-honors school district, right by our church and about a mile away from the shopping complex we always go to. My Cousins live in that same area they love it, its really clean and beautiful there, the neighbors are old school neighbors and crime is low. Its only about 15mins from where they are going to build your new office building and a direct bus route comes right by there to go to the football games!

yeah buddy, looks like we will be having pregame at your house from now on!!!


If mikes next question is "how many black people live there" Mike PROBABLY has some serious issues LMAO

now, its not certain and of course my example laid it on PRETTY THICK lol but Im just trying to show you how stupid the OP is because of his shallow one dimensional question.

Bottom line, everybody probably makes up their own scenario in their head and the one piece of information the OP gives you is not nearly enough information for anybody normal and objective IMO

My neighborhood is prob about 60/40 black/white. It is a neighborhood with mostly retired/middle aged people.

To me atmosphere/attitude is
what matters. Everyone is friendly and keeps their houses and yards well maintained.

I already live in a predominately Hispanic county. And my first real job was in north Portland Oregon. Race is completely not the issue when it comes to where you live.

I wonder where the OP went? I guess he doesn't like the answers he's getting.

It would be a pretty big step up from this neighborhood full of college students.

I have lived in one -- Aurora, Colorado.

I have lived in a predominantly black neighborhood before. I lived in a housing development where their was one other white family.

Hatuey said:

I wonder where the OP went? I guess he doesn't like the answers he's getting.

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I guess you wanted this to be a "racist question." Why??