Very Curious ? Why have I yet to see a successful Black neighborhood ?

[StevieStar]

I have many Black Friends, but if they live in an all Black neighborhood, there's high crime and steel bars on every residential & commercial building ? What is the problem ???? Where are they ???

 

[nia588]

Maybe it's just where you live. I'm black and I use to live in an all black neighborhood and we never had steel bars on our windows and the crime wasn't high. kids were able to go outside without being worried about getting shot. the only bad thing that ever happen to us was some crackhead stole a (yes 1) porch chair.

 

[jillian]

I suspect you'll find that it's a poverty issue...not a race issue.

 

[Gungnir]

I work with a service company and go all over the county. There was a Black section of town (demarkated by the Sewerplant) and this area has predominantly stayed black well after an end to legal segregation. The Blacks have expanded outward as their population grows (obviously) but are very inclined to stay in a Black majority neighborhood.

Normally the process of White to Black demographics begins with houses being rented to Black families. From that point White Flight seems to takeover. Normally these neighborhoods already had drug and crime problems to begin with.

In the older part of the Black section of town neighborhoods are very economically mixed with a few blocks of decent houses surrounded by increasingly decript and crime ridden houses. I would say the wealthier areas tend to have families instead of single parents and tend to be older. Typically, these nicer areas are below $100,000.00 a year. Nothing fabulous.

I have read of one WEALTHY Black neighborhood outside of Atlanta and I think I read that Rev. Wright lives in such a place.

 

[Gungnir]

To Jillian;

I suspect the general problem revolves about Family in low population areas like mine. In the big cities everyone goes crazy so I withold judgement.

A consistant father figure, drug abstinence, and a family culture of dedication are the crucial factors in children's upbringing. I would say that a moral upbringing with a heavy emphasis on dedication would overcome starting economic conditions and natural intelligence.

A persistant average person would be far more valuable than a flakey genius.

 

[Anguille]

I suspect you'll find that it's a poverty issue...not a race issue.

That's exactly it.

 

[Silence]

you know until I came to this board I'd have never believed that ignorance and bigotry was still such a large issue in this country. But alas in the month I've been here I've encountered some of the most ignorant, bigoted and just plain rude, nasty and hateful people I've had the displeaure of coming into contact. Thank God it's virtual contact and not personal real life contact. Blessedly, I've also encounterd some of the most intelligent, honest, funny, and just downright lovely people as well so they make up for those I wish I hadn't encountered.

I love in Florida and this state has a large black population and trust me when I say their neighborhoods are as successful as any other neighborhood around.

I live in a predominately white area and in the four years that I've lived here I've had three car radios stolen and that actual car stolen right out of my drive way...after moving from a predominately black neighbrohood no less. We had a rash of break-ins a few months ago where kids were breaking into homes when the people went to work and I'm pretty sure there is a drug dealer who lives a few doors down just based on the traffic in front of his home and the number of times I've seen the police there. On the surface this a very nice neighborhood but like any neighborhood, scratch off that surface and you'd be surprised what you'd find.

I do agree with Jillian, poverty plays a big role as does perception. Just because you don't see the crime in the white neighborhoods doesn't mean it's not happening... whites seem to commit their crimes behind the privacy of their front door...beating their wives and children, molesting the neighborhood children, surfing the internet for child porn etc.

I will say this, if you're so curious about why black neighborhoods are the way they are why don't you go do some volunteer work in a low income area and get to know the people living in those neighborhoods. I think you'll find that 90% are hard working, law abiding citizens and you're stereotyping an entire group of people based on what you see on the news.

 

[Mr. President]

Because when black people get money they move to white neighborhoods. DUH

 

[jillian]

you know until I came to this board I'd have never believed that ignorance and bigotry was still such a large issue in this country. But alas in the month I've been here I've encountered some of the most ignorant, bigoted and just plain rude, nasty and hateful people I've had the displeaure of coming into contact. Thank God it's virtual contact and not personal real life contact. Blessedly, I've also encounterd some of the most intelligent, honest, funny, and just downright lovely people as well so they make up for those I wish I hadn't encountered.

I love in Florida and this state has a large black population and trust me when I say their neighborhoods are as successful as any other neighborhood around.

I live in a predominately white area and in the four years that I've lived here I've had three car radios stolen and that actual car stolen right out of my drive way...after moving from a predominately black neighbrohood no less. We had a rash of break-ins a few months ago where kids were breaking into homes when the people went to work and I'm pretty sure there is a drug dealer who lives a few doors down just based on the traffic in front of his home and the number of times I've seen the police there. On the surface this a very nice neighborhood but like any neighborhood, scratch off that surface and you'd be surprised what you'd find.

I do agree with Jillian, poverty plays a big role as does perception. Just because you don't see the crime in the white neighborhoods doesn't mean it's not happening... whites seem to commit their crimes behind the privacy of their front door...beating their wives and children, molesting the neighborhood children, surfing the internet for child porn etc.

I will say this, if you're so curious about why black neighborhoods are the way they are why don't you go do some volunteer work in a low income area and get to know the people living in those neighborhoods. I think you'll find that 90% are hard working, law abiding citizens and you're stereotyping an entire group of people based on what you see on the news.

Actually, child abuse and domestic violence are among the only crimes that transcend socio-economic boundaries.

 

[Silence]

Actually, child abuse and domestic violence are among the only crimes that transcend socio-economic boundaries.

really? rape, murder, robbery, drug dealing? those don't transcend socio-economic boundaries too?

How about I put it a different way... whites can afford better defense attorney's so perhaps their crimes aren't as noticeable since they don't end up in jail as often....

 

[jillian]

really? rape, murder, robbery, drug dealing? those don't transcend socio-economic boundaries too?

How about I put it a different way... whites can afford better defense attorney's so perhaps their crimes aren't as noticeable since they don't end up in jail as often....

admittedly criminal law isn't my expertise, but it's my understanding that people who commit the crimes of sex abuse and domestic violence are from every socio-economic group. other crimes are MORE specific to lower socio economic groupings... That doesn't mean that they never cross over, but they do so with less frequency.

Is this based on conviction rates or disparate enforcement? I have no idea.

 

[Luissa]

I have many Black Friends, but if they live in an all Black neighborhood, there's high crime and steel bars on every residential & commercial building ? What is the problem ???? Where are they ???

It might have to do with to do with access to valued resouces such as good jobs, good schools, property, etc. And has a minority group they don't always have the same access as some of us.If you don't give them the mechanism they can't rise up the social latter!

 

[Anguille]

you know until I came to this board I'd have never believed that ignorance and bigotry was still such a large issue in this country. But alas in the month I've been here I've encountered some of the most ignorant, bigoted and just plain rude, nasty and hateful people I've had the displeaure of coming into contact. Thank God it's virtual contact and not personal real life contact. Blessedly, I've also encounterd some of the most intelligent, honest, funny, and just downright lovely people as well so they make up for those I wish I hadn't encountered.

I love in Florida and this state has a large black population and trust me when I say their neighborhoods are as successful as any other neighborhood around.

I live in a predominately white area and in the four years that I've lived here I've had three car radios stolen and that actual car stolen right out of my drive way...after moving from a predominately black neighbrohood no less. We had a rash of break-ins a few months ago where kids were breaking into homes when the people went to work and I'm pretty sure there is a drug dealer who lives a few doors down just based on the traffic in front of his home and the number of times I've seen the police there. On the surface this a very nice neighborhood but like any neighborhood, scratch off that surface and you'd be surprised what you'd find.

I do agree with Jillian, poverty plays a big role as does perception. Just because you don't see the crime in the white neighborhoods doesn't mean it's not happening... whites seem to commit their crimes behind the privacy of their front door...beating their wives and children, molesting the neighborhood children, surfing the internet for child porn etc.

I will say this, if you're so curious about why black neighborhoods are the way they are why don't you go do some volunteer work in a low income area and get to know the people living in those neighborhoods. I think you'll find that 90% are hard working, law abiding citizens and you're stereotyping an entire group of people based on what you see on the news.

good post.

A few years ago I moved form the toniest most exclusive neighborhood in my city to one of the worst crime hot spots. My new neighborhood was for several decades a black neighborhood and is now the most ethnically diverse according to a recent study.
You couldn't pay me enough money to move back to my old neighborhood!
First of all no one there really bothered to meet their neighbors, either too busy working or whatever they did.
Here, I can't walk down the street without at least being greeted by 4 or 5 neighbors depending on the time of day.
As far as crime goes, I've not been affected directly in either place though I had several bikes stolen or vandalized in my old neighborhood and that hasn't happened to me here. Sorry, yes, it did happen here once but my neighbor down the street recognized my bike and got it back for me. Never would have happened in the old neighborhood.
I do hear more gunshots here and the murder rate is higher but I think there are less break ins and property damage.
Silence, when you talk about crime behind closed doors you remind me of what I say to certain relatives and acquaintances who are shocked to hear where I now live. "Aren't you afraid of becoming a victim of crime?', they ask. I tell them it was much worse back in the fancy white neighborhood where I was living side by side with white collar criminals whose activities affected the economics of the city in far worse ways than drug dealing and petty crime.

 

[Luissa]

good post.

A few years ago I moved form the toniest most exclusive neighborhood in my city to one of the worst crime hot spots. My new neighborhood was for several decades a black neighborhood and is now the most ethnically diverse according to a recent study.
You couldn't pay me enough money to move back to my old neighborhood!
First of all no one there really bothered to meet their neighbors, either too busy working or whatever they did.
Here, I can't walk down the street without at least being greeted by 4 or 5 neighbors depending on the time of day.
As far as crime goes, I've not been affected directly in either place though I had several bikes stolen or vandalized in my old neighborhood and that hasn't happened to me here. Sorry, yes, it did happen here once but my neighbor down the street recognized my bike and got it back for me. Never would have happened in the old neighborhood.
I do hear more gunshots here and the murder rate is higher but I think there are less break ins and property damage.
Silence, when you talk about crime behind closed doors you remind me of what I say to certain relatives and acquaintances who are shocked to hear where I now live. "Aren't you afraid of becoming a victim of crime?', they ask. I tell them it was much worse back in the fancy white neighborhood where I was living side by side with white collar criminals whose activities affected the economics of the city in far worse ways than drug dealing and petty crime.

That is how it was where I grew up plus where do you think teenages go to break into cars! Like you I moved to a so called bad neighborhood but also historic neighborhood. Yeah you had your crackheads but they are fun to watch at night but they put on festivals almost everyweekend in the summer. And I never once got my car broke into!

 

[editec]

I probably live in one of the poorest places in America. I think the median Family income in my county is about $21,000

FYI there's vitually no property crime, very little violent crime, either. (except domestic violence).

So it's not JUST poverty that's causing crime.

There are social forces behind crime, too.

Over crowding, hopelessness, class and property envy also play a role.

Broken homes, and age demographics also significantfactors in crime.

Race? Certainly seems to be another factor in crime, too.

What causes crime in society is a much more complex question that most of us want to acknowledge.

 

[Anguille]

I probably live in one of the poorest places in America. I think the median Family income in my county is about $21,000

FYI there's vitually no property crime, very little violent crime, either. (except domestic violence).

So it's not JUST poverty that's causing crime.

There are social forces behind crime, too.

Over crowding, hopelessness, class and property envy also play a role.

Broken homes, and age demographics also significantfactors in crime.

Race? Certainly seems to be another factor in crime, too.

What causes crime in society is a much more complex question that most of us want to acknowledge.

You make a good point that poverty is not the only cause of crime. If that were the case we'd never have criminals like Ken Lay.

 

[KittenKoder]

From my own observations it's an educational and freedom thing. Areas where the police work more within the community instead of just being told to arrest everyone there tends to be less crime. Also areas where people learn just to learn instead of trying to get the 'better' life fewer people have the chance to commit crime.

 

[k-5choirteacher]

I have many Black Friends, but if they live in an all Black neighborhood, there's high crime and steel bars on every residential & commercial building ? What is the problem ???? Where are they ???

We have some very nice predominantly African-American subdivisions in Shreveport, Louisiana. I lived with an African-American friend of mine six weeks when I first moved to Shreveport, and his neighborhood which is "all Black" as you say has well groomed lawns and nice contemporary styled brick homes, with late model luxury automobiles parked in the electronically opened garages. My friend lives more comfortably than many European-Americans.

 

[KittenKoder]

We have some very nice predominantly African-American subdivisions in Shreveport, Louisiana. I lived with an African-American friend of mine six weeks when I first moved to Shreveport, and his neighborhood which is "all Black" as you say has well groomed lawns and nice contemporary styled brick homes, with late model luxury automobiles parked in the electronically opened garages. My friend lives more comfortably than many European-Americans.

I've been there, a REALLY nice neighborhood ... never noticed anyones skin color myself, but it was a nice neighborhood.

 

[AllieBaba]

admittedly criminal law isn't my expertise, but it's my understanding that people who commit the crimes of sex abuse and domestic violence are from every socio-economic group. other crimes are MORE specific to lower socio economic groupings... That doesn't mean that they never cross over, but they do so with less frequency.

Is this based on conviction rates or disparate enforcement? I have no idea.

You're right. The numbers might show more in poverty-stricken populations, but only because there are more poor people. I think the incidence and the percentages are pretty much the same no matter what group you're in.