Move out of the Hood, or no?

Ymra was kinda touching on this in another topic and I was thinking that it has some importance. Regardless if you marry a white woman or not (although I'm sure this is important and will be touched upon in discussion), say you do get married and decide to settle. Depending upon the area, would you move, or stay in the area and try to improve it (join a neighborhood watch, clean up the area, look into improving real estate)? Because moving into areas which are prevalently white are problem areas for African Americans, especially when looking at real estate, working, and owning your own business.

Since I'm asking, I would say I'd leave. Not because I consider the area to be horrible (schools and decent homes are issues), but I'm a mass comm major and I figure there are more opportunities for advancement outside the city. If I was sure that I could find career opportunities here, I would consider staying. :smt025

 

With the stories i hear i am sure 90% of people living in the hood would wanna move out of the hood whether they marry white women or not shit i heard people even piss and shit in elevators in the hood smgdmfh in America?? i hope i heard wrong.

 

I am temporarily staying (several months now) down the street from the projects in a mixed blue-collar/section 8 neighborhood and let me tell you, although it's not all bad and there are some good people, the blatant prevalance of drugs, condoms slung everywhere, noise, police, etc. makes me want to move right NOW. Can't imagine what it's like in the "real" ghetto.

Not that I would want to move to the suburbs because that's a slow death in and of itself.

 

First it assumes that we all live in ghetto areas and Secondly it assumes that all predominately white areas are problem areas for AA.

1) i never lived anywhere but middle class suburbs and rural america except for university
2) always lived in predominantly white suburbs and never had any problems with whites, so I wouldnt say i would have to move.

 

Please note that this is the meaning you infered, so it is not intended. Neither did I use the word "ghetto". However, it is fairly true that predominantly white areas can present problems for AA, although facing them is a better strategy.

 

Cosign

 

Move out of the hood: YES

If a fictional character like George Jefferson can do it then why shouldn't I have the same goals and aspirations?

 

Move out of the hood, why? It's such a great place to raise a family..

 

My parents worked their ASSES OFF, so that my brothers and sisters and I could grow up outside of the hood. I remember growing up and watching the Welfare Kids have the shoes, and clothes...and my brothers and sistrs and I having to use ROPE to tie our pants up. And wearing long t-shirts so that no one would know we were using belts. My dad was adamant that we would NEVER go on welfare. He was fanaticle about school and grades. His rule was that no matter what DON'T BRING ANYTHING LESS THAN A B into his house.

....there was a time would it seemed I couldn't stay out of Juvy, but I was more afraid of my father than anything. I remember doing how work locked up...ANYTHING so that I would get a B.

I watch how much my parents slaved......I watched the crime, and drugs, and killings growing up and I knew that I didn't want to raise my children around that. EVER!

I still give my time and my energy to helping people who have less than me, but no way would I stay in the hood just to be down, or cool or for any other reason other that I know what my parents wanted for me....

...and I know what I want for my children.

I like seeing the Police. I enjoy quietness, and LAWNS, and home owners associations. (ok maybe not HOA).....

 

no doubt.

 

My thoughts exactly, but you say it much better .

 

I would rep you but they're all used up :smt085:heart:. The closest I came to living in the ghetto as a kid was being on the assisted lunch program - all of my clothes were hand-me-downs (and I was the oldest!). I too have that strong feeling about government aid - being unemployed (through no choice of my own) at the moment, people are always telling me to get on food stamps but I just can't do it. That being said, it seems like those on welfare always have more, and know how to get more, without having to do a damned thing for it except have more kids. It's a lifestyle that is handed down, and I want no part of it.

Props to you for working so hard in school even though you did get in trouble, and for getting your family out of that environment that was so destructive.

Can't agree with you on liking the police though - the only one I know is trying to get my ass (white guy, go figure) and I just keep on his good side in case I need him one day. Have been on the wrong side of the law myself a few times (in BG, again, go figure - they have nothing else to do but harass college students). Didn't you say you used to be a cop (or was that the military)...

 

I was on the New Bern Police department. A lot of the officer (I would say the majority) do what they do because they believe in their job. people don't know how DANGEROUS it is, or how stressful it is. How in one second everything is under control and the next, your life is in danger.

Man is a kid I could STAY out of jail. ha! I was a lil dude......lil wannabe pretty mofo, but I also felt like I had to be what my family was. My family was known for boxing. And I come from a BIG family. So I used to fight just to prove myself. You piss me off, I was trying to knock your teeth you.

Now its all about the joke and loving this life that I have...and being the best father than I know how to be. I grew up with a good example.

 

The "hood" is designed for people to get out of. There's nothing there for an educated man or woman on the move except getting victimized by those who aren't. White areas aren't "problems." This isn't 1965. Fuck all that keepin' it real shit, what that really means is misery loves company. You don't owe the hood shit. Move on, black man, move on.

 

....there was a time would it seemed I couldn't stay out of Juvy, but I was more afraid of my father than anything. I remember doing how work locked up...ANYTHING so that I would get a B.

My mistake - I misunderstood. I agree being a police officer is a stressful job, but some of the white cops around here look like straight psychos. Also weird/inappropriate to have a cop come on to you at 2am in the morning at the downtown Thorntons.

I'm sure you were a good cop and are an even better father. Even if we don't always see eye to eye :smt058

 

lippy grew up in middle class america...my first house the one we live in now is in the city and by all accounts would be considered the hood in my city...my son was the only white kid in his entire elementary school...he went to an inner city mixed middle school and now attends a mixed inner city high school...we have a little brick bungalow...we take care of our yard and encourage others around us to do so as well...our block has turned into a competition if you will...cutting the grass...edging...aerating...seeding watering, tree trimming, garbage pickup...we even sweep up our alley and keep it respectable...it only takes one person to get things started...my neighbors at first thought i was crazy putting in so much effort...now they all help out to make our neighborhood better...

i have no problem living in the area we live in and yes i could have bought a much nicer house in the burbs...you couldn't get me to live out somewhere on a cul de sac if my life depended on it...i like living in the city and getting a taste of the less advantaged...we volunteer more...do more community service...so lippy is going to say no to moving out...i made a choice to move in:smt039

 

Kudos to you, Lippy - sounds like a beautiful neighborhood and a well-rounded educational environment for your son.

While I don't like the exact neighborhood I'm in (near downtown), there are several streets about 5 blocks over closer to downtown that are still diverse but have bigger/better older buildings/wider streets instead of the "falling over" ones around here.
I want to live near downtown so that I will always be in touch with what everyone is going through (all socioeconomic walks), be walking distance from cultural events, etc. Where I'm living now is just too claustrophobic.

Agree with you on the cul-de-sac - I could never do that.

 

Umm....how actually does this compare to living in the hood?

 

HA! I would NEVER live downtown (Louisville) or any place near it. I bought my mother a house new Fern Valley and I'm glad that I could.

 

Rep added.:smt023