South vs. North?

[susan314]

Originally Posted by SWTXBelle

And now for something completely different . . .

What consititutes the north, the mid-west and the west in your mind? I'd especially like to hear from those who consider themselves from those regions. And, what do you think distinguishes your region? (Not the geographical!)

I grew up in Michigan and presently live in Ohio. I would generally label myself as being "from the Midwest." Not sure if that's technically correct (according to how the Midwest is supposed to be defined), but I certainly feel Midwestern.

Not sure what areas would constitute the North, now that I think about it. The northern states such as Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, etc. I would actually consider as "eastern." Many of the other states along the US/Canada border I'd consider as "midwest" (Michigan, etc.).

Edit to add: Guess I wasn't too far off in thinking of myself as "Midwestern." According to Wiki (which is never wrong...lol), the Midwest is generally considered to be: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Midwest

[shinerbock]

Is Atlanta really that segregated? I agree that may be true for where black/white folks live, but even relatively "white" places like Buckhead (east paces), dunwoody, peachtree city, etc, have a lot of minorities who come to hang out or shop there.

I think it sucks for the young black professional crowd in metro Atlanta really. I know they probably love Atlanta, but I've seen a lot of classy young black people feel resistance when moving into nice communities. I don't think they'd describe it as racism, more like cautious hesitation.

[UGAalum94]

Originally Posted by shinerbock

Is Atlanta really that segregated? I agree that may be true for where black/white folks live, but even relatively "white" places like Buckhead (east paces), dunwoody, peachtree city, etc, have a lot of minorities who come to hang out or shop there.

I think it sucks for the young black professional crowd in metro Atlanta really. I know they probably love Atlanta, but I've seen a lot of classy young black people feel resistance when moving into nice communities. I don't think they'd describe it as racism, more like cautious hesitation.

The news story above confirms your theory that Atlanta isn't as segregated as I thought.

As far as the second point, I agree it probably really hard for well educated affluent young black people to find places that they want to live and feel completely welcome.

I think the "cautious hesitation" may be fear of white flight, not so much fear, distrust, or hatred of black people. As you probably know, the city and the surrounding area have experienced shifting demographics; think about Clayton County 10-15 years ago and Clayton County today. South/Mid Gwinnett, 10 years ago versus today. They're demographically different. I think people have concern that any racial change is approaching the "white flight" tipping point. Sure, it's a little racist, but it's more worrying about other people's racist actions that you have no control over.

[UGAalum94]

How you do do multiple quotes in the same posts?

[shinerbock]

Originally Posted by Alphagamuga

The news story above confirms your theory that Atlanta isn't as segregated as I thought.

As far as the second point, I agree it probably really hard for well educated affluent young black people to find places that they want to live and feel completely welcome.

I think the "cautious hesitation" may be fear of white flight, not so much fear, distrust, or hatred of black people. As you probably know, the city and the surrounding area have experienced shifting demographics; think about Clayton County 10-15 years ago and Clayton County today. South/Mid Gwinnett, 10 years ago versus today. They're demographically different. I think people have concern that any racial change is approaching the "white flight" tipping point. Sure, it's a little racist, but it's more worrying about other people's racist actions that you have no control over.

Well, it may be part-racism, but its also from experience in a lot of situations. Its very common in the metro area to see a nice affluent area where affluent and educated minorities move in. However, its also fairly common that they're followed by less affluent, less educated minorities, and suddenly property values are going down, violence goes up, etc. I think its rough for black people because they have the stigma that they're the ones starting the domino effect, but in reality they're trying to get away from the same things the affluent white folks are.

[PGT_uga]

Originally Posted by shinerbock

I think its rough for black people because they have the stigma that they're the ones starting the domino effect, but in reality they're trying to get away from the same things the affluent white folks are.

Exactly.

[IvySpice]

Each of us has as much control over who our ancestors were, or what our ancestors did or thought as we had control over our height or DNA. It's how you process it and how you decide to improve on their lot that's important.

Agreed. It is perplexing, then, that people express so much pride in their ancestors. You can't control who they are and what they did, so what do YOU have to be proud of? If your pride stems from your association with their noble accomplishments, why shouldn't you feel shame about their shameful acts? You have exactly the same degree of connection to their evil acts as to any others.

[Elephant Walk]

Originally Posted by IvySpice

Agreed. It is perplexing, then, that people express so much pride in their ancestors. You can't control who they are and what they did, so what do YOU have to be proud of? If your pride stems from your association with their noble accomplishments, why shouldn't you feel shame about their shameful acts? You have exactly the same degree of connection to their evil acts as to any others.

So there should be no Black History Month?

[AGDee]

Yes, they stick Michigan in the midwest category. I've wondered why for a long time. We aren't West of much, except the Appalachians. Do they not want to have a Mid East region because of the geo-political issues in the Middle East of the world?

The Detroit metro area was the most segregated in the country per this Detroit News article: http://detnews.com/specialreports/20...b03-390169.htm Other major citites that were on the list were all around the Great Lakes.

[susan314]

Originally Posted by AGDee

Yes, they stick Michigan in the midwest category. I've wondered why for a long time. We aren't West of much, except the Appalachians. Do they not want to have a Mid East region because of the geo-political issues in the Middle East of the world?

I think that the terminology stems from the Northwest Territories - so perhaps at the time the "midwest" label started, we were more towards the "middle" of the west? (Before all of those more Western states became part of the US.)

Though I did see something referenced about the midwest starting as west of the Allegheny River.

[UGAalum94]

Originally Posted by AGDee

Yes, they stick Michigan in the midwest category. I've wondered why for a long time. We aren't West of much, except the Appalachians. Do they not want to have a Mid East region because of the geo-political issues in the Middle East of the world?

The Detroit metro area was the most segregated in the country per this Detroit News article: http://detnews.com/specialreports/20...b03-390169.htm Other major citites that were on the list were all around the Great Lakes.

That is a really interesting story. Neither Atlanta or (Boston at least racially I guess) is as segregated as we thought.

[UGAalum94]

Originally Posted by susan314

Guess I wasn't too far off in thinking of myself as "Midwestern." According to Wiki (which is never wrong...lol), the Midwest is generally considered to be: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Midwest

Well, I feel better about how I was thinking about Ohio, but doesn't it seem weird that everything from Ohio to Nebraska would be Midwestern?

[NUBlue&Blue]

Originally Posted by Alphagamuga

Well, I feel better about how I was thinking about Ohio, but doesn't it seem weird that everything from Ohio to Nebraska would be Midwestern?

Nebraska is one of those states that is half and half...Midwestern and Western. Once you pass Grand Island on that mindnumbing ride across the state on I-80, you're in the West. By Lexington, you're there for sure.