All white neighborhood or all black neighborhood? [Archive]

Ultralight

9-1-19, 11:04am

I know, you are probably saying: "It's a trap!"

But I asked this question of several friends, black friends and white friends.
The answers were interesting. So I thought I would toss this question on here.

If you had to choose to live in an all black neighborhood or an all white neighborhood, which would you choose?

Tybee

9-1-19, 11:36am

I choose by price and location and house--have lived in all black neighborhoods twice, well since I'm not black I guess they were no longer all-black, so I'm thinking you mean preponderantly one or another?

So many folks living in neighborhoods now that I'm not sure the white/black dichotomy is legit at this point? Lots of historically "all white" neighborhoods have folks who are Asian, so not sure.

Chicken lady

9-1-19, 12:06pm

I live in an all white “neighborhood” surrounded by hostile world views.

everything else being equal, they would be equal. As everything else is unlikely to be equal, I would pick on other traits. One if my important traits being “rural” statistically I would pick all white. As I did, Even though I know of several white minority areas where I would like my neighbors more. Those neighbors would just be too close.

also, I can’t live in an all black neighborhood because by definition it would not be if I lived there.

my husband’s aunt and uncle chose predominately white suburban neighborhoods when their boys were growing up because they wanted good schools. Their family is 75% “black” (based on mixed race children being generally considered black in the USA, and the children’s skin tone)

Alan

9-1-19, 12:21pm

Ultralight

9-1-19, 12:34pm

Here is a smattering of answers I got from friends I know well.

Black woman: "All white. White people love me!"

Black woman: "All Black. Black people are cool with you throwing house parties and barbecues. They don't care if you roll up with a bunch of motorcycles and sh1t!"

Black woman: "All black. My significant other is white. I need all that blackness to balance out his whiteness!"

White woman: "Don't care. I don't know any of my neighbors anyway and I don't care to."

Jewish guy: "I cannot answer. Not enough info."

Black woman: "All white. White people are more considerate neighbors. There is less drama in white neighborhoods."

Ultralight

9-1-19, 12:34pm

Teacher Terry

9-1-19, 12:44pm

When I lived in Wisconsin it was very segregated and even in small Kenosha the all black neighborhood wasn’t safe for white people to be alone without a black friend. I went to school and it was mixed and I had black friends. Then we moved to Kansas and in our brand new subdivision it was mixed which I prefer and same with where we live now except the major minority group is Hispanic. I want the neighborhood kept up and people to be nice.

iris lilies

9-1-19, 1:31pm

dude, dumb question.

There really isnt any such thing as “all white” or “all black” neighborhoods, even in my racially divided city.

razz

9-1-19, 1:50pm

I prefer to live (and do) in a well-to-do neighborhood where the properties are well maintained and the overall ambiance is quiet and peaceful. It is neither all white or all black so people favoring one over the other may find it lacking somehow.
+1
My neighbourhood has all ages, colours and nationalities. I vist with them all as I walk my little dog. Yeah, I know what you will say- there I go being Canadian again.

Ultralight

9-1-19, 3:04pm

dude, dumb question.

There really isnt any such thing as “all white” or “all black” neighborhoods, even in my racially divided city.

Use your imagination.

Ultralight

9-1-19, 3:05pm

Yeah, I know what you will say- there I go being Canadian again.

Yup.

bae

9-1-19, 3:06pm

Neither.

Chicken lady

9-1-19, 3:36pm

I’m using my imagination, and it’s still a hard call. I mean, I think an all black neighborhood would be kind of depressing. And the heat index in summer... it would have to be very northern. OTOH, an all white neighborhood would show dirt very quickly. And the glare....

Tammy

9-1-19, 3:49pm

I like living in my neighborhood which is a blend of Hispanic White Black and mixed. I like it though not because of colors but because it’s working class.

High class people can be judgmental and nosy and critical. Low class feels a little less safe and there can be blight next door. Working class feels flexible and accepting, and you can have a party with music outdoors until midnight, and people tend to keep properties fairly cleaned up. You can work on your car in the driveway and go outside in non-Barbie doll clothing. It’s perfect for me.

Teacher Terry

9-1-19, 3:56pm

We have a mix of income levels. The original owners bought cheap and now a 800 sq ft 1950’s ranch is 300k. It appeals to both millennials and retirees that don’t want HOA’s. Some young people have painted beautiful colors on the outside and some have immaculate gardens in their front yard. None of this would fly in a HOA.

Tybee

9-1-19, 4:11pm

Tammy and Terry, both neighborhoods sound really nice. My favorite neighborhood we lived in was probably considered working class, and my husband could walk to work, and you could walk to work to the factory. We had a really nice backyard and I rode my bike everywhere.

Teacher Terry

9-1-19, 5:59pm

Prior we lived in the suburbs. We wanted to downsize and be in town. We can walk downtown as it’s 1.2 miles. Luckily we bought when prices were down. We love it.

mschrisgo2

9-1-19, 9:02pm

I prefer a really mixed neighborhood, mixture of ethnicities, ages, jobs. I find diversity stimulating, maybe because I grew up in San Francisco, and even all those years ago I was a (white) minority. I love to hear many languages being spoken in public. It’s also been my experience that people are more likely to tolerate “cultural differences” and there is less drama in mixed areas.

I live in a predominantly white, retired, neighborhood now, a small enclave of 75 homes, in a rural area (river on one side, vineyards on all the others). I find myself choosing to shop in the mixed areas, though there are white areas equidistant from us.

dado potato

9-2-19, 9:12am

The United States Census asks about race (and maybe it is a dumb, dumb question). The Census Bureau explains that the question is based on self-identification, and reflective of "a social definition of race". The question of race originated in the US Census of 1790.

So with a little research (I used the statistical atlas linked below) I found that in the state of Florida, for example, 15 zip codes are 100% white (non-Hispanics), and 30 zip codes are 100% black (including black Hispanics)

A person shopping for a house or condo may find that a realtor will not answer questions about the racial composition of neighborhoods. Although the federal government publishes detailed census data on racial composition, updated every 10 years, realtors (and the state commissions that regulate their conduct) consider it unethical to talk about it.

http://statisticalatlas.com

LDAHL

9-3-19, 7:45am

I would prefer a neighborhood where people are black on the right side and white on the left side. The alternative would be completely unacceptable.

Alan

9-3-19, 9:30am

I would prefer a neighborhood where people are black on the right side and white on the left side. The alternative would be completely unacceptable.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BGRZogWq8Vk

catherine

9-3-19, 9:49am

So with a little research (I used the statistical atlas linked below) I found that in the state of Florida, for example, 15 zip codes are 100% white (non-Hispanics), and 30 zip codes are 100% black (including black Hispanics)

http://statisticalatlas.com

I'll bet there are more 100% white zip codes in Vermont. I LOVE this SNL spoof:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nKcUOUYzDXA

ToomuchStuff

9-3-19, 11:55am

A person shopping for a house or condo may find that a realtor will not answer questions about the racial composition of neighborhoods. Although the federal government publishes detailed census data on racial composition, updated every 10 years, realtors (and the state commissions that regulate their conduct) consider it unethical to talk about it.

http://statisticalatlas.com

I expect it is considered more then unethical, I expect it borders on illegal and would possibly make them an accessory to an unfair housing lawsuit.

jp1

9-3-19, 3:58pm

I think ldahl and i are on the same page. Personally i want a neighborhood that’s more 50 shades of gray.

bae

9-3-19, 4:02pm

I think ldahl and i are on the same page. Personally i want a neighborhood that’s more 50 shades of gray.

I used to live there, but then Folsom Street rents went through the roof.