Race Relations

I live in a very racially diverse town in Central FL. What has always amazed me is how racially intolerant and segregated places like NY, LA and other "more enlightened" Northern and Western places are, as opposed to their reputations. The South has far more integration, more women and minorities in management and ownership positions in business than in the North and West... we are far more diverse than the North.
The new KKK, the Order and other major racists movements have all started North of the Mason Dixon. Just because your racism is less vocal does not mean it is less prevalent, quite the opposite apparently.

[TheMercenary]

Originally Posted by rkzenrage

I live in a very racially diverse town in Central FL. What has always amazed me is how racially intolerant and segregated places like NY, LA and other "more enlightened" Northern and Western places are, as opposed to their reputations. The South has far more integration, more women and minorities in management and ownership positions in business than in the North and West... we are far more diverse than the North.
The new KKK, the Order and other major racists movements have all started North of the Mason Dixon. Just because your racism is less vocal does not mean it is less prevalent, quite the opposite apparently.

Well I know that most of rural Fla is still white/mixed, but Miami is South America Lite. You don't speak spanish and you will not find your stay as nice as when they all spoke english.

[bluecuracao]

Originally Posted by TheMercenary

Well I know that most of rural Fla is still white/mixed, but Miami is South America Lite. You don't speak spanish and you will not find your stay as nice as when they all spoke english.

They've never all spoken English in Miami...the Spanish were the first Europeans there.

[xoxoxoBruce]

Florida's not the south. So many people from so many places, makes it a casserole.

Originally Posted by xoxoxoBruce

Florida's not the south. So many people from so many places, makes it a casserole.

Central FL and the coast are totally different nations.

[xoxoxoBruce]

Originally Posted by rkzenrage

Central FL and the coast are totally different nations.

Lake Mary - Debary?

[Hime]

Fresh, I grew up in a more diverse area -- the Maryland suburbs of DC -- but the part about grades and careers is right on target. My dad still can't believe that I didn't go straight into grad school after college to get an early start on the tenure track! :p

Here in DC, things are a mixed bag. The majority is black, but many neighborhoods are de facto segregated, and there are a lot of problems with poverty, drugs, AIDS, etc in the poor black population. I strongly believe that resource distribution around here skews towards white neighborhoods -- for instance, the escalators in subway stations in urban black neighborhoods are almost always out of service, whereas in the cushier white areas they work just fine. Same for schools, policing, etc. You are much more likely to have a positive experience with a cop in the white or mixed neighborhoods in DC than in the primarily black ones.

As for the positive side, among students and young workers here there is a lot of awareness of racism and interest in social change. I believe that things are more integrated here than they were a few years ago; for instance, the neighborhood where I live has become more racially and culturally diverse in this decade without driving out the original, lower-income residents. The DC area also has one of the highest-income, most-educated African American populations in the country, most notably in the affluent Prince Georges' County community. PG County has had some problems with crime recently but is still considered one of the best places for African American families to live. DC also has a sizable community of African immigrants, especially from East Africa.

I think things are better than they were in the past here. The city has certainly done a lot of repair and rebuilding since the 1968 riots, and it's hard to imagine that happening here again. Honestly, I believe that congressional representation would be a big piece of the puzzle. Things will be better here when the residents have more of a say.