Sundown towns

[memphis]

I reluctantly have to side with Dazzleman in this one. Many white people are suspicious of blacks because of past experiences (I suppose that works both ways though). Coming from a majority black city, I can tell you that as soon as a neighborhood turns majority black, property values go down, crime goes up, unattractive businesses (pawn shops, liquor stores, title loan shops) pop up everywhere and commercial vacancies mushroom. This has happenned again and again here in Memphis, most recently in the Southeastern suburbs, where I used to work. I know this sounds cliche, but I really do have a black lady across the street from me and I really have no problem with her whatsoever. That being said, I really would not be happy if my neighborhood became predominently black. I doubt my neighbor would either, considering she clearly chose to live in a white neighborhood. Obviously, I would not support force to keep blacks out.

[memphis]

I reluctantly have to side with Dazzleman in this one. Many white people are suspicious of blacks because of past experiences (I suppose that works both ways though). Coming from a majority black city, I can tell you that as soon as a neighborhood turns majority black, property values go down, crime goes up, unattractive businesses (pawn shops, liquor stores, title loan shops) pop up everywhere and commercial vacancies mushroom. This has happenned again and again here in Memphis, most recently in the Southeastern suburbs, where I used to work. I know this sounds cliche, but I really do have a black lady across the street from me and I really have no problem with her whatsoever. That being said, I really would not be happy if my neighborhood became predominently black. I doubt my neighbor would either, considering she clearly chose to live in a white neighborhood. Obviously, I would not support force to keep blacks out.

Does this occur even if the blacks moving in are middle class and their kids do well in school?  IMO, modern day white flight has more to do with economic class differences and school safety/performance than it does with race.  Obviously race is closely tied to both of these things due to the racial history of the country but I think people are less concerned with racial mixing and more concerned with class mixing and safety.  The middle and lower classes have very different values and priorities making it difficult for them to relate to each other even without the added barrier of race.

The area of Memphis I'm thinking of (Hickory Hill) is a solidly middle class black neighborhood. Until about ten years ago it was middle class (maybe even a hair above middle)white suburbia. It's one of the nicest black neighborhoods in town and certainly not an urban ghetto, but it's getting worse every day. There's not too much optimism toward the area, so you can buy a 2,000 square foot house for about $100,000.The building that used to be Target is now "Big Daddy's Pawn Shop, the mall out there has more vacancies than you can count, including a huge whole where Dillard's used to be. There are quite a few abandoned big boxes. I used to deliver pizzas out there, and it's not that bad a neighborhood really, but it's not what it used to be and the prognosis is poor, as now the better off blacks are starting to leave too. Whitehaven, the neighborhood where Graceland is, is about 15-20 years further along in this process (went black about 1980). I wouldn't want to go there under any circumstances today, as it is a nasty rundown slum. Maybe BRTD should move there.