I live in Pittsburgh. My mom lives in Richmond. She's been trying to get me to move there since the day my daughter was born.

Over the weekend, she sent me this list:

http://www.forbes.com/fdc/welcome_mjx.shtml

According to Forbes (and my mother) black people are doing extremely well in Richmond and very poorly in Pittsburgh. While I tnink Pittsburgh has a real problem with black brain drain and a relatively small black professional class, I think the list is bullshit.

The four metrics they use are:

-percentage of Black home-ownership: a flawed metric because historically majority black cities are automatically going to have high rates of home-ownership.

-percentage of Black people self-employed: flawed as fuck. I guarantee there's a whole lot of hairdressers and barbers in these numbers. I think we all know a ton of black people who are self-employed because there were so few employment opportunities.

-median Black household income: The best metric on this list, but meaningless in cost of living isn't factored in.


-Black population growth/loss: actually, this it pretty meaningful.


I'd prefer to see income adjusted for income, black unemployment rate and home BUYING rate, HS graduation rate.

Also, I hate anything that use MSA as opposed to city proper, but it is what it is.

Atlanta
Raleigh
DC
Baltimore
Charlotte
VA Beach-Norfolk
Orlando
Miami
Richmond
San Antonio

________________________________________
"Take the surprise out your voice Shaq."-The REAL CP3
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v2H5K-BUMS0

prototype

stand ur ground, believe in urself,
believe in love, prepare urself for love, remove the negativity from ur life, and accept the love u kno u deserve

but then again, when my Brother, Sister and nephew who all live in ATL came to visit for the holidays they said the same thing.

They say it's ATL without the long commutes.

I don't put them in the same category

prototype

stand ur ground, believe in urself,
believe in love, prepare urself for love, remove the negativity from ur life, and accept the love u kno u deserve

________________________________________
"Take the surprise out your voice Shaq."-The REAL CP3
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v2H5K-BUMS0

frankly
outside of NY
how you treat your gay population and the number of it is on par with black folk


no gays
no black folk
i start worrying
~~~~
When you are born, you cry, and the world rejoices. Live so that when you die, you rejoice, and the world cries.
~~~~
You cannot hate people for their own good.

I know you hate the joke but to a lot of people who call it a small ATL this is exactly was Charlotte is to them....

if blk prince is cool
and its a saying then fine

~~~~
When you are born, you cry, and the world rejoices. Live so that when you die, you rejoice, and the world cries.
~~~~
You cannot hate people for their own good.

I doubt it would bother any other gay person either. However, the large amount of str8 available women here in Atlanta compared to Charlotte I think would be the focus of a str8 man when thinking about the two cities, but thinking like that would be too logical for some

prototype

stand ur ground, believe in urself,
believe in love, prepare urself for love, remove the negativity from ur life, and accept the love u kno u deserve

I think that's the only true comparison.

It's a great alternative if you are ready to settle down and don't want to sit in your car for 2 hours everyday.

>I think that's the only true comparison.
>
>It's a great alternative if you are ready to settle down and
>don't want to sit in your car for 2 hours everyday.

________________________________________
"Take the surprise out your voice Shaq."-The REAL CP3
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v2H5K-BUMS0

but I truly think it's just about the buzz it's getting like ATL used to get in the early 90's.

People up north used to say they were interested in moving to ATL... now a lot of people say "what about Charlotte"

Getting money and living well, that's where I think the comparisons come from

Also on the obvious tip, both "progressive"/modern cities in the south

But they really aren't very a like Imo

Charlotte is more similar to Nashville IMO and I'm not saying that as a bad thing

prototype

stand ur ground, believe in urself,
believe in love, prepare urself for love, remove the negativity from ur life, and accept the love u kno u deserve

Are Blacks getting money in Charlotte/ATL because the opportunities are so great, or are Black people getting in ATL/Charlotte because so many educated, motivated black people choose to go there?

I have two friends in ATL who are doing very well for themselves. One is a Dr, the other a lawyer. They were getting money in NYC and Chicago a few years ago. They aren't where they are because ATL is popping for black folk. They are where because they were black people who already had it popping and took the show to ATL with them.

that is key for me


my profession is hard to find in NY
i would have to think about switching it up

or maybe i should go advise Johnson Co about their photo assets
the fools
~~~~
When you are born, you cry, and the world rejoices. Live so that when you die, you rejoice, and the world cries.
~~~~
You cannot hate people for their own good.

these days people go where there is an opportunity to make it....

doesn't really matter if they moved here or lived here all their lives.

Most people who can cake in Houston, ATL, Charlotte can also cake in NY, Chicago or Boston.

>Most people who can cake in Houston, ATL, Charlotte can also
>cake in NY, Chicago or Boston.

Charlotte and ATL more attractive. For what you pay for a 1 bedroom apartment in Manhattan you could have a sprawling mansion in ATL.

________________________________________
"Take the surprise out your voice Shaq."-The REAL CP3
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v2H5K-BUMS0

living in warmer climates and having a 10 minute commute to Uptown Charlotte while paying $900 for a 3BR/2Bth.

they do here, so if its a chicken and egg thing i could say that ATL has long before u or I were even born been a place with a Blk middle class, in the decades before segregation ended Blk flocked here to a be a part of that if they didnt want to go to harlem or chicago or somewhere else north

then after because of the cost of living relative to northern cities (still part of the draw today), what u could get for ur money down here, doctors and lawyers and everyone else say why not have my money go further and enjoy better weather and still be around Blk ppl doing the same

so those who relocate here perpetuate the appeal

i mean i guess to answer ur question directly, the distinction ur trying to make is not really important to how good the life is down here

prototype

stand ur ground, believe in urself,
believe in love, prepare urself for love, remove the negativity from ur life, and accept the love u kno u deserve

It's the city everybody would expect to see on the list. Although, I thought I read that the city's economy had taken a downturn recently. Either way, it's an important American city and will always have a large black elite. No question.

>Also on the obvious tip, both "progressive"/modern cities in
>the south

I haven't been in a long time but when I was there, it felt like any other big, southern city.

Do you think it's legit progressive or just progressive compared to other southern cities?

the MTA in nyc but it was a move in the right direction and that city supported it, im sure it is far more progressive than other parts of NC as well but ur right i cant really speak to all the political leanings of that populace

i love their uptown area tho, modern musuems (including the Harvey Gannt musueam) and housing and the lynx to get around

prototype

stand ur ground, believe in urself,
believe in love, prepare urself for love, remove the negativity from ur life, and accept the love u kno u deserve

I expect the high speed rail from ATL to Charlotte convo to gain speed and funding in the next or 2.

>I expect the high speed rail from ATL to Charlotte convo to
>gain speed and funding in the next or 2.

prototype

stand ur ground, believe in urself,
believe in love, prepare urself for love, remove the negativity from ur life, and accept the love u kno u deserve

http://nextcity.org/daily/entry/atlanta-charlotte-high-speed-rail-line-public-transit-southeast

I hope it happens sooner than later.

Great if it ever happens

prototype

stand ur ground, believe in urself,
believe in love, prepare urself for love, remove the negativity from ur life, and accept the love u kno u deserve

There isn't a race problem or gay bashing...

tons of projects going up...

tons of people from the NE bringing that attitude and progressive ideas with them.

also toms of college graduates moving here for jobs in banking, healthcare, etc...

the ignorant yankee

what are the differences?


~~~~
When you are born, you cry, and the world rejoices. Live so that when you die, you rejoice, and the world cries.
~~~~
You cannot hate people for their own good.

Atlanta has been urban much longer, and has its own distinct flavor. Until relatively recently, Charlotte was very much the Nascar/Pro-Wrestling south. It feels like a shiny, new sunbelt city. Kinda soulless, imho.

Charlotte used to be Nascar, Wrestling and Textile... then it became the southern Banking Hub but after 2008 they shifted gears to make sure they wouldn't have all their eggs in one basket.

Unless you live in Concord you aren't going to see anything Nascar besides the museum and the Speed Street festival.

Charlotte has moved into the energy sector, healthcare and ESPN has a new hub here as well. Microsoft, Google, Red Ventures, huge marketing company here: http://www.redventures.com/


It's definitely a new southern city so I understand the "soulless" description. But IMO this is what makes Charlotte exciting. It's new.. they have tons of projects in the works and you can come down here and be a part of what is being shaped.

Can't expect an old soul in a new city.

As in lack of history?
No flavor? History does bring a lot of that I guess Hrm


Iike people complain about strip malls?
~~~~
When you are born, you cry, and the world rejoices. Live so that when you die, you rejoice, and the world cries.
~~~~
You cannot hate people for their own good.

Last time I was down there, I ran a half-marathon through some old residential neighborhoods and I was surprised at how pretty they were. It has history, just not a lot of urban history. Take Richmond for example; it LOOKS like it's been a city since colonial times. Charlotte looks like a small town that boomed in the 90s.

________________________________________
"Take the surprise out your voice Shaq."-The REAL CP3
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v2H5K-BUMS0

I'm surprised to see San antonio and Orlando on it and not see Columbus, OH but otherwise these are the cities I expected to see on here.

And fyi many hair dresses make BANK and I assume barbers do enuff to have them in the middle class as well, u add a working spouse to that scenario and u have a good footing in the middle class

U said majority blk cities will of course have more Blk homeownership, well duh of course and that's part of why those cities are better for Blk folks becuz wealth breeds wealth.

prototype

stand ur ground, believe in urself,
believe in love, prepare urself for love, remove the negativity from ur life, and accept the love u kno u deserve

i had a chance to relocate there and was told by any an erybody that it was damn near all mexican

=======================================
Coolin...

but those who are there are mostly military, thus boosting the median household income of Black San Antonians.

=======================================
Coolin...

prototype

stand ur ground, believe in urself,
believe in love, prepare urself for love, remove the negativity from ur life, and accept the love u kno u deserve

Here's where the home ownership is a bullshit metric.

Richmond is my family home. 90% of my extend family has been there since emancipation. My great grandmother was a pretty successful bootlegger back in the day and it enabled her to purchase 5 houses. All of those houses are still in the family. All of them are owned by people on public assistance..in a couple of cases, the SECOND generation of homeowners on public assistance. Deep in the hood in a neighborhood with terrible schools, no services or amenities and horrible public transit.

=======================================
Coolin...

the Black population inside DC city limits is NOT....I repeat NOT in a very positive financial position....

sorry dude
just based on myth and history
oh wait and latoya ruby frasier
~~~~
When you are born, you cry, and the world rejoices. Live so that when you die, you rejoice, and the world cries.
~~~~
You cannot hate people for their own good.

prototype

stand ur ground, believe in urself,
believe in love, prepare urself for love, remove the negativity from ur life, and accept the love u kno u deserve

but I'd rather gouge my eyes out than live in the burbs.

As far as urban living goes, PGH shits all over RIC.

I like Richmond a lot

prototype

stand ur ground, believe in urself,
believe in love, prepare urself for love, remove the negativity from ur life, and accept the love u kno u deserve

The one downside is that they're relatively expensive to own in, and have surprisingly high crime rates to be the city's flagship neighborhoods.

never been to either


~~~~
When you are born, you cry, and the world rejoices. Live so that when you die, you rejoice, and the world cries.
~~~~
You cannot hate people for their own good.

~~~~
When you are born, you cry, and the world rejoices. Live so that when you die, you rejoice, and the world cries.
~~~~
You cannot hate people for their own good.

Pittsburgh shits all over Richmond as far as "city" goes...

but quality of life and Black people getting ahead? Ionno.. probably Richmond.

Richmond food is off the chain and it's real close to DC too.

it's got some notoriety, especially as of late.

The variety and quality of food available for it's size is impressive.

Duly noted!
~~~~
When you are born, you cry, and the world rejoices. Live so that when you die, you rejoice, and the world cries.
~~~~
You cannot hate people for their own good.

Texas or a city that only had bus lines as public transit

prototype

stand ur ground, believe in urself,
believe in love, prepare urself for love, remove the negativity from ur life, and accept the love u kno u deserve

I love the people there, remind me of home. But the way that city
is built lol.

http://i54.tinypic.com/2j51hj4.jpg

prototype

stand ur ground, believe in urself,
believe in love, prepare urself for love, remove the negativity from ur life, and accept the love u kno u deserve

There are definite similarities. Of course, I like ATL better overall.
I'd suggest Houston for more practical reasons for those not in the
entertainment industry. Because of natural resources more money in
Houston. But more of an urban progressive feel in ATL.

http://i54.tinypic.com/2j51hj4.jpg

______________________________________

Everything looks like Oprah kissing Harvey Weinstein these days

**********
"Everyone has a plan until you punch them in the face. Then they don't have a plan anymore." (c) Mike Tyson

http://blackpeopleonlocalnews.tumblr.com/

military pay and home ownership in Newport News, Hampton and Portsmouth make the stats look good, but it doesn't' mean there's any opportunity there.

The hardest part for me about NYC is being just another black guy in a city of 1000s of people with the exact same resume. At least in Richmond I got people who go way back and know my family and could be the hot shit person coming from NYC.

**********
"Everyone has a plan until you punch them in the face. Then they don't have a plan anymore." (c) Mike Tyson

http://blackpeopleonlocalnews.tumblr.com/

It could definitely be good for you

but I doubt I could move anywhere but NOVA and I can't afford that shit.

Is it a bunch bamma stuntin?

**********
"Everyone has a plan until you punch them in the face. Then they don't have a plan anymore." (c) Mike Tyson

http://blackpeopleonlocalnews.tumblr.com/

There's bama's stunting and all, but there's an old, established black professional class (like Russell Wilson's fam). Now, a LOT of them have fled for the burbs because the city schools are pretty bad and crime is relatively high. If you live in the city, you WILL put your kids in private schools.

of the old school types. It's the younger crowd I am unfamiliar with.

**********
"Everyone has a plan until you punch them in the face. Then they don't have a plan anymore." (c) Mike Tyson

http://blackpeopleonlocalnews.tumblr.com/

or a nice row home with the 20 foot ceilings...

There isn't much downtown living unless it's around VCU or past Shockoe Bottom.

I went to the new Egglestons (Croakers Place) last year and that area looked nice as shit but looks can be deceiving in a city like Richmond.

over northern VA. fuck that traffic/congestion and cost of living.

There's no City in the Seven Cities. I could do NoVa if I were in Arlington or Alexandria.

that's why it would have to be something like Richmond. Most likely for me though is NoVA.

**********
"Everyone has a plan until you punch them in the face. Then they don't have a plan anymore." (c) Mike Tyson

http://blackpeopleonlocalnews.tumblr.com/

it's not surprising at all that DC and Baltimore are on the list...

***
I'm tryna be better off, not better than...

Baltimore surprised me. The article said the Baltimore burbs (which I know absolutely nothing about) pulled the score up.

Blk middle class in Bmore since the 1800s, but yeah I kno a rack of middle class Blk folks in bmore, my godmother being one of them

prototype

stand ur ground, believe in urself,
believe in love, prepare urself for love, remove the negativity from ur life, and accept the love u kno u deserve

>Blk middle class in Bmore since the 1800s, but yeah I kno a
>rack of middle class Blk folks in bmore, my godmother being
>one of them

loves hearing about this type of thing outside of NY

~~~~
When you are born, you cry, and the world rejoices. Live so that when you die, you rejoice, and the world cries.
~~~~
You cannot hate people for their own good.

=======================================
Coolin...

theres no secret potion to this shit.

save your money, get your credit together, buy some property in a good area that is going to either remain a good area or will be a good area soon, save your money, invest, dont spend your money on bullshit...etc

oh & the days of working for someone else & expecting that to get you to the promised land ie a good job in and of itself being enough...that wont cut it anymore

you got to have a job & a side hustle now.

*shrug*

#sadbuttrue

once you make your peace with that...stay on your grind & work hard...you can make it happen anywhere & theres some of us...doing just that...everywhere

what we need is more financial information & knowledge IN the community so we dont have another wave of "oh shit, i can cash in on the equity of my house & buy a car!" like catastrophes


does it really matter?

for all my fans who keep my name in their mouth: http://i.imgur.com/v2xNOpS.jpg

Another city ppl love to say is the new ATL

prototype

stand ur ground, believe in urself,
believe in love, prepare urself for love, remove the negativity from ur life, and accept the love u kno u deserve