When whites say "it's a good place to raise a family," "it's a good area" would blacks be offended if...?

Question

They knew the whites really meant to say "the place is mostly populated with whites so it's a good area?" Is it wrong to want to live in an area mostly populated by whites? I've heard that when someone says "it's a great place to raise a family" or "it's a good neighborhood/area," they are being politically correct. Is that true? What do whites have in mind when they say those things?

I just need an exchange of ideas

Answer 1

They are entitled to that.
In reality, Id rather live in middle class or upperclass neighborhoods. Usually they're white but if there where other black folks there like me who had class and arent stuck in that ghetto mentality, there would never be a problem.

Answer 2

I certainly can't blame anyone for being offended if someone said that a neighborhood is "good" because it's "white". But not all white people say such a thing, whether directly or via "code talk". Do some white people who say "it's a good place to raise a family" or "it's a good area" actually mean that white neighborhoods = "good" neighborhoods? Absolutely. However, this is not always the case- even when they are referring to white neighborhoods.

Take me, for example-- I judge whether or not a neighborhood is "good" by a variety of factors:

☺ Location [Example: Is it close to establishments that I frequent (or will/would frequent)?]
☺ Personality/attitude of residents [Example: Are the residents friendly or unfriendly?]
☺ Behavior of residents (and those who visit the neighborhood) [Example: Is the neighborhood fairly quiet and peaceful, or is it "loud and obnoxious?]
☺ Crime

The above are, of course, just a few examples. (And, obviously, I would have to familiarize myself with a neighborhood in order to be aware of these factors.) I never consider the racial make-up of a neighborhood. Some might argue that I do since I am concerned with racism, however, this isn't at all true. I couldn't care less about the race(s) in a neighborhood. I am NOT concerned with racism that only affects ME. I would never want to live in (or recommend) a neighborhood full of racists regardless of their race OR mine.

Do I represent all white people? Of course not. But society looks upon me as white. Therefore, I am proof that not all white people think "good" neighborhoods = white.

(By the way, it's important to remember that "good" is subjective- a matter of opinion. What some may think is "good" isn't necessarily "good" to others.)

Answer 3

I don't know about blacks being offended, but I am white as a ghost, and I am offended by your presumptuous blanket statement about whites. I recently moved and I was looking for a good neighborhood, well I found it. It just so happens that most of the people who live there are black! And I don't care one bit. What I was looking for was an area with a low crime rate, good resale value, good school district, quiet, etc. I found it. It seems like almost all of the neighbors, white and black, green and purple, are hardworking and law-abiding.

On the other hand, there were some white trailer park areas I saw that I wanted nothing to do with. I would not want to live there, nor would I care to live in a black projects area.

You are just plain wrong in your assumption that whites think white neighborhoods are good, and black ones bad. It is not true.

Answer 4

If Blacks get offended because of an innocent phrase as 'its a good place to raise a family' then its their choice to do so. Well, seems that, more and more these days, we have to watch what we say because of possibly 'offending' some race. As I said before, if they choose to read something into it, then that is their choice. Sometimes all that is meant is what is said and if we(society) just learn to NOT read anything more into what is being said, maybe...just maybe things wouldn't be so tense....and at the end of the day who gives a **** what they think anyway?

Answer 5

Whites I know mean that they feel comfortable there. That usually means the locals are friendly, the schools are good, the area is well kept, and the crime rate is low. Blacks I know would only be offended if they were told they were not allowed to live there.

Answer 6

Dude, If I go to a place with THOUSANDS of WHITE, SPANISH, or black people.....as long as they have a house that looks like a castle, i could CARE LESS what race inhabits the damn neighborhood. As long as they got some fried chicken resturants, steak houses, and a deli so i can have Mountain Dew, I could care less if it was a damn ghost town. WHITE PEOPLE....well..SOME probably share the same views I do, *not specifics like if the town has certain things, its a good place* But usually they mean a place without a high crime rate etc. Sometimes race doesnt occur to them. -.- Trying to bring out the crazy white people eh? I see your trick.
-Ryko

Answer 7

I think the best areas are the countries (where I'm from), because neighbors are miles away with plenty of land and privacy, as far as other factors such as racism in schools and the fact that many rednecks live in the country can be a problem
As far as the city you might get killed or get influenced by all the illegal stuff that goes on. Racism might not be as much of a factor.

Yes when white people say that, that means no blacks live there, just their racial "code talk" so they can say this around other races.

Answer 8

Maybe they just mean it's not in the ghetto. Believe me the ghetto can be full of blacks or whites or whatever. I really think the whole blacks in the neighborhood lowering property values is getting to be thing of the past. I think the episode of South Park where all the rich black people begin moving to town is great statement on this issue.

Answer 9

Several years ago I was invited to bring my kids and check out a new community in Orlando called "Celebration".
We went there and it was like an episode of Twilight Zone.
My kids got creeped out. There was not a blade of grass untrimmed, not a tricycle on the lawn, and most importantly
there were only Yuppie white people living there.
We agreed we would never want to "raise a family" in that place, because my kids and I enjoy a diversity of people, lifestyles and cultures.
We only stayed in Celebration a short while and then scrammed out of there. It reminded us of that town on Twilight Zone that was covered by a huge glass bubble and watched over by a creepy giant that kept everything perfect.
We're "white people", (mixed with some Native American), but we enjoy different kinds of folks in our lives and neighborhood!
After we left, my son said: "I didn't like that place, Pop...we didn't see one black person in there!."

Answer 10

Don't assume racism automatically. White people who say those things are not necessarily racists. All people want to raise their children in safe clean neighborhoods, free of drugs and crime.