Is DC and its suburbs segregated?

[Anonymous]

do people not see all the biracial families walking around?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:do people not see all the biracial families walking around?

Who are mostly Asian and White!

But back to the topic, part of DC is "diverse" but overall, DC itself is very segregated by race and income. Even "diverse" neighborhoods like Columbia Heights and U Street are very self-segregated. Whites stick with whites, blacks with blacks, and etc. If what you're looking for is an integrated neighborhood (a place where people genuinely see past race in determining their neighbors, friends, and lovers), you're better off going to either a middle class suburb in Montgomery County like Rockville, Silver Spring, or Germantown, or a county in Northern VA outside of the beltway i.e. Fairfax, Prince William, or Loudoun. I personally think that overall, Northern VA is the most integrated and least racist part of the area despite how many people want to trash on how it's in a "Red(neck) State."

I'm a black person in my mid twenties, and I find it Hell to socialize in the city. The main reason is because I don't culturally relate to a lot of blacks in DC (unlike what many of you liberal geniuses think, all backs don't like Go-Go & Rap, and embrace the HBCU pompousness), and hence most people I culturally relate to are mostly people outside my race, or blacks who are assimilated." I'm coming to the realization that covert racial tension is one of the reasons (along with the high density of extremely snobby and self-absorbed people). People talk about how many young professionals there are and how many neighborhoods they have full of them, but race is the main determination on how you'll be welcomed. If you're not white or Asian, forget about many of the "yuppie" neighborhoods like Georgetown or Foggy Bottom. And if you're black, you better fit into being "black enough," or forget about being welcomed into places like DC's Harlem a la U Street. And the Latinos do their own thing apart from everyone else. It honestly sickens me how a place that touts to be so liberal and educated can be the racially segregated and covertly racist. It's much worse than the "good ol' South" where at least the people have the balls to admit their racism.

So for any young people in their twenties who are thinking of coming to DC, if you enjoy self-segregation, feel free to move, you'll be more than welcomed <enter sarcasm>. However, if you're a person who finds race-based cliques to be beyond dumb, think twice before coming over. There are well-integrated suburbs, but nearly all of those places are designed for established families and aren't really spots for twenty-something to live and socialize.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't know where the poor white people live.

Are there poor white people in DC? I'm not talking about folks who only bring in 100K instead of the usual $250K+ on these boards. It seems every other large city has working class white people but this one.

They live in Baltimore!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:do people not see all the biracial families walking around?

Who are mostly Asian and White!

But back to the topic, part of DC is "diverse" but overall, DC itself is very segregated by race and income. Even "diverse" neighborhoods like Columbia Heights and U Street are very self-segregated. Whites stick with whites, blacks with blacks, and etc. If what you're looking for is an integrated neighborhood (a place where people genuinely see past race in determining their neighbors, friends, and lovers), you're better off going to either a middle class suburb in Montgomery County like Rockville, Silver Spring, or Germantown, or a county in Northern VA outside of the beltway i.e. Fairfax, Prince William, or Loudoun. I personally think that overall, Northern VA is the most integrated and least racist part of the area despite how many people want to trash on how it's in a "Red(neck) State."

I'm a black person in my mid twenties, and I find it Hell to socialize in the city. The main reason is because I don't culturally relate to a lot of blacks in DC (unlike what many of you liberal geniuses think, all backs don't like Go-Go & Rap, and embrace the HBCU pompousness), and hence most people I culturally relate to are mostly people outside my race, or blacks who are assimilated." I'm coming to the realization that covert racial tension is one of the reasons (along with the high density of extremely snobby and self-absorbed people). People talk about how many young professionals there are and how many neighborhoods they have full of them, but race is the main determination on how you'll be welcomed. If you're not white or Asian, forget about many of the "yuppie" neighborhoods like Georgetown or Foggy Bottom. And if you're black, you better fit into being "black enough," or forget about being welcomed into places like DC's Harlem a la U Street. And the Latinos do their own thing apart from everyone else. It honestly sickens me how a place that touts to be so liberal and educated can be the racially segregated and covertly racist. It's much worse than the "good ol' South" where at least the people have the balls to admit their racism.

So for any young people in their twenties who are thinking of coming to DC, if you enjoy self-segregation, feel free to move, you'll be more than welcomed <enter sarcasm>. However, if you're a person who finds race-based cliques to be beyond dumb, think twice before coming over. There are well-integrated suburbs, but nearly all of those places are designed for established families and aren't really spots for twenty-something to live and socialize.

I am a black DC native 45yo and have spoken then absolute truth here. I hate this aspect of DC. I do what I can to gravitate away from these cliques and am unhappy about the segregation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I agree with the previous poster that economic diversity (or lack thereof) is what we're talking about and b/c most affluent folks are white it keeps "diversity" at numbers that are comfortable for white folks, sadly. But when African Americans start to move in in large numbers, even in an affluent neighborhood, the whites leave. (The so-called "tipping point")That will never happen in Chevy Chase, so the people in Chevy Chase can proclaim to value diversity, but never really have to confront it.

thats BS. First of all please tell me one affluent (not middle class) neighborhood that has seen a flight because blacks have moved in. This is all part of the claim of proclaiming that blacks can not live in certain neighborhoods. Again, they can live wherever they so choose and they choose to live in places where they like. Don't try and blame white residents for something they have no control over.

And the "so called holocaust"

And "I never personally owned slaves."

etc.

asshole.

[Anonymous]

SWDC is diverse. Projects are right across the street from $600k condos. And when we moved to the area 15 years ago, we were the only white heterosexual couple our age in a four block radius. The demographic is changing, but I'd dare to say it is still pretty diverse.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:do people not see all the biracial families walking around?

Who are mostly Asian and White!

But back to the topic, part of DC is "diverse" but overall, DC itself is very segregated by race and income. Even "diverse" neighborhoods like Columbia Heights and U Street are very self-segregated. Whites stick with whites, blacks with blacks, and etc. If what you're looking for is an integrated neighborhood (a place where people genuinely see past race in determining their neighbors, friends, and lovers), you're better off going to either a middle class suburb in Montgomery County like Rockville, Silver Spring, or Germantown, or a county in Northern VA outside of the beltway i.e. Fairfax, Prince William, or Loudoun. I personally think that overall, Northern VA is the most integrated and least racist part of the area despite how many people want to trash on how it's in a "Red(neck) State."

I'm a black person in my mid twenties, and I find it Hell to socialize in the city. The main reason is because I don't culturally relate to a lot of blacks in DC (unlike what many of you liberal geniuses think, all backs don't like Go-Go & Rap, and embrace the HBCU pompousness), and hence most people I culturally relate to are mostly people outside my race, or blacks who are assimilated." I'm coming to the realization that covert racial tension is one of the reasons (along with the high density of extremely snobby and self-absorbed people). People talk about how many young professionals there are and how many neighborhoods they have full of them, but race is the main determination on how you'll be welcomed. If you're not white or Asian, forget about many of the "yuppie" neighborhoods like Georgetown or Foggy Bottom. And if you're black, you better fit into being "black enough," or forget about being welcomed into places like DC's Harlem a la U Street. And the Latinos do their own thing apart from everyone else. It honestly sickens me how a place that touts to be so liberal and educated can be the racially segregated and covertly racist. It's much worse than the "good ol' South" where at least the people have the balls to admit their racism.

So for any young people in their twenties who are thinking of coming to DC, if you enjoy self-segregation, feel free to move, you'll be more than welcomed <enter sarcasm>. However, if you're a person who finds race-based cliques to be beyond dumb, think twice before coming over. There are well-integrated suburbs, but nearly all of those places are designed for established families and aren't really spots for twenty-something to live and socialize.

I'm a black DC native in my mid-thirties and while I get what you're saying, but I have not felt "unwelcome" in any sector of the city. Not really sure what you mean by HBCU pompousness (I think the black Ivy grads are more pompous IMO), but there are black people here that aren't into the go-go/rap scene, and probably would fall into the "not black enough" assimilated category you're describing. There are a ton of us here, living all over the area ... not sure why you're missing us.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
I'm a black person in my mid twenties, and I find it Hell to socialize in the city. The main reason is because I don't culturally relate to a lot of blacks in DC (unlike what many of you liberal geniuses think, all backs don't like Go-Go & Rap, and embrace the HBCU pompousness), and hence most people I culturally relate to are mostly people outside my race, or blacks who are assimilated." I'm coming to the realization that covert racial tension is one of the reasons (along with the high density of extremely snobby and self-absorbed people). People talk about how many young professionals there are and how many neighborhoods they have full of them, but race is the main determination on how you'll be welcomed. If you're not white or Asian, forget about many of the "yuppie" neighborhoods like Georgetown or Foggy Bottom. And if you're black, you better fit into being "black enough," or forget about being welcomed into places like DC's Harlem a la U Street. And the Latinos do their own thing apart from everyone else. It honestly sickens me how a place that touts to be so liberal and educated can be the racially segregated and covertly racist. It's much worse than the "good ol' South" where at least the people have the balls to admit their racism.

So for any young people in their twenties who are thinking of coming to DC, if you enjoy self-segregation, feel free to move, you'll be more than welcomed <enter sarcasm>. However, if you're a person who finds race-based cliques to be beyond dumb, think twice before coming over. There are well-integrated suburbs, but nearly all of those places are designed for established families and aren't really spots for twenty-something to live and socialize.

Oh, gimme a break. You sound like a self-pitying obnoxious whiner. Maybe that's why you can't make any friends or 'socialize'.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:SWDC is diverse. Projects are right across the street from $600k condos. And when we moved to the area 15 years ago, we were the only white heterosexual couple our age in a four block radius. The demographic is changing, but I'd dare to say it is still pretty diverse.

AA SW resident here. SW is the forgotten quadrant, but I think it's one of the few neighborhoods with a large mix of educated whites and blacks. I think it has a more integrated feel than most other neighborhoods in the city.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:do people not see all the biracial families walking around?

Who are mostly Asian and White!

But back to the topic, part of DC is "diverse" but overall, DC itself is very segregated by race and income. Even "diverse" neighborhoods like Columbia Heights and U Street are very self-segregated. Whites stick with whites, blacks with blacks, and etc. If what you're looking for is an integrated neighborhood (a place where people genuinely see past race in determining their neighbors, friends, and lovers), you're better off going to either a middle class suburb in Montgomery County like Rockville, Silver Spring, or Germantown, or a county in Northern VA outside of the beltway i.e. Fairfax, Prince William, or Loudoun. I personally think that overall, Northern VA is the most integrated and least racist part of the area despite how many people want to trash on how it's in a "Red(neck) State."

I'm a black person in my mid twenties, and I find it Hell to socialize in the city. The main reason is because I don't culturally relate to a lot of blacks in DC (unlike what many of you liberal geniuses think, all backs don't like Go-Go & Rap, and embrace the HBCU pompousness), and hence most people I culturally relate to are mostly people outside my race, or blacks who are assimilated." I'm coming to the realization that covert racial tension is one of the reasons (along with the high density of extremely snobby and self-absorbed people). People talk about how many young professionals there are and how many neighborhoods they have full of them, but race is the main determination on how you'll be welcomed. If you're not white or Asian, forget about many of the "yuppie" neighborhoods like Georgetown or Foggy Bottom. And if you're black, you better fit into being "black enough," or forget about being welcomed into places like DC's Harlem a la U Street. And the Latinos do their own thing apart from everyone else. It honestly sickens me how a place that touts to be so liberal and educated can be the racially segregated and covertly racist. It's much worse than the "good ol' South" where at least the people have the balls to admit their racism.

So for any young people in their twenties who are thinking of coming to DC, if you enjoy self-segregation, feel free to move, you'll be more than welcomed <enter sarcasm>. However, if you're a person who finds race-based cliques to be beyond dumb, think twice before coming over. There are well-integrated suburbs, but nearly all of those places are designed for established families and aren't really spots for twenty-something to live and socialize.

I'm a black DC native in my mid-thirties and while I get what you're saying, but I have not felt "unwelcome" in any sector of the city. Not really sure what you mean by HBCU pompousness (I think the black Ivy grads are more pompous IMO), but there are black people here that aren't into the go-go/rap scene, and probably would fall into the "not black enough" assimilated category you're describing. There are a ton of us here, living all over the area ... not sure why you're missing us.

co-signing

[Anonymous]

I'm a black DC native in my mid-thirties and while I get what you're saying, but I have not felt "unwelcome" in any sector of the city. Not really sure what you mean by HBCU pompousness (I think the black Ivy grads are more pompous IMO), but there are black people here that aren't into the go-go/rap scene, and probably would fall into the "not black enough" assimilated category you're describing. There are a ton of us here, living all over the area ... not sure why you're missing us.

co-signing

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

I'm a black DC native in my mid-thirties and while I get what you're saying, but I have not felt "unwelcome" in any sector of the city. Not really sure what you mean by HBCU pompousness (I think the black Ivy grads are more pompous IMO), but there are black people here that aren't into the go-go/rap scene, and probably would fall into the "not black enough" assimilated category you're describing. There are a ton of us here, living all over the area ... not sure why you're missing us.

co-signing

? do you mean ITA?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:SWDC is diverse. Projects are right across the street from $600k condos. And when we moved to the area 15 years ago, we were the only white heterosexual couple our age in a four block radius. The demographic is changing, but I'd dare to say it is still pretty diverse.

AA SW resident here. SW is the forgotten quadrant, but I think it's one of the few neighborhoods with a large mix of educated whites and blacks. I think it has a more integrated feel than most other neighborhoods in the city.

The reason why it seems like it's more integrated is because there are less people living in SW. No fault of its own, but every time I go there, it seems very empty (same case for NoMA). The thing I fear about SW is that the "usual DC crowds" like the white yuppies, black HBCU bluppies, and so on will populate SW when all of the development is done.

And to the other person who mentioned "Projects are right across the street from $600k condos," that's a perfect recipe for racial tension, for we all know which races live in which residencies.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
I'm a black DC native in my mid-thirties and while I get what you're saying, but I have not felt "unwelcome" in any sector of the city. Not really sure what you mean by HBCU pompousness (I think the black Ivy grads are more pompous IMO), but there are black people here that aren't into the go-go/rap scene, and probably would fall into the "not black enough" assimilated category you're describing. There are a ton of us here, living all over the area ... not sure why you're missing us.

I know there are intellectual and non-ghetto blacks out in DC, but for the most part, they themselves have pretty much found their own groups, usually as the token black person. Granted that there's nothing wrong with that, but I tend to find that many "token blacks" in this city want to the be the only token black person in their group, so that in itself becomes a competition and as a result, another kind of racial animosity.

[Anonymous]

Interesting to read this thread. I'm white, as is my husband. My neighborhood is White couples, homosexual men, middle class AA families, young singles, lower income AA families, but we seem to be short on Asians. Not sure what that is about...

I gravitate more to intellectual and socioeconomic status vs race. I hang out with people in the same "class" as me. The very rich folks can't relate to me but neither can the very poor. I don't care if your purple. Now, maybe I'm naive and my AA or Asian or other friends feel different, bit to me, they are just friends.