Article Courtesy of BlackEnterprise.com
For most, living the good life includes high-paying jobs, affordable homes, a vibrant social life, and short commutes. How can you achieve such a first-rate lifestyle? Well, we identified 10 locales that promise a trove of business, professional, and personal opportunities: BLACK ENTERPRISE's Top 10 Cities for African Americans.
Our 2007 ranking offers some major changes and repositioning in comparison to our 2001 and 2004 lists. Five cities found on both lists remain: Atlanta; Charlotte, North Carolina; Dallas; Houston; and the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. Nashville, Tennessee, and Columbus, Ohio, represent returnees from our 2004 roster. Three cities failed to make the cut this time around: Birmingham, Alabama, which received a low response from its residents, and Baltimore and Memphis, Tennessee, which were knocked out of contention because of residents' great dissatisfaction with several key living standards. Our newcomers to the list are Indianapolis; Jacksonville, Florida; and Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina.
HOW THE CITIES WERE CHOSEN
In assessing the locations, we actually looked at metropolitan areas -- the core cities and surrounding suburbs as defined by the U.S. Census Bureau. This year's survey showed respondents were satisfied overall with earnings potential, entrepreneurial opportunities, jobs, cost of living, affordable housing, higher education, access to technology, and medical care. In general, respondents were discontent with the quality of public schools, availability of daycare facilities, race relations, crime rates, and black political clout.
Our analysis did not stop there. Using a series of statistical data, the list was then narrowed to 13 metro areas. Heavier weighting was applied to seven of the 22 factors -- "super factors" -- that pertain specifically to African Americans:
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-Black median household income compared with overall median household income
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-Percent of black households earning greater than $100,000 divided by the percent of all households earning greater than $100,000 per year
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-Black unemployment
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-Number of black-owned businesses per 1,000 black residents
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-Percentage of black home loan rejections
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-Percentage of black college graduates
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-Black homeownership rate
By combining survey response scores with the quality of life scores, we arrived at a final ranking of the top 10 cities for African Americans.
See the full dynamic list you can sort according to your preferences on BlackEnterprise.com.
Comments: (193)
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By: Skeet on 1/24/2008 5:02PM
I have been in the ATL for 2 years it's cool but the job market sucks. Most of the people here are cool, but I miss my hometown. PHILLY in the building
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By: Ericka on 1/24/2008 2:43PM
My husband and I are considering moving to Charlotte, ATL and maybe even Las Vegas from our hometown of Cleveland (hate it here). I graduated from Clark Atlanta and lived there 7 years total and enjoyed ATL, but after awhile of not finding a job in my field, or a compatible mate, I chose to move back to Ohio to regroup.
We have a family that we intend to grow, and want someplace that will be good for my career in Public Health (ATL, D.C., MD, & CA are Public Health Meccas) and good for his business in Landscape Design. We are just not sold yet on any one of those cities, but we do want to get outta Cleveland - too much poverty, racism, cold weather and not the best quality of life.
Any feedback or suggestions?
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By: mia on 1/24/2008 9:44PM
Atlanta is not all its cracked up 2 be itz boring ....and if ur use to the city it will take some getting use to because everythings all spread out...also the downtown area is almost like what downtown area(3buildings.2 resturants..and a movie theater
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By: brownbarbie on 1/25/2008 11:51AM
I'm from the south, and I agree 100 percent with the northerners who say that southerners often persecute them. I've seen it myself firsthand! I think that some southerners have had some bad experiences with grimey New Yorkers and they put every northerner in a category. But there's grimey people everywhere.
I also don't understand the fascination with the ATL. I think that any single, successful black woman choosing to move to that city is just plain stupid. Sorry. But we know the stats and we know that the ATL's heyday has come and gone.
I'm from Florida, and I love the Ft. Lauderdale area. Lots of sun, good-lookin in shape brothas, and job opportunities aplenty in Miami, Palm Beach and Hollywood, all of these beautiful bordering cities. I also fell in love with Edgewater, New Jersey when I lived in Brooklyn. Why is NYC not on the list?! Nashville is stright in my book everyday, too.
These stats are BS!!!
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By: Mike on 1/25/2008 10:31PM
A-T-L! A-T-L! A-T-L! A-T-L!
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By: EAlston on 1/25/2008 11:33PM
Ambitious, B.L.T., New York for Life and Tee Tee, All of you should realize that Durham is a small college town and a small workforce arear. Without healthcare facilities, IBM and the Universities there is nothing else. Ambitious I commend you for being adventious enough to leave NJ and moved to NC for a better economic life. If you are being harrassed by your employer you need to contact a civil right lawyer to find out what your rights are. B.L.T. don't refer to Durham as a Mickey Mouse Club. There are bad apples where ever you go. You just need to distance yourself from those that you considered not to be what you expect or do not treat you as you would treat them. Life is too short to be as stressed as you all seem to be. I challenge each of you to be all that you can be and if you find your surroundings missing what you are looking for...why not created it yourself. After all each you can make a change in this place we call our WORLD! Peace and Blessing....OBAMA - 08!!!
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By: SOUTHERN GIRL on 1/26/2008 3:55PM
This is the first time I've ever commented on someone's opinion. But I have to let ambitious know that we are not all like that in the south. I have lived in the Charlotte area all my life. I have never been jealous of northerners or tried to keep them down. I realize that we are different in the respect that in the south we are more genteel in our mannerisms. Meaning that we use more please, thankyou, excuse me type of speaking. I've noticed that people from up north seem to be offended by that and think that we are kissing ass in the work place. I also noticed that northerners are bored by the slower pace of living down here. I really don't see a point in putting others down because of the environment in which they were raised. We need to embrace our differences and learn from each other. I love living in the south and would not consider living anywhere else because of our "southern hospitality". But I also admire the way my northern sisters and brothers hustle and go after what they want without any qualms. We in the south just go about our goals in a different way thats all.
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By: Zetta on 1/26/2008 2:21AM
I moved to Atlanta from Louisiana in early 2006. This was my third time moving to Atlanta. I kept returning to Louisiana to care for my elderly mother. However, I constantly struggled to make ends meet in Louisiana. I have a Paralegal Certificate, however, I was never able to earn over $10 per hour in Louisiana. Therefore, I returned to Atlanta, and within three months, I met my current husband, who treats me like a "Black Cinderella" on a daily basis. Ladies, I will admit that there are still some "straight" quality brothers here in Atlanta. I should know, because I got one of them. We were considering moving to Charlotte, NC for a slower paced life, however, after reading these postings, we may need to strike out on our own and find a city that is a "well kept secret".
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By: ambitious1 on 1/26/2008 12:47PM
Here is an issue that I have experienced so far in the south and i not only have been sexually harassed once but twice and there is no justice for blacks @ the EEOC. I had to drop one case because of how the EEOC gave me my right to sue letter
IN 2005 I WAS SEXUALLY HARASSED AT PINE TREE VILLA ASSISTED LIVING FACILITY HERE IN RALEIGH, NC. BY THE THEN ADMINISTRATOR, ELLIOTT ARMSTRONG. I HAD TO RESIGN FROM THIS JOB JUST TO OBTAIN THE INFORMATION TO THE CORPORATE OFFICE OF THE FACILITY. UPON SUBMITTING MY COMPLAINT THIS COMPANY SECURED AN ATTORNEY IMMEDIATELY BUT I WAS TOLD THAT I COULD NOT GET AN ATTORNEY UNTIL I RECEIVED MY RIGHT TO SUE LETTER FROM THE EEOC. THE EEOC ALLOWED MY COMPLAINT TO SIT FOR 2 YEARS PRIOR TO GIVING ME THIS RIGHT TO SUE LETTER IN 2007. THE ORIGINAL RECEIVER OF MY COMPLAINT MRS. J MARSHALL –WILLIAMS IMMEDIATELY RESIGNED AND ABOUT 1 YEAR LATER I WAS TOLD THAT MY CASE WAS NOW BEING HANDLED BY EVELYN LEWIS WHOM KNEW NOTHING ABOUT MY CASE. THIS COMPANY IMMEDIATELY EMPLOYED ANGELIQUE VINCENT TO REPRESENT THEM BUT WHEN I LOOKED UNDER HER WEBSITE rbh.com AND LOGGED UNDER THEIR COMMUNITY SECTION AND STROLLED ALL THE WAY TO THE BOTTOM OF THE PAGE I WAS SHCOKED TO LEARN THAT SHE HAVE CROOKED TIES TO THE EEOC AND THE NC BAR ASSOCIATION I REALIZED THAT THIS MAY BE THE REASON I CANNOT OBTAIN ATTORNEY ASSISTANCE HERE IN NC FOR REASON IT LOOKS LIKE ALL THE ATTORNEYS HERE ARE AFFILIATED WITH THEIR FIRM. WITHIN THE 2 YEARS OF WAITING FOR THIS RIGHT TO SUE LETTER FROM THE EEOC THIS PINE TREE VILLA ASSISTED LIVING FACILITY HAD TIME TO CHANGE MANAGEMENT COMPANIES AND OWNERS. THEY TERMINATED EACH AND EVERY EMPLOYEE THAT WERE AT THIS JOB WHEN I WAS EVEN MY POTENTIAL WITNESSES. THEIR LAWYER DISPOSED OF EVIDENCE AND EVERYTHING. I MEAN THIS MAN ELLIOTT ARMSTRONG HAVE OTHER COMPLAINTS FILED AGAINST HIM WITH THE EEOC THAT WERE FILED AFTER I FILED MINES. THIS LAWYER HAVE MAILED ME LETTERS TO DISMISS MY COMPAINT. I HAVE FILED MY COMPLAINT WITH WAKE COUNTY COURT BUT I AM STILL UNABLE TO FIND A LAWYER BECAUSE OF THEM. THE PREDATOR HAVE AN ATTORNEY AND THIS COMPANY HAVE A LAWYER BUT I HAVE TO REPRESENT MYSELF. I HAVE POTENTIAL WITNESSES BUT I KNOW THAT IT WILL BE QUITE DIFFICULT FOR ME TO FIND THEM BY MYSELF BECAUSE THIS HAPPENED 2 YEARS AGO. I CAN LOCATE ABOUT 2 BUT I HAVE TO LOCATE ERNEST BARREN, KENNETH, ROBERT, CASSANDRA GRAHAM TYA BUTLER( whom Elliott Armstrong told me personally that she called the state on him informing them that he was trying to have a relationship with me). I MEAN THIS COMPANY’S ATTORNEY WAS ALLOWED TO MOVE MY COMPLAINT FROM THE COURT I FILED IT IN AND TO A COURT OF HER CHOICE. THIS IS A RALEIGH, NC CASE BUT ANGELIQUE VINCENT WENT ALL THE WAY TO GREENVILLE NC TO TRY TO HAVE THIS CASE DISMISSED AGAINST THIS PREDATOR. CAN YOU REFER ME TO AN ATTORNEY BEFORE MY COURT DATE? THIS IS NOT THE FIRST ISSUE SUCH AS MINES TO HAPPEN AT THESE HEALTHCARE FACILITIES HERE THE MOST RECENT IS AT THE TAMMY LYNN CENTER LOCATED IN RALEIGH, NC WHERE A MALE PERVERTED EMPLOYEE RAPED AN ELDERLY FEMALE PATIENT.
THANKING YOU IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION. THERE HAVE BEEN LOTS OF CROOKED STUFF DONE BY THESE FOLKS PERTAINING TO THIS CASE SINCE I BROUGHT THIS PERVERT’S ACTIONS TO THE LIGHT. I WAS SEEKING AN ATTORNEY TO REPRESENT ME AND MY RIGHTS BUT IT LOOKS FROM THIS FIRM’S WEBSITE rbh.com THAT MOST LAWYERS IN NORTH CAROLINA ARE AFFILIATED WITH THEM AND THIS PERVERT HAVE MORE COMPLAINTS FILED AGAINST HIM WITH THE EEOC.
CORDIALLY,
VALERIE K. EDWARDS
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By: William Delaney on 1/29/2008 6:16PM
I find your survey interesting, but my background is behavior modification, and social learning theory. I was taught that my most valuable asset is my ability to earn income month, after month, and year after year. Having tried Atlanta, Dallas, and a few other cities, I chose Baltimore in 1990, and have found it easy to remain employed, even at the age of 66. I went to other cities with a college education, a strong political background, and lots of energy, only to find that gate keeping mentality was overt, and opportunity controlled by a powerful few. I retired from Northwest Airlines in 2006, and have had three jobs since that time in Baltimore. As a former San Francisco Police Officer I view crime, and chaos from a different perspective than most, do not need a huge house to feel successful, and judge my environment by friends, and associates, which I choose carefully. I resent African Americans who look down on other African Americans, just as I resent other races who look down on us. My only advise to youth is to choose wisely, when planning your future, because looking at cities through the eyes of others who pick, and choose for the wrong reason, takes the future out of context.
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