Black people that grew up in the suburbs...Please enter this thread.

[*L*E*G*A*C*Y*]

I have some questions for you....

1) how did growing up in the burbs help you or hurt you?
2) have you ever been chastised or ridiculed by other black people because of your background?
3) have you ever been patronized by white people because of your background? (Ie...saying stuff like "you're different", "you're not like the others")
4) would you raise your own family in the suburbs?

I just figured this could be a useful thread for everybody involved.

 

[Apollo Creed]

Atlanta Suburbs are more "Urban" that some peoples major cities

 

[MadameMoreaux]

1) premium public school education
2) I was teased for "sounding white" while I was in middle/high school
3) No
4) My family currently lives in a black suburb. I wouldn't live in a suburb that was more than 50% white.

 

[Brandsdale]

1. Helped I guess since I didn't have to struggle like others on a certain financial level. I guess I can sah it hurt Because of it took until a certain age where I finally made black friends since none were around.

2. Nah. I'm lightskin so those jokes will always live on

3. In some situations yea because I had a lot of white friends growing up and finally by 6th-7th grade more black kids came rolling along but white people tend to have blinders to this shyt. I came up listening to rap, metal and punk and looked at the way I talked and etc and saw me as a different categorization amongst black people. I can't speak on all suburbs but mine in particular back then was predominantly white and brown (east indian). Weren't as much black folks around. High school was a whooole different ball game though

4. Of coarse. I would want my kids to live a decent life in a safe supporting neighbourhood

 

[☑︎#VoteDemocrat]

I have some questions for you....

1) how did growing up in the burbs help you or hurt you?
2) have you ever been chastised or ridiculed by other black people because of your background?
3) have you ever been patronized by white people because of your background? (Ie...saying stuff like "you're different", "you're not like the others")
4) would you raise your own family in the suburbs?

I just figured this could be a useful thread for everybody involved.

1. I loved it. I just wish I had more kids in my neighborhood who played outside.
2. i'm a first generation american and my neighborhood/school district had massive white flight from elementary to high school so most of my peers were white until my last few years of school. But...yeah kinda. I felt like a bit of an outcast when I was the only minority in the "smart" classes but it didn't bother me once I realized I was doing shyt everyone wished they could. I matured in that regard a lot more quickly than others do
3. Yep. All the time. But while its insulting to some degree, you have to appreciate that you're changing their perceptions on some level for the better.
4. Depends. The burbs can be kinda boring so it depends what sort of family life you want.

 

[☑︎#VoteDemocrat]

Atlanta Suburbs are more "Urban" that some peoples major cities

Funny you say this because I never thought about this until I left the A for an extended period of time.

ATL's sprawl makes it so you never really LEAVE the "city"

Elsewhere, the city is so contained that you're really damn near in the country when you leave the city.

 

[1stPick]

I have some questions for you....

1) how did growing up in the burbs help you or hurt you?
2) have you ever been chastised or ridiculed by other black people because of your background?
3) have you ever been patronized by white people because of your background? (Ie...saying stuff like "you're different", "you're not like the others")
4) would you raise your own family in the suburbs?

I just figured this could be a useful thread for everybody involved.

1. Helped me because I learned from a young age what the racial landscape of the world was (Asians/Hispanics can be incredibly racist, cacs gonna cac, how jews stick together, etc) but I have had identity issues for years and still do now

2. Yes

3. Yes, been called oreo many times

4. Depends on their racial makeup. If I have fully black kids, I'd prefer to raise them around other blacks. If they're mixed, I'll raise them somewhere more diverse. Raising ethnic kids in the suburbs usually harms them though. I had identity issues for many years and am still struggling with them into my late teens/early 20s

 

[The Coochie Assassin]

Atlanta Suburbs are more "Urban" that some peoples major cities

eh inner suburbs like College Park, East Point, Decatur, etc should have a different name other than "suburb" cuz like u said they really aren't suburbs in the traditional sense...

 

[Colicat]

1) I grew up in an isolated working class subdivision in the country...It helped me remain a child and not grow up too soon.
2) I've only been chastised by Northern Black folks who have this idea that all Country folks are Backwoods Bammas
3) I get the you're different line frequently.... but they try to play it off by saying it's because I'm from the South... not because I'm Black
4) If I had children, we would be in Black suburbs in the South.I want them to be surrounded by Black success. so that they know that Black = great = success...

 

[John Mayer]

1. The public library

2. Yes, @DarlingNikki ridicules me for my voice.

3. I've been called whitest black guy/not really black by whites this one white lady asked me I had white in me because I knew various country-western singers.
This white guy asked me if I'm sure that I'm black because I was listening to blur.
4. Of course, but it would have to be a upper class black suburb with few whites.

 

[*L*E*G*A*C*Y*]

Good answers. I also would like black folks that didn't grow up in the suburbs to add some jnsights.

 

[1stPick]

1. The public library

2. Yes, @DarlingNikki ridicules me for my voice.

3. I've been called whitest black guy/not really black by whites this one white lady asked me I had white in me because I knew various country-western singers.
This white guy asked me if I'm sure that I'm black because I was listening to blur.
4. Of course, but it would have to be a upper class black suburb with few whites.

You live in Nigeria?

 

[Jamal514]

1) Hell Yes. I had access to better schools
2) No not really outside of the odd joke about speaking "perfect english". Despite being from the suburbs I was always interested in most of the same things as other black kids(basketball, football, hip-hop, etc).
3) Not often, I never really associated with large groups of whites, I mainly chilled with other blacks, indians, and arabs. The only time whites get the nerve to patronize blacks(or other minorities) is when they have a clear number's advantage
4) Hell Yes

 

[Azik]

1) Its fine.I knew who I was as an Afrikan. By the time I was 15 I had researched our history as a people globally and adopted the philosophy of Panafrikan Nationalism. I know that I am more fortunate then others and privelged to an extent in that regard.

2) My parents are Nigerian so as a first generation I was chastised. It wasn't for the fact that I lived in the burbs but mainly for my name, the way I dressed and spoke. Although later on in junior high school it got much better where I was accepted more and I was cool with everybody.

3) Absolutely, I remember my English teacher from freshmen year telling me "that I was different from others." I asked what she meant and she just kept repeating the that I was just "different."

4) I actually plan on, after college, leaving the country to build back at home.

 

[beenz]

I grew up in a diverse suburb literally across the street from the city. however we had much better schools, which is why my parents moved there when I was a kid.

now that I think of it, I only lived there for 8 years, cuz we got there when I was 10 and I left for college at 18.

but still

I have some questions for you....

1) how did growing up in the burbs help you or hurt you?
2) have you ever been chastised or ridiculed by other black people because of your background?
3) have you ever been patronized by white people because of your background? (Ie...saying stuff like "you're different", "you're not like the others")
4) would you raise your own family in the suburbs?

I just figured this could be a useful thread for everybody involved.

to answer your question:

1. much better schools and got to be around a lot of different types of folks
2. nope
3. yessir, esp if they find out where I"m from or my high school
4. both me and my sister prefer the city. each has its advantages and drawbacks. I would consider moving back near where I'm from. but those property taxes.....