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Troy
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: Troy
Post Number: 1504
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, September 03, 2008 - 11:43 pm: | 
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The Capital Book Festival (http://www.capitalbookfest.org) is held in Prince George's county in Maryland. It was during this event a couple of years ago that I noticed the area had a high percentage of Black folks.
I was dining in a large, nice, restaurant when it dawned on me that everyone in the place was Black. I'd never been anywhere in this country where I'd noticed anything like this. Sure I've been in many dive "soul food" restaurants in the 'hood, that were 100% Black, but you know that is not what I'm talking about.
I was visiting a friend who lives in a brand new development in a house with better than 5,000 square feet of living space, on a golf course. While driving through the community of similar humongous homes -- I just assumed I was driving through a white neighborhood.
When my friend said this development was 90% black I was like damn! Where I'm from the Black folks who live in nice big nice homes live in white neighborhoods.
I now know where I want to live.
Side Bar:
As I type this a fight has broken out. I hear it outside my window a few houses down. I hear someone getting hit. He (maybe she) apparently fell against a car (whose alarm is going off now). I hear the laugher of a few people.
A few weeks ago a couple of grown men were fist fighting in the middle of the street in front of my window. I shoot some video, that I'm sure if I posted it on Youtube it would have gotten more views that my Snoop video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LY9tabuaZlA).
The younger one got the best of the older dude knocking him to the ground several times. The youngin's blows were not crushing, the older cat was simply in bad shape physically and probably a tad bit tipsy; which would probably help explain his current predicament.
I knew I would never use the video, 'cause all it would do is perpetuate a negative stereo type.
Having grown up seeing this nonsense perhaps you can understand why one might be surprised to learn there is at least one county with large numbers of upper middle class Black folks that don't blast music, urinate on the lawns and brawl in the streets... |
Ntfs_encryption
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Ntfs_encryption
Post Number: 3398
Registered: 10-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, September 04, 2008 - 02:35 am: |
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"Having grown up seeing this nonsense perhaps you can understand why one might be surprised to learn there is at least one county with large numbers of upper middle class Black folks that don't blast music, urinate on the lawns and brawl in the streets...."
Nice story bro Troy. But unfortunately, there are not enough black neighborhoods and communities like the one you described. And yes, not all black people enjoy the nuances and subtleties of vulgar gangsta rap music being blared, the rancor of pockets of Negroes doing corner time socializing , indiscrete street ho's on patrol, street thugs and dealers openly selling drugs, menacing knuckleheads with hoodies and sagging, roaming the streets 24/7 and empty 40 ounces littering the ground or broken in the streets. All black people do not relish the pageantry of communal street coonery. It’s a myth to think otherwise….. |
Carey
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: Carey
Post Number: 1111
Registered: 05-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, September 04, 2008 - 11:07 am: |
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Hello
Ntfs: I will have to agree with you. All black people do not relish the pageantry of communal street coonery, however it is what it is and I for one do not run or hide from it and could not on the other hand, live in a community completely absent of some of the fabrics of our culture.....good and bad. Yes, the mix in which you so vividly painted is ugly...very ugly....and again, I couldn't live in that 24/7 but a "gated" community filled with.....ahhh, you know.....that would make me take a drink...a few drinks!
Of course the question might be which would I prefer.....well, I'd really....REALLY...have to think about that ...**somber look**. |
Chrishayden
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Chrishayden
Post Number: 7398
Registered: 03-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, September 05, 2008 - 11:27 am: |
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I was dining in a large, nice, restaurant when it dawned on me that everyone in the place was Black. I'd never been anywhere in this country where I'd noticed anything like this
(I was at a place like this when I was in Fort Greene, in Brooklyn in 1998. Up there where you live. Don't you get over there?
Ever been to Atlanta? Chicago? Jeez, Troy, what did you imagine black folks with money did. Hang at Church's Chicken?
Or are you the Only Decent Negro in New York City?
Nice story bro Troy. But unfortunately, there are not enough black neighborhoods and communities like the one you described
(You need to get off the computer and travel some.
What you are saying is, of course, is that black people can't have nice facilities unless they have white folks in them. Which I'm hardly surprised at given the self-loathing that you regularly display.
You are a miserable creature.
There are enough of them for the people who got the bread. Where the hell do you think the Black Middle Class lives?
Have you ever been to the barrio? East L.A.? South Boston? The Ozarks? Valley Park, MO?
Pal, wherever it is there are poor people there is crime, violence, drug dealing, etc.
I live in the Hood. But there is a street where black folks live and all the houses are worth at least a million bucks.
If I had the money that's where I would be too.
Ntfs: I will have to agree with you
(Don't agree with that Negro. If the place he ain't living in right now ain't all black, just wait a few years) |
Cynique
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Cynique
Post Number: 12834
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: 
Votes: 1 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, September 05, 2008 - 02:15 pm: |
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According to "The Palace Council", this book I'm reading by Stephen Carter, during the 1950s the black elite of Harlem lived in subtle splendor. The black lifestyles he describes in this book are affluent to the point of being a distraction to the story-line. This is the case in all of his books. |
Troy
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: Troy
Post Number: 1511
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, September 05, 2008 - 08:00 pm: |
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NTFS, I've been looking but from what I've observed Prince George's county Maryland is unique. But if anyone hears of a similiar place I'm all ears (eyes).
Cynique, I can not image that Harlem. That Harlem is gone forever. Harlem is fading rapidly from the south.
To some the only thing really jamming up "progress" are a string of housing projects that run for a single superblock on the southern border of Harlem. I've read a couple of blogs where people want to do what they did to Robert Taylor homes in Chitown. |
Carey
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: Carey
Post Number: 1126
Registered: 05-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, September 05, 2008 - 08:06 pm: |
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Dang Troy ......I was dying waiting for your reply to Chris *lol* ....I had my spoon out. |
Troy
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: Troy
Post Number: 1515
Registered: 01-2004
Rating:
Votes: 1 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, September 05, 2008 - 09:22 pm: |
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Carey, LOL! Would you believe I did not see Chrishayden's post until just now.
My bullshit filter was activiated so I did not see Chrisy Boy's post.
Carey you have to understand Chrishayden does not know that in the 70's I attended high school in Fort Greene. He would also not know that I lived walking distance from Fort Greene throughout the 90's.
Had Chris had this experience he would also know that the majority of Blacks living in that area don't have a lot of wealth, or high incomes. Sure Spike Lee lived there once but he moved to the vanilla suburbs like most other Black folks with money...
Chris would also not know that I have been on a plane about 20 times this year and have been to Oahu, Houston, LA, Boston, DC, Tampa, Paradise Island, Costa Rica, Raleigh, Syracuse, Baltimore.
He would also not know that I'm taking my daughters on a cross country drive (my 2nd such drive). At the end of this trip I will have been to every state in this country.
However Chris wants to continue to operate on the assumption that I don't travel and draw conclusion based upon that assinine assuption.
That said I will conced that Chris is right on one point: "black people can't have nice facilities unless they have white folks in them".
While this is not what I said that is a fair implication to derive from my statement
However the false assumption was based upon experience not on a lack of travel or self loathing..
Besides I've checked myself.
I've been thinking about Ghana. I have a couple of friends, an MBA type and an author, that have moved there. They love it.... |
Carey
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: Carey
Post Number: 1130
Registered: 05-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, September 06, 2008 - 02:00 am: |
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*LOL* ...now I can put my spoon away and go to bed ....ya did good. I was wondering if you went soft on us ...ya still got it  ...and obviously money too ...damn ...I'd just like to have your frequent flyer miles.
I thought Chris knew about you and Thump ....you boys be coming with it ... Am your friend ....right??? **LOL** |
Chrishayden
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Chrishayden
Post Number: 7407
Registered: 03-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, September 06, 2008 - 11:30 am: |
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LOL* ...now I can put my spoon away and go to bed
(Git your spoon back out)
Carey you have to understand Chrishayden does not know that in the 70's I attended high school in Fort Greene. He would also not know that I lived walking distance from Fort Greene throughout the 90's.
(I know you didn't know there was a fine, exclusive club over there in 1998 where everybody was black and everybody had on suits and airthang and they had waiters and it looked like something out of GQ--so I would imagine there is all black places like that all over New York--
There is even a couple here in St. Louis where maybe they wouldn't even let YOU in.
Where do you think you would live with anybody of ANY color where it is going to be all rich, boogie folks? I guess maybe Beverly Hills. I understand they ain't all white out there, too)
Had Chris had this experience he would also know that the majority of Blacks living in that area don't have a lot of wealth, or high incomes
(I know that. I know that the majority of people living in NEW YORK CITY don't have a lot of wealth or high incomes, nor do the majority of people in any sizeable town.
"black people can't have nice facilities unless they have white folks in them".
(A man who has set up a site dedicated to AFRICAN AMERICAN books denying that black people can have anything decent on their own.
For shame. For shame.
And you think Obama can make a difference.
HAW!) |
Ntfs_encryption
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Ntfs_encryption
Post Number: 3409
Registered: 10-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, September 06, 2008 - 02:49 pm: |
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”You need to get off the computer and travel some.”
Oh, I’ve done plenty of traveling. Even lived in a few different countries. And what I said still stands. Too bad it offends you hyper-Negro sensitivities.
”What you are saying is, of course, is that black people can't have nice facilities unless they have white folks in them.”
I never said that. You did. I only said there should be more residential areas like the one Troy described. That was it. All the other groundless racial paranoiac hysteria and hyper ventilating comes from you.
”Which I'm hardly surprised at given the self-loathing that you regularly display.”
Self loathing? I don’t recall one sentence where I ever condemned myself or stated I disliked myself. Chris, I think you are confusing your Negrousity with reality. Your whiny victimization/entitlement pity party drivel and hyper sensitivity is driving your silly accusations.
”There are enough of them for the people who got the bread. Where the hell do you think the Black Middle Class lives?”
Most live in integrated neighborhoods as far as I know. Where do you think they live? And besides, regardless of where they live -I said there should be more. Do you have problems with that?
”Pal, wherever it is there are poor people there is crime, violence, drug dealing, etc.”
Duhhhhhh…??!! Ya think? But regardless, blacks suffer a higher percentage of crime, violence and drug dealing than any other group…..PERIOD! And none of your whiny Negrousity sloganeering and defensiveness can alter that fact. Ya got that..??!!
”I live in the Hood.”
Oh, I’m sure you do. Street walkers (your specialty), crack houses, open corner drug dealing, street thugs, drive by’s and all the other pleasant scenic trappings from the Wire.Just like you like it…..
”But there is a street where black folks live and all the houses are worth at least a million bucks.”
Of course….and the street is in your head!
”If I had the money that's where I would be too.”
No you wouldn’t. That’s a lie. Your attraction and addiction to hood coonery and street walkers will not allow it. Chris, you live for those early morning sexual trysts with $5 crack head ho’s and the excitement of drive by’s, street beat downs, muggings, blight and gang graffiti and police drug raids. Comon’, give us a break…..
”Don't agree with that Negro. If the place he ain't living in right now ain't all black, just wait a few years”
Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! That’s funny but not hardly. |
Troy
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: Troy
Post Number: 1522
Registered: 01-2004
Rating:
Votes: 2 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, September 06, 2008 - 07:50 pm: |
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Chrishayden, why do you twist words, and make things up -- nevermid, I know you do this to bolster a weak arguement.
Exclusive clubs are not an indication of the wealth of the community it is in.
But here is where you are wrong: PG Country IS a sizeable Black community with a large contengient of Middle and upper middle class Black Folks.
Prince George's County is 2/3rds Black. Median Houshold income was $55,129 in 2004. The percent of people having a Bachelor's degree or higher was 27.2% in 2000. The numbers, I'm sure, are better now.
Sounds to me Black folks are doing quite well there.
Maybe it is YOU, Chrishayden, that should do some traveling . A little reading would not hurt either... |
Yvettep
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: Yvettep
Post Number: 3176
Registered: 01-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, September 07, 2008 - 07:30 pm: |
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According to "The Palace Council", this book I'm reading by Stephen Carter...
Oooo, Cynique, thank you. I cannot wait to read this! Let's talk after I get into it a bit! |
Ntfs_encryption
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Ntfs_encryption
Post Number: 3414
Registered: 10-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, September 08, 2008 - 02:21 am: |
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'Chrishayden, why do you twist words, and make things up -- nevermid, I know you do this to bolster a weak arguement."
End of subject..... |
Moonsigns
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: Moonsigns
Post Number: 2070
Registered: 07-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, September 09, 2008 - 02:12 pm: |
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Troy,
We have friends that live in certain areas in PG County - and love it, so much they call it "The Black Potomac"! If you're unfamiliar, Potomac is a very affluent, but predominately white, area also located in Maryland (Montgomery County).
In regards to your children's education, if they don't already attend private school, if you do move to PG, consider it. As a whole, PG's public school system leaves a lot to be desired; however, I know there are particular communities/developments that tend to have higher quality schools than other communities/development - which, for obvious reasons, is natural and somewhat expected. But from personal experience, all the families I know send their kids to private day schools.
Best wishes! |
Troy
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: Troy
Post Number: 1525
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, September 09, 2008 - 04:51 pm: |
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As I write this the odor of ganja makes it's way into my office. My "Brothers" are downsatairs getting zooted; I'm just trying to work.
It was raining earlier so I did have a momemtary period of relief. But now homies are in full effect -- I guess trying to make up for sales lost earlier in the day.
A neighbor said she could not wait for Winter -- I though Winter is already here...
Moonsigns, thanks for the information. Private schools are a given in today's world. In most places I've considered: people either pay tuition or very high taxes. I know plenty of people who pay $1,500 to over $2,000 a month in property taxes for the sake of getting their children good educations.
I have an exchange student, from Australia (New South Wales) staying with me. First time to the states. It is a shame that the folks on the street reenforce every negative sterotype imagineable.
One big improvement over when I was a kid, is that folks are not nearly as violent or larcenous as they once were. Used to be you'd really have to worry about your safety and property. Safety is not a problem now... That is a big step in the right direction.
PG Country Here I come (smile)! |
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