If you've visited Websites such as City-Data.com, wikipedia.org or if you've taken the opportunity to read the The State of Black Arizona Report created by the Greater Phoenix Urban League and Arizona State University, you'll learn that the black population in Maricopa County ranges between 3 percent to 4 percent and that the total population in Maricopa County is approximately 3.7 million people (as of 2008).
Based on those figures, we can estimate that we have almost 150,000 African Americans in the cities and towns (such as Phoenix, Tempe, Glendale, Chandler, Mesa, Gilbert, Scottsdale, Goodyear, Surprise, Maricopa, etc.) inside Maricopa County.
As one of the largest counties in the United States (population and size), it becomes a little easier to understand how the black community here can be so fractured. We have a lot of space here and few people! We live all over this county!
So for all of those people who are complaining about how the Valley of the Sun doesn't have any BLACK neighborhoods or lacks BLACK culture, I ask you now, is it a little easier to understand why?
I'm one of the rare African American natives in the Phoenix area. Most of our population consists of people who move here from other areas. And I've noticed that many black people move here for a few years, realize they don't like it here because of the small black population and the perceived lack of black culture, and then they move out! Do I blame them? I don't really know, but you must realize that this makes it extremely difficult for the black community to establish any kind of stability and strength.
I have to admit that I get a little annoyed when people complain about the small African American population here and the fact that we haven't established a "BLACK" neighborhood. What is this, the 1960s?
In order to set up a black neighborhood - in South Phoenix for instance - we'd have to ask all African Americans who live in Scottsdale, Tolleson, Peoria, Surprise, Queen Creek, Mesa, Tempe and other communities to sell their homes and set up shop on the south side. I live in South Phoenix, but if I worked in north Scottsdale, Surprise or Buckeye, I'd be mad as hell about making that looong commute every morning just to satisfy a few people who want a "BLACK" neighborhood!
Black people in Maricopa County should have the freedom to live where and how they want to live. If you are an African American in Maricopa County, you have the opportunity to explore many different cultures and forms of entertainment. How do we honor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s dream by restricting ourselves to ONE neighborhood, ONE group of people and ONE way of life? In order to make America a better, more racially tolerant place, we must have a presence in ALL cities and towns, not only in Maricopa County, but across the nation!
Black people, let's please quit the bloodclot cryin' about having CULTURE SHOCK when you move to Phoenix.
Of course, I still want African Americans in Maricopa County to be unified. When we see each other on the streets, in corporate offices and other places, I want us to acknowledge each other and make some type of emotional connection! And we must consistently host events that allow us to celebrate our history, our talents and our future.
However, I think that we need to accept the fact that the Maricopa County's culture will never be like Detroit's, Atlanta's, Chicago's or Charlotte's! Black people will never be the majority in Maricopa County. Instead, we must EMBRACE the fact that Maricopa County is a direct reflection of America - A MELTING POT!
And in the long run, we will understand that we and our future generations will be better off for the diversity, opportunities and experiences here! Let's start to look at the glass as half-full, not half-empty!
PhxSoul.com Readers: How do you feel about this blog? If you agree or disagree with my above statements, I invite you to share your Thoughts and Comments! I look forward to your feedback!
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