Does the Phoenix Area Need an All-Black Neighborhood?

In the past I've written about African Americans and how we are spread throughout the Valley of the Sun.

We live in Phoenix, Gilbert, Mesa, Scottsdale, Peoria, Glendale, Chandler, Goodyear ... we live in the big city and all the suburbs!

But the whining from people who move here from "black" cities continues ... why doesn't Phoenix have a "black" side of town?! Why don't we have much culture?

I've been a longtime supporter of our ability to live in all parts of the Valley of the Sun. Phoenix is great because African Americans have a great opportunity to thrive professionally, educationally, socially and financially!

You can buy homes on the cheap, find a good job or establish your own business and college tuition is still low compared to other areas of the country.

But maybe, just maybe, some of the whiners are right!

Maybe we need to concentrate on claiming one part of the Valley as our own! A place where we can always go to feel that sense of unity. We'll have thousands of people just excited to be amongst each other - that would be a beautiful sight to see!

We'll have museums, theatre, restaurants, barber shops, hair salons, churches, schools, nightclubs ... black culture all in one area! I have to admit that in theory, it sounds wonderful. It really does!

But we already have all these things and more in Phoenix! It would take millions and millions of dollars to uproot what we've currently established all over the Valley and move it all to one section!

And where in the Phoenix area would we create our "Negroville?"

Back in the day, we used to have south Phoenix locked down! African Americans still have large numbers on the southside ... would it be easier for us to pack up our things and take over all the homes and businesses south of Broadway Road?

I don't know Phoenix ... I'm more in favor of us continuing to live and do business in ALL parts of the Valley. We are being exposed to many different cultures and lifestyles and I think this presents wonderful opportunities for our children.

What are your thoughts PhxSoul.com readers?

Should we set up shop in one area of the Valley or should we reside wherever we decide? What would make you feel more at home in the Phoenix area?

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Comments

[PhxSoul]

Hello Yvonne and welcome to the Valley! I'm glad to see that you and your daughter are falling in love with Phoenix. To answer your questions, Phoenix is on an upswing and hosts a number of events that bring the Black community together. On January 9, the Arizona Black Expo will be held in downtown Phoenix. Also, there will be dozens of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. celebrations and festivals in Arizona. In February, you'll be able to attend numerous Black History Month gatherings. This will be the perfect time for you to become engrossed in Arizona's black history. Church is the most consistent place where you will be able to fellowship with African Americans. I can't say that we have one neighborhood that is dominated by African American culture. We are sprinkled all over the Valley. However, you can find tons of information about Phoenix's black community on PhxSoul.com and the Arizona Informant newspaper. The key is that you have to be willing to venture out and attend our community events. Anyone else have any advice for Yvonne??

[Yvonne C.]

I moved to Phoenix from Chicago this past summer. I've lived on the Southside of Chicago and the affluent suburbs of Chicago. I've also resided in Shreveport, LA for a few years. I think it is importnant that areas and neighborhoids are culturally diverse. However, it would be nice to have an area where one can be engrossed in his/her African American culture. I know there is rich history regarding the contributions from African Americans to the Valley of the Sun, but where can one learn more about this? where can one find common grounds and be able to fellowship with other African Americans? I'm falling in love with phoenix, especially since my daughter loves it and feels safe here. We would just like to know where we could go to interact with our fellow African Americans.

[shantaya hullaby]

I'm a native from arizona, I am happy to see that south phoenix has been my neighborhood for years. Being an african american myself I apprieciate it when I see a person of the same culture or stature as me I feel like I belong. I would hope that more people of our race would stay faithful to this side of town because i would hate for it to die off.

Shantaya

[PhxSoul]

Excellent olu amen-ra! I'm glad you and your wife had such a great time in the Valley! Phoenix has a lot to offer for residents and visitors - kudos to you for exploring our metropolis!

[olu amen-ra]

dear phxsoul,

me and my wife just returned from a short vacation to your wonderful city (valley). we just wanted to say we had a blast and will return in the future, GOD willing. we traveled from glendale, to scottsdale to downtown and the hood (southside) all the people we came in contact with, treated us well. we really liked the diversity of the city and how all seemed to live at peace. we know that just because things seem to be alright on the surface, racism is alive on a global scale.

we patronized doc's place and mrs. whites soul food restaurant both places treated us like african royalty. so stand tall, phoenix and phoenix soul for getting the work out!!!!

odabo, (until we meet again)

olu amen-ra

[C Williams]

I am native of East St. Louis, IL, lived in Dallas, TX for eight years, and Atlanta, GA for a year. I have only been here since January of 2009 and I do see a difference here in the African-American Community. It is okay to spread out around the city (oops Valley), but there still needs to be a connection among the community as a whole. I feel the lack of real "Black Radio" programing has the Phoenix African American Community behind in some areas. NO Tom Joyner, Steve Harvey, or Micheal Baisden...regardless of what you think of those programs they keep you informed on issues around the country and sometimes in your local area. I don't see the culture here I have seen in other cities. I hope things get better and soon.

[Darrius Dawkins]

Don't be con'd or fooled people by being defined by all living in one neighborhood or one side of town and eventually be streotyped by that! Stand on your own merits and education and up-bringing we all know we have to live where we can afford to but let that be our decision not the city make-up or media. I grew up in South Seattle Rainier Beach/Seward Park area anyone from there knows about the "Beach" don't let yourself be victim to a side of town that you make it a point or purpose to get out of there as soon as you can! You don't have to be around your people all the time to feel less supportive of the community love and community support comes in many flavors and colors be proud of wherever you may live be a good productive citizen to each other and the city of Phoenix as a whole will be a place where people of all flavors/color will want to live and feel good about it and appreciated!

[TG]

Hello,

I like the comment from the Native of Arizona. I am originally from the Chicago area. I was born and raised on the southside of Chicago. Once, I finish college and started a family, I moved to the west surburbs of Chicago. The reason why I did that is because the area was mix with all types of cultures. When I state all types of cultures, I mean that 365 different languages were being spoken in the Naperville and Aurora, IL area; according to Aurora Newspaper. I feel when people isolate themselves from other cultures, they learn not to be able to deal with other cultures. I do not want to raise my children in a all black neighborhood. If that was the case, I would of stayed on the southside of Chicago. We are in United States. United States is changing, slow but it is changing. "United" means all cultures living together. This is what Dr. King was fighting and died for. When I came to visit the Phoenix area, this is what I like about it. It was not segregated such as Chicago. Why do my black people feel that they can not open businesses throughout the valley. Why do all of our businesses need to be together. Also, what is wrong with us coming from all across the valley to meet at church. I just do not understand the slave mentality that some blacks have about being under one roof and staying within one neighborhood. Do you realize what you are producing, you are producing what Hitler wanted for the Germans. He wanted Germans to have Germany and he wanted anyone that was not a German out of Germany; which he almost conquer with millions of non German people dead. To conclude, our President of 2009 is an "United" States Citizen that has a black and white heritage. Also, he has a latino and white sister. This is what United States is about, all race and cultures living together. If you do not like this idea then you need to go and live in another country with people that just look like you.

[The Tax Guy]

I think if people spent anytime in cities like Atlanta and D.C. they'd have a healthy appreciation of how great it feels to be in an affluent neighborhood made up of just (or mostly) our people.

If there were a neighborhood/HOA like that in the Valley, I'd sell my house quick to get in. Of course it would have to be somewhere central, can't live out in BFE.

[Janis]

How could we as black people, in all the hard fought and hard won efforts to be able to live where ever we wanted, then turn around and say we want a neighborhood where no one lives but use. That's ridiculous! As a native Arizonan, I like things just the way they are. This isn't Detroit or Chicago or New York. Accept that and stop trying to make it into the places you have left.

[Travis]

Although this is interesting topic, I have to voice my opinion on an issue that I feel is much more compelling and relates specifically to the black community. During the recent national election resulting in Obama as the new President elect, propositions were supported and passed in four states that would require that states constitution to be amended by defining marriage as being exclusively between and male and female. African-American voters from those states voted overwhelmingly in support of those propositions even though Obama himself clearly expressed open support of civil-unions between same sex couples. Considering that African-Americans have fought so hard and so long for civil rights, it is totally bewildering that we would vote overwhelmingly to take away another groups well established civil liberty to enter into a civil union. I, being a non-theist, humanist, have a perspective on religion is quite a bit different that those held traditionally by other African-Americans. I feel that the bible literally and figuratively is and historically has been among the greatest weapons of mass destruction with the others being the Koran and the Torah. The African-Americans support of an initiative to actually take away one of another groups civil liberty in the name of religiosity (i.e. christianity, or islamic dogma), after having fought so long to have our own civil liberties recognized, is an absolute testament to the destructive nature of organized religion. How is it that weve been blinded of our ability to see that the worlds most egregious offenses against humanity have been committed with the pretext of a church/state merger. Although it may seen to the contrary, I am not against Black folks believing what they chose to believe in, even if I think that its to our detriment. What I am against is Black people becoming so self-righteous, that we see nothing wrong with imposing our religious beliefs, in a political context, on another group of people who may or may not subscribe to that same belief system. (A group of people that would likely prove to be strong allies to the black community.) Black people, it is by no coincidence that among the first thing European conquerors gave indigenous peoples were bibles both before and after committing wholesale slaughter of those indigenous people who resisted the efforts of succeeding their land and being converted to christianity. Also, it is by no coincidence that the most well known period of time in Europe where there existed a merger between church and state is referred to as the Dark-Ages. People, read some history. You dont have to go too far back. Consider that last 8 years. President Bushs rhetoric was commonly packed with religious rhetoric, which should have been an embarrassment to the so many christian, African-American voters who with the objective of imposing their religious beliefs onto the mainstream, were tricked into voting that idiot. Those who fail to know it are destined to repeat it.

[Ms. Nile]

Before I went on my mini rant, I was thinking about the question that your posed to your readers.

First and foremost I think theres a difference between a black community and Negroville. Although some people might be remiss to quote Chris Rock but I believe he made a lot of sense when he said the theres a difference between black people and Negroes (he actually used the N word for that).

No one is looking for Negroville here (we have enough of those in our country) but we are interested in living in an upwardly mobile, affluent African-American community in Phoenix or the surrounding area. A place where black people can live comfortably, have the same quality of life that many white people in Phoenix and the surrounding areas have and live comfortably.
Ive lived in several different cities and in many of them (such as Atlanta) there are enclaves where African-Americans live exceedingly well. Im talking beautiful homes, manicured lawns, good schools and places around them that cater to their specific needs. I think this is what theyre asking for here. A place where they dont have to feel uncomfortable. Im not saying that its exclusively African-American and that they are totally polarizing themselves to the point where they dont interact with other people, but they are the majority and theyre happy.

However you did make a point that we are so spread out and that makes it hard for us to find a place like this. Add the fact that only 5 percent of the population in Phoenix is African-American and that makes us even more polarized at this point. Im hoping that we will take advantage of the housing market right now and African-American people with the same goals and family values will migrate to a particular section of the valley where the houses have been either abandoned or foreclosed on and revitalize that area.

Of course this is very idealistic but thats how we make things happen. It all starts with an idea!!!

[Ms. Nile]

You know....one of the things I liked about your blog back in the days is the way you used to make people feel comfortable about expressing their opinions. After all, the only way something can get better is through ideas. True, some people tend to criticize Phoenix but even through criticism theres a benefit because its through criticism that gives people ideas on how to change things.

However, in the last couple of years when talking about the state of African American (AA) relationships in the Phoenix area or just Phoenix in general, youve taken to calling people whiners when they dont share your opinion on what Phoenix has to offer and that has concerned me. Not so much your motivation because I know you mean well and after all this is your hometown and naturally youre going to defend it. However, I think that back int he days you were more objective about what people had to say whether they were in agreeance that Phoenix was a decent place for black people or not. Just as you valued that some people saw this as a place of opportunity for black people you also acknowledged that they could be more cohesive and that people come from other places where AA people are more closely knit could see this and that was the source of their complaining. Yes, many of your readers may sound frustrated and even hurt at times but it may also be their way of giving a wake up call to many AA people here! Maybe they are holding a mirror up to the AA people of The Valley in hopes that they will think about their actions and ultimately lead them to become more cohesive towards one another. In any case, before you started calling these people whiners, this was the place that people felt they could voice those concerns and make that happen.

Not that I needed to come up with an example of how youve changed but one time does come to mind. A few of us noticed this and Im afraid once it spread, it kind of took the wind out of our sails. I remember some time ago when you were doing a series on AA men and their relationships with AA women in the valley. You had a lot of Black women write in indicating their dissatisfaction with how black men treated black women in the valley. You wrote some good pieces on how to overcome this but they were directed at just the women. Then one day you did something that we rarely see many AA men doing. That day you wrote a piece that was directed towards the men of the valley and asked them some interesting questions that took them to task on their behavior towards the black women here. You questioned why they weren’t open, gave examples of their behavior in different places like clubs, asked if there was an intimidation factor, why you felt that way and why they should consider letting that go! I have to say…MANY of us found that to be refreshing! It was one of your best pieces and the first time you ever truly admitted that many AA men were just as unapproachable as AA women. It proved that it was not just one sided and it took both AA women and men to open up and be sociable. You basically said that AA women could not do it alone and we were glad that you saw that! But Alas! Just as fast as you posted that blog that respectfully took AA men in the valley to task, you pulled it down the same day! It wasnt up for a whole day but many people saw it and soon after that, they witnessed the change. Suddenly you became this writer who felt like you had to defend rather than educate. Suddenly if someone didnt appreciate certain things in Phoenix and even offered a suggestion on how it could change, you were more apt to tell them that they were wrong and that they need to quit whining.

This is definitely your blog and how you choose to write and what you say is definitely your choice. However if you really want peoples true opinions in order to find out what needs to change, then it might be a good idea to remember that diminishing people’s opinions to just being whining doesn’t open up dialogue. That was the way the phxsoul of the past did it and he had more of a chance of bridging the gap that exist within Phoenixs AA community. It was a place that showed different point of view and didnt serve as a home for people like serial_ir_dater to spout ignorance at every turn.

Yeah all of this because you used the word “whiner” but it’s something that comes to mind everytime I see your name. How I miss the phxsoul of yesterday...and some of us would like THAT phxsoul back. He was equal opportunity.

Take care Soul.

Respectively,
Ms. Nile

[Joi]

I am looking to move to the Phoenix area in about a year and a half. I would love to find an area there that has more than a handful of African Americans. I went to a Black college (Tuskegee) and am orginally from the Bay Area. I also spent summers in Memphis, TN when school was out with my family. I know how important it is to have other people that look like me, eat the same things as I do, and feel the same way about certain issues as I do. I want my children to have the same family environment as I did growing up. Remember it takes a village to raise a child. I want my village to look like I do.

What would it take to have an area where we can come together and be a family, not just on Sundays.

[Big R]

Having lived in the several different cities in the south southeast, its always nice when there is a part of town that that is considered to be the epicenter of the black community. A place where black businesses strive, blacks live, work, and socialize. This doesnt mean that every black person has to live there - but generally theses areas reflect the history of blacks in that city.

Having been away from AZ most of my adult life coming back is rough; the only time I see groups of black people is at a club. Understand that a black community doesnt mean it has to be hood or ghetto just a reflection of the black presence over time in the city. I admit the black presence has grown since I left almost 15 years ago, but there doesnt seem to be a connection amongst us anymore.