Atlanta is not the black mecca you think it is
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3/7/2015
I moved to Atlanta after being convinced by family and friends that it would be a great plus for my career since black professionals are doing so "well." What I found is that this is a slave state and most companies are run off contractors or what they call consultants. They do this in order to pay mediocre salaries and not pay full benefits. There are very few jobs so you can be a professional with a graduate degree and years of experience, but have to settle for almost minimum wage to survive. I have gone into interviews and been given a questionable glance or even in some cases asked, So "you" are the candidate? As if they didn't expect me to be black. I think mainly because of the well-known companies that I have had the privilege to work for and my training. It is surprisingly segregated here. There is even a noticeable difference in neighborhoods. In almost every area I traveled (and city data I researched), the gated and plush communities are usually less than 15 percent minorities and the run down areas where buildings are abandoned are usually inhabited by over 80 percent minorities. This was not the case in the large city from where I relocated. In my old area, it was common to see upscale areas that were diverse. In Atlanta, you can literally drive across the street from the upscale area and see a failing area. It's as if a line was drawn and the minorities were told not to cross it. I know racism exists everywhere, even in my previous city, but I was surprised at the racism I saw in the workplaces in ATL, which of course is where minorities are usually contractors (not full-time) and everyone else is a Director, Manager, etc. I want to leave here so badly that I almost feel like moving back to my other city without a job and take my chances on finding one when I get there.
Nichelle | Vinings, GA