Reviews & Comments
Atlanta, GA
Atlanta area.... not what you expect! -
9/1/2011I have lived in the Atlanta area for 11 years. The first 3 yrs were ok then I started to notice that segregation was rampant, the races only seem to get along on the surface, examine deeper and the truth comes out. Most areas outside of the city itself are occupied by "rednecks" Most positions in management is held by "whites". Most important "law making decisions" are made by "Whites" which support "their interests". I agree that certain areas are great to live, and you may feel that you are accepted by those around you,but if you are not from the South, non-white, female, educated, forget it! The system here is the "Good Ole Boy" The tension in this place between blacks and whites is terrible. Nepotism is the way of the land here, If you are not related or married to someone who has the authority you will not make it here for very long. The schools are very bad here, there are great relationships from elementary to middle school between the races, get to high school and it is nonwhite on one side of the lunch room and whites on the other. The work place( generalization) not all,co-workers act as if you are their enemy on the job(especially African Americans). The workplace is a battle field, throwing everyone "underneath the bus" is the way to excell. It is horrible. I enjoy the arts,music and good food and I am not afraid to go places. The whites look at you as if you don't belong in these places...it is only for them. If you can tolerate this behavior fine. They make non-blacks feel "black" here.I am from another country, lived and traveled overseas. When I compare places and culture it is as if I have regressed into the dark ages. The south is too closed-minded and backwards.If you are educated, open minded, sensitive to other cultures and understand how relationships should be this is NOT the place for you. Many of the native people here come from across the state line... very rural areas... from a one stop-light town (literally in the bush)...They come to the "big city", get an education, get all dressed up and get high positions, but the deep southern, country, small-minded outlook at life and others is still the same as it was 70-100 years ago. Crime is pretty bad here, road rage and other crazy things can be seen on the roads. My house was broken into a year ago. When I first bought my house I did not have to lock my car and doors now I do along with a security system. Traffic is a night mare here like any big city. It is ok to live here if you are prepared to feel like a "non-person", or "stick" to one group of people(race) "kiss butt" to keep your job, get a promotion. MOST policies and procedures here seem to work backwards and it is designed that way to frustrate and keep Non-Whites out of the system and make it as hard as possible for them to advance. If you are growing up a young black child be prepared to instill in your child that they are equal to the whites because in schools they are forced to feel less than who they are. The school systems are bad due to racism. They are designed to keep the non-whites down and it is sad in this era that attitudes like these still exist here. Basically most Georgians act here as if the civil war is still raging in GA. The climate is great most of the year, very hot in the Summer with severe weather, cool falls and springs and mild winters. It is fairly easy to get a decent house and taxes are fairly low. Apart from that.... it is not all that it is cracked up to be. Planning on moving out just for a difference in attitudes, hope to find a more liberal and welcoming place.