My Honest Assessment of Life in Dallas After Seven
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6/19/2015
I am a transplant to Dallas. I've lived in five different states. I don't like Dallas. I loved it at first. At first it had a lot of jobs and the city seemed vibrant. After a few years in Dallas I realized that there is a very strong racial undercurrent in this town. It is extremely strong. Someone mentioned it below as well. If you are white and male, chances are you will find Dallas amenable. Even a wonderful city. If you are white period.
If you are black you will find Dallas, over time, to be somewhat of a hostile city. The hostility usually comes from the Corporate Sector here. Blacks, regardless of experience, usually are at a great disadvantage when trying to obtain certain levels of pay and position. Blacks are the least desired. The Last hired and the first fired. There is extreme racism in Corporate America here. A friend of mine works in a temporary staffing agency and he said employers call up and request workers BY RACE. They usually request white or latino. The agency never tells them this is illegal. They just send out the employees. Blacks are steered towards lower paying jobs. Whites and latinos are steered towards higher paying jobs.
The experiences between corporate whites and corporate blacks couldn't be more different.
As far as the great economy, yes the economy here is good. IF you are into LOW WAGE WORK. Texas seems to have mainly service sector jobs. Restaurants, gas stations, construction, etc. These are the positions in great abundance. Don't believe the hype that there are $80,000.00 dollar positions just for the taking. Their is so much labor moving to this state obtaining a position that pays that well is ridiculously difficult. Lots of competition.
The traffic is AWFUL. My GPS is constantly wrong. Roads are constantly being rerouted due to all the construction.
The weather is terrible. It's either very hot (scorching heat) or very cold (ice on the ground). Texas doesn't seem to have all the seasons. Very limited fall and spring weather. It seems like it jumps from winter to summer overnight.
It's boring.. Most activities are geared towards families. Most Texans marry very young and by the time they are in their mid twenties they have a few kids and a mortgage. They settle young.
The courts and the police are hostile towards blacks.
Ruthless cutthroat businesses and a very ruthless corporate culture. Its so different from regular culture as most Texans seem to be nice (although a bit racist).
I'm black and I have always felt that older whites here look down their nose at blacks. No matter how educated we are. How accomplished we are. We are in the 'white man's world' and they will never let us forget that.
Lots of companies that hire illegals. Illegals are everywhere. They have no trouble getting work. The companies prefer them. They usually use temp agencies and some hire them outright. They plead ignorance when caught by ICE.
I can't wait to leave Dallas.
S.J. | Dallas, TX