Reviews & Comments
Memphis, TN
Discreet Racism and Lack of Employment -
10/28/2006Memphis would not be my first choice for a city but I say the same thing about Atlanta, GA where I lived for 8 years. Unlike Atlanta, Memphis lacks the diversity and job growth, clubs and restaurants, but that is about it. Many areas look just like many areas in Atlanta. However, Memphis has a down home feel. There is a low cost of living and hey everyone, crime is everywhere. I know. I moved to Atlanta on a Wednesday from Jackson, MS and on Thursday morning I awoke to find my car window smashed and everything stolen. Needless to say, this happened several times since then while living in GA. There is a lot of racism in Memphis, however, (I can't believe I'm saying this because I am black) I can somewhat understand it. Many of the African Americans don't even try which is so puzzling. Many times I am driving to work and I pass so many just standing on the street corners or sitting on their porches. THe mentality in Memphis of many young African Americans is really bad. I know several young women that refuse to buy a home to raise their kids in (usually several) because they don't want Uncle Sam to find out about their side income and cut their welfare benefits. "Unbelievable". That is what hurts the most in Memphis, Many young blacks don't even try to work and better themselves. They are comfortable at the bottom. Their is a lot of racial tension and very few jobs which lead to a lot of crime. I hope Memphis changes for the better in the future.
Houston, TX
Didn't like visiting Houston -
10/28/2006I visited Houston a year ago and was not that impressed. I had heard so much Hoorah, Hoorah over Houston that I just had to go and experience it for myself. It had the craziest expressways I had ever seen. The traffic was awful. The bugs were huge and all the while I was driving through Houston, they kept hitting and busting on my winshield. The downtown area left much to be desired. There were many low income areas with people sleeping outside on the porch and under the bridge downtown. There were absolutely no zoning laws and because of this the city simply looked tacky. On the upside though, the people seemed extremely down to earth and warm. I stayed in what I thought was a nice hotel and was eaten alive by bedbugs. I made it back to Atlanta and nearly cleaned out the Walmart pharmacy because I had to purchase so much anti itch cremes. In other words, Houston left much to be desired. I would rather pay a little more for a house than live there. Sure you'd be saving on property but lacking so much more in quality of life.
Houston, TX
Didn't like visiting Houston -
10/28/2006I visited Houston a year ago and was not that impressed. I had heard so much Hoorah, Hoorah over Houston that I just had to go and experience it for myself. It had the craziest expressways I had ever seen. The traffic was awful. The bugs were huge and all the while I was driving through Houston, they kept hitting and busting on my winshield. The downtown area left much to be desired. There were many low income areas with people sleeping outside on the porch and under the bridge downtown. There were absolutely no zoning laws and because of this the city simply looked tacky. On the upside though, the people seemed extremely down to earth and warm. I stayed in what I thought was a nice hotel and was eaten alive by bedbugs. I made it back to Atlanta and nearly cleaned out the Walmart pharmacy because I had to purchase so much anti itch cremes. In other words, Houston left much to be desired. I would rather pay a little more for a house than live there. Sure you'd be saving on property but lacking so much more in quality of life.
Germantown, TN
GERMANTOWN LACKS SOUL -
3/16/2006But if you're 50 plus, retired and wealthy chances are you'll love it because everything there seems to "cater" to that crowd. It is a very expensive place to live, 99.9% white and nothing ever happens in Germantown. I mean NOTHING. That is a good thing when it comes to crime but terribly depressing when it comes to entertainment unless you consider gardening and bridge clubs and reading groups terribly exciting.
Jackson, MS
New and Improved Jackson???? -
11/18/2005I am an educated young black woman and although to some Jackson may be "new and improved" there are still no jobs there other than in education and nursing for many MINORITIES. Amazing. I lived in Atlanta for 8 years (where I went to college and graduated) and have met so many foreigners who have heard not just about Jackson, MS but Mississippi as a whole. They look at you "If you are a minority" and from MS like they can't believe Minorities still "willingly" live there. It is still very segregated and unfortunately many of the same perceptions and ideals that were prevalent "BEFORE" the civil war still exist there. My first 2 years in ATL I was "ashamed" to tell people I was even from MS especially after hearing so many sarcastic remarks from my professors and students from other cities. Mississippi by many is still considered to be such a backward place. You know when news about a state's history becomes a teaching lesson on values in other countries classrooms around the world then something is amiss. Anyway, Jackson is not as improved as it should be. Just look at the super high incarceration, jobless and pregnancy rate of its inhabitants.
Atlanta, GA
You've heard the good, but there is a flip side to -
11/18/2005Although I still fell ATL is a good place for a minority to live and progress, I must admit it is a flip side (as with most things). There are lots of illegals who scoff at immigration policies and practices and do not mind telling you they are illegal and that there is nothing the governent can do about it. If you go to Steward Avenue now known as "Metropolitan" avenue you can see many of them selling fake i.d.'s at the flee market for $15.00 with the same technology the actual government agencies use. Their is a Tremendous amount of crime, bad traffic and the SOARING cost of living. Fortunately though the upside to ATL is that if you are a Minority in ATL you finally feel a sense that we are coming up in America. Many Minorities move to ATL and start businesses and run for government office, Although sadly ATL is still the "Heart of the Confederacy Movement" in America, It is progressing everyday. Its a little bit country (nice people) and a little bit city (attractions) all combined. With the give and take, it is an o.k. city to live.
Jackson, MS
Don't Move to Jackson, its "WORSE" than Memphis, T -
10/7/2005I grew up in Mississippi and went to College two years in Jackson, MS before I transferred out ot Jackson and moved to Atlanta. One reason I moved is because there did not seem to be any opportunities for minorities other than in Nursing or Education. If you were a business major or any other major you were out of luck when it came to jobs. There is of course a lot of poverty. Many of the residents in Jackson MS are uneducated, illiterate and are living on Welfare. I have 4 cousins, a brother and 3 male friends who moved to Jackson and believe it or not they are now ALL in prison. It is certainly NOT an environment that is conducive to fostering family values, a respect for religion and hardwork. It is even more depressing than Memphis, TN. IT is HIGHLY segregated. But then again, you can't blame the folks. I don't want to live around poverty and crime either. I would say there is racial tension but everyone is so segregated you really can't tell other than looking at how 1 half of the city lives as opposed to the other side. (get my drift?). America really needs to focus more on its southern inner cities becasuse their is a LOT of deprivation. New ORleans isn't the worse of it. Trust Me.
Atlanta, GA
A Pretty Good Place Overall; Trust Me, I know -
10/7/2005I moved to Atlanta, GA 8 years ago as a starry eyed college Freshman (Way to go Clark Atlanta University!!). I liked it very much. For young professionals, it is the place to be. There is plenty to do, the people are friendly, and there are a lot of good jobs. The weather is often nice. However, Traffic, Crime and skyrocketing home prices are a downside. I left and moved to Memphis, TN for 8 months (where I live currently) and I am looking to move back. Its true. You never know how good something (or in this case, some "place") is until its gone. Memphis, TN is truly depressing. Lots of Uneducated people, higher crime, run down neighborhoods and almost (and you can't blame them) total separation between whites who live way out. That's not a racial comment. I am African-American. But if you see how many blacks live in Memphis, you would move way out too. Anyway, Atlanta is a pretty nice spot.
Memphis, TN
Please, Please DO NOT MOVE TO MEMPHIS, TN -
10/7/2005I was transferred to Memphis with my job from Atlanta, GA. I have been so "incredibly" disappointed. There is absolutely nothing to do. The city has a very lazy feel to it. Many of the citizens, 9 out of every 10 people I've encountered are on Welfare or cheating the government in one way or another. There is also a rampid "group" mentality in Memphis which accounts for so many of the residents continuing to support very corrupt local politicians because they think they can't get any better. There is also high crime, terrible schools, lots of easy availibility of "hard core" drugs (I've had to warn community youngsters). The other day I was stopped at a red light and too my amazement I saw an older lady that looked like she could be someone's grandmother buying "crack". I'm not kidding. She looked straight at me and simply hunched her shoulders and walked away. Homes are dilapidated and education in Memphis is not promoted. I simply can't find not one good thing to say about Memphis. I've been here for over 8 months and am seriously seriously looking to leave. It's simply depressing.