Why do minorities congegrate in cities?

[Fayd]

Serious question. I'm asking because I don't know or understand.

For my job, I have to look at a lot of racial composition maps. In most cities in the US, there tends to be extreme concentrations of minorities in specific areas. the only place similar extreme concentrations of minorities happen in rural settings is reservations. (except the deep south, which has some high minority rural tracts.)

just always seemed odd to me.

 

[s0me0nesmind1]

Serious question. I'm asking because I don't know or understand.

For my job, I have to look at a lot of racial composition maps. In most cities in the US, there tends to be extreme concentrations of minorities in specific areas. the only place similar extreme concentrations of minorities happen in rural settings is reservations. (except the deep south, which has some high minority rural tracts.)

just always seemed odd to me.

As much as no one wants to admit it (a la white people aren't wacist), every race only wants to be around more of their race. It doesn't matter if it's white people, asians, black people, mexicans, etc... Everyone would rather be surrounded with their own kin rather than others. It's just natural. Would you rather live in a neighborhood of whitey or a neighborhood of mexicans that only speak Spanish that you can never communicate with? Believe me, I live in a neighborhood of mexicans that can only speak Spanish... and I understand the conflict, because NO ONE talks to each other.

In my neighborhood there is little "neighborhood watch" for each other because few people look or care for each other. We also feel much less safe. I recall growing up as a kid running around and not having a care in the world. Now everyone wants to keep their children locked up inside as much as possible for "safety"

It really is a large issue that most are unable to bring up in conversation.

All it takes is to google maps of black population. They ONLY keep with their kind. Logic would say to diverse and go where opportunities are, but you can clearly see a map of where each and every race is populated.

 

[x26]

Serious question. I'm asking because I don't know or understand.

For my job, I have to look at a lot of racial composition maps. In most cities in the US, there tends to be extreme concentrations of minorities in specific areas. the only place similar extreme concentrations of minorities happen in rural settings is reservations. (except the deep south, which has some high minority rural tracts.)

just always seemed odd to me.

Concentration of "Social Services".

 

[maddogchen]

Does your data capture the migrant farmworkers that move around the rural farms? Those are mostly minorities.

 

[sdifox]

Proximity to jobs.

 

[Lonyo]

Proximity to jobs.

+1

Why do *people* congregate in cities?
Think about the fact that in most countries *people* congregate in cities and slowly over time there has been a shift from rural to urban living.

Now ask why brand new people to a country would head for cities.
Since they started off in the cities, they are more likely to still be in the cities, and new people then also join them because, you know, cities.

Then within the cities they congregate because of things like jobs, language, culture and services. If I came from a foreign country I would probably want to be able to buy my homeland's food and speak the language. Then when I have children they grow up in the same environment so stick close to similar people as well to maintain their ability to have these things. Then over time the minority just sticks together because they have what they want available in that area.

 

[Murloc]

They go to cities because that's where the jobs are.

They also happen to concentrate in the same neighbourhoods because
1. they may have relatives and people they know there
2. people associate with people similar to them
3. similar incomes also push them to areas with similar rents

 

[gururu2]

Birds of a feather flock together. But also its important to know that both economics and politics plays a role. Migrants who are well off usually 'integrate' better as they will move into areas with good schools/neighborhoods which are historically affluent and white. Migrants who are poor may pick a location based on word of mouth but also because these areas are financially accessible and receptive to foreigners (community, landlords, establishments, etc). For minorities rooted in the U.S. integration into a historically white populace occurs as a result of expansion from the source. For African Americans, they didn't assimilate into white culture immediately after slavery ended. The system of segregation kept them (laws, oppression, persecution) in isolated pockets throughout the country through no choice of their own. As their populations grew they became heavily concentrated (think Baltimore, MD).

I think this kind of question is not often as innocent as it may appear as it often comes from whites (or foreigners) who claim to identify through simple observation the reasons for racism and the source of blame. That would of course be minorities as they self segregate, i.e. 'choose' to resist assimilation.

 

[justoh]

Probably just in order to confuse you.

 

[Murloc]

I think this kind of question is not often as innocent as it may appear as it often comes from whites (or foreigners) who claim to identify through simple observation the reasons for racism and the source of blame. That would of course be minorities as they self segregate, i.e. 'choose' to resist assimilation.

well when you live for 40 years in a city and you don't know the language it's because you chose to be self-segregated.

Learning the language is possible even with low resources.

 

[Eug]

Imagine trying to get a good Ethiopian injera bread with multi-dish meal in West Podunk USA, population 2000, by someone who actually knows how to cook the meal and can speak to you in your native language.

Also, imagine in the same town trying to get Chinese food which isn't sweet and sour chicken balls.

 

[CZroe]

Not odd at all. Think about it:
You come to a strange land from another country looking for people have have been through a similar cultural shock/transition to ease your own. Such a community can support what few aspects of your culture may be possible to carry over and can ease your adoption of the necessary changes. Want to find recognizable foods at the market to make the dishes you know how to make? Go to a market run by other people from your home country.

The critical mass for such communities can't be reached outside of urban settings. How does a Chinatown work in the middle of North Dakota badlands?

 

[sdifox]

Not odd at all. Think about it:
You come to a strange land from another country looking for people have have been through a similar cultural shock/transition to ease your own. Such a community can support what few aspects of your culture may be possible to carry over and can ease your adoption of the necessary changes. Want to find recognizable foods at the market to make the dishes you know how to make? Go to a market run by other people from your home country.

The critical mass for such communities can't be reached outside of urban settings. How does a Chinatown work in the middle of North Dakota badlands?

By building railroad of course

 

[Eug]

BTW, in Toronto a friend who is black is treated like everyone else walking into a new place. No surprise. In a busy schedule, most people don't have time to worry about the colour of your skin. Torontonians treat everyone equally hostilely. j/k

In backwater Ontario, walk into a cafe and everyone turns around and stares for several seconds. Very awkward.

 

[brianmanahan]

this is not always the case - there are a number of black people who live in the rural area outside of a mid-sized city near me

but last time i checked census states, the township i live in is %99.7 white. there's 1 black family and 1 chinese family (who happens to run the chinese restaurant).

 

[DaWhim]

move out of the country, you will know why. even for yourself, you will try to look for where all americans live.

i have been to a small town in eucador where a lot of american retirees live.

 

[mmntech]

A lot of blacks moved out of the south into the northern industrial cities during the Jim Crow era. It was a better alternative to share cropping and the segregationist South.

For more modern immigrants, they move into cities due to proximity to jobs and their own ethnic enclaves.

 

[unokitty]

Easy to document segregation in cites. More difficult to come to a consensus about why... Still, on these maps, it doesn't seem to correlate with employment.

Uno

 

[Fayd]

Easy to document segregation in cites. More difficult to come to a consensus about why... Still, on these maps, it doesn't seem to correlate with employment.

Uno

umm... there is a strong correlation with employment. 0_o

 

[lxskllr]

umm... there is a strong correlation with employment. 0_o

I think he meant "employment opportunity".

 

[s0me0nesmind1]

Imagine trying to get a good Ethiopian injera bread with multi-dish meal in West Podunk USA, population 2000, by someone who actually knows how to cook the meal and can speak to you in your native language.

Also, imagine in the same town trying to get Chinese food which isn't sweet and sour chicken balls.

When you go to another country on vacation, do you go searching around for burger and fries? Or do you ASSIMILATE into THEIR culture and try their food out? It's pure ignorance from ignorant immigrants that expect their culture to be present wherever they live.

If people learned to assimilate properly everyone would be much better off. Parts of the immigrants culture would be put into play (IE: Opening their own restaurants, etc...) and the whole communication barrier would cease to exist. Instead we are the only kind of country where people think it is perfectly okay to immigrate and not learn the language - as well as completely avoid it, going to places like Walmart and DEMANDING that they bring a store clerk to you that can speak YOUR language.

 

[s0me0nesmind1]

A lot of blacks moved out of the south into the northern industrial cities during the Jim Crow era. It was a better alternative to share cropping and the segregationist South.

For more modern immigrants, they move into cities due to proximity to jobs and their own ethnic enclaves.

What are you calling "A lot"?

 

[Eug]

When you go to another country on vacation, do you go searching around for burger and fries? Or do you ASSIMILATE into THEIR culture and try their food out? It's pure ignorance from ignorant immigrants that expect their culture to be present wherever they live.

That's a pretty naive statement to make, and ultimately pretty xenophobic.

First off it's extremely common for Americans to go overseas and look for burgers and fries restaurants. McD's is extremely popular with US tourists overseas.

Second, people like what they like. I personally would much rather have a good mixture of food types, than eat burgers and fries or steak or whatever every single day. And hell, in small towns, often the burgers and fries aren't even very good. The best burgers I've ever had have always been in big cities, or else in backyard BBQs of private homes. I don't expect to get a great burger in the crappy diner in West Podunk, USA, and rarely am I surprised.

The point is not to ASSIMILATE. The point is to contribute. It would be very boring indeed if every country stayed the same way it was forever.

And of course, those cultures DO exist overseas. In Toronto, there is a thriving Ethiopian community. Great food. (Unfortunately, I seem to be allergic to one of the spices used.) You'd have to be a moron to think that most people of Ethiopian descent would rather live where lots of people stare at them suspiciously when they walk into a store, than move to a place where lots of people who share the culture of their homeland already live.

BTW, where I live, Toronto, 51% of the population was born outside Canada, and I think it's great. (For the record, I was born in Canada.)

If people learned to assimilate properly everyone would be much better off. Parts of the immigrants culture would be put into play (IE: Opening their own restaurants, etc...) and the whole communication barrier would cease to exist. Instead we are the only kind of country where people think it is perfectly okay to immigrate and not learn the language - as well as completely avoid it, going to places like Walmart and DEMANDING that they bring a store clerk to you that can speak YOUR language.

Wal-Mart sucks in general. I hate going to Wal-Mart. Regardless of race of the people there (working there or customers), it's often just depressing.

I do admit I shop there occasionally, but mostly online these days, for stuff like toilet paper, diapers, and cat litter when it goes on sale.

 

[Mr.IncrediblyBored]

What are you calling "A lot"?

A lot relative to everywhere else not in the southeast. Look at red points in the north and midwest. All industrial powerhouses at one point - Detroit, Cleveland, Chicago, Pittsburgh, St. Louis.

 

[K1052]

A lot relative to everywhere else not in the southeast. Look at red points in the north and midwest. All industrial powerhouses at one point - Detroit, Cleveland, Chicago, Pittsburgh, St. Louis.

It's interesting to now watch the Great Migration practically reverse itself as African Americans move back to the south from the old industrial cities to be closer to extended families, due to aging, lower cost of living' and an improved social situation. Texas, Georgia, and Florida cities are seeing major influxes.