Neighborhoods in the Raleigh-Durham area are among the least segregated in the country, according to data released by the U.S. Census Bureau.
Among the country's 50 most populous areas, only Charleston and Las Vegas were more integrated in measuring black-white segregation in neighborhoods.
Data over the past 30 years shows the Triangle's two largest cities have gradually become more integrated each decade when the Census information is collected. The latest survey data was collected from Jan. 1, 2005 through Dec. 31, 2009.
Comments
Where's The Beef Eddie & Company?
Mon, 01/10/2011 - 09:47 — citycouncil2011I see that many in this comment post attempted to confuse the issue regarding the census report as discussed herein. However, you failed miserbly with your non-sequitur notions evinced.
First of all (Eddie), you are apparently the one commenting on this post who is factually "misunderstanding" the true basis and meaning of the said census report. Whether by ignorance or calculated means to distort the facts; I do not know. Albeit, I do know this much, and its quite axiomatic; the census report depicts a fairly diverse and integrated Wake County. One can hem and haw all day, but that one point is abundantly clear.
Now when you delve into the matter of Southeast Raleigh not being more populated by Caucasian-Americans than what it is, I would respectfully point to the issue of long lasting infrastrure concerns and economic instability for this quadrant of Raleigh. When one side of any given city is more economically friendly, we tend to see the more affluent and socio-economically fortunate thereof migrating to those segments of the city. Be it blacks or whites. So I ask you Eddie...why is Southeast Raleigh prodomically populated African-Americans? That's clear too. Due to their socio-economical status and maybe, just maybe because of design. But by whom? I'll allow you to answer that question posed since you are well versed on the issues. I will say this much though; there must be an equitable distribution of funding reform had here in Raleigh in order to address this egregious quagmire. Likewise, Wake County must get back on track with diversifying our schools regardless of any ethnic group's academia achievements or non-achievement status. If for no other reason, we owe a responsibility of duty to ensure that "all" of our children's academic futures are set on a clear path to success. This is the American way.
When I hear so many of you who have obviously taken on the "me my-self and I" attitude in your postings, it deeply saddens me to know that we are willing to sacrifice one child for another child due to race and stature. It is a sad day in Wake County. Sad indeed! However, for the betterment of our City's ultimate growth and sustained achievements, I think it prudent we step back and re-think our respective positions on this major issue. What affects Southeast Raleigh will inevitably affect North Raleigh in many regards.
Finally I would point out that there are so many Caucasian-Americans who live in Southeast Raleigh who do not share your view, but rather share the collective view that we as Americans should be more concerned about pulling each other up by the boot-strap of socio-economic achievement if we are to survive as AMERICANS at this pivotal time in our Nation's history! Not in the way some of you espoused herein; by race, class and social stature. In the words of Jesus I conclude: "To whom much is given, much is required!."
Did someone contact Rev.
Fri, 01/07/2011 - 00:01 — PhantomLordDid someone contact Rev. Barber for comment or was he unreachable as he was at a buffet?
Not New
Thu, 01/06/2011 - 22:15 — MissVThis is the same data that the WCPSS and Wake County Planning Dept. et. al have had. Us residents have been telling you this for more than a year, but words like 'racist' and 'resegregationist' sold more papers.Guess I should re-run one of my diversity articles. http://venitapeyton.com
But yet we still bus kids
Thu, 01/06/2011 - 20:55 — hdog007But yet we still bus kids two hours to school in the name of "Diversity". What a joke.
Anyone know if they're talking about Charleton, WV or SC?
This makes it sound like ALL of the city
Thu, 01/06/2011 - 19:12 — nancyncof Raleigh is not diverse, nothing could be further from the truth - there are small pockets ( less than 1 square mile in total (which means diversity is within 2 miles of these pockets) of concentrated areas of black and hispanic residents.
Take a look, here is a link which allows you to zoom in by race breakdown of anywhere in the US, each city, town, you name it, it's there. Look for yourself type in a city or zip code and zoom into what you want to see:
projects.nytimes.com/census/2010/explorer (just add http:// prior to the word projects)
You know, it's stupid to have a link option and then not allow a link, what's with that????
This article distorts the census data.
Thu, 01/06/2011 - 22:41 — erinkellymatherlyI went to the census website you recommended. I looked at my neighborhood over here in Durham - Watts Hospital - Hillandale which is a few blocks from Ninth Street. It says that we are only around 79 percent white in this area but you'd have to look long and hard to find anyone who isn't lilly white in this neighborhood. On a second look I realized that the stats are done by census tract (duh!) and the part of the census tract that has all the black folks in it is on the other side of Broad Street in the Walltown neighborhood. I haven't figured out how to look back to see what it was 10 or 20 years ago. It is clear that the stats are skewed because the census tracts encompass different neighborhoods. So, on paper it looks like we are becoming more integrated until you pull the data apart the least little bit.
I would encourage the good folks at the News & Observer to think about these things a little before putting out something as misleading as this article.
Also, all you folks out there who will use this to justify what the School Board over there in Wake County is trying to do should take the time to be sure of what you're talking about before you start spouting off.
Steven Matherly, Durham, NC
Having grown up on the farm
Thu, 01/06/2011 - 18:02 — henryeHaving grown up on the farm and and being very familar with Black people..However they are not always the easiest people to live with .Personally I do not care to live among them Although I have noticed Raleigh and Durham are full of them and are heavily intergrated..I do not hate them. and would never discrimate them .I just rather live among white people.
Be careful of Internet comments ....
Fri, 01/07/2011 - 00:03 — AgentPierceI recognize "henrye" username but not the normal partisanship of his comments. My reaction to his comments is it is a deliberate misleading spoof to rile up the easily riled up ..... and he was quite successful in doing so. It's pretty easy to rile up certain folks around here ....
His choice
Thu, 01/06/2011 - 19:10 — outhousecatThis man can live where and with whom he wants to. So can I. So can everybody reading this. If he wants to live in a white neighborhood, why should anybody else care? I know blacks that don't choose to associate socially with whites, and that's their choice.
There's nothing wrong with this post. It doesn't say he hates other races or won't work with them. It says he prefers not to live amongst them. Leave him alone. He's honest and saying what a lot of people of many races feel. And those of you who are holier-than-thou can rest assured that he is not living in your neighborhood, since you obviously live in a very integrated community and he prefers not to live in that environment.
Wow!
Thu, 01/06/2011 - 18:29 — uBniceWhat a post! I don't quite know what to say.
Lots of dummies in the triangle?
Thu, 01/06/2011 - 18:25 — eminentI wonder if the Census did a head count for "Idiots living in Raleigh and Durham." I know of one right here and a few more who have commented on this article and others. As a matter of fact, I'm beginning to believe the idiot to intelligent people ratio is very lopsided.
Idiots
Thu, 01/06/2011 - 19:08 — henryeWho is intellegent enought to judge between idiots and educated people today.. I have been around the block many times and it is getting more difficult all the time to tell the difference which dosent say much for education.today.
Integrated racially, but not economically
Thu, 01/06/2011 - 17:14 — festusAnd income, of course, was the measure used by the former Wake County school board policy. Not race, income. In terms of income, Wake County neighborhoods are extremely segregated. Have a look at census data online at census.gov
So back then it was race to
Thu, 01/06/2011 - 17:42 — GordonTrenchardSo back then it was race to bus kids, now it's income. Where do the busing zealots stop their quest? Define economic diversity, by what standard? How much more or less money does one have to made to get bused out or have kids bused in?
Well Then, Reverse The BOE's Egregious Re-Segregation Policy!!
Thu, 01/06/2011 - 16:35 — citycouncil2011In light of this recent census report I think the powers that be on the Board of Education should re-think their convoluted busing and re-districting policy. But to do so would be to great a stretch for them since they've gone all in with their personal political and racial views.
Let's get real here folks; the Board of Education's re-districting had more to do with segregation than with a higher graduation rate for Wake Students, especially those Students of colour living in and near Southeast Raleigh.
In my conclusion I will predict that when its all said and done, Wake County will be faced with issues ranging from inequitability of fundings for the newly maped school districts; a higher dropout rate for Southeast Raleigh's Students; overcrowding, more crimes committed and fewer passionate teachers who but for re-districting whould have continued their plight to ensure that every child schooling in Southeast Raleigh had a chance to upper academia. It's 2011 politicians, not 1911! Follow the census data and learn something!
citicouncil2011, who I
Thu, 01/06/2011 - 22:10 — eddie2citicouncil2011, who I believe is a city council candidate from SE Raleigh, apparently misunderstands the census report. It indicates that there is a low rate of segregation in Wake County. Minorities are living in substantial numbers in neighborhoods throughout the county. Therefore, if students are assigned geographically, the schools will have a low rate of segregation, without diversity busing.
There are exceptions where neighborhoods are not diverse, such as SE Raleigh. Perhaps this city council candidate can explain why it's not diverse, given that there are evidently plentiful opportunities to live in diverse communities throughout the county. Perhaps the reason is at least partly self-selection.
But, it is possible to accommodate people who don't want to live in diverse communities, but want their kids to go to school in diverse schools, by allowing families to choose schools outside their neighborhoods (as in the now tabled Tedesco plan). Some kids have benefitted from going to school outside their neighborhood under the old diversity busing plan. Unfortunately, many minority kids have not, about half of them. There must be an alternative for them, besides busing them to another school where their failure can be absorbed in the overall school statistics.
Then there is no more need
Thu, 01/06/2011 - 15:19 — mjrothThen there is no more need to bus students all over the county to effectively hide poor academic results, which is all the "diversity policy" did. Instead of wasting money & time with that, why not actually address the needs of those students in the classroom? Wait, if they did that, there'd be fewer people to ask "you want fries with that".