A new report finds that poor schools, a high cost of living and a lack of cultural experiences are the reasons behind a major black exodus from the city San Francisco.
San Francisco has seen its black population decrease faster than that of all other large US cities – "from 13.4 percent in 1970 to an estimated 6.5 percent in 2005, according to the census" – and the mayor's African American Out-migration Task Force, which put together the aforementioned report, hopes to stem that withdrawal.
But it won't be easy. One shameful statistic stands out as reason enough for African Americans in San Francisco to have disdain for their city: 24 percent of them live in homes that are classified as needing "severe or moderate repairs."
The report recommends improving schools in black areas, adding programs for youth, increasing employment opportunities and promoting business development.
A note to the rest of the world: You should follow that recommendation, also.
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It seems more like a class issue as they can no longer afford to live there and living in poor housing conditions.
I would be more than willing to help with city if pay my transition costs
Sigh,
I really wish something would surprise me one day.
sounds like Thomaston, GA to me..those are some of the reasons why man African Americans have picked up and moved elsewhere.
I agree with *M*. I'm from Oakland, and SF has always been the rich debutante sister. The poor, mostly black but there's everything sprinkled in, have always lived on the outskirts of SF, but with more and more people with money they're being forced out to make way for condos. *Sigh*
Atlanta here we come!!!
SF doesn't attract blacks because of industry and high cost of living. Even if they would invest more in black businesses it still would not help retain folks.
Why are people always doing freakin' studies about us, damn! It's so annoying, how many White people have left SF in the same time period? How many Russian immigrants, Native Americans? Why are people always shining a spotlight on Black people and it's ALWAYS negative.
@ Sean ATL is overcrowded.
The black areas? Wouldn't that be across the bridge in Oakland?
I'd say that the black people are leaving because they have good sense. The city is way to expensive and it's pretty much impossible to make a decent life for yourself unless you make 6 figures which won't get you much there anyway.
I'm a San Francisco giant, born and raised in the Fillmore. If you're from SF you'll realize why the black population should be preserved. Blacks have a storied history of music, entrepreneurship, art, politics etc. in S.F, which is a part of the larger African American history. The Fillmore was once called the Harlem of the west; the Black Panthers started at SF State; Maya Angelou grew up in SF. It's one of the only major city in America where blacks are educated among a diverse group of students. The sad thing about SF and the Bay Area in general is that blacks can't get jobs. There are more than enough Mexicans to do the work we used to do and the Bay is largely built around the tech industry which we've yet to pierce.
Ditto Monie.
I know Monie, I know.
@ Comment #1 - Agreed, but class issues are usually compounded by race.
@ Comment #6 - Please elaborate as your comment is kind of confusing. Would you rather race relations remain as they are?