Race Relations in Austin? (Houston, San Antonio: attorney, neighborhoods, living)

[atina33]

In general, how are the race relations in Austin?

Here in LA, the thugs are all into killing one another simply over one's skin color (and it's getting worse); as for us non-thugs, many nationalities/ethnicities have their own little community and there is little mixing and mingling. I'm getting sick of it.

A.

[blueoktober]

I am not an Austinite, YET so I don't know about race relations. But what I can tell you is that Austin had only 20 homocides in 2006. One homocide is too many, but for a city the size of Austin, that number is unheard of! (In a good way!). Take Orlando, for example. The city of Orlando is less than 200,000 people. (The metro is much larger.) However Orlando had over 40 murders last year. Compare that to a city with nearing 700,000 having only 20 murders and you will see it's most impressive.


I have read nothing about gangs in Austin, although I am sure there have to be some.

[Trainwreck20]

Most of the gangs are 'wannabe' gangs and spend their time tagging the highway bridges, I think. I am sure that there are some problems, but really, you rarely hear anything gang related.

Although Austin probably has less in the way of race issues than a lot of other places, it still has them. The black population of Austin is ~10% (according to CD), with only small percentages of any other ethnicity other than hispanic. I think the low number of black residents partially masks some racism that may exist without an 'outlet'.

I will say that the integration of hispanic and caucasion in Austin (and San Antonio and Houston) is very successful. I rarely hear of problems.

[blueoktober]

Is there a lot of "tagging" in Austin? One thing that I think is ruining Nashville is that there is graffiti everywhere. It seems like every single block has some sort of graffiti and they cannot seem to stop it.

[TanikaW]

From California I know what you mean about the gangs and thugs! I have not seen any of that here in Austin. (Keep in mind, I don't hang out in the shady neighborhoods either) But it is not something you see everywhere. I know in California you can be in a really nice neighborhood and find graffiti all over the place. Sad.

[jordansgirl]

I'm so glad to hear that gangs are not a problem. That's one of the major reasons we are considering getting out of the Bay Area. I'm terrified that my son, who's 1/2 hispanic, will become a victim of gang violence. I know he won't join a gang. I've raised him better than that. But just the other day he was eating at Jack in the Box with his friends, when a gang fight broke out in the resteraunt and 2 kids were shot!! He was in the wrong place at the wrong time. Thank God he got out of there safely!! My husband and I just want a nice, affordable place to raise our children without having to worry they'll get shot at the local fast food joint.

[Zapatista]

Gangs are there in Austin, just out of sight and out of mind for most people. For example the first hispanic district attorney Dan Morales was found to be very corrupt from drug money. When I was living there none of the gangs were at war with each other ie LA.

[another_hot-day]

The Texas Syndicate is probably the biggest and most violent gang here. But if you don't mingle in that kind of circle, you don't have toworry about it.

[sanmiguel]

Originally Posted by another_hot-day

The Texas Syndicate is probably the biggest and most violent gang here. But if you don't mingle in that kind of circle, you don't have toworry about it.

I beg to differ. The MS-13 or MaraSalvatrucha is the most violent gang and does have a significant presence on the eastside. They are primarily Central-Americans. The veterans are immigrants of countries such as El Salvador and Honduras where, as small boys, they had weapons thrust into their hands to fight the insurgency. Those job skills are now used to engage in criminal activities.

[another_hot-day]

True. Forgot about them.