What city will replace Atlanta as the new black mecca? (Dunwoody: hotel, buying)

[tonygeorgia]

Originally Posted by Big Aristotle

Not I stated, Atlanta is the southern Black Mecca. THE BLACK MECCA has always been and will always be WASHINGTON, DC....period.

LOL

DC is too expensive to be a black mecca

[tonygeorgia]

Originally Posted by MikeandIke27

And with all that Atlanta is still attracting the higher number of African americans.( Even with the traffic etc ) Yes blacks Live all over this country but Atlanta is still number 2 behind NYC for having the most blacks. From Upper middle class to Low income blacks..

Thats because NYC is the largest city in America. If you look at it in %'s, NYC is far behind

[Big Aristotle]

Originally Posted by AlGreen

Not exactly sure what location has to do with anything. I mean, numbers speak for themselves. Atlanta is the black mecca of the south because it's Atlanta, not because of it being centered.

At the end of the day, blacks from the other regions have their eye on the south and Atlanta, Dallas, and Houston are the top choices. The Texas cities do not wish to compete for the black mecca title, but that doesn't mean there's any lack of southern or black culture to be found here.

You're reinforcing my point, Atlanta is in the HEART of the "cultural" south, easy drive from SC, NC, TN, AL, FL, etc. Note, it was stated as the "cultural" south, Texas is not the "cultural" south and has a strong southwestern US influence, even in Houston. Never said Dallas or Houston lacked black culture.

Part of ATL's magnetism for "black" southerners is it's location. Many black southerners are moving from rural areas to more populated urban areas in the south (highly educated and not highly educated).

[DTL3000]

Originally Posted by Bizurko

However much i love the idea of D.C. being the "black mecca of the north" it is technically in the south. I hated that fact and still want it to be in the north. Something about when the capital of the country was being created it was stated that the capital be situated in the south. I learned that off of another thread, i don't know where to cite the information from but if anyone can please add so I do not look like a troll. It is not my intent to provide misinformation or to incite rage among people.

DC is right smack dab in the middle between north and south. I thought that was the point of carving out DC from Maryland. From what I vaguely remember from history class, the national Capital migrated south from NYC, to Philly, to finally DC.

I haven't been up in DC too much, but it certainly feels more like a northeastern city than a southern city.

[Bizurko]

It does, i agree I think its more off a northern city as well its just that theres some document somewhere saying its in the south I'll try to find it. Sorry for starting this though.

[Akhenaton06]

Originally Posted by tonygeorgia

LOL

DC is too expensive to be a black mecca

All Black folks aren't poor you know.

Plus if you knew anything about the history and culture of DC, there's no way you could make that statement. Lik I said, both Atlanta and DC have legitimate claims to that title, but it's really becoming irrelevant as time goes on.

[AlGreen]

Originally Posted by Big Aristotle

You're reinforcing my point, Atlanta is in the HEART of the "cultural" south, easy drive from SC, NC, TN, AL, FL, etc. Note, it was stated as the "cultural" south, Texas is not the "cultural" south and has a strong southwestern US influence, even in Houston. Never said Dallas or Houston lacked black culture.

Part of ATL's magnetism for "black" southerners is it's location. Many black southerners are moving from rural areas to more populated urban areas in the south (highly educated and not highly educated).

And you're reinforcing my question. What does Atlanta's location have to do with it drawing blacks from all over the country? Atlanta's history and large black population is what makes it a target. Atlanta has the most pull in the southeast, while Houston and Dallas pull from the rest of Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, and parts of Mississippi. Houston has closer ties to New Orleans and the rest of the Gulf South, as well as areas of the Mississippi River Valley. No one can deny that Atlanta is the more "important" city to the majority of the south, but that has nothing to do with it being a black mecca to the rest of the nation.

And yes, actually Houston is a part of the cultural south. In fact, in many ways it's more akin to the rest of the south than it is to other areas in its own state. That "strong southwestern US" influence you speak of I'm assuming is in reference to the large Hispanic population, whose recent growth is largely due to illegal immigration. Dallas is also southern, but most would agree that it's to a much lesser extent than Houston.

Both of the Texas cities are moreso low-key black meccas. There's really no interest out here to be the ultimate anything for blacks, and there really isn't much interest for media attention either. Houston and Dallas are more focused on being "everybody meccas".

[Big Aristotle]

Originally Posted by AlGreen

And you're reinforcing my question. What does Atlanta's location have to do with it drawing blacks from all over the country? Atlanta's history and large black population is what makes it a target. Atlanta has the most pull in the southeast, while Houston and Dallas pull from the rest of Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, and parts of Mississippi. Houston has closer ties to New Orleans and the rest of the Gulf South, as well as areas of the Mississippi River Valley. No one can deny that Atlanta is the more "important" city to the majority of the south, but that has nothing to do with it being a black mecca to the rest of the nation.

And yes, actually Houston is a part of the cultural south. In fact, in many ways it's more akin to the rest of the south than it is to other areas in its own state. That "strong southwestern US" influence you speak of I'm assuming is in reference to the large Hispanic population, whose recent growth is largely due to illegal immigration. Dallas is also southern, but most would agree that it's to a much lesser extent than Houston.

Both of the Texas cities are moreso low-key black meccas. There's really no interest out here to be the ultimate anything for blacks, and there really isn't much interest for media attention either. Houston and Dallas are more focused on being "everybody meccas".

Do you take time to read and intrepret what is typed. I NEVER said Houston is not part of the cultural south (it is), but TEXAS is not the cultural south. It is a huge state with a vast amount of southwestern history amongst other things. The first black cowboy I ever saw was in "sunnyside" Houston, you'll be hard pressed to find a black cowboy strolling down a near burb in Atlanta. Sure blacks in NC, SC, GA, etc ride horses, but this was a black cowboy.

Atlanta is southern to-the-bone, Houston and Dallas are not. My point is that Atlanta is surrounded by the "cultural" south. The reason it became the southern black mecca is first and foremost due to attracting tons of black southerners (Alabama, SC, Miss, etc). Whether for a job, education or both. It's a short drive home!

Once the political machine and business community formed a pro-black atmosphere, the black northerners (and other parts of the US) began to flock to the area.

Houston and Dallas are on par with ATL in my opinion, but geographically were never in a position to become the southern black mecca. There hasn't been or ever will need be for them to market themselves as such - that I totally understand, but don't minimize the geographic significance of Atlanta's location for becoming the southern black mecca.

[arjay57]

Originally Posted by AnsleyPark

Serious question. Not being facetious. What in the world is a "black mecca"? Or any other kinda "Mecca" for that matter when referring to a city? Is it one of those beauty-is-in-the-eye-of-the-beholder things or does this term really have a true meanng? Ive seen it on CD enough to really want to understand.

That's a great point. I've never really understood what people mean by this either.

[AlGreen]

Originally Posted by Big Aristotle

Do you take time to read and intrepret what is typed. I NEVER said Houston is not part of the cultural south (it is), but TEXAS is not the cultural south. It is a huge state with a vast amount of southwestern history amongst other things. The first black cowboy I ever saw was in "sunnyside" Houston, you'll be hard pressed to find a black cowboy strolling down a near burb in Atlanta. Sure blacks in NC, SC, GA, etc ride horses, but this was a black cowboy.

Atlanta is southern to-the-bone, Houston and Dallas are not. My point is that Atlanta is surrounded by the "cultural" south. The reason it became the southern black mecca is first and foremost due to attracting tons of black southerners (Alabama, SC, Miss, etc). Whether for a job, education or both. It's a short drive home!

Once the political machine and business community formed a pro-black atmosphere, the black northerners (and other parts of the US) began to flock to the area.

Houston and Dallas are on par with ATL in my opinion, but geographically were never in a position to become the southern black mecca. There hasn't been or ever will need be for them to market themselves as such - that I totally understand, but don't minimize the geographic significance of Atlanta's location for becoming the southern black mecca.

You've stated your points well and it makes a lot of sense, but we'll simply have to agree to disagree for right now.