Western metro with most impact/vibrant African American culture? (outside LA/SF) (live, populations)

[MostInterestingPoster3]

Here is a list of metro areas in the Western US with more than 100k African Americans aside from LA and SF
Black African American Demographics Population

1) Phoenix: 207,734
2) Las Vegas: 204,379
3) Seattle: 191,967
4) Sacramento: 158,426
5) San Diego: 158,213
6) Denver: 143,128

Which area has the most vibrant African American culture?
Most culturally notable?
Most integrated?
Most noticeable?
Most black neighborhoods?

[munchitup]

I've read that the Sacramento Metro is one of the most diverse in the nation... Don't know it well personally but I would venture a guess that it belongs at the top of this list.

[BajanYankee]

I was gonna say Phoenix. I met a black girl from Las Vegas once.

[ckhthankgod]

I'd say Denver due to having a close knit and pretty influential Black community. Five Points is like or was the Harlem of the Rockies. Five Points

Seattle is similar in that regard.

[west336]

I would think Vegas, since it has the only remarkable African American percentage population of the bunch.

[Psykomonkee]

WOW... This is actually a really good, hard question...

I went with Seattle for a few reasons.

But 1st, I've been to all but Sac town, and have lived in PHX and Diego.
Here's my view:

Phoenix: May have the highest numbers, but is also the city with the highest population, so that number can be a lower percentage than other cities. In PHX, you sure don't feel a major influence from the black community. They are around, but feels very suttle. Probably MOST integrated in PHX, but that also in some ways makes the community seem to fly under the radar.

Vegas: I realize there are black people in Vegas, and it took some investigating to find out where they're hiding, but I found em!!! Visit Cadillac Ranch on Thursday nights and start there! But just like PHX, they're around, but doesn't feel like there's any influence...

Seattle: I chose Seattle pretty much because of Tacoma, and that Seattle has a living Hip Hop scene. Has for years. I'm also willing to bet that the 191K in Seattle amounts to a higher percentage of Seattle's population than the 207K in PHX. And Tacoma seems to have a pretty large & vibrant black community. Not 100%, just my observation. Just FEELS like a lot more black people around in Seattle. AND they have their own style sort of... I would say, Seattle/Tacoma area has the most culturally noteable black community. I would also say it probably has the most black neighborhoods.

Sacramento: I know NOTHING about Sacramento...

San Diego: Oh San Diego, San Diego, San Diego... Imperial Ave... Euclid. Universtiy. El Cajon Blvd. 32nd Street. Paradise Valley... *sigh* LOTS of black neighborhoods... Only thing is, none of them seem like their doing well... I witness a lot of people trying to perpetuate the gang life and be like LA.

Denver: Maybe it's just me, but I have a hard time finding a notable black neighborhood. When I think "notable" black neighborhoods, I don't think the ghetto. I just haven't seen it in Denver yet, but maybe I haven't spent enough time there or know where to go. Everyone black I've ever known that's lived in Denver all say that "black people are like an endangered species" there, so I just don't know. Going off of their word.

I don't know which city are black people most noticeable in,

[MostInterestingPoster3]

NOTE: All the above population numbers aren't for city limits but for the metropolitan area

Black African American Demographics Population
1) Phoenix: 207,734 (5% Black)
2) Las Vegas: 204,379 (10% Black)
3) Seattle: 191,967 (6% Black)
4) Sacramento: 158,426 (7% Black)
5) San Diego: 158,213 (5% Black)
6) Denver: 143,128 (6% Black)

African Americans have generally not migrated in as large of a number to the West as they did to the North and Midwest, so I thought this question would not only be interesting, but probably a hard one to answer given the fluid nature of most populations in the West outside of LA/SF.

It's pretty clear that LA and the Bay Area are by far #1 and #2, but these next few cities are harder to group together.

[goat314]

All of them are pretty miniscule in terms of impacts on Afro-American culture. You say outside of Los Angeles and Bay Area, but those are the only areas in the west I can think of in terms of Afro-Americans. Maybe Seattle? Quincy Jones and Jimi Hendrix.

[MostInterestingPoster3]

Originally Posted by goat314

All of them are pretty miniscule in terms of impacts on Afro-American culture. You say outside of Los Angeles and Bay Area, but those are the only areas in the west I can think of in terms of Afro-Americans. Maybe Seattle? Quincy Jones and Jimi Hendrix.

I think that's pretty much a given...but that's not what the thread is asking. It's about African American culture within the cities themselves.

[PosterExtraordinaire]

lol outside Vegas blacks have always been invisible to me in those cities. Why not DC, Atlanta, Miami, Philly, NYC?