To: tejek who wrote (100677 ) 9/3/2011 3:14:43 PM From: zeta1961 Read Replies (1) | Respond to Maybe its very difficult for people to overcome their racial prejudices It sure is Ted but I will throw this idea in the ring purely because of how I made my decisions regarding where to live since I graduated college a life-time ago.... SAFETY.....You'll see in my post to John that I lived in Boston for a long time. I also grew up in NYC, the Bronx, more accurately, during the 70s when, well, we all know what happened there at that time.... Boston was my first move as a young adult and safety was my first priority based on what I experienced and or witnessed while growing up...You're talking about drug dealers murdering people and leaving toddlers behind, bathing in their parents blood(true story). Then second was which area offered the life-style that I was attracted to....but safety reigned supreme for me..... It meant that Southie and Dorchester where the white, poor, racist AND most violent people were and Roxbury(and edges of Dorchester) where the poor, black and most violent population were were non-starters.....I was more than happy to take care of them in the PICU or ER and based on my background I totally "got them." And eventually advocated for these same children but I wanted to live in a neighborhood where violent crimes were a rare instead of weekly and sometimes daily occurence. I had been there and done that... My 4 other siblings did the same thing. Same when I moved to SF...settled in a tiny attic apartment in upper Pacific Heights.... I had friends in Boston(who'd grown up in suburbs) that had no trouble going into the gentrifying neighborhoods at this time..they couldn't understand why I was paying a much larger chunk of my salary to live were I lived. So for me, it wasn't racial or class or any of that...it was where can I enjoy a good quality of life? In DC, where there's a substantial highly educated and financially successful black population and many they keep to themselves....Don't mingle with any white or poor black folk... I'd have to say that among all the variables, class reigns highest/very close to the top? that separates us.....but I don't have studies to support this...just travel and professional experiences.... Of the many that I love about the PEDI Icu, one aspect is that it was a racial and class "equalizing zone." For me this is a fascinating phenomenon to discuss and I thank you and John for initiating it..... Edited for clarity.
