[Tim24591]

I have a friend who lives in a quiet neighborhood where there is some rental property. About a month ago, the place next store was rented by a black family. Immediately, cars started double-parking in front of the house, honking their horns until he would come out. This happens all hours. My friend put up with it for a week, and finally went over to politely speak with him about the situation. The man listened to what he had to say about it being a quiet neighborhood and all, and having to get up and work early in the morning. When he was finished, the neighbor swore at him, insulted my friend’s mother and threatened him with bodily harm. It was bad enough that my friend filed a police report, but they would do nothing without witnesses. Things have gotten worse – beer cans on the hood of his car in the morning and in the yard and such. This activity does not bode well for my friend, who owns his home. What happened to the old adage, ‘When in Rome, do as the Romans do.’? It would seem to me, if I moved into a neighborhood, I sure wouldn’t wan’t to start off by trashing it, threatening people and insulting people’s mothers. Is sensitivity training available for blacks as well? We have a new upscale neighborhood here where clotheslines, fences and yardbarns are not permitted, and the people who move there abide by these rules. This keeps the neighboorhood and property values up. Is it any wonder why my friend is worried about his property value plummeting?

User Detail :  

Name : Tim24591, Gender : M, Race : White/Caucasian, Age : 45, City : Cincinnati, State : OH, Country : United States, Occupation : firefighter, Education level : High School Diploma, Social class : Middle class, 

[Jacqueline-C21007]

I wonder why the fact that the neighbors are black has anything to do with your question. Does your friend have a problem with the actions of the neighbors, or is the problem that they are black? Do you assume that this one black family is representative of all black families in this country? Is your account of the problems between your friend and his neighbor accurate, or are the exagerated because he does not like having black people live nextdoor and is looking for a legitimate reason not to like them? If the situation is as you say, this does not sound like a racial issue. The neighbors sound like jerks – and jerks come in all colors.

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Name : Jacqueline-C21007, Gender : F, Race : White/Caucasian, Age : 26, City : San Jose, State : CA, Country : United States, Occupation : Engineer, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, Social class : Middle class, 

[Steve27620]

The key to your question, to me, was the words ‘rental property’ not ‘black family.’ People who rent may consider themselves transient in the neighborhood and are not building equity in the home. Why should they care about the neighborhood. Most renters are better than what you describe but some aren’t. I don’t think it is race, I believe it is the structure of the economics. I lived in a quiet neighborhood of starter homes in Houston in the mid 1980’s when the boom when bust. Over half the houses on my street got foreclosed on and then the banks rented them out. The neighborhood definitely became more diverse and did go down hill. However the worst offender was a white guy who moved in next door and promptly dismantled his Harley motorcycle in the living room. Also your description of your friend finally going over to ‘speak politely’ with his new neighbors sounds like it had say…zero chance of success! Why not get to know your new neighbors first, have a beer, shoot the bull over the back fence so to speak before you start bitching at them. Finally, the actual accountable party for home meeting neighborhood codes and deed restrictions is the property owner, not the renter. Appeal to and hold them liable for the conduct of the renters after all they have the only real leverage via eviction.

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Name : Steve27620, Gender : M, Race : White/Caucasian, Age : 43, City : Houston, State : TX, Country : United States, Occupation : Engineer, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, Social class : Upper middle class, 

[Crystal]

Your friend’s problem neighbor lacks manners and consideration. This has nothing to do with the fact that he is black. I live in a very racially mixed apartment complex, and all my neighbors, of every race, are wonderful, and I consider myself lucky to be surrounded by good people. My next-door neighbor is black and she is one of the classiest and most considerate neighbors I’ve ever had. Your friend should seek help from a local mediation service or lawyer, and the sooner the better. Inconsiderate neighbors can be dealt with. And don’t forget – great neighbors come in all colors!

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Name : Crystal, Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Pagan, Age : 30's, City : Oakland, State : CA, Country : United States, Occupation : Office Manager, Education level : 2 Years of College, Social class : Middle class, 

[Kelley]

I understand your frustration, but I don’t think it’s a matter of race. I can think of at least two families in my neighborhood who behaved in a similarly offensive manner, and they were white. Rude people come in all colors. It doesn’t excuse the behavior; I’m just saying race isn’t an issue here.

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Name : Kelley, Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Agnostic, Age : 18, City : Syracuse, State : NY, Country : United States, Occupation : Student, Education level : 2 Years of College, Social class : Middle class, 

[Tish24627]

I’m confused about why him being black is so emphasized in your question. Are you attributing his race to his rude behavior? He’s an individual; he isn’t any more representative of his race than your friend is of whites. And just because he acts unneighborly doesn’t give anyone the right to generalize that all blacks are unneighborly and cause plummeting property values. No group should be subjected to ‘sensitivity training,’ because no group is wholly insensitive. It’s the individuals that make up the group that should be examined. Your friend’s neighbor is a jerk, yes, but that has nothing to do with his genetic heritage or skin tone.

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Name : Tish24627, Gender : F, Race : Black/African American, City : Newark, State : NJ, Country : United States, Occupation : Full-time Ph.D student, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, 

[DanaBoy]

This issue has nothing to do with race and everything to do with being neighborly. All your friend has to do is call the police and things will be nipped in the bud. And by the way, it also has nothing to do with lowering property values.

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Name : DanaBoy, Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : Gay, Race : Black/African American, Religion : Catholic, Age : 33, City : Cincinnati, State : OH, Country : United States, 

[Fiona F.]

First, I don’t see how this is a black/white thing. If a white family moved in and was causing the same ‘trouble’ for your friend, your friend would be just as angry. Or would he be? Would he be more tolerant if it were a white family who did the same thing? If he would be more tolerant, then your friend is racist and needs to deal with that first. If he would be just as angry whether the person is black or white, then what does this have to do with race? When your friend walks over to the other person’s house, how did he approach the subject? Did he walk over with the attitude, ‘Damn those loud black folks. They don’t belong in this white neighborhood’? You’d be surprised at how hidden, gut feelings can manifest themselves in a person’s speech. If you want to generalize, I can make the statement that white people think they make the rules and everyone should just follow. They think clotheslines and vegetable gardens in the back yard are ‘low class.’ Rather than calling it upscale, I would call it uptight.

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Name : Fiona F., Gender : F, Race : Asian, Age : 26, City : New York, State : NY, Country : United States, Education level : 4 Years of College, Social class : Middle class, 

[Joe29367]

Let me tell you from my own experience: Once blacks start moving into a middle-class neighborhood, more of them just keep coming, and it ends up turning into a slum. Then there is a massive ‘white flight,’ and the value of houses goes way down. I suggest your friend sells now, before it is too late.

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Name : Joe29367, Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Catholic, Age : 43, City : Allentown, State : PA, Country : United States, Occupation : Mechanical Engineer, Education level : 4 Years of College, Social class : Middle class, 

[ACC24031]

The only way property values get lowered like that is when people like you believe such hysterical nonsense. Then it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. Also, in case you hadn’t noticed (or chose not to), MOST major cities have middle class and even wealthy neighborhoods that are made up mostly or entirely of blacks, Latinos, Asians, etc.

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Name : ACC24031, City : W Lafayette, State : IN, Country : United States, 

[Steve27621]

The key to your question, to me, was the words ‘rental property,’ not ‘black family.’ People who rent may consider themselves transient in the neighborhood and are not building equity in the home. Why should they care about the neighborhood? Most renters are better than what you describe, but some aren’t. I don’t think it is race, I believe it is the structure of the economics. I lived in a quiet neighborhood of starter homes in Houston in the mid-1980s, when the boom went bust. More than half the houses on my street got foreclosed on and then the banks rented them out. The neighborhood definitely became more diverse and did go down hill. However, the worst offender was a white guy who moved in next door and promptly dismantled his Harley motorcycle in the living room. Also, your description of your friend finally going over to ‘speak politely’ with his new neighbors sounds like it had, say … zero chance of success! Why not get to know your new neighbors first, have a beer, shoot the bull over the back fence, so to speak, before you start bitching at them. Finally, the actual accountable party for home meeting neighborhood codes and deed restrictions is the property owner, not the renter. Appeal to and hold them liable for the conduct of the renters; after all, they have the only real leverage via eviction.

User Detail :  

Name : Steve27621, Gender : M, Race : White/Caucasian, Age : 43, City : Houston, State : TX, Country : United States, Occupation : Engineer, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, Social class : Upper middle class, 

[Cheryl-J-E]

Why not call the owner of the rental property? This makes more sense, as the owner of the property has the most immediate losses. If his renter is so thoughtless regarding his neighbors, he certainly will not be taking care of the house. The issue here does not seem to be one of race but of values and character.

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Name : Cheryl-J-E, Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Humanist, Age : 38, City : Atlanta, State : GA, Country : United States, Occupation : Registered Nurse, Education level : 2 Years of College, Social class : Middle class, 

[Jon29364]

There are people from every race and society who would, according to your standards, need sensitivity training. Because one black person is messy and rude to his neighbors does not mean all blacks are rude and mean. Just because there is white trash does not mean I assume as a black person that all white people are trash.

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Name : Jon29364, Gender : M, Race : Black/African American, City : Windsor, Ontario, State : NA, Country : Canada, 

[annonymous]

I would suggest that if the neighbor attends the class, then you, too, might benefit from such instruction as well. While I empathize with your friend’s dilemma, I’d argue that it isn’t about race. Call the guy (neighbor) an idiot because he is. Race is irrelevant here. His behavior is a reflection of him as an individual, irrespective of his color. Honestly, if he were in an all-black neighborhood, do you think he’d behave any differently? I have new neighbors, too. I live in a middle-class neighborhoof in a predominantly white area. My new neighbors blare their music(everything from Eldrige to Puffy Daddy), smoke weed that permeates our halls and talk so loudly that when you’re entering your own unit, you can hear the conversation with the clarity of Sprint. I’d say they’re pretty rude because they simply have disregard for others, period. Their behavior is not predicated on the fact that they are white. There are plenty of folks who desire to live in stable, quiet, clean neighborhoods. This reflects values, not race. If property values do drop, it will be because of property owners who fail to maintain the aesthetics of the neighborhood, not because a black family moved in. Sorry, but morons come in all varieties.

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Name : annonymous, Gender : F, Race : Black/African American, Age : 34, City : Detroit, State : MI, Country : United States, 

[Joe P.]

It is unfortunate that your friend has to put up with the activities you described. I would not like it, no matter who the new neighbors were. And speaking of neighbors, I don’t think the fact that the people are black has anything to do with their actions. As you may well be aware, all blacks aren’t loud, swear at people, honk horns throughout the day or night, etc. I think you get my drift. I am black and moved into an almost all-white neighborhood. I have found in the 10 years that I’ve been there that my neighbors are loud and I am the quiet one. I don’t think just because they are white that they are naturally obnoxious, because some are and some aren’t. So the issue here with your friend should really be that an obnoxious slob has moved in, not that the slob is black. Tell your friend to get together with other neighbors and approach the situation as concerned residents. Contact the rental agency, the Realtor or the owner. I’m sure one or more of these approaches will work for your friend and his other neighbors.

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Name : Joe P., Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : Black/African American, Religion : Baptist, City : Tallahassee, State : FL, Country : United States, Occupation : Government Consultant, Education level : 4 Years of College, 

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