Going Back To Cali…and Going To Miss Black Culture

August 2nd, 2012 - By Marissa Ellis

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I’ve been talking about moving back to California for a while now. Although I’m excited about eventually returning to warmer weather, I stays ambivalent about my decision. Since I moved to Brooklyn five years ago, I immediately was enthralled by black culture and the fact that I can actually enjoy a social life that was filled with like-minded folks. Call me “closed-minded” but I relish around being amongst thinking Black peoples, my peoples; I thrive from seeing so many displays of Black love and Black celebration.

It was clear instantly to me why New York in general represented the birthplace to so many great artists and activists. Besides just boasting a large and generally diverse population, New York has a particularly high Black population. When I talk to native New Yorkers about this, they just shrug. To them, this is normal. For a  Cali girl like me, it is an anomaly.

Being from Oakland, people expect that I was all too familiar with a city invested in Black pride and culture but my experience has been very different. Oakland may be known for its Black Panther history, but growing up there, I witnessed a city which had very little options for its Black population and promoted very little pride in its dwindling African-American presence. If anything, it was a challenge being a Black girl in an area that seemed to take a fierce pride in multi-cultural pride (read: being part of an interracial couple or being “exotic” was very much favored).

In my post-college years, I got the chance to spend some time in Southern California. Although I loved Los Angeles for the weather and its landscape, it was another place that lacked in a way for me socially. In terms of going out and partying (hey, that’s what I did a lot of), it seemed that the only two options were to hit up a ghetto party or hit up a party full of Hollywood wanna-bees if I wanted to be around other Black folks.

In New York, it’s been a whole other world. I can easily go to swanky restaurants in Harlem or Brooklyn, and not be the only person of color there. In fact, I am often one of many other Black folks. This may seem trivial to a lot of folks but it’s important to feel like I’m part of a community, and New York does that for me. You may be wondering why, despite my love of the East Coast, would I choose to move back. Well, that reason will be explained in the next “Going Back To Cali” installment. For now, I’m just trying to soak it all in and appreciate all the wonderful outlets that this city provides a curious colored girl like myself.

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  • bayareanative

    I am a native Bay Area and Oakland California resident. I agree with the author’s point of view. I traveled to the east coast and love the thriving African American professional community. Even though Oakland California and the greater Bay Area community is diverse, the lack of American American culture and people is represented less and less. As an African American women living in Northern California dating options are rare and the social aspect is becoming
    obsolete. The positive aspect of living in California is the weather, job opportunities, and relax personal/professional lifestyle. The setbacks are a lack of dating options for black women, non- thriving Black professional community, and the cost of living. I plan on moving to the DMV in the next 2 to 5 years because I want to experince a thriving social and professional African American community.

  • JustSayin

    I am confused. I’m from the bay area and i live in Oakland and I have never found it a social life as an issue. A social life goes beyond going to the club every weekend. The bay area has the African American game nights at Kincaids, the chef competitions, black rodeo, Yoshi’s jazz nights, Tommy T’s, Art & Soul Festival (This weekend by the way), Wednesday poetry nights at the Air Lounge and TONS of other events that are held daily. Fruitvale and the Diamond district stay having events that celebrate the small businesses in those areas and they have small community children events for back to school. I have no idea what you are talking about. I’ve stayed in New York, Atlanta, LA and all the other major cities and people are always hoping for something to just be publicized on television or right in people’s faces. No; the Bay had never been the type to overly publicize an event and make it so all the major headliners can capitalize on it. Yes; we have bay area parties, lounges, clubs and NO they don’t always get shot up or shut down. You just have to find the right crowd to hang out with. I’ve never had an issue. Oakland- The Bay Area lacking in Social Life for African American’s? HA!

    • http://twitter.com/Normally_Weird driven

      thank you! i was like “what is she talking about?” Oakland is all about black culture. From oakland myself. and i’ve been to all those places too!

  • Jess

    Great post I’m an East Bay native also and after attending an HBCU moved to NY. I’m thinking about moving back to the West Coast but struggle with the lack of social life

  • IAJS

    I am from the Bay area and I have no problem finding black people who are proud, read about their history, art, and our culture in general. Perhaps, the author did not go to the right places. I, however, love the culture underneath the superficial stuff that people try to promote about the Bay Area.

  • http://twitter.com/Terin_Lynn Nola Darling

    I can definitely agree with this story. I’m from and still reside in Houston, TX but after several visits to the East coast, I fell in love with the cultural atmosphere. Growing up in Houston, my connection to Black people isnt anywhere near what I found on the East.. I’m trying my best to relocate out east asap!!!!

  • Fe

    I feel exactly the same about NYC, and I’m a Cali native. With hope, I’ll be making the opposite trip 3 years from now.

  • kat

    Im am from Dallas and the whole interracial thing and exotic look here is favored. I grew up very self consciousness about being a black girl. I went to college in Louisiana(HBCU) and I found myself. Since being back home I became depressed because of the environment. Im trying to relocate to the east coast (New York, D.C., Maryland) because I thrive seeing and being around black people. When I tell other black people that they act like something is wrong with that. Glad to see im not the only one!

    • ATF

      We are sort of opposites here. I am from Louisiana (went to LSU though) and moved to Dallas. I do love the diversity of DFW but I understand the need of seeing a lot ofthriving people who look like you especially with me living in the north part of the metroplex. I have a desire to move to the East Coast too but mine is just to see a different culture/atmosphere because I am so use to the South.

  • maggie

    Totally understand the article. My theory is the farther west an African was dropped off the boat, the more brainwashed the person. I am totally from the East with Caribbean parents. In AZ, a black woman is invisible. People here act like you said an expletive using the word black or African-American. The self hate is disgusting. You get attention here if you are other esp white or if one parent is suspected not to be black.

    • Angel

      Were black people dropped off on the west coast.I always thought they were dropped off in the east and the south…serious question

      • Cocoa

        Nope, youre right: most Blacks ended up on the West Coast during the Great Migration during the first half of the 20th century, and not during slavery, but I still see Maggie’s point.

  • http://www.facebook.com/boneyy50 Rhonda Thomas

    I understand. After almost 2 years of living in New York (I migrated from San Diego, CA) and experiencing cultural events and not being the ONLY person of color attending events, I have decided to return to California. I look forward to your next reading.

  • alize31_99@hotmail.com

    I was thinking about moving to Cali from NY, even though I never been. I want something different. But I’m not sure which part. Any suggestions?

    • Fe

      It really depends on what you’re looking for… I suggest you make a trip out.

  • Candacey Doris

    Agreed. I’m in FL an i miss being in NY. Even if i didn’t miss being around a lot of black eople, i hate the fact that i can go for days and only hear english, with a side of spanglish. No culture down here unless you really go hunting or head to Miami.

  • SuZQ

    In Cali (the Bay) now and yeh the favored ‘exotic’ couple and the difficult to access black scene. Moving back east soon.

  • RJA

    This article hit home for me. I too and from Cali (LA) and moved to New York (Buffalo) and am planning on moving back to Cali. The difference between Buffalo and Brooklyn is that Buffalo is the way u describe Oakland. I like to do different things and go different places but often find myself the only black person there. That’s what has me missing home. I’m looking forward to ur next installment

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