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The Midway

Another List, or: Maybe Dallas Just Needs a Better Nickname

Tue May 20, 2008 at 08:58:50 AM
See, this is how you do it. Because, really, what are you going to do with "Big D"? That nickname, that was just lazy.

For its July issue Black Enterprise surveyed some 4,000 of its readers to determine their favorite city in the U.S. and A. And after falling off the list, where it sat at No. 8 seven long years ago, Dallas returns with a vengeance, more or less, coming in this time around all the way up at No. 3 -- behind only Hotlanta and Chocolate City. Only, it's not all good news for the hometown:

Dallas placed third among the top 10 cities in median household income for black families, future job growth and black high school graduation rate. Survey respondents had mixed reactions about this Sun Belt city. They were pleased with Dallas’ cost of living and the quality of medical care.

On the other hand, respondents expressed dissatisfaction with the availability of African American enterprises, even though Dallas has a relatively high number of black residents per black business. They were also pessimistic about their employment outlook. Dallas’ black unemployment rate, though somewhat high at 9.5%, is less than the national average.
The only other Texas city on the list is, um Rocket City (?) -- down to the fifth spot, after being No. 1 in '01. The mag promises more about the Top 10, for better or for worse, when the actual issue hits newsstands in coming days. --Robert Wilonsky

4 Comments:

For the record says:

"...dissatisfaction with the availability of African American enterprises, even though Dallas has a relatively high number of black residents per black business."

For $100 each they can get an introduction to a meet-n-greet with Willis Johnson, after which they'll be able to kick back - errr, hire a consultant recommended by Willis - and get all the hotel construction business they can use.

Our nickname is the problem, years ago Dallas was dubbed the "City of Hate". Don't believe me, ask Homer Henderson.

Wylie H. says:

The best thing about the Willis Johnson program is, you don't actually have to have any relevant experience, nor do you need to actually perform the work yourself. Everything can be sub-contracted to non-minority contractors-- just be sure to do the following:

1) kickback a portion of your "skim" to causes favored by the local political establishment;

2) be ready, willing and able to step in with words of support and/or financial contributions anytime the political establishment is pushing a cause;

3) sub-contract out the work to certain preferred non-minority contracting firms.

Not a bad gig for being able to pocket roughly 5% of the total contract award.

Zelda Rose says:

What's this Chocolate City nonsense? Everyone knows New Orleans is the Chocolate City-C. Ray said so!

(When your mayor is bonkers, your city is so fail...)

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