Top 10 cities for African Americans 2007: our readers and editors select the best places in which to live, work, and play

Black Enterprise, May, 2007 by Carolyn M. Brown, David A. Padgett

A huge plus for the city is its access to technology. Downtown Columbus is Wi-Fi enabled as are area parks, recreational centers, and schools. Good news for the Redics, parents of 14-year-old Bryan and 13-year-old Thomas.--Carolyn M. Brown

8

Indianapolis

Michael Grady

HOOSIERS GET TO ADD A SUPER BOWL CHAMPIONSHIP team to the roster of qualities that makes Indianapolis so great. The historic game pitted two black coaches against each other and ended with Tony Dungy leading the Indianapolis Colts to victory.

Michael Grady says Indy is a place where anyone can score a business or personal touchdown--especially young professionals. The 24-year-old college student has lived in the bustling Midwestern city since the age of 3 and believes Indianapolis offers unlimited opportunities. "I think it's up to individuals our age to stay in Indy to keep it going," says Grady, a year away from getting a degree in communications, African American studies, and sociology from Indiana University-Purdue University in Indianapolis.

Grady notes that the establishment of networking groups for young professionals and an active nightlife have helped the city retain its dynamism. The city's cost of living index is slightly below average, and survey respondents give high marks for quality of life, especially medical care, ease of commute, and affordable housing. With a median home value of $136,500, Grady can afford to move forward with his plan to buy a home next year.

Grady's long-range goal is to teach African American studies at the college level, perhaps at his future alma mater. "There is a renewed focus on diversity on campus," he says. "I want to stay in the community and give back" The city has an educated black population, with 17.5% black college graduates, slightly above the national average.--Stephanie Young

7

Charlotte, NC

Kim Michele Ratliff

THE ONLY TIME KIM MICHELE RATLIFF, 38, EVER LEFT Charlotte was to attend North Carolina Central University-just two hours away.

What has kept the native Southerner's allegiance to the "Queen City" is the area's phenomenal development. "Charlotte has been transformed," says Ratliff, a line translations specialist at BellSouth, now AT&T, who earns $80,000 to $90,000 annually. "The culture is so different now, and there are so many more things to do." Ratliff owns a home about 12 minutes from downtown Charlotte, where malls, condo developments, office buildings, restaurants, and a string of night spots help make it the quintessential one-stop shop.

The city continues to reign as one of the most hospitable places for African Americans to live. Today, blacks comprise 23% of the area's population. While the median income for black households is $30,781, some 47% of black residents are homeowners in a market where the median home value is $150,900. A number of four-year colleges and universities, including the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and Johnson C. Smith University, help convert students into future residents.

Charlotte is also the headquarters for two corporations that have appeared on BE's 40 Best Companies for Diversity: Bank of America and Wachovia, two of the largest bank holding companies in the nation. In 2009, Charlotte's skyline will welcome the NASCAR Hall of Fame. A trolley system rolls through Center City, giving locals greater access to a number of attractions including the area's two professional sports teams--the NFL's Carolina Panthers and the NBA's Charlotte Bobcats, the franchise owned by African American entrepreneur Robert L. Johnson.