It’s not so bad after all

Are you one of few young black professionals in your area? Are you having a difficult time dealing with the lack of diversity? Do you spend too much time fantasizing about the day you’ll move to a more cosmopolitan area?

Why not focus on the pros of this season in your life?

I emailed some folks who live or have recently lived in areas with small young black professional populations about the benefits of living in such an area. Please feel free to add your own. Here is what the people I interviewed said:

“The best thing about being a black professional in Iowa is the quality of life. People in Iowa view the state as a nice place to raise families, so family life is valued here. Employers recognize that people have families and, to some extent, encourage a balanced life more than the average employer in big cities. In general, life in Iowa comes without many of the hassles of big cities. There is little traffic, the crime rate is low, and people are generally friendly. Also, the few big-city-type amenities, though certainly fewer in number, are affordable and easier to access. … (The) lack of diversity also tends to bring the few black professional community members closer to each other. Black professionals do not take each other for granted in Iowa. People greet each other on the street, and it is, in a way, easier to introduce yourself to other black professionals when you see them. In fact, it is almost expected in Iowa.”
- Law Professor, 34, Iowa City, Iowa

“You probably get more opportunities to diversify your portfolio outside of your profession because other companies in the area want to tap into your skills on how they can become more diverse, i.e. hire Black folk. You become a de facto consultant, so to speak. In my case, contacts call me often asking very candidly if I know of any talented Black professionals. And these are finance corporations to software companies calling me. The networking scene is on the upside as there are gatherings including the revamped “First Fridays,” and one near-downtown bar has become quite the after-work spot on Friday nights.”
- writer, 36, Minneapolis, Minnesota

“You’re not bound by the title ‘young black professional’ and all the expectations that come with it like you would be in a more diverse city.”
- teacher, 22, Phoenix, Arizona

“I think the best thing about being a black professional here is that you are forced to go outside of your comfort zone and find new and interesting ways to entertain yourself. So I go to plays, eat Dominican food and take daytrips to landmarks in New Hampshire. Instead of being caught up in only what a cohesive black community has to offer, I go to events and functions I probably wouldn’t have discovered or felt the need to find otherwise. Essentially, being in a place with people who don’t look like me has helped me take advantage of all that Rhode Island has to offer.”
- journalist, 23, Providence, Rhode Island

“There are plenty of older, established black people that are very well connected in local and state politics. Many are also doctors and lawyers with their own practices. The best part, I suppose, is that it is easy to network with the older crowd because they rarely come in contact with young professionals here. If you are a young professional that wants to settle down here and are seeking employment in a specialized field, networking with the older crowd can be a huge commodity.”
- territory manager for a leading international food company, 25, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

“In my opinion, the best thing about being a well-educated, black professional in a place like Denver, or Colorado for that matter, is that you get to “set the bar.” As a business reporter covering industries with few blacks in leadership roles locally and nationally, my face isn’t expected when I show up on interviews. It’s generally assumed that I’m not well versed in subject matter and I continually get asked how long I’ve been at my current job and where I went to college. I can’t stress enough the importance of a solid education and being “on point” when it comes being knowledgeable about your line of work. It’s always good to “set the bar,” as long as you’re fully aware of that you’re setting an example which can leave a lasting impression.”
- 31, reporter and adjunct professor, Denver, Colorado

“In Tampa, I was immersed in an entirely different culture with new people, new ideas and new preferences. I came to love skateboarding, wakeboarding, Cuban food, and a host of other things that were foreign to me. More importantly, I came to love different kinds of PEOPLE. It went beyond mere cultural activities, but I learned to really appreciate the people in those various cultures. I genuinely have FRIENDS of diverse backgrounds, rather than just diverse co-workers or professional acquaintances. That type of genuine connection was only possible after I began to address my anxieties about being “the other.” Being in Tampa allowed me to confront the stereotypes and fears I had internalized from childhood. The biggest challenge for me was being around older white people. I had been socialized to believe white people (especially older white people) did not want me in their spheres of interaction - whether that be professional or social. That misconception hindered me from trusting those who would later become friends, mentors and greatministry partners. Over the years, I’d internalized a belief that white people were the antagonists. Being in an environment where I was forced to CONSISTENTLY engage white people really helped me see beyond the stereotypes and fear.
Then lastly, once I faced my inward biases and reached out beyond my comfort zone I really learned how to effectively navigate various environments. That has been an incredible benefit for me professionally and relationally.”
- church relations associate for a Christian non-profit organization, 25, Tampa, Florida

“The best thing about being a black professional in a place where there are not a lot of black professionals is probably the ability to get minority preference contractswhere there are affirmative action policies in place. Black people here are amazingly entrepreneurial, enterprising, and competitive.”
- graphics and web designer, 34, Albuquerque, New Mexico

“It is nice, in a sense, to be one of the only black males in my newsroomm, because I believe I can be a pace setter or, possibly, a trailblazzer for others. By being a successful individual, I’m sort of holding the torch for others. Blacks are typically looked at as a group, and not on an individual basis. So through my work, perhaps that will change any negative perception my peers might have about blacks. And I think that reaches beyond the newsroom and into the community.”
- journalist, 28, Lexington, Kentucky