I live on an all-black block. This carries with it some social issues that are sometimes funny, but usually depressing.
Neighbor’s Sibling: So… that’s your house?
Me: Yup!
Neighbor’s Sibling: And y’all aren’t… y’know…
Neighbor: oh no, don’t
Neighbor’s Sibling: Afraid of living here?
Neighbor: OH MY GOD
Neighbor: Matt, I’m so sorry, don’t listen to them
Neighbor’s Sibling: I’m just sayin! It used to be that white people wouldn’t ever even come here.
Neighbor: YO. You go right on back to your white-ass neighborhood.
Neighbor’s Sibling: It is NOT MY FAULT that I wanted to live in a different kind of area!
Neighbor: What the hell is that supposed to mean?!
Neighbor’s Sibling: I wanted it to be quieter!
Neighbor: It’s plenty quiet here!
Me: It actually is really quiet here.
Neighbor: Matt, I’m so sorry, they bein extra
Me, sweating a LOT: Listen, being one of two white homeowners on an otherwise all-black block is something I think about a lot. I’m not afraid of living here. This is a wonderful little spot. Lots of kids, everybody knows each other and shares things- the guy two doors down borrows my grill all the time. Everyone here is great. The one thing I do worry about is that my presence here might increase all of you guys’ property values and force you to move out. A month ago I got a letter from the City stating that my house has already gone up in value- I’ve only been here for a year, so that’s pretty troubling.
Neighbor: …So… you’re mad… that your house is worth more now than when you bought it?
Me: Well… yeah. A lot of these families have been here for decades. The family I bought the house from had been there since, like, the 50s or 60s.
Neighbor: What do you think we’re gonna do if y’all wind up pushing us out?
Me: …hate me?
Neighbor: We gonna rent em out and make that moneyyyyy!
Me: Heh, yeah.
Me, internally: I hope it’s that simple.