Some of the cheapest places to live in the country are in the south. Places like Atlanta, Georgia, Orlando, Florida, and Raleigh, North Carolina have some of the most inexpensive rents and growing job opportunities in the country. But there’s always a catch.
Many of us are leaving the high cost of living in cities for the south. But often we find anti-Blackness is much more explicit. Racial violence and political disenfranchisement there mirror a difficult history.
Jim Crow was incredibly hostile to us. Our rights were denied. Our people were policed, and many needed guides called “Green Books” just to know where to travel safely. We often run out of the safe spaces we built for ourselves.
Sadly there is not a one-size fits all region that will house and protect us inexpensively. Living in the U.S. just comes with that understanding of danger. From police violence to political pressures, every facet of America tests us. But there is also another truth.
We continue to survive in spite of the challenges. We are innovative, and together we can create affordable spaces that prioritize and care for us.