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
