This is a great post that I found on ybpguide.com.

While most writers within the Black blogosphere write from metro prospective on life, I rarely get to read about many of us who are doing quite well outside of the metro loop (by “metro” I mean cities like Atlanta, Baltimore, D.C., Washington, New York, etc.) unless it spoken within the context of racism. Here is what one gentleman had to say regarding life in Iowa:

“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 (read more…)

I will come back to this post in the near future.