The Savannah College of Art and Design

It is situated right next to the hood reminiscent of Coconut Grove in Miami. Savannah from my observation is a city of either well off or poor people. Generally those better off people are white and the poorer people are black. I was astounded when I still saw black people working menial jobs like host, janitor, retail and other lower level jobs. I noticed white people had better jobs. If a white person worked a menial job it would be in a good place away from the ghetto. With such disparities between the races one can only imagine what living in Savannah must be like.

I was staying at a friends house when I visited Savannah and he told me his car was robbed at gunpoint by a group of African American men. I only mention their race because poverty can sometimes make people desperate. My friend also told me that he was assaulted on another occasion in addition to the car robbery. He was living in these nice apartments off on Liberty Street next to a laundromat in downtown. My friend was in the military and despite his training and experience was not able fight these men off.

My friend also complained of racial tension because he is Puerto Rican. He mentioned how he felt like he was stuck in the middle because white people would hassle him for not being white and blacks would do the same to him. Later he moved out of Savannah. My friend told me that Savannah is good for a while and then it gets boring. I also noticed that Savannah is expensive in my opinion. This is considering that jobs are not well paid unless you are rich.

During my time there I found that food options are limited. The quality of food was not the best in my opinion. I went to a Piggly Wiggly and was disappointed with their food choices and quality. I was hard pressed to find any organic food. I found an all natural store that didn't have much to pick from and it was overpriced. I mainly saw American and Southern food. When I saw 'foreign' food it was just Americanized versions of Asian and other foods around the globe. Things might have changed in the 3 years since I was last there.

When I was applying to SCAD I totally forgot about my trip there because I was more excited about my degree, but reality set it on me because I know that I am not just going to school, but living in Savannah as well. I still think Savannah is beautiful city with cool artwork, but you do have to be careful being there. I was alone part of the time I was there and did not feel comfortable walking alone because I got tired of men approaching me thinking that I was available to be with them when all I wanted was to go out for a fuckin walk. I just wanted to chill and have the opportunity to take everything in.

Something about Savannah I noticed is that if you stay within the campus areas you get a sheltered view of Savannah because once you step out, it is a different city all together. Once I stepped out of the manicured lawns, posh housed and tree lined streets with classy people I saw the real Savannah. This part of Savannah was actually a decent part of town with working class people. I saw greasy rednecks and ghetto people with nails longer than a stick, hair dos from the 80s and early 90s, wearing cheap clothes, makeup and jewelry, faded out and sometimes dirty clothing and bad looking bling and b.o. What made these people ghetto was their attitude and not their clothing. The majority of people I saw taking public transportation were minorities. Unfair, huh?

I also forgot to say that the church and the past are important here.
Driving in Savannah is relatively easy once you are out of the cobblestone street downtown. The city is spread out and there aren't that many people. It is country out there so you'll see lots of trees and scenery. Well and that is my observation of Savannah, Georgia.