Racism Rears Its Head in Alpharetta, Georgia

Racist Graffiti on Woman's House in Alpharetta, Georgia

My family and I relocated from New York City to the quaint town of Alpharetta, located in the prestigious North Fulton county in the summer of 1999. The population, while predominantly Caucasian, interspersed with African Americans, Asians, Hispanics and others, has always been diverse. I have never been made to feel that the color of my skin was, in some way, a deterrent to living the American dream, in the Deep South. My children have many white friends and we co-exist in the city in peace. I would not give up my life in Alpharetta for anything. I quite frequently brag about my city to anyone who will listen. The quality of life is second to none and the schools are excellent, unemployment and crime rates low. Alpharetta and Milton County, which was the original county seat, can trace their history to the time of the resettlement of the Cherokee Indian Nation in the 1830's. First, drawn by the promise of free Indian lands, a few somewhat itinerant setters moved into the area. These first pioneers were soon followed by permanent farmers and merchants who were the fortunate winners of the land lotteries of the early 1830's. Today, it is home to many of Atlanta's affluent and powerful, with its many country clubs and golf courses. Naturally, I was surprised to see on the local news that an African American woman residing in Alpharetta was the victim of racist graffiti painted on her home twice in one week.