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Join the conversation as CNN takes another hard look at the myths, the facts, the stereotypes and the realities of being black in America.
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Noe Valley is an affluent neighborhood in San Francisco. Tucked between the famously gay Castro and the gritty Mission District, Noe Valley is an oasis of new-monied families without suburban aspirations. Weekend sidewalks are clogged with dogs and double-wide baby strollers. The coffee houses are jam-packed, with Starbucks receiving much less business than the locally-owned cafes.
I met several entrepreneurial types while on my walk today. Local singer/songwriter Laurie Henry was busking for tips in front of the farmer's market.
"This is the first time I've done this," she admitted. "But I have $3.00 already!" The sign next to her tip basket reads "Will perform for vegetables."
A hundred feet up the sidewalk, Ferrara, a veteran street performer, played holiday tunes on a wooden recorder. His tip jar was loaded with bills. "This is a great time of year. People really like the music." He gave me a copy of his CD, free of charge, as I walked off."
Richard told me he'd been homeless for a long time. A San Francisco native, he bragged that he had the "homeless business" down to a science. He said that the younger families that have been moving into Noe Valley were "basically a lot of spoiled brats. They have no idea how bad things are going to get," he said, referring to the economy. "I'll be able to give them classes on being homeless when it bottoms out." His donation can seemed to be loaded with crisp dollar bills.
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