Black-White Interracial Couple relocating
 

Hi,
I read through the other thread about the asian-white interracial couple relocating, and I am interested to see where else we might fit in. We fit right in here in San Diego, but a 2 bdrm/bath house is about $600k. The cost of living is stifling the middle income folks out here. It's terrible though - we love it here. I am having a hard time with the thought of leaving since it is near perfect for us. We prefer warm weather areas, but do not want to exclude cold ones. Can anyone make any suggestions for areas where we wouldn't stick out so much or at least where people don't stare. We really like the racial mix here. Some areas I am considering
Portland-OR
Sacramento-CA
Austin-TX
San Antonio
Colorado Sp/Denver/Fort Collins
Las Vegas
Atlanta

Seattle-too expensive/rainy;
Tampa-little nervous-maybe I can be swayed Phoenix-too damn hot/too much crime

I'm not qualified to comment on the racial aspect of your question. My only comment is that if Phoenix has too much heat and crime, Las Vegas will, also. Unless you are coming for the glitter, you would have the same objections as you have to Phoenix.

I like living on the desert about 100 miles north of Las Vegas but it is certainly hot for many months of the year.

An area I have never lived in but that several of my friends like a lot is Alburquerque/Santa Fe/Taos.

I may be wrong, but generally (I emphasize GENERALLY) I think the farther west you go, the more easy it would be to fit in.

That's a generalization that I don't think holds up very well -- too many variables.

Another factor is to look beyond the basic numbers: some cities look like they have a nice mix when you look at the overall numbers, but when you break them down some are still more segregated than others.

Best of luck and where ever you choose, try not to compare your new city to marvelous San Diego.

Of all your picks, I'd suggest Sacramento. I've been to Portland..it's very WHITE and the surrounds are frightening.

Brockton MA is very interracial and you wouldn't get a second look - actually the same could be said of Boston too. That said, I also have spent time in Colorado Springs which is a very nice place to live. Either way - you have to contend with winter and it's not an easy winter in either place. Good luck in your search!

As Dorgal points out, there are several neighborhoods and suburbs of Boston that are diverse; Brockton is one of the more affordable in general. For a more upscale town, but still a bargain compared to SD, try Milton, which borders the southern edge of Boston itself and has a minority population of about 25% as well as excellent access to transportation (public and highways) and brand-new schools. The Asian/white couple thta my daughtre babysits for have never encountered problems (or "stares") and neither have their kids.

Many of the upscale suburbs here have significant populations of Asians who have come to the area for college and stayed; my impression is that most of them marry caucasians.

The nearby city of Quincy (MA) has a significant and growing Asian population (at least 25%), but as repete warned, it's not a situation where a mixed couple would fit in: it's overflow, and folks moving up, from Chinatown.

LOL, after I posted I paid more attention to your title, rather than your comment about reading the asian-white thread. So I'll supplement my comments about Milton: It's 20% black, mostly middle-class or upper, and the interracial couple next door to me, and their kids, don't seem to have had any problems.

Portsmouth,NH
Portland,ME
Northampton,MA
Burlington,VT
Boston/Metro and suburbs
Providence,R.I.
It's hardly inexpensive to live in New England, BUT the tolerance here for intolerance is pretty low. The more university or coastal the town, the generally also the more sophisticated and liveable. You wouldn't get a first (or second) glance, for example, in Portsmouth...

I am a so called 'white' person who is married to a person from Asia, with children. I find it quite staggering that you are even having to ask this question.

I'm originally from the UK and have lived in many countries throughout the world, (although not the US) and this issue has never cropped up.

We've lived in Germany for the last 7 years and I, nor my wife have never heard a comment nor ever been stared at by anyone.

We always hear of how the US is so multi-racial and the great freedoms people enjoy there but this thread appears to dispel these notions.

Geordie

If you've eliminated Seattle b/c of weather, you should eliminate Portland for the same reason. Also, Las Vegas and San Antonio are very hot.

I wonder about east v. west. I just read a story about a woman in an interracial relationshihp. She related how she never got a second glance in LA, but in Manhattan she always felt disapproving glances and often heard rude remarks.

I wouldn't relocate anywhere without checking out the area first.

Geordie,
I am in an interracial marriage. We have lived in Europe and the US (East coast and Midwest).

My experience is that the US is much more uptight about the interracial thing than they like to admit.

It is a topic of discussion in the US, whereas in Europe no one cared at all.

Atlanta would be a great choice for you.

I live in So Cal and my best friends are an interracial couple with a baby. Don't really notice any problems, but I understand getting priced out of this area.

Have you thought about college towns? Other than California, living in Columbia, MO was the most tolerant place I've ever lived. I'm sure there are even better, prettier, more lively choices. Just an idea.

Bunchargum??????????? Travdis???????

Queenie

It would appear that your right, I even think the way the OP asks the questions i.e they won't stick out or be stared at, is being far too polite.

What the OP should ask is where can I live where racism is least likely to occur and I can get on with my life in peace.

Geordie

I live in a suburb of Portland and know several interracial families. It is not a big deal here, and I have never even thought about it until reading this post. However, if you have nixed Seattle due to grey and rain then you should know that Portland is similar.

My husband and I (hispanic and white) have never had any issues in California. We both have pretty mixed families and no one has had any problems around here.

On the east coast I'd recommend the washington DC area and probably Columbia MD and Reston VA. These areas are always racially friendly.

I'm just not certain that you would want to leave San Diego if you have great jobs, a good racial environment, and a home. Homes here in the DC area are also quite pricey and I'm not certain you'd find things really better - perhaps similar but not necessarily better.

Sometimes the grass looks greener on the other side of the fence and it really isn't.

Anyone who felt uncomfortable as an interracial couple in Manhattan is IMHO imagining things. This is one of the most diverse cities in the county. And in most places interracial, intercultural and same sex couples are quite common and perfectly well accepted. (I would say there are several such couples among my friends - but it sounds so odd - why are we even discucssing this?)

(There are unfortuntely some areas in the outer boroughs that still seem to live in the stone age - they hate not interracial couples but everyone who isn;t exactly them - but there are some ignorant bigots everywhere - and there would be no reason to even visit those areas.)

However, most of NYC is going to be out of your price range - unless you head for the far suburbs - where you would also be accepted.