[AULYSA060698]

Now granted, I don't live in North Alabama, but these things happen everywhere. When I moved here from Georgia, we moved to a small town called Valley, connected to an even smaller community called Beulah. I went to private school in Georgia and had grown up in Downtown Atlanta. I'm not a racist or prejudice person. I was appalled by the behavior of some of these people. God forbid a white girl so much as be friends with a black guy. It was a hard adjustment and I had never met a group of gossip mongers quite like this. So when I turned eighteen I relocated to Auburn. I adore Auburn. The people are friendly, it's culturally diverse, and the education system is outstanding. My best friend has two mixed children and is from a low income family, but her kids aren't suffering from the same kind of stereotypes I did when I was in school.

[chj]

I have always lived in south alabama and I have heard several times that north alabama is alot different from the southern part of the state and I was wondering if someone could give me some examples of this? I was thinking about moving up that way and was wondering how it was.

[HsvMike]

The Huntsville / North Alabama area is not like any other in Alabama. There are so many transplants here, it is hard to find someone born and raised here. I know there are, but there is a good amount from all over the country. So you definitely have a northern feel to it, and not always the best traits.

I am from the Chicago area and the racial climate is much worse up there, than it is down here. People do generally coexist much better down here. There is a higher level of respect (hopefully genuine) among everyone, IMO.

And "damn yankees" (in case you don't know, a northerner that comes to visit and doesn't leave) are usually pretty opinionated and can push their way of living on southerners as a whole. I know when I first moved down here, I was very impatient as in driving and waiting at a store. I was used to going at the speed of a big city, always moving at a very fast pace. But I learned (sometimes still trying) to just take a couple of steps slower and fit in. Not only are people from here having to adjust, but us reloacting in should do our best to try to put our best foot forward as well.

To the OP, I think you just moved onto the wrong street. There are a lot more accepting people around here.

But all in all, I think the people here are very inviting to everyone coming in, of course there are always exceptions.

[Threestep]

Originally Posted by heathanoah

Just to let you guys know, I live in Southside, one block from Highland park, but nobody welcomed me to the neighborhood. I was attacked by my neighbor who wanted drug money I assume, and my girlfriend was beaten on the front porch of our home, so it's not like we were slobbering on each other at the Galleria. I love the assumptions everyone has made about me, just because I am a strong, gay, liberal woman. I MUST be a negative, horrible person. My only crime is being true to myself and trying too hard to make friends. Shame on you guys for getting SO riled up over my personal opinions and my attempts to help others who are going through what I am. This is a place for us to share and learn, not to be rude to each other. If I want to vent along with others who hate Alabama, let us be! Get on a thread about how freakin' great it is here and leave those who are having a harder time alone! By the way I'll make sure to "get a room" the next time I want to kiss the person I love goodbye.

Chill - OK you were attacked and you assume for drug money. You moved into that neighborhood. It happens. Get over it. Even in broad daylight it has no appeal to me.

If your neighbors did not welcome you - did you make the move to introduce yourself? What have you done to be part of your neighborhood?

I offered to help you with your job search. My clients ask and wait and pay.

For some of us it is (can we skip the cussing please) great here! The roads are open, there may be greener pastures, complaining has never changed anything, at least to the best of my knowledge. Get off you pitty party band wagon and do something instead of whining.

I could share lots of "people hate me for what I am" stories. Life goes on, get with it or you will be stuck.

[Threestep]

Originally Posted by southgeorgian

milk is white

Would you care to elaborate? Thank you.

[HsvMike]

If I am not mistaken I think southgeorgian was referring to VMH's comment about black people being African American, and white people as just being "white."

[VMH2507]

Originally Posted by HsvMike

If I am not mistaken I think southgeorgian was referring to VMH's comment about black people being African American, and white people as just being "white."

I guess I should have said "black and white" but I was trying to be politically correct. The point was that my circle of friends includes black as well as white friends. Or maybe I should have said African American and Caucasian but that seems a little stilted to me.

[denverian]

Originally Posted by heathanoah

I admit I do have a negative attitude towards Birmingham now. You would too if you had been through what I have here. My girlfriend and I have both been assaulted-me by my drug addicted (and now imprisoned thank god) neighbor, and her by a complete stranger for kissing me in public. We have tried to make friends through work, school and church with not one "true" friend coming out of it. I just think it's funny that I have lived in many other places and find it very easy to get along, so it can't be all me. There is a lot of bad energy in Alabama as far as I am concerned, but that is my opinion. Oh, and I have also been degraded in a published forum by a state elected official, who made fun of my sexual idenity and my race. I know that no place is even close to perfect, but I think people need to know what they are getting into when they move to Alabama-the stereotypes are alive and well and very palpable for people like me.

The sad thing is, when you're gay, you have to carefully pick where you live. As a mixed-race gay couple with two sons, we have to be. We live in a wonderful, accepting neighborhood where we're treated as equals and don't have to worry about our kids being attacked for having two dads.

[rnc76]

Originally Posted by VMH2507

I guess I should have said "black and white" but I was trying to be politically correct. The point was that my circle of friends includes black as well as white friends. Or maybe I should have said African American and Caucasian but that seems a little stilted to me.

The funny thing is I don't know if I have ever heard a black person use the term "African American" other than in the media.

Back to topic. I am only vaguely familiar with Alabama outside of Madison County, but I have found Huntsville to be very welcoming of newcomers. When we did a visit before moving here we were telling people that we were considering moving down and everyone from waitresses, to the lady at Harrison Hardware, to people at the hotel... were telling us "Oh, come on down, I think you'll love it here!" We are not church going conservatives either. We are fairly liberal, once-in-a-blue-moon (aka Easter and Christmas ) Catholics, borderning on non-religious. We have made great friends here, some are more like minded to us, others are more conservative. We have a relatively diverse group of friends, but I do miss the college days when you would be out with a large group and there were 4 or 5 countries represented and every race. Our neighbors are wonderful and were extremely welcoming. I'm sorry to hear heathanoah had such a bad experience. Best of luck if you decide to move somewhere else.

[Keeper]

Everyone is entitled to their opinions and while we may not always agree, it is OK for ppl not to like living in a certain city/town.
I hope the members here are just trying to offer advice or their thoughts as to what the problem might be.

You may want to make a new thread about what is great about a certain city/area.