??? I do not get it anymore

[daredevil_63]

Don`t worry u will get used to it

[Twostep]

Originally Posted by daredevil_63

Don`t worry u will get used to it

Have absolutely no intentions to do so.

[DaddyJ]

I've worked and lived among all kinds of people and among the highest and lowest classes... it is definitely an interesting study.

[Twostep]

Originally Posted by DaddyJ

I've worked and lived among all kinds of people and among the highest and lowest classes... it is definitely an interesting study.

It is a big zoo out there, ain't it?

[DaddyJ]

Yep. Humans never cease to amaze me. I much prefer hanging out with the little animals.

[jones6881]

I live in Warrior Alabama, The middle of Alabama. We have bi-racial couples living here now. I would not worry about it. There are racial issues in any town you will think about moving too. If anyone tells you otherwise, they are lying to you. The racial issues exist here as well. Everyone just needs to find a common ground to work with instead of all these hate crimes. Good luck in your future endeavors. D.J.

[zenjenn]

People get most of their information from television and the news, and there is really not that much information about the South aired or printed outside the region. If it's in the news it's because there is a Klan meeting or some freakish thing. If a disaster occurs in the south the news will find the most stereotypical people they can find for their "interviews" because they want "local flavor" for interest. And TV shows - have you ever noticed that almost all fictional TV shows take place in California or New York? The last fictional show I can think of that took place in the South was "Designing Women" which (I think) took place in Atlanta and aired in the 80's. It's relevant because contemporary fiction shapes a lot of what people perceive about current culture. After that, the only information people have about the South is what they learned in school, mostly slavery and Civil War era politics.

I'm saying this because I, too, had a lot of the same questions about Alabama when I first considered moving here. I'd like to think I have an open mind, I just had no other information to go on. It didn't take me long to admit that these questions came from stereotypes and ignorance.

[NicoleC]

Everywhere has its stereotypes and people who believe them.

I wouldn't say fiction has helped the image of California! The world seems to think CA is a cross between The OC and Baywatch, and that everyone there is rich, liberal, homosexual, godless and has a boob job. And surfs.

There's only one was to cure ignorance, and it starts with asking questions. The fact that people are interested in asking questions about the stereotypes is good: they are asking for information instead of assuming they already know.

[Bravo35223]

Originally Posted by NicoleC

Everywhere has its stereotypes and people who believe them.

I wouldn't say fiction has helped the image of California! The world seems to think CA is a cross between The OC and Baywatch, and that everyone there is rich, liberal, homosexual, godless and has a boob job. And surfs.

There's only one was to cure ignorance, and it starts with asking questions. The fact that people are interested in asking questions about the stereotypes is good: they are asking for information instead of assuming they already know.

I agree Zenn and NicoleC....I have traveled a lot to California and can easily see why millions want to live there...the weather, the mountains, the ocean and so much sophistication.

On the other hand, I have had people (who have never lived in Cal) ask the same questions about the stereotypes that Nicole mentioned.

As Zenn said, the media LEADS the WAY in stereotyping everything, and certainly scriptwriters for both television and movies do their dead level best to reinforce images of the past - decades ago....

I will tell you a little vignette here: I am getting ready to change careers. I am going to be an executive recruiter - a headhunter....

My new boss has a very successful firm here in Birmingham. Three years ago, UAB needed a new Human Resources Director. He was ordered to get an Afro-American Woman. Period. And she needed to have superb qualifications from a highly respected university or UAB would not consider her.

My boss called the director of HR at a very prestigious university in the NE US. One of America's pre-eminent universities. Their HR Director fit the bill: an Afro-American female...he got her on the phone and was very blunt and direct. Told her where he was (Birmingham, Alabama) and what he wanted: her to consider taking this job.

She said, "Let me get this straight, I am a black woman, and you want me to come to the land of firehoses and attack dogs and live there? Are you SERIOUS? Are you CRAZY?

He said, "yes I want you to come here and I am serious but perfectly sane. Please just come down and see it, and give us your opinion.

This woman is now the Director of HR at UAB. Loves it.

I've heard this story over and over and over until I am sick of it. "Oh you live in Birmingham" (thinking....poor thing, I am surprised he has on shoes...well I guess they do have McDonalds there, but that's about it for food).

Then they come here, and you cannot pry 90% of them out with a crowbar. NOPE, don't wanna leave, WON'T leave.

I read a story about people who worked at Parisian HQ - people who had come here from all over the country to work at a premier retailer....buyers, merchandisers.

Settled in and lived here for years and then - Belk buys out Parisian. They are offered jobs in Charlotte. Yes, shining NOrth Carolina, the beacon of the South....and they WON"T leave Birmingham. An entire article in the birmingham News about how they have found completely new careers (one couple bought a dry cleaners) so they wouldn't have to leave.....

I've heard these stories literally hundreds and hundreds of times...."I thought it was going to be ugly physically, filled with racism and nobody would wear shoes.....and now there's now way I am leaving".

And a side note: some of Birmingham's mega churches are bi-racial....huge congregations of people of all races worshipping side by side....so if you are a bi-racial couple and are moving here (and are a church goer) I can quickly recommend places to go where you will fit in like a hand in glove...

[HipLib]

Originally Posted by Twostep

Somewhere along the line I lost the connection. This is 2007, isn't it?

It was not easy to move to the US not the mention The South but I still do not get all these questions - hate crimes, is it safe to vacation in Gulf Shores, I am black, my wife is black ...

Folks - in 25 years I encountered racial issues once and that in WA. I was not welcome to a black church on Christmas. Yes, it hurt but it takes two to tango.

Did you mean to say that "I am black and my wife is white"? Or vice versa?