Young African American Family relocating (Phoenix: real estate, house, rent)

[GoddessofRandomThoughts]

Originally Posted by mzmaya

Have u looked into Tucson? I heard it's nice but maybe someone knows more can shed some light. Also, I'm not sure what age group you are interested in being around but Arizona is a place where a lot people retire to so you may come across a lot of retirees here. What made u pick Ajo?

I didn't actually pick Ajo, I just stumbled onto it.

They are starting a sort of artist colony like thing (look up Curley School in Ajo) and I am a storyteller.
Usually that doesn't get you much as an artist but they are being very flexible.

So I figured I'd check it out. It might be interesting and I like to go places.

Been in AK for 2 years and wouldn't mind coming back to lower 48 for awhile.

I haven't checked into Tucson but I met someone up here from there and she of course raves about it.

I would prefer a smaller place but I haven't seen it so I could be wrong
Only place I've been in Az is Pheonix and Scottsdale.
They are okay but everything is too close together.

I want something a little smaller and a little slower??
Thanks!

[michaelparera]

Very Happy New Year 2008

[twiggy]

Originally Posted by GoddessofRandomThoughts

I didn't actually pick Ajo, I just stumbled onto it.

They are starting a sort of artist colony like thing (look up Curley School in Ajo) and I am a storyteller.
Usually that doesn't get you much as an artist but they are being very flexible.

So I figured I'd check it out. It might be interesting and I like to go places.

Been in AK for 2 years and wouldn't mind coming back to lower 48 for awhile.

I haven't checked into Tucson but I met someone up here from there and she of course raves about it.

I would prefer a smaller place but I haven't seen it so I could be wrong
Only place I've been in Az is Pheonix and Scottsdale.
They are okay but everything is too close together.

I want something a little smaller and a little slower??
Thanks!

Some of the out lying towns then like Maricopa or Surprise. Small town feel but only 40 min. to the city if you get bored. Cheap but nice housing! If you don't mind scorpions. Also Queen Creek, a little closer and nice mountain views. Still nice and hot.

[sun queen]

Originally Posted by Drt2002

Does anyone know anything about Lake Havasu City, AZ? The only thing I do know is that there are basically no African Americans in that particular city. However, I hear the city is beautiful and is a popular vacation spot. I'm curious about the surrounding cities. I'd like someone's honest opinion about whether or not Lake Havasu City is a nice place for a young, professional African-American family. We also have a 3rd grader, so any information about schools would be great.

It is a nice area- beautiful surroundings and I personally don't know of any African Americans in that area, so I can't recommend it or not recommend it to live in. If u don't mind your kid being the only Black (not African American) at school and social events, and u don't mind being the only family, then u should not have a problem. U can always tavel outside the area to get some cultural interaction. California is close and if u don't mind traveling out of state there is always Atlanta. I guess it depends on what u r looking for and what u r willing to accept. I just don't know what would attract a young African American family to AZ.

[GoddessofRandomThoughts]

Originally Posted by twiggy

Some of the out lying towns then like Maricopa or Surprise. Small town feel but only 40 min. to the city if you get bored. Cheap but nice housing! If you don't mind scorpions. Also Queen Creek, a little closer and nice mountain views. Still nice and hot.

Thanks Twiggy

I'll have to check what the threads say about those places. Surprise sounds nice, of course that's just because the name appeals to me

I'll have to see what passes for cheap housing in AZ.
Never seen a scorpion that ought to be.....interesting?
"Course I'd never seen a moose close up til I came to Alaska
Just one thrill after another

[mzmaya]

Originally Posted by Artliquide

Yes, I think you're right that you'd have to be a tribal member to benefit. My boyfriend is 1/4 Cherokee, but has no association with the tribe, so he can't get any money for that (though he opposes using heritage for that kind of purpose.) Luckily, he works for a great company that is paying completely for his education. I wish we all could be so lucky.

Yeah, I guess if your boyfriend don't feel entitled to it, then he should not. However, if your tribe was mistreated and taken advantage of by the government, as with my grandmother family, and so many others, then, I guess you would be. Her family (and their heir)should benefit. It would be justified but that's my opinion. To each, his own, I guess!

[Tennesseestorm]

My gosh, what is the matter with those kids?! That is horrible for that little child! It makes me feel really bad. Sometimes kids can be so cruel and not even realize it. The parents are the ones where it starts from and they need to show the kids that everyone should be created equally.

I live in the southeast (NE Tennessee) and the overall African-American population is about 7-9% for northeast Tennessee, which is low compared to the rest of the state, but I really do not see nothing like that happening here, but sometimes it seems like placed with higher percentages have more agression, which is sad. Where my aunt lives in upstate South Carolina, its about 50% African-American and from what I have been told, everyone gets along perfectly. Hope all goes well with you and your family.

Originally Posted by annibelle

My daughter has been called the "n" word by another Kinder at school. Luckily, she didn't know what it meant. Other children exclude her.One girl said, "Don't play with her, she doesn't look like us".

[annibelle]

Originally Posted by INPHX

It seems Annibelle picks and choose what to be upset about. She is stereotyping Arizona like the people around here have done to her. I really feel sorry for her children, but I have to wonder if the were raised with the "your black attitude." I went to high school in Tucson, I would love to know what school district she is talking about. She refers to Raytheon in one of her post so leads me to believe she is on the Northwest side of town. I went to Mountain View and have girlfriends that grew up there from kinder and we are 35-36 . I never saw what she is talking about. I moved to Tempe and worked with a lot of blacks and they seemed to segregate themselves from the rest of us, until one day me and a girl name Danica became friends slowly and broke the down the barrier. She got to know a white person and I black on more deep friendship level. I think it's all about the person and never the place. I just find it hard to believe that her children experience continual racism in Tucson. Maybe once I can see it but not all the time. We moved to Tucson in 89, my little brother was in 8th grade, struggling with being in a new school, a neighborhood boy befriended him. That boy was really his only friend throughout, his name was Lamar and he was a black boy. Lamar was social had lots of friends and never once did I see him have issues. Like I said, it's usually the person not the place.

Can you explain to me what it means to have a "black attitude"? I think a lot of bloggers looking in to moving to Arizona would be very interested too. I'm very curious and look forward to hearing your explanation. What I find sad is that whenever someone shares their experience, which happens to be a bad one, once again, it's quickly disregarded by someone. Why is it so difficult for someone like you to just say, "Yes, some people have different experiences?" Why is it that just because my experiences are not like yours, my experiences have to be put down or excused? Still, I enjoy the remarks because people of color who may consider moving to AZ will read this board and all the comments and come to their own conclusions. I still wish that I has known the other few blacks who've been here for generations, what I know now. I understand that some native AZ's will be offended by what I say. Why not be offended by what I and others had to experience?

[breakingfree]

I'm shocked with what I'm reading. Some people are saying that Phoenix is diverse and welcoming, and others are saying it's racist towards Blacks---I don't know what to believe.

I'm Black and currently in DC, and am looking for a change of pace from DC. As many opportunities as there are here, it wears me out. I'm tired of dealing with men hanging out on street corners bothering me, the racial drama (vs. others and the same race), and the elitist "You are what job you have" mentality here. Doing my research, Phoenix seemed like the answer.

I don't want to come out to Phoenix just to deal with more of the same. I want to be accepted because of who I am as a person, not because of my race. Since there is such a divide in responses to race in Phoenix, I guess the only answer is taking a trip down there myself in the near future and coming to my own conclusion. To the OP, I'd advise you to do the same whenever you get the chance.

In response to the posters who want to be around a Black community, I agree with that (I especially want to make sure I can find a place that carries products for Natural Black hair care, for instance), but was never one who "needed" to be around other Blacks all the time. I welcome diversity. I'd get bored if everyone were like me.

[Artliquide]

Originally Posted by breakingfree

I'm shocked with what I'm reading. Some people are saying that Phoenix is diverse and welcoming, and others are saying it's racist towards Blacks---I don't know what to believe.

I'm Black and currently in DC, and am looking for a change of pace from DC. As many opportunities as there are here, it wears me out. I'm tired of dealing with men hanging out on street corners bothering me, the racial drama (vs. others and the same race), and the elitist "You are what job you have" mentality here. Doing my research, Phoenix seemed like the answer.

I don't want to come out to Phoenix just to deal with more of the same. I want to be accepted because of who I am as a person, not because of my race. Since there is such a divide in responses to race in Phoenix, I guess the only answer is taking a trip down there myself in the near future and coming to my own conclusion. To the OP, I'd advise you to do the same whenever you get the chance.

In response to the posters who want to be around a Black community, I agree with that (I especially want to make sure I can find a place that carries products for Natural Black hair care, for instance), but was never one who "needed" to be around other Blacks all the time. I welcome diversity. I'd get bored if everyone were like me.

Honestly, racism is everywhere, but I think that the point that some of us are making is that in general, AZ is not a racist state, or at least not that I've seen. It may have been at some point and there may be remnants of such ugly and ignorant attitudes, but I don't think you can go anywhere without finding some racist person. That's just how some people have been programmed and they're too lazy to open their minds a little. But, AZ is pretty diverse, even if the african american population is nowhere near what it is in DC. From my personal experience, I've known mostly people who value diversity and appreciate living among people of all backgrounds and heritages. Those few I've met who are bigots, I personally don't associate with. It's possible that there are areas that contain people with racist mentalities, but I've lived in many areas of the Phoenix area, and from my experience people get along and appreciate each other regardless of skin color. I'm not denying that some people have had negative experiences, but I don't see that as the norm.

As I've stated before, I lived in central phoenix for a while and there was a strong african american presence there, including cultural centers and events. As a white girl who's lucky to get a haircut once per year, I can't tell you where the salons are, but I would assume that there are some in Phoenix, since most of my neighbors when I lived there were african american.

Don't be scared to come here. Don't expect a paradise of tolerance and love toward one another completely void of intolerance, but nowhere is. Do expect there to be plenty of people who will befriend you for who you are without any regard for the color of your skin.