Young African American Family relocating (gated, living in, moving to)

[cowboy45]

Originally Posted by annibelle

I remember the post, but did not want to deny his experience happened the way he saw it from his perspective. Maybe he felt scared, outnumbered. But, unlike some on the board I'm not going to blame him for the negative experience or tell him to get over it. I know, from being on this board, how that feels. People got downright snippity at the precious state AZ being describe by anyone as being not so welcoming to blacks. But why? How would they know? Each person has different experiences. Can they explain why, if it's so welcoming to all that more blacks don't come and stay here? No. All I did was say why I think they don't. It was a big shock coming from Cali. I repeat so much in order to answer comments like, "if your looking for a black neighborhood then you won't find that here in AZ." How nasty. All I was looking for was what most being look for. A nice community where living in a small town does not mean you have to be small minded. Being raised in an all black community, I'll admit that whenever some but not all white people came to our block, they'd get some suspicious and nasty stares. I know that if I went back to where I grew up with my white husband, he'd have a heck of a time feeling comfortable.

I understand what you are saying. Its funny buy many white people want to deny black people their perspectives and experiences .

[annibelle]

I guess I can't assume that people understood what I said. How could I lump an entire race together when several times I made the point of saying that my husband is white, my church is white and the community I came from is white? Even my church here in Arizona is white and, I'm the only black one here. If they weren't kind, I wouldn't go to the church. So, how could folks on the board think that I view one group of people negatively? Did you just take it personally? If you've never been racist then how could you think that my comments apply to you. I'd really like to understand. It matters to me. How should I word it then? If person makes comments on the board about their negative experiences with teachers, I wouldn't assume they were referring to me unless I was mean teacher. If a person makes comments about bad cops, I wouldn't assume that they were referring to me unless I was a bad cop.

[nikapoo]

Originally Posted by annibelle

I'm African-American. I've been living in Southern Ariz. for about 1.5 years. I wish someone would have told me 1.5 years ago not to move here. There are few African-Americans here for a very good reason. Arizona is the most prejudiced state in on the west coast. It is the souths equivalent of Mississippi. The school system is lacking. I never thought I'd see a school system worse than Cali, but it is. I have to drive my children to a different school system. It's okay but not great. 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". Raytheon hires many African-Americans with good salaries and packages. Most do their time(about 3 years) then leave. They can't take the small mindedness and cultural isolation. I struggle, but I'm a fighter. I just don't believe in letting anyone or anyplace get the best of me. Still, I wish I had never come. Many other African-Americans I talk to feel the same way. They all plan to leave in a certain amount of years. I'm sure this blog will get people (who have not walked in my shoes) to say it's the opposite. The people who are from here don't realize the problem because they are used to it. You only know it's a big (and bitter) difference if you come from out of the state. Just remember this: there is no black nucleus, no black owned stores, no cultural places to eat food we enjoy, no black hair salons, nothing. I live in a huge, comfortable home. My husband makes a nice salary. Still, that will never replace the feelings of being culturally and socially isolated. Just don't do it. You will thank me!

I too am an Arizona native, and this post is one simply out of frustration. First, there are plenty of blacks here. And yes, at one time there was a large black area, South Phoenix. That was once the place where many middle to upper class black families lived. But when large populations of Hispanics started to move here, they moved into those areas, changing the cultral dynamic and pushed a lot of the blacks out. So, when a lot of new neighbor hoods started sprouting, we started moving where our money could take us...and that made us spread out. However, there are still many black churches...large ones where we congregate. Several black hair salons and barber shops in each city, Mosques, Veterans Posts, nightclubs, Greek organizations, The Black Theatre Troupe, as well Mocha Moms and several other black clubs. I'm sorry this poster hasn't found success with Arizona, because this is a great place to raise a well-rounded family. If black Arizona can be accused of something, it is that we don't advertise our events well enough. But other than that, this is a cool place. I'm so sorry that when we as black people work hard for nice things, and move into nicer areas, we get attacked by our own race for just trying to be equal.

[amatrine]

My opinion, from my own experiences is that every race faces racisim. When I was a kid, and we first moved to South Phoenix, the school I went to was predomintly black, and I used to get my but kicked all the time, just because I was white, at the same time, I still made friends in my neighborhood, and I never saw color. Back when I was getting my butt kicked , I didnt understand why. I was terrified to goto school. .. Unfortunaley, if you have a predom white school, I can see where the black kid gets the same treatment, and its a hard thing. I wish I had the answer where people would just accept people as what we are. My duaghters school is mixed racialy, and she dosn't even see color. She has freinds that are white, black, chinese, and spanish . When you ask her what a freind of hers looks like, she dosnt say black, or white, she will say they have black hair and brown eyes etc. We are moving to an area next month that is very diverse. The only thing I do worry about now though, is that the realtor told me her daughter who went to the school there, who was white, was beaten up on the bus and at school by the larger majority of spanish in that school. My daughter would be like I was, why are they
doing this to me? She wouldnt understand, and I wish that no kid ever had to understand. It comes down to what another poster said. It is what we teach our kids.
If a kid grows up hearing thier parents bash another race, they will too. If they dont grow up hearing it, they wont do it. Racism is the same as terrorism. There is just no sense in it. They both use fear.

[HonestMom]

I live in Kingman, so I can't say with any certainty what it's like in LHC. I do know that there are very few black people in Kingman, with good reason. It is very racist, scarily so. I am white, and I am not comfortable living here- just the fact that I treat people as people and am not racist is enough to get me beat up by someone with a Nazi or Aryan tattoo. Since I have never seen a black person in LHC on my numerous visits there, I can only assume it is as bad or worse there.

Seriously, you don't want to bring your child here. Go to Phoenix instead, if you're set on Arizona.

[James Brown]

interesting...

[dsrtdwlr]

Cordes Lake/Junction is a "bedroom community" off I-17....lots of nice homes for sale on 1/2 acre lots under $200K. Drive to the PHX valley or Prescott Valley for work.

[edgessister]

Originally Posted by TheSchultz33

This REALLY pisses me off! If a had a penny for everytime I was called a honky or cracker! I moved from AZ to Mississippi and too many of the blacks want to live "separating" themselves rather than being part of a larger picture of a diverse community. I wish someone had told me to never move to Mississippi - the reverse discrimination is abominable! The blacks have “their” places and God forbid if you go there as a white person! Heck – there is a Wal –Mart here that apparently BELONGS to the blacks and the black cashiers will close out their drawer or turn their back and leave for break when it’s your turn in line. Then they giggle about it with the manager! Just one of many experiences that has taught me what racism is – I did not learn it from the black friends I had growing up in AZ. SO RUDE! I could say “unprofessional” but the words would be lost on people who practice such trivial behavior. Racism does not apply specifically to black people!
You all could learn a lesson of two from our Mexican population! I went to high school and college in AZ and most of my friends were of different races than my self - didn't matter one bit! If someone asked me what race a friend of mine was – I’d really have to think about it – it’s transparent. I’d probably asked them to clarify the question! In my experience, blacks from the south seem to want to draw lines between cultures. However on a positive note - the black behavior I have experienced has given me a new APPRECIATION for AZ Hispanic population with their real struggles and how well they assimilate in to their communities. I'm sure if someone said "hang em high" it would mean something totally different to you - than it does to us in Arizona. You would be ready to scream and sue whoever said it.. Get over it or please leave.

Racism is everywhere. Unfortunately, it's the ignorance of others that make it still prevalent today.

[JennieJenofAz]

Honestmom in Kingman............Huh? I don't get the stuff about the Nazi's and the Aryan's? Whatever! But, no, I don't see a huge black community here in Mohave County, but, slowly, it is growing! I noticed in the Laughlin paper, a black student was honored as the homecoming queen at Laughlin High. When my neice went there, her favorite teacher was black. She said he was like a father to her. When I worked at the casinos, my friends were black. I miss those days we used to hang out and dance all night at Tarzans! Okay, seriously, though, there isn't much of a black culture here, but that doesn't mean it'll always be that way. I see it changing for the better out here in Mohave County. Just give it time. But, I didn't see anything wrong with Annibelle's post. She was expressing her feelings, not knocking Arizona as a whole. It was about her experience. And, whether we see it or not, whether we experience it or not, racism does exist. And I still don't know why! That's the good thing about having lived in Ca, I had friends and boyfriends of every race! And never had a problem! But, then, I've had hispanic and black friends and boyfriends out here, too. And, again, never had a problem.

[eastcoastchick]

this post is old, but i was just wondering? is someone from az gonna explain why blacks leave or why they visit and decide not to move there? good and bad points were made, but i it seems to me like if it's all that...?