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I am white and my wife is black. Daughters (2 and 1 on the way) are obviously mixed race. I'm considering Buffalo area [Kenmore?] to relocate from around Seattle, WA. Reasoning: close, but not too close to wife's family in NYC and decent job availability for my field [ IT ], plus extremely affordable housing. My concern is the racial climate for a multiracial family. Any suggestions or commentary you have would be appreciated.
I am white and my wife is black. Daughters (2 and 1 on the way) are obviously mixed race. I'm considering Buffalo area [Kenmore?] to relocate from around Seattle, WA. Reasoning: close, but not too close to wife's family in NYC and decent job availability for my field [ IT ], plus extremely affordable housing. My concern is the racial climate for a multiracial family. Any suggestions or commentary you have would be appreciated.
Housing is DEFINITELY far more affordable here than in the Seattle area! Hubby and I were considering a move out there but couldn't get over the housing prices.
While traffic here is NOTHING compared to a major city like Seattle, you may want to wait until you get a job here to figure out where you want to live. I can't tell you about Kenmore's racial climate; maybe someone else here can address it. I live in a suburb called Williamsville, and there are mixed-race families at my kids' school, and nobody bats an eye, at least as far as I can tell. Then again, I'm not racist, so I wouldn't hang out with anybody who was. But out here, being near UB, we have a highly educated community, where I would hope there would be less of that crap going on. When we moved here, I thought it would be lily white, and I was a little worried about that, but my kids go to school with children of all races, religions, and colors -- which is what we wanted.
As a Realtor in the Buffalo-Niagara Regions, I promote fair housing and property rights. First, You have a Right to live where you and your family wants. Your money-your choice. It's a personal preference.
Second, You'll enjoy living in the Buffalo-Niagra multicultural community. Come and see for yourself. In the meantime visit a Buffalo-Niagara homes websites. You can start with BNAR.org (Buffalo-Niagara Association of Realtors). It has a lot of information.
Third, presently our market is loaded with properties. Think what you can afford and what is important to you: school, distance to work, taxes, size of a house or lot. These are only a few questions and you know that there's a lot more. It's your choice. Discuss it with your wife.
When you here, we'll find you the perfect match for your needs and wants. Welcome and best wishes in your relocation.
I taught in North Buffalo and it was very racially mixed. Kenmore borders on N. Buffalo and is becoming more racially diverse as older people sell village homes and younger people buy there. It costs less than Williamsville and other burbs; homes are older and it is small lots, but you could easily find a home at $70K. Williamsville and Amherst are very racially diverse , more expensive and (unless in the village of Williamsville) not a walkable town. Kenmore has a very walkable town, good park and pools (at the indoors; built for the International Games; now the towns and has a gym in it as well -- went w/a friend), lots of kid friendly activiities.
You need to come and look. You have kids, so check the schools. Ask for a tour -- you will see the diversity level. I expect the schools in Kenmore are more diverse than in the Town of Tonawanda ( Kenmore is a village in the town)
Race, race, race, why does it always have to be about race in this country? Who cares. Be a decent neighbor, pay your taxes, keep a job, just be regular people, exercise the golden rule, say hi to the folks across the street, celebrate Christmas, drink a cold one with the guy next door and like the Bills, put out your flag on the 4th of July and stop worrying about who is black and who is white. If you're decent people, the world will move over to accept you. Just get over this race stuff.
Before we digress from our Fantasyland poster here, I'd love to hear more real world responses, commentary or suggestions. Right up to that last post there were excellent responses and suggestions, and It helps me to have more information. Thanks again to those that are grounded in reality and have made useful suggestions.
Location: Unlike most on CD, I'm not afraid to give my location: Milwaukee, WI.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Cack
Before we digress from our Fantasyland poster here, I'd love to hear more real world responses, commentary or suggestions. Right up to that last post there were excellent responses and suggestions, and It helps me to have more information. Thanks again to those that are grounded in reality and have made useful suggestions.
No need to call the xnyer a "Fantasyland poster," and imply they are not "grounded in reality," just because you don't like what was said. The poster made some excellent points. I also think xnyer was probably venting because to those who have been in these forums any length of time, there seems to be a never-ending stream of posts like "how are minorities treated in xxx city," or "how are gays treated in xxx state?" Doesn't matter what city or state across the land, there are these constant, repetitive questions as as if the US in one big racist, homohpobic country. Far from it. Like xnyer, I just don't get what, realistically, these people are afraid of. For example, statistically whites are much more likely to be victims of violent crime perpetrated by minorities then the other way around. Yet minorities, spouses of minorities, etc., post all the time asking questions that indicate they are afraid of the racial dynamics in a place that's mostly white. Go figure.
The end of your original post said "any commentary you have would be appreciated", but then you lashed out against the common sense comments posted by xnyer.
Now, to your original question. Buffalo area has alot of positives..very affordable housing, good medical facilities, four seasons, manageable traffic, big but not too big and not growing. The latter is not necessarily a bad thing. You see what all the growth has done to the Seattle/Tacoma area.
Coming from the SeaTac area, the cloudy overcast of many days won't faze you. Just be ready for the snow. 90 inches (average) a year is no joke. And the state and property taxes are rather absurd. The city has some problems, but the suburbs like Kenmore are pretty much all A-OK. Niagara Falls is a sight to see. Unless I really had alot of money, I would rather live in Buffalo area than SeaTac. And I assure you the racial climate will not be a big issue for your family.
So there's my 2 cents. Maybe a little more.
Race, race, race, why does it always have to be about race in this country? Who cares. Be a decent neighbor, pay your taxes, keep a job, just be regular people, exercise the golden rule, say hi to the folks across the street, celebrate Christmas, drink a cold one with the guy next door and like the Bills, put out your flag on the 4th of July and stop worrying about who is black and who is white. If you're decent people, the world will move over to accept you. Just get over this race stuff.
Simple matter of fact is that racism exists. I am considering MOVING to another city and have a family to think of. Some links to enjoy: Creek Running North: Racism in Buffalo, New York (broken link) Buffalo, N.Y., activists rally against KKK racism
htttp://buffalonews.typepad.com/inside_the_news/2008/01/can-buffalo-ris.html Mall Accused of Racism in a Wrongful Death Trial in Buffalo - New York Times
Its just too bad that folks like me make race an issue, huh? Unfortunately, I don't have the luxury of stuffing my head in the sand, or wherever yours may be.
Quote:
Originally Posted by mrkool
No need to call the xnyer a "Fantasyland poster," and imply they are not "grounded in reality," just because you don't like what was said. The poster made some excellent points. I also think xnyer was probably venting because to those who have been in these forums any length of time, there seems to be a never-ending stream of posts like "how are minorities treated in xxx city," or "how are gays treated in xxx state?" Doesn't matter what city or state across the land, there are these constant, repetitive questions as as if the US in one big racist, homohpobic country. Far from it. Like xnyer, I just don't get what, realistically, these people are afraid of. For example, statistically whites are much more likely to be victims of violent crime perpetrated by minorities then the other way around. Yet minorities, spouses of minorities, etc., post all the time asking questions that indicate they are afraid of the racial dynamics in a place that's mostly white. Go figure.
See above comments except for the last sentence. I do think its puzzling that neither you or xnyer think its a remote possibility that being in a multiracial family opens you up to racism from both sides.
Quote:
Originally Posted by mrkool
The end of your original post said "any commentary you have would be appreciated", but then you lashed out against the common sense comments posted by xnyer.
Our ideas on common sense differ greatly. As far as my lashing out goes, the post was dismissive and insulting and I responded in kind.
Last edited by bellafinzi; 04-13-2008 at 10:17 PM..
Reason: personal debates
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