moving to columbia, sc (Charleston, Jackson: transplants, salons, university)

[luv2travelgirl]

Hi, i read some earlier posts about race relations in Columbia,SC. This is something I am also interested in because I am not from the South. (I'm from Colorado) and am an attractive, single, black female. I will be moving for a temporary contract to Columbia. I am worried about how I will be treated on the street, in nice shops, restaurants, etc. I had a miserable experience in Memphis, TN when I was working there for 4 months about 10 (yes, 10) years ago. Now I know racism exists everywhere, whether it's subtle, obvious, etc. but I am a porfessional woman and enjoy doing many different things. I am educated, have a career, a car, a little cash, etc and I don't have time for racist bull%$@!! to add to my dilema, I date white men, I wonder how this will "go over" in Columbia. I hope the city is "progressive" enough to handle this, I just want to enjoy a new city, meet new people, hopefully go on some dates without another repeat of my time in Memphis. Can anyone out there offer some advice or expertise on this?? Thanks!(7-16-2007)

[waccamatt]

I don't anticipate that you'll experience any problems in Columbia. Interracial relationships are common and the city is quite diverse.

[Carolina_1690]

You will be fine. Columbia is not as backwards as people think it is. Its actually one of the more progressive cities in the state. There's a pretty healthy mix of everyone, and USC's presence tends to add a little more tolerance and diversity to all things.

[sandlapper]

The Columbia area has the largest number of college educated individuals, and minority owned businesses in the state so it shouldn't be a problem diversity is not an issue. You wont be the only black female go getter, or interracial couple in there trust me.

[Chi2Midlands]

I think you will be very comfortable in Columbia. It is not a stretch to say that Columbia is teeming with young professional black women. It is also one of the most refreshingly and surprisingly integrated metro areas in the nation - and seeing interracial couples here is absolutely no big deal. Another factor in Columbia's progressiveness besides the University is the presence of Fort Jackson - which also brings in both a lot of transplants and a lot of interracial couples/families. Don't let what you may see in the national media about South Carolina (which is often about other regions in the state or the state overall) distort your impression of Columbia itself. I will also say, with all due respect to Memphis, that Columbia is a bit more of a "New South" city in the vein of Atlanta, Raleigh, or Charlotte, than old-line Southern cities like Memphis, New Orleans, Savannah, Charleston, etc. While those older cities definitely have their cultural and cosmopolitan charms, in all honesty they seem to have worse racial issues than the "new" cities (not that the newer ones don't, but it's definitely a different vibe).

Hope this helps...

[luv2travelgirl7]

Thank you to those who responded to my post. I feel much better now about my venture to Columbia. I am looking forward to a new experience in a new city. Now I have another question maybe the ladies of color can help me with, are there some good hairdressers that do Africa-American hair in Columbia? If Halle Berry were in town, where would she go to get her hair done? thank you!

[temeteron]

Originally Posted by Carolina_1690

You will be fine. Columbia is not as backwards as people think it is. Its actually one of the more progressive cities in the state. There's a pretty healthy mix of everyone, and USC's presence tends to add a little more tolerance and diversity to all things.

That doesnt really say much when the state of SC is *NOT* one of the most progressive states in the South or the country in general....

[temeteron]

Originally Posted by luv2travelgirl7

Thank you to those who responded to my post. I feel much better now about my venture to Columbia. I am looking forward to a new experience in a new city. Now I have another question maybe the ladies of color can help me with, are there some good hairdressers that do Africa-American hair in Columbia? If Halle Berry were in town, where would she go to get her hair done? thank you!

Sweetheart you have to drive to Charlotte if you want a high-quality cut and an elite atmosphere....there is nothing divine or quality oriented about any of the salons in Columbia, not to say that you need to be in a certain type of salon to get a decent haircut/style but trust me, I've been to most of the overrated salons in Columbia and they are a rip off....I rather pay extra to drive to CLT and get my hair done from my Chinese/Vietnamese stylist who has lived in San Diego and who knows about Worldly fashion forward hair than get my hair done in Columbia again....

[Akhenaton06]

Oh wow Tem, I didn't know you were a Black woman. All this time I thought you were a European male. So which salons do the Sisters go to get their hair done in Columbia and why are they so bad? Do you prefer French rolls, microbraids, locs, etc.? Maybe that had something to do with your bad experiences at African American salons in Columbia.

[sonofaque86]

Wow...I thought Tem was a European male as well. Hey guuuurl!