Discrimination 911 (Dallas, Plano, Irving: fit in, apartments, daycare)

[jaikishan]

I know this is a very sensitive topic. And many will hesitate to answer this. But your responses would immensely help me make an informed decision rather than figuring out things 2 years down the road.

I am from South Asia (India/Pakistan/SriLanka area), and so is my kid, who is 5, ready to go to school. We are looking at buying a house in Dallas area.

I am looking at Coppell, Lewisville and Plano school districts. I know there is bigger South Asian community in Coppell and Plano. I checked the Lewisville schools around Castle Hills and Dominion at Indian Creek and Moore Farms. There isn't much South Asian community there.

Do I risk facing any kind of systematic, subtle or social discrimination. Will it be unlikely for my kids to make friends in school. Are there chances that some kids might harass him ? Am I better off being in neighbourhoods with larger Asian immigrant population like Coppell.

Everybody who has lived in Dallas for long enough, and have heard of any incidents, please shed light. Even if you might be the most loving and wonderful family, but if you have even heard of some kid out there who might be getting mistreated or discriminated against, please drop a hint.

[TriumphOfTheSprint]

I live in Castle Hills and have seen many Indian/South Asian families around the neighborhood - I've never heard of a problem in the area (or any other part of Dallas for that matter). I have also seen an IndoPak marketplace near Indian Creek - there must be enough of a community to support that, I would think.

As a disclaimer, I don't have any school-age children, so I don't have any first-hand experience with the schools here - but CH is very family-oriented, so I'm sure your child will find friends (whether South Asian or not).

[msjam]

Gosh, I live in Flower Mound and work in Irving, in my office building, there's more Indian here than White.

There will always be kids who will make fun of your kids, that's a given. Even WHITE kids gets picked on. Kids do stupid things with each other. You can't tell me that in Sri Lanka or India, that kids there don't fight in school or pick on each other.

People here are friendly to a point, people can only tolerate so much, I'll give you an example. My office is unfortunately situated next to an office full of Indians (not a single White, Black or Asian in there). There are times where they bring some nasty smelling food and the whole building smells terrible. There are 6 other companies in this building, do you think those Indians think about other's being sensitive to curry smell? Heck no. I know that the people next door made a complaint to the building manager.

The same thing in the apartments, I have a sister who is in her early 20s. She complains that the smell coming from the other apartment is so foul
she has to get out of her own apartment and drive for a while because the smell is giving her migraine headaches. Now she makes sure not to be in her apartment during meal times. Does this seem fair to you?

[Pintea]

I guess you will be fine if you don't move to Flower Mound or if you don't work in Irving...

[msjam]

I'm just trying to get him to see the other side of the coin.

You don't like it? Don't ask for advise.

[SDBreaux]

Originally Posted by jaikishan

I know this is a very sensitive topic. And many will hesitate to answer this. But your responses would immensely help me make an informed decision rather than figuring out things 2 years down the road.

I am from South Asia (India/Pakistan/SriLanka area), and so is my kid, who is 5, ready to go to school. We are looking at buying a house in Dallas area.

I am looking at Coppell, Lewisville and Plano school districts. I know there is bigger South Asian community in Coppell and Plano. I checked the Lewisville schools around Castle Hills and Dominion at Indian Creek and Moore Farms. There isn't much South Asian community there.

Do I risk facing any kind of systematic, subtle or social discrimination. Will it be unlikely for my kids to make friends in school. Are there chances that some kids might harass him ? Am I better off being in neighbourhoods with larger Asian immigrant population like Coppell.

Everybody who has lived in Dallas for long enough, and have heard of any incidents, please shed light. Even if you might be the most loving and wonderful family, but if you have even heard of some kid out there who might be getting mistreated or discriminated against, please drop a hint.

I like to assume Asian people in the Dallas area are treated better than other "minorities," regardless where you live. Then again, I'm not FROM Dallas, I just live here for college, so take what I say with a grain of salt. I also limit my exposure to ignorant and racist individuals, so..

[jaikishan]

Originally Posted by msjam

Gosh, I live in Flower Mound and work in Irving, in my office building, there's more Indian here than White.

There will always be kids who will make fun of your kids, that's a given. Even WHITE kids gets picked on. Kids do stupid things with each other. You can't tell me that in Sri Lanka or India, that kids there don't fight in school or pick on each other.

People here are friendly to a point, people can only tolerate so much, I'll give you an example. My office is unfortunately situated next to an office full of Indians (not a single White, Black or Asian in there). There are times where they bring some nasty smelling food and the whole building smells terrible. There are 6 other companies in this building, do you think those Indians think about other's being sensitive to curry smell? Heck no. I know that the people next door made a complaint to the building manager.

The same thing in the apartments, I have a sister who is in her early 20s. She complains that the smell coming from the other apartment is so foul
she has to get out of her own apartment and drive for a while because the smell is giving her migraine headaches. Now she makes sure not to be in her apartment during meal times. Does this seem fair to you?

a) In professional environments, I feel day to day there is very little discrimination. Occasional favoritism will always be there (Whites promoting whites OR Asians promoting Asians)

b) Yes, kids do get picked on in every country. I dont want my kid to be in a situation where the class bully is constantly picking only on him because he is not WHITE. Another thing I read about Coyote Ridge elementary was that a black kid was on purpose being given bad grades to force him out of the school.

c) Regarding food, I totally understand - all cultures find significantly different food disgusting. Lot of Indians would not want to sit across the table from somebody eating ribs and pork and even non vegetarians cannot stand the bland food. Spices are a very Indian thing, and cause intense reactions from most western cultures.

d) I believe I have lot of tolerance. Kids upstairs and dogs next door make noise all day. But we havent bothered our neighbours. In similar situations, I have heard other people complaining to the management.

[SAtoDallas]

Originally Posted by SDBreaux

I like to assume Asian people in the Dallas area are treated better than other "minorities," regardless where you live. Then again, I'm not FROM Dallas, I just live here for college, so take what I say with a grain of salt. I also limit my exposure to ignorant and racist individuals, so..

Why do you assume that Asians would be treated better than other minorities, i'm an "other minority", and am quite offended that you think you should be favored over me.

[jfre81]

In general there is strength in numbers. It never hurts to have some other kids in the mix who have a similar cultural background. There will be kids who are hateful and cruel just to be hateful and cruel. This happens, indeed, in every culture. Teach your child(ren) to treat everyone with equal decency and let them know the world does not necessarily revolve around them or their culture and lives as they see it. It's great to be different and respect differences.

That is how I want to raise my children when they get here, and I don't really fit into any "minority" groups at all.

[sonshinelife]

My two cents worth for what is is worth:

I work in a school that is very diverse and I have to say I've never seen anyone one other than the parents cause friction amongst the diversity of populations. A few exceptions with the students, but usually only from a select few and those few have parents who have their own problems with the whole picture. How's that for a wordy statement?

I truely feel that we, the adults, need to learn from our children. They don't see skin color(at least not in a negative way), or race unless they have been subjected to negativity at home (and by the way I'm white and purposely send my son to a daycare with diversity... I think it is crucial for us to embrace our differences and teach our children the imporatance of cultural diversity).

Kids will be "mean" regardless of race... we as adults just need to teach them to be accepting and how to work with others and live in an ever changing society. Face it, things have changed. Personally, I am much more concerned with the abuse that transpires in society today... murder....crime....drugs....etc.... These are the issues we need to be directing our attention too.