farm/country texas affluent african americans?

[escanlan]

Originally Posted by Dora Milaje

Co-signed. It's one thing to grow up in those kinds of towns; that can't be helped. But you'd be a damn fool to move there on your own merit - and with your own money. Do NOT fall for these good ol' posters who will mention how great people of color are treated and then sneer at racism in the same post.

I don't believe I read one poster here claim "how great people of color are treated". Racism is everywhere and you just are not going to stop it any time soon. Like I said before I live outside a very small town not far from Farmersville. We have quite a few different ethnic groups here, including quite a few Hispanics.

In my area are also A LOT of native Texans! That was one of the reasons I picked this rural area to live in. The one thing I have found about native Texans, and those living here long enough to be considered native Texan, is that they are definitely some of the friendliest people I've met. My "Good Ole Boy" neighbors are the first to out in the trucks with floodlights running to hunt down the intruder that is prowling around our Hispanic neighbors home. My "Good Ole Boy" neighbors are the members of the local Volunteer Fire Department that responds to everyone's emergency, regardless of race or ethnicity. My "Good Ole Boy" neighbors are the first in line to offer a helping hand, again regardless of race or ethnicity.

From my experiences here the largest number, and worst cases, of racists are "Transplants" from other states! I think Affinitytx's statement is worth repeating:

"If our glasses are tinted with racism, it will be found everywhere."

[grindin]

Originally Posted by southern living

I lived in beaumont for 3 yrs, and at the time, the racism there, especially in the smaller sorounding cities such as lumberton, silsbee, kountze, sour lake e.t.c was obvious . As a biracial couple, we dont get the stares and questions we got here in the metro.

That was over 10 yrs ago and things might have changed, but that was my experience

Don't forget Vidor.

[L&S]

Originally Posted by grindin

Don't forget Vidor.

I read about the Vidor incident... wow! that is sad.. how can people be so cruel....

I am simply looking for a city where i can buy land (5 acres) or so.. in the country area-that's all. i would hate to move to a place where my husbands education means NOTHING because of his skin color..... i haven't really been able to locate a city in Texas near McKinney that has land, and has good school district. I looked up all the cities on here and please believe me..I really appreciate the responses-but what i have come up with so far is... Corinth and Denison and Keene...

Farmersville's schools are not as good as Corinth and Denison.. If these posting are correct, I am having a difficult time finding good schools, in an area where my husband will be received well.

I understand there's no land in McKinney-so that rules McKinney out... we are interested in growing our own fruits and veggies, and having a horse or two..there's no harm in that right?

[CadillacRF]

What about Flower Mound? There is still good land out on the west side. Would'nt think racism would be an issue there compared to a true small town environment?

[wordstringer]

Hi L&S - I'm originally from Chicago, lived in Allen and worked in McKinney for two years. Now live in Dallas and work in small town 25 minutes away with a population of about 15-18K. So, I'm hoping that I can add some perspective since I've pretty much been where you're hoping to go in terms of logistics.

The town where I work has a rep for being racially tense, but I really have not seen it for the year I've been here. But, as some posters have said, you'll find nitwits all over. I love the last posters quote about seeing through tinted eyes. So true.

Anyway, for what it's worth, have you checked into Melissa or Prosper? The latter, last I read, has a stellar school district and though it's growing, I think there's still a chance to get some land there.

Also, have you considered renting in McK and then getting your bearings before purchasing? Friends moved here from a large, Florida city and lived in a very small town (to be close to family) and spent the last year figuring out the best community for them. They closed on a place north of Dallas last week and love it there. I think that's an extremely smart way to go about it.

Anyway, now I guess I'm rambling... Whatever you decide, welcome to Texas and I pray you and your family settle in the best spot for your needs.

[5stones]

personally I would stay in The areas with the better schools. Black/White/red/blue etc... the OP stated they were affluent...college educated. That equals GOOD school forthe kids. Sadly many of the quaint small towns around here just don't have schools that are all that great.

I want my kids in school with friends who have the same goals as they do...good grades, futher thier education past HS (college, tech, military etc...) involved in various school activites or sports and well rounded, involved parents, and good moral bearings.

To get more land... I too agree with others have said and look at the Prosper area...very nice and good schools.
McKinney and Allen are good as well.

Good luck

[amya1577]

What a small world...I live in the Mckinney area, have lived in Texas my entire life and grew up in the small town of Farmersville. I can make recommendations based on the areas you have questions about...but before I do so...would have to ask a few questions. 1) For appraisal value...is this next home somewhere you see yourself retiring to...or is there a chance you see yourself moving in 5-10 years? 2) How important is the scenery (ie: water, picturesque, etc). Also...if the schools are important, I would highly recommend the Mckinney district...specifically Glen Oaks Elementary, Dowell Middle School and Mckinney North. They are not only exemplary-rated (the reason I moved back to this area after my two started school) but also blue-ribbon winners

Hope this helped.

[amya1577]

Also...Try Prosper Great acreage... and great, rolling land.

[Grainraiser]

I guess my question is what do we mean when we say small town. I consider a small towns to have 3A or 2A high schools. Most of these small towns have very few affluent folks living in them. The ones that have money tend to come from generations of family members with money. These folks pretty much run all of the local politics and it's pretty hard for any outsider to break in regardless of race. A city like Sherman would be a good fit for the OP. It is large enough to have a diverse base. Considering the criteria the OP is asking for I would look for a place on the outskirts of McKinney. It would give her the land she is looking for and put her husband close to work. The kids would be in a good district and I don't racism would be any issue. My second choice would be Sherman although I don't know what kind of commute it would require. I would avoid the really small towns unless the OP are the type of people who stay to themselves. I would guess some folks would be really welcoming while some would roll there eyes. In those really small towns there is a big divide between the haves and the have nots.

[azriverfan.]

Originally Posted by CadillacRF

L&S, take it from the majority of posters on here - stay out of small town TX if you are African American/Hispanic mix.

Not saying it's right. It isn't. But we're telling you that it's backwards and backwoods. The people are ignorant. Sure, they'll smile at you and be surface friendly, but they aren't going to have you over for BBQ and beer on Sunday afternoon.

Where I live, which is small town TX Hell, people say "Do you realize that this town is Mexican gang infested? Stay out of the old part of town. They're taking over." The town is 5% Hispanic...doubt it's gang infested.

They also say "Stay away from the Mexicans. They all have swine flu." Hmm...can tell you that more lower class, dirty white kids have contracted swine flu around here than Hispanics. Probably got it from Mexicans though right?

And finally, if people describe someone who is black, they must ensure you know they are black. Conversation goes like this "There was this lady...(conversation dies to whisper), she's black, (conversation returns to normal volume), blah, blah, blah." Oh man, thanks for letting me know they were black!! Figures then...

Move to the suburbs of Dallas, and the 21st century. You will be much happier and more respected for the education and class you and your husband clearly possess.

Honestly, I found this mentality to be among people living in Dallas and the suburbs as well. The difference is they wore expensive clothes, drove better cars and lived in nicer houses but their culture wasn't really that different from the people in the small towns. For example, when I worked in the hospitals there, I would have doctors and nurses ask why I don't speak with an accent. When I would respond with "I was born and raised in the United States" they still looked puzzled and would respond with "Yeah but who raised you, didn't they have an accent" That was Dallas for you. A normal person would have understood after my first response but in Dallas, they have these fixed stereotypes in their head that they would ask moronic follow-up question like that. I also got asked "What's your nationality?" People in Dallas seem to care about that a lot. I've never been asked that in LA or Phoenix. When I would respond with "American citizen" they would say "No, I mean where are your parents from" (I knew what they were asking but it was fun to toy with them) and I would respond "LA" and then they would get frustrated and ask "No, I mean why skin the way it is" and then I would say "I'm Hispanic" LOL. They would also ask what church I went to. I got asked why I would put sunscreen on "Yeah but you are Hispanic, you don't burn" Again, this is example of their insistence upon racial lines. A normal educated person on the coasts understands that fair skin regardless of your race predisposes one to getting burned. In Dallas, your predisposition to getting sun burned was apparently determined by your race. I remember people in Dallas went ballistic when I informed them that many Arabs and people in the northern India are classified as Caucasians from a scientific perspective, they went nuts. They could not accept that idea. It was hilarious. I made those same comments in Phoenix, and the response was "yeah, that kinda makes sense"

This is what I didn't like about Texas and the South in general. The mentality bothered me. Racial and religious identity is really important to Southerners. They really want to make sure you are penciled in some type of category whereas I didn't really feel that way on the coasts. It's almost as if they would ask these questions to make sure you understood that you were in one of these boxes. For example, in Dallas, I noticed the community would pencil in Arabs, Persians, Indians, Pakastani and Afghans into the "Middle Eastern" category, Chinese, Vietname, Japanese, Philipino and Thai were "Asian" and anyone who spoke Spanish were "Mexicans" Blacks were of course Blacks. You didn't see diverse friendship groups. If you went to the movies, all the White kids in Dallas hung out with each other and all the minorities seemed to have their cliques. I wasn't used to that coming fom LA.