fearful of moving to ohio (Dayton, Beavercreek: transplants, home, neighborhoods)

[darshea]

We are an african american family moving to Dayton Ohio. My husband will be working at Wright Patt. i keep hearing that Ohio is very racist. I am really afraid to move here and is considering staying behind and just send my husband. Can someone please let me know of some diverse cities and safe places to raise a family

[czb2004]

Yellow Springs is a very liberal town and the home of Antioch College (Also known for being the home of Dave Chappelle, who has noted in interviews that people there are friendly and genuine). It is also not far from Wright Patterson.

[Dayton Sux]

Dayton is pretty racist, but they make an exception for blacks affiliated with WPAFB since they are considered OK, more middle class in values. In-migrants seem to live all over, but blacks from this area, native to this area who work at the base seem to prefer Trotwood, as this is a middle class suburban and quasi-rural area that is mostly black (sort of like south DeKalb County near Atlanta)


And yes, Yellow Springs is quite liberal and has had a historically black community, dating back to the Civil War era (YS was a center for abolitionism). Yellow Springs is also quite educated, having the highest number of Masters and PhD holders per population in the metro area. Yellow Springs also gets a lot of transplants, people who don't like the general cultural conservatism and ignorance of the Dayton area move here as its more congenial to their values and life-styles.

For black folks with a more afro-centric interest, nearby is Wilberforce, which has two historically black colleges, Central State (state-supported) and Wilberforce (private, and with some church affliation). This is a fairly small place, though, compared to Yellow Springs.

I think you'll find suburbs that have a lot of base people, military and civilian, will be less racist. This would be Beavercreek, mostly. Perhaps a few others.

[joe from dayton]

I have to disagree with you about Dayton being a racist city. I currently live in East Dayton and have white, black and Hispanic neighbors. No problems out of anybody.

I do agree with you about Trotwood and Yellow Springs.

I don't think the OP will have a problem in Dayton or the immediate area. What is more important is your budget. You also mention a family. Do you have kids? If so, I would avoid the Trotwood and Dayton public school systems.

[davery5872]

I live in Beavercreek and work in Xenia and do not find either place to be racist. I would imagine if you traveled away from the city and burbs a bit to a small town, you might find some racism. But I really would not know, since I very rarely visit small towns around Dayton. I have lived in southern Indiana and central Kentucky and I have found the Dayton area to be much less racist.

[wrightflyer]

One thing I will say is that Dayton seems rather segregated. This however, is more along class lines (which ties a little bit to race). Old-money is in Oakwood, Newer Money is in Centerville/Springboro, the impovershed live on the West Side of Dayton, etc. But I would not go as far as saying Dayton and its suburbs make for a racist city.

Most people here are pretty welcoming, but again, the smaller towns may be best for most new people to avoid due to the close-knit community that creates. The rural areas also tend to lean rather far right, whereas the major cities tend to counter-act that and lean left.

The larger suburbs (Beavercreek, Centerville, Northmont) are decent and somewhat diverse (for Ohio). Also, if private school is an option, than historic neighborhoods like South Park, Oregon District, and St. Anne's Hill may be an option. These are in Dayton itself and are Dayton Public Schools. Yellow Springs would be another possibility.

[Traveler87]

Ohio is not racist in the least compared to most regions around the country. It is a very accepting state. Don't be fearful, and do not hesitate to move. Wright Patt is a very diverse base.

[elbosqueterno]

Where do you keep hearing that Ohio is racist from? That's not something I've ever heard. I wouldn't worry.

[Dayton Sux]

Racism (or prejudice) around here is not overt (people are quite polite face to face), more a privately held opinion that is occasionally shared. And it is more the older generations and less-educated that have these opinions and stereotypes.

Places mentioned here, like Beavercreek and Centerville (and Yellow Springs) have a more educated and sometimes a younger population, so less prejudice...

[nickolaseposter]

I honestly don't know who told you Dayton was racist...but that just isn't true. I would say its one of the most tolerant metros in the midwest. Even the richest suburb, is really diverse. Some of the further out towns might be...but that's just America...not Dayton.