Diversity in Denver (house, schools, university)

[sweettearose]

Maybe some people can answer this but I'm wondering if the lack of diversity can be attributed to the large amount of Christian fundamentalism in the area? I noticed many of these movements tend to include mostly caucasian people for whatever reason. Do you think this is a big reason many minorities choose not to live in Denver or is it because Denver is far removed from other metropolitan areas?

[livecontent]

Originally Posted by sweettearose

Sadly, I think this is a real problem with the Denver area. I think many don't take issue with Denver's lack of diversity but it clearly lacks any. I was there this weekend and I didn't see ANY diversity. There was more diversity in cities like Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, and Phoenix. I was also disturbed by some of the Christian conservative fundamentalists that I saw on the street pandering about some issue. Some of the people I spoke to mentioned many great things about Denver but admitted it lacked diversity. Oddly enough, these people felt the lack of diversity was a positive thing which rubbed me the wrong way. It was as if they were almost happy they didn't have much diversity.

I really do not think you have enough experience with the area to speak on the issue. You are comparing Denver with much larger Cities that have a more of diverse population because "they are there". Dallas, Houston have more diversity because there are more diverse people, because there are more people--very simple--that the fact you do not understand.

And to say you do not see "ANY" "diverse" or different people because you visited downtown--that is nonsense--how could you not see different people??? There are many areas of this metro area that have many different people and different races, poor and rich, but a little visit in the some protected upscale hotel not going to show you it.

I have lived in NYC and I moved here from DFW and these areas are more international then Denver. However what is the argument to say we do not have such a large mixture??? that is not the point.

The point is our behavior toward other people. The point is our understanding and tolerance which is practiced by most people whether they be christians or non-christians, black, hispanic or white--most people here are very accepting of other people. That is what I am saying in my posts.

I am an atheist and I would be very cognizant of the so called "Christian Conservative Fundamentalist" that you say "pandering" some issue. Again that is nonsense. You are exaggerating what you are seeing because you are not seeing enough of the area. I do not feel that I am being pressured by any christians groups--you are creating a "bogey man" that does not exist--and I am very outspoken and I get along just fine with "god believers" and the christian community. For the most part, I respect them, they leave me alone and there just is not that many of those "christian conservative fundamentalist".

You have said in your other post that you think Denver is not urban enough for you--so be it; It is not a very large urban area and everyone has different tastes and desires for different areas. You like something larger--good--then that is the place for you.

However, you do not have the experience to speak about all subjects about Denver--they are your opinions and do not reflect reality.

Also to set manners straight--I am part of that "diversity", that "difference" that you say does not exist...

I am a severely handicapped disabled veteran, atheistic, liberal, social humanist, ethnic Sicilian with a loud mouth from New Yawk---is that not different or diverse enough for you---

----and I get along just fine in my neighborhood with a South American Colombian Family living right across the street, who are next to a Russian Family who have difficulty with English and an Hispanic family next door to me; more Russian, more Polish.....

...with a Large Japanese Church Down the Road where I go for their periodic dinners

with a number of Vietnamese families down the street from me who have invited me in for parties...

with a Laotian family in back of me who I helped to read some documents...

with a black family on the next street; a

mixed family on the other street; a Cuban a few doors down; An few Indian families; A man from Pakistan; some new Polish immigrants a few blocks away; a native American family; husband and wife from the West Indies;

Some new black Americans from New Orleans, down the road....

I go shopping in Indian, Russian Deli and Shops, and on the way I pass a few yellow robed theravada buddhist monks who live at a monastery in the area;

I got invited to a very large Vietnamese Catholic Church which is a few miles away and I went because they had some good food.

Oh, I forget our Asian Community on Federal and Alameda where I went to buy some unique christmas gifts and was welcomed and I they helped me; and of course I had something to eat.

Yea, I also go to a Mexican Bakery to get those stuffed pastries with pumkin when I am nearby--all mexican, do not speak english, they laugh, look at my big tummy and know what I want...

I walk to a tamale shop in my neighborhood and again they speak little english, I laugh and they feed me.

Oh did I forget those christian conservative fundamentalist who I talk to and argue amiably in my neighborhood. I have been to their church because of they host civic government meetings and because they have good food.

I do not want to forget my redneck neighbor next door "biker" who shovels my snow and brought me a roasted turkey at thanksgiving because there was an illness in my family; the "native Coloradan" across the street who clears my gutters--because I need help.

See, you did not see it all. and this is just in my immediate area--

I could also talk about Sakura Square, downtown, with a Buddhist church and Japanese housing because there is a substantial Japanese community that has been here for decades--oh, that statue in front of the community honoring the Colorado Governor who spoke out against internment of Japanese during the War,,,,, I could talk about Aurora with the a large Muslim Community and other strong ethnic groups in that City; or the Japanese farms north of the city; or the Italian Communities in the City and in Communities in the North; or the Polish Church in Globeville which is seeing growth because of the growing Polish Immigration...the substantial Tibetian Buddhist community in Colorado and one of the large Buddhist University-Naropa..
or the.... or the.......

So that is Diversity of Immigration BUT....

Best of all diversity is delicious and that is why I
Livecontent

[Mike from back east]

Originally Posted by sweettearose

Maybe some people can answer this but I'm wondering if the lack of diversity can be attributed to the large amount of Christian fundamentalism in the area? I noticed many of these movements tend to include mostly caucasian people for whatever reason. Do you think this is a big reason many minorities choose not to live in Denver or is it because Denver is far removed from other metropolitan areas?

We've dealt with topic before. Consensus is that it isn't an issue to worry about and is another example of an unfair stereotype that some areas get painted with - like that famous stereotype of the rude New Yorker, etc.

Anyone wanting to read the old threads on fundamentalism and evangelicals should use our Search tool with those two key words.

Any lack of diversity here is more accidental than intentional, owing to patterns of national development, or lack thereof.

[vegaspilgrim]

Another awesome post, livecontent! I also find it highly ironic that someone would think Phoenix, of all places, is more 'diverse," "cosmopolitan," or "urban" than Denver. Phoenix has a larger Mexican and Mexican-American population, but other than that, it's actually less diverse than Denver. Or here's another way to put it: the most diverse parts of the Denver metro area are much more diverse than even the most diverse parts of Phoenix. The least diverse parts of each city are about the same. I agree that you need to experience more of a city than on a superficial one-two-punch visit. In fact, the only other city in the western US that might very well be even more diverse than Denver that is of equal or smaller size is Las Vegas.

[Katiana]

Originally Posted by sweettearose

Maybe some people can answer this but I'm wondering if the lack of diversity can be attributed to the large amount of Christian fundamentalism in the area? I noticed many of these movements tend to include mostly caucasian people for whatever reason. Do you think this is a big reason many minorities choose not to live in Denver or is it because Denver is far removed from other metropolitan areas?

Originally Posted by sweettearose

Sadly, I think this is a real problem with the Denver area. I think many don't take issue with Denver's lack of diversity but it clearly lacks any. I was there this weekend and I didn't see ANY diversity. There was more diversity in cities like Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, and Phoenix. I was also disturbed by some of the Christian conservative fundamentalists that I saw on the street pandering about some issue. Some of the people I spoke to mentioned many great things about Denver but admitted it lacked diversity. Oddly enough, these people felt the lack of diversity was a positive thing which rubbed me the wrong way. It was as if they were almost happy they didn't have much diversity.

I agree with livecontent, vegaspilgrim, Mike from back east, et all. I try to be nonjudgemental of others in my posts, but it seems to me you have a problem with Christians. The office I work in is popular with the Fundamentalist Christian community in the north suburban area (such as it is), and I find plenty of diversity in our fundamantalist patients. We have a number of racially mixed FC couples, with beautiful kids (I work in a pediatric office). We also are popular with the Chinese and Indian communities in the area, maybe because we are so tolerant (I am not an FC, I am a Lutheran). I suppose there may be some "Christian conservative fundamentalists that I saw on the street pandering about some issue." There are always people in the downtown of any large city "pandering". There are lots of homeless people "pandering" about Boulder.

[blacksmith76]

My wife is Vietnamese, I'm white, and we have a 4 month old biracial daughter. We have never had any issues living in Denver, and we've been here for 8 years or so. Race is really an afterthought to most people. Of course you get the occasional unpleasant look once in a blue moon, but that could happen anywhere. I am from the South, and while it has changed a lot since I left, the climate is totally different when we go home to visit my parents. We are thinking of leaving the Denver area for a warmer climate, and I know this is something I am going to miss. I believe Denver was rated in the top five cities for interracial couples by a magazine for interracial couples I saw years ago. So, you shouldn't have any problems unless you are overly sensitive.

[denverian]

Originally Posted by socalover

I am relocating from Los Angeles California, and my first impression is I don't see diversity like in LA, are there any suggestions you all may have where I can see some diverse/professional/liberal communities on the southern or mid side of town? We are mixed family and prefer to be in an area where there is some diversity/melting pot, not so many stares wondering what races we are mixed with.

I was looking at Aurora, Highlands Ranch, Castle Rock, Littleton, but know nothing of these areas.

Good schools are a must which is partly my reason for the above choices.

I will be working on the south side of the city.

I moved here from Orange County, where I'd say it wasn't very diverse. Everyone was either white or Mexican, for the most part.

I live in Stapleton and while it's fairly white racially, I'd say at least 20% is non-white. In my neighborhood there are hispanics, Asians (south and far east) middle eastern, African American - and mixed race couples aren't anything uncommon. It's very liberal too. We're a mixed race gay couple with mixed race twins on the way, and we feel very comfortable here.

[denverian]

Originally Posted by sweettearose

Maybe some people can answer this but I'm wondering if the lack of diversity can be attributed to the large amount of Christian fundamentalism in the area? I noticed many of these movements tend to include mostly caucasian people for whatever reason. Do you think this is a big reason many minorities choose not to live in Denver or is it because Denver is far removed from other metropolitan areas?

Huh??? What Denver have you been in? I live in the Denver in Colorado. According to MetroDenver.com, the metro area as a whole is 32.8% ethnic minorities. The city of Denver itself, where I live, is 46.9% ethnic minorities according to denver.org. I also don't know any christian fundies around where I live either. The "megachurches" tend to be way out in the 'burbs and like you said, seem to attract white people.

Denver is also a liberal city. I believe Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder and Jefferson counties are also all "Blue" counties in the last presidential election. I'd suggest actually exploring Denver because you have a very wrong view of the people here.

[denverian]

Originally Posted by vegaspilgrim

Another awesome post, livecontent! I also find it highly ironic that someone would think Phoenix, of all places, is more 'diverse," "cosmopolitan," or "urban" than Denver. Phoenix has a larger Mexican and Mexican-American population, but other than that, it's actually less diverse than Denver. Or here's another way to put it: the most diverse parts of the Denver metro area are much more diverse than even the most diverse parts of Phoenix. The least diverse parts of each city are about the same. I agree that you need to experience more of a city than on a superficial one-two-punch visit. In fact, the only other city in the western US that might very well be even more diverse than Denver that is of equal or smaller size is Las Vegas.

That reminds me of about ten years ago when I lived in Santa Ana, CA and the mayor, in a speach, claimed Santa Ana was "the most diverse city in the country". OK, Santa Ana was something like 90% Hispanic, with 90% of the Hispanics being from Mexico, and of those from Mexico, 90% were from the same region of northern Mexico. Diverse??? Apparently Mr. Mayor didn't look up the definition of diverse. Just because everyone is not white doesn't equate diversity in an area!

Oh, and excellent post Livecontent. I love Denver and see diversity all around.

[DenverAztec]

Originally Posted by socalover

I am relocating from Los Angeles California, and my first impression is I don't see diversity like in LA, are there any suggestions you all may have where I can see some diverse/professional/liberal communities on the southern or mid side of town? We are mixed family and prefer to be in an area where there is some diversity/melting pot, not so many stares wondering what races we are mixed with.

I was looking at Aurora, Highlands Ranch, Castle Rock, Littleton, but know nothing of these areas.

Good schools are a must which is partly my reason for the above choices.

I will be working on the south side of the city.

Poor SweetTeaRose had a bad non-cultural weekend, so take it from the rest of the posters here, Denver is diverse. Not as diverse as larger cities but it is diverse enough to allow acceptance. Some of the burbs have the mega evangelical churches but the largest is in Colorado Springs with their recently replaced Ted Haggard. As a native, here are some of my photos of some of the diverse events I like to attend in the Denver Metro area.

Italian Festival at Bel Mar




Blossom Festival at Sakura Square




September 16th Mexican Independence Day from Spain




Gay Pride






Greek Festival




First Friday Art Gallery Walk on Santa Fe




Dragon Boat Races - Pan Asian Community




Not sure what this guy was celebrating but this was at the Highlands Festival, not too many guys in a lion suit can roam around just anywhere in any city!



AIDS Walk Colorado




Atist Competion on Larimer Square




I will eventually take photos of the Martin Luther King walk (marade = march/parade) in a few weeks, Saint Patricks Day parade, Cinco de Mayo, etc. but you get the "picture"! Denver is Diverse!