Moving to Denver ....?'s on Racism (to buy, school, university)

[DenverLawGal]

It's always amusing to find whites who think there is no racism, but minorities who think there is racism. Makes you wonder, huh?

[denverian]

Originally Posted by James9283

I grew up mixed myself and my best advice to you as a parent is to make sure that the child has some long-term exposure to other mixed, bi-racial, or multi-racial people early in life. There are very few of "us" mixed people in the media or in small towns so this can be hard. This is best thing for your child because as they form their own identity in the world, they need to see that other multiracial people exist and that they should be proud of who they are. I was often forced to choose one side or the other in social groups and never felt comfortable untill I was around a diverse group of friends and other multiracial people. Trust me, this is more important than you might think becuase when an young person begins to struggle with these issues, it almost always goes into gangs, crime, and other self-destructive type behaviors.

I've thought about this - we have bi-racieal (black/white) twins and it's funny how the other bi-racial couples with babies tend to gravitate toward one another in our neighborhood. I want our boys to grow up knowing there are others like them (even the President!) and not feeling odd. We also have plenty of other bi-racial children in our neighborhood, white and Hispanic/Asian/Indian, Hispanic/Asian, etc., so it seems like a great area to raise our boys.

[DenverLawGal]

Denverian: I wholeheartedly agree. As much as you can, expose them to other cultures and other different people. I kind of got screwed in that aspect, and as an adult female black woman, have often had a hard time socializing with other blacks.

[denverian]

Originally Posted by wanttomoveeast

Denverian: I wholeheartedly agree. As much as you can, expose them to other cultures and other different people. I kind of got screwed in that aspect, and as an adult female black woman, have often had a hard time socializing with other blacks.

Thanks - great suggestion! As their parent, it just breaks my heart to think that someday someone will treat them poorly because of their skin color/race, but it's something we'll have to deal with. Our goal is to raise them to be very strong young men. And then we carefully chose where we live, meaning it seems to be quite tolerant and at least some racial diversity.

I suppose, as has been mentioned, kids can just be flat our cruel to one another. Maybe it's just the nature of the little beasts!

[DenverLawGal]

Boys might be different than girls. Both sexes have pressures, but different ones. I can tell you, I've been dealing with my race for my entire life, and I fully expect the rest of my life. It's something you become aware of at a very young age and it never just "goes away". It has become a part of me and something I accept and try to use to my advantage in a positive way instead of allowing it to alter who I am in a negative way.

I do feel anger towards whites who pronounce that racism is gone. I wonder, how the heck would they know???

[subsound]

I've met very few people who were racist in Denver, only 2 I can think of that were outright...not a common attitude in my experience. I can't say everyone was friendly to each other in general, more of the not wanting to get in a strangers business. Once you see each other for a bit people tend to get more friendly.

I've always loved to get to know the variety of people around me, I wasn't exposed as much growing up...but no one made a big deal about anyone's background either. It only really came up when eating (god I love Indian and Turkish food after being exposed to it) or talking politics, X country tried XYZ and it worked/didn't work. Otherwise, what the heck does it matter what people are...it matters who people are, I want friends with decent and upright people no matter what they look like.

[DenverLawGal]

I just read your profile to see what you are about, and after glancing at your status updates, it seems race is very much in your thinking.

Do you realize that your status updates are available for the entire public to view??

Originally Posted by subsound

I've met very few people who were racist in Denver, only 2 I can think of that were outright...not a common attitude in my experience. I can't say everyone was friendly to each other in general, more of the not wanting to get in a strangers business. Once you see each other for a bit people tend to get more friendly.

I've always loved to get to know the variety of people around me, I wasn't exposed as much growing up...but no one made a big deal about anyone's background either. It only really came up when eating (god I love Indian and Turkish food after being exposed to it) or talking politics, X country tried XYZ and it worked/didn't work. Otherwise, what the heck does it matter what people are...it matters who people are, I want friends with decent and upright people no matter what they look like.

[fritzdude]

Originally Posted by brooks77

I'm sorry but you are DEAD WRONG. There are very few people in Denver with that attitude. Or I must be meeting nothing but the wrong people.

I disagree with this statement.

People live and let live around here. People of different colors may not necessarily approach each other on the street, make small talk, and invite the other over for dinner with the wife and kids (if that's what you're looking for), but it doesn't mean that people are racist. To form your impression on an entire city based on a few jerks you might have run across isn't really fair.

However, if you're friendly and engaging, you will make friends regardless what color you happen to be. Then, when this happens, you just might get that dinner invite.

[denverian]

Originally Posted by wanttomoveeast

Boys might be different than girls. Both sexes have pressures, but different ones. I can tell you, I've been dealing with my race for my entire life, and I fully expect the rest of my life. It's something you become aware of at a very young age and it never just "goes away". It has become a part of me and something I accept and try to use to my advantage in a positive way instead of allowing it to alter who I am in a negative way.

I do feel anger towards whites who pronounce that racism is gone. I wonder, how the heck would they know???

Spending 13 years w/my partner, who's black, I'm quite aware racism exists. I've been in the car (a high-end car) with him when he was pulled over for "driving while black", been followed in a store with him by an employee, and understood his concerns with work when he felt passed over for a job due to his race. But yeah, really I can't know. I guess being gay, I know what it's like to have people against me, but if I just walk into a store, I'm not immediately targeted. Similar, but different.

[DenverLawGal]

Ahhh being gay, a whole 'nother ball of wax. Just as bad discrimination wise, but again, a different breed. And if your partner is black, you def. have a more inside view, as my husband is white. Being gay, it's not like people see it immediately. Same argument goes for people like me from other black folks, many believe that since I'm light skinned, I get a better deal because my race isn't so pronounced. Well good for you on trying to raise a child with more awareness of culture and ethnicities, I wish it was done more. Maybe with this new administration...

Although while we have that going on, we have Calif. with their Prop. 8