Interracial couples in the Detroit Suburbs (Ann Arbor, Livonia: fit in, crime, homes)

[PBAWRIGHT]

Hello, My family is looking to relocate to Detroit from Washington state. We are a interracial couple ( I am white and husband is black). We have a mixed child and one on the way. We are looking in the suburbs of Detroit. Livonia, Northville, Commerce etc... Recently we made a visit there. To my surprise I noticed while walking through the malls, there were no mixed couples. Not only did I notice that but people seemed to be surprised to see us. I have heard that Detroit is still a highly segregated city but I did not expect the "looks" we got from other races. I am concerned for my children to be raised in such place were they will struggle to fit in. Washington is very excepting to interracial couples. If any one can help me out in any way about this subject please do......

[Cato the Elder]

Move to Ann Arbor - simple as that.

[Blue Grass Fever]

The only advice i can offer is Windsor, Ontario (which i like as a city..) which is right across the border. The two cities are day and night. It's more commonplace to see many different race-couples in one area (Windsor) than most of Metro-Detroit.

[Lotzaboyz]

I will speak from MY experiences...I am in an interracial relationship (black/white) and have seven children.

I am speaking only of Wayne and Washtenaw Counties, because those are the areas I know.

Ann Arbor/Ypsi area is great for diversity. College towns, more liberal, anything goes really. I lived in Ann Arbor for 4 years and Ypsi for 2. Ann Arbor (A2) can be expensive, driving the downtown area was a pain to me, we rode the bus a lot. Ypsi is less expensive, less desirable to some, but I liked it. Thinking of moving back that way unless I can get out of the state all together!!! A2 schools are better than Ypsi.

I have lived in Livonia, grew up there, my grandmother still lives there and I would NOT live there with my children.

Ditto to Northville.

We have lived in the city of Detroit, westside, for a few years too. I might be in the minority, but I loved living in the city, had great neighbors, and was never a victim of crime. The schools leave a LOT to be desired though.

Right now we live in Wayne (city of)....I HATE it. Its fairly diverse on the southside (hahah..its six square miles...like there is a south "side"), which is considered by some white people to be the "bad" side. LOL. I just wouldn't recommend it here.

Around here there is also Canton (no), Inkster (no), Taylor (no), Westland (no), Dearborn (no)....really I'm not the one to answer this I guess, I want out of Michigan LOL.

[darkholme]

Your best bet is Ann Arbor, end of story. Definitely the most liberal and accepting city in SE Michigan. Ypsilanti and possibly Southfield or Lathrup Village are good choices as well.

A definite no no NO to Livonia and Northville! Those would be two of the last areas I'd look at.

[jumpygh]

How about Farmington Hills? The east side near Southfield is becoming predominantly black. I'm sure you'll be fine there. The schools are good and housing is cheaper than western FH since you are close to Southfield.

[michiganirish]

One of my foster children, who is white, is married to an African American man and they have 3 children. They are currently living in Southgate (a downriver community). She has never complained to me that people treat them differently. The kids are happy and the 2 that are school age have a lot of friends.

Southgate and Wyandotte have a lot of mixed families, you might try looking there. The schools are good (I grew up in Southgate) and the area has affordable homes.

[berrymist27]

Originally Posted by PBAWRIGHT

Hello, My family is looking to relocate to Detroit from Washington state. We are a interracial couple ( I am white and husband is black). We have a mixed child and one on the way. We are looking in the suburbs of Detroit. Livonia, Northville, Commerce etc... Recently we made a visit there. To my surprise I noticed while walking through the malls, there were no mixed couples. Not only did I notice that but people seemed to be surprised to see us. I have heard that Detroit is still a highly segregated city but I did not expect the "looks" we got from other races. I am concerned for my children to be raised in such place were they will struggle to fit in. Washington is very excepting to interracial couples. If any one can help me out in any way about this subject please do......

Please don't look At livonia. There have been numerous incidents against blacks there, and its not getting any better. I try to avoid that place as much as possible. Its the Whitiest city in the country. Why don't you look at The Villages in Detroit, or Indian Village on East Jefferson a very very beautiful and Historic area.

[robin luther]

Southfield, Lathrup Village and Royal Oak are all diverse and homes are available for most income levels the crime levels are low and there is no local income tax like there is in Detroit.

[MsJax313Atl]

If you are still looking...You shouldn't have a problem in southern Oakland County (Southfield, LV, Oak Park, Royal Oak, etc.) Farmington Hills should be fine too. Taylor and Southgate in Wayne County seem to be very diverse. I agree that Livonia is probably not the best place. Best of luck!