[washingtonian5]

It has always been a goal for us to relocate to Florida since our first visit nearly 5 years ago, however a recent visit put a bad taste in our mouth. We have been down there usually twice or more a year in the past years and never encountered any racism or ignorance, but this time we spent time with a friends new boyfriend who was constantly making racist comments towards her kids (who are white), as in reference to them being his slaves....When called out on it he basically said get used to it if you move down here, its the way it is. I hope to disagree, but since we have never lived down there we can't say for sure, everything's good on vacation right? Now we have a job offer in Panama city, our goal is close to reality, and now this.....by the way, my wife and I are white but we have a bi-racial daughter and in no way do I want her to be discriminated or talked down to by anyone.

[vtallison]

There will always be ignorant people in every state. I live in the woods in VT and there are a few, but the majority are just fiine. Do not let one ignoramus ruin your plans! Good Luck!

[Maggi07]

Sadly, it's a "thing" everywhere in this country, it seems. It isn't any better or worse here, as far as I can tell. I do think living rurally would increase the chance of encountering blatant racism. The cities are pretty diverse.

[jghorton]

So you made your first trip to Florida 5-years ago and your friend's boyfriend made some racist comment/s ... Now, you are wondering if everyone in the entire state where he said what he said, is an ignorant racist??

-- Nothing personal intended, but, in my opinion, racism and bigotry are essentially 'assigning labels to entire groups/categories of people - based on a personal bias, with little or no real substance.' "Probably better to remove the plank from your own eye, before trying to remove the speck from the eye of the state where your friend's boyfriend lives."

[ChrisA70]

Yeah, that is EVERYWHERE..... I saw it in my home state of MA. There are idiots everywhere, it's not just FL...

[Snikt]

Ignorance is everywhere, but you are all kinda skipping over the fact that it is more in some places. Not every state has an equal amount of ignorance.

That being said, I noticed that people seem smarter and are more polite in general after I moved to CO from FL.

[gypsychic]

Originally Posted by jghorton

So you made your first trip to Florida 5-years ago and your friend's boyfriend made some racist comment/s ... Now, you are wondering if everyone in the entire state where he said what he said, is an ignorant racist??

-- Nothing personal intended, but, in my opinion, racism and bigotry are essentially 'assigning labels to entire groups/categories of people - based on a personal bias, with little or no real substance.' "Probably better to remove the plank from your own eye, before trying to remove the speck from the eye of the state where your friend's boyfriend lives."

Great post - and I have to say that in most places in Florida that I have lived/visited there is far LESS racism and bigotry in many other states. That said I agree you will find it ANYWHERE, in every state - no state has a monopoly on the racists. It's pretty dumb, IMO, to broad-brush an entire state based on ignorant remarks from one person.

[gypsychic]

Originally Posted by Snikt

Ignorance is everywhere, but you are all kinda skipping over the fact that it is more in some places. Not every state has an equal amount of ignorance.

That being said, I noticed that people seem smarter and are more polite in general after I moved to CO from FL.

Once again, broad-brushing an entire state (in your case both CO and FL) You said they "SEEM smarter and more polite in general". Well, it depends where you moved from and where you moved to (city). Plus, you WANT it to be that way because you moved, you are seeing things from your own filter. I am sure there are places in Colorado where you will find as many racists as anywhere in Florida. Whether it's Florida or any other state, you will find more backwards thinking and racism/ignorance in the more rural areas of a state, so people should keep that in mind if looking to relocate and find this an issue.

[washingtonian5]

I'm not assigning labels to anyone, it was just our experience......I realize that it isn't everyone's belief in the whole state, but in the melting pot that is Seattle its not something that is even really thought about. This is why it was such a shock to us to witness it there and be told to get used to it because its a way of life. Now I completely realize it wouldn't be a normal way of life for all, but in no way would I ever knowingly take my daughter and have her subjected to it on a regular basis.

[claudiusmaior]

Florida is a difficult state to categorize. North Florida is really Southern Georgia in climate, topography and people's attitudes.

Palm Beach and Broward have always been very liberal, Democratic Party areas.

Miami-Dade area has all those elements above mixed with a huge international community of hundreds of different ethnicities and a very large Lesbian and Gay male community.

Hope this helps. I do not like Florida and would like to move to Boston. Our son is inter racial also and I know there are plenty of bigots in Boston. Bigots are everywhere.