[Wicked20s]

Hello, I am thinking about leaving New York to complete my masters in Florida. I am a middle-class African American female and live in a predominatly white neighborhood now. I currently reside in a suburb of New York but am tired of the snow, leaves and commuting to the city. I am taking care of my parents home since the are living in a vacation spot and do no want to return to New york themselves. If i could move I would have less hassel and my parents could have one less thing to worry about in New York. Condos are much cheaper in Florida. Also If I move to Florida my parents say warm weather would be an incentive to visit me more. That being said people tell me how nice Florida is and just as forward as New York in terms of culture. But when I go online on this site and others I read all the horror stories. All of my neighboors are civil toward me ie; we shovel each others snow and give eachother christmas cards. When I do experience New York racism it is more passive. In Florida I am about nazi rallies and how easy it is to get a firearm in Florida as opposed to New york(10 years waiting list) I do not want to be targeted (sorry maybe I watch too much A&E and History Channel). I've been to Florida but tourist areas do not give a good depiction of daily life. Can Florida really that racist with such high spanish and haitian populations? I would like somewhere that I can blend in and when my family visit they dont have to worry about violence from any race or robberies. It would be helpful to get answers from minorities who live in nice areas. I know that It sounds like I am asking a lot but in New York I can name areas like this where all colors live respectfully even if they do not want be friends. Thanks for your time

[rusty78]

Since you will still be a student when you make your move...why don't you find the college you will be attending before you make any moves...summer's coming and I am sure summer recess as well......you could take a short trip down...visit the college...and speak with students, etc... and get an free opinion of the area...

[beachmouse]

My part of North Florida I'd describe as pretty live and let live. Most people generally get along well with others of different racial groups. But there's a tendency to file the small group of people with mild to moderately racial attitudes as the other person just exercising their constitutionally protected to be a moron, and live and let live means that kind of mild racism tends to be ignored or talked about behind the racist's back rather than confronted.

The places where the racism is really bad tend to be the places a transplant wouldn't think of ending up. (Some really rural towns in central to north Florida)

[psouth]

You will find a lot more KKK activity and Confederate flags in North Florida than South Florida but most of Florida is a melting pot. Many of the Hispanics are half black and Haitians are all over South Florida. If you stick to the bigger population areas you should be fine like anywhere else.

[Wicked20s]

Thanks for the responses. I have no family in Florida. I really want to live in a mixed area. I there is racism everywhere but in New York it is passive type like ie: ignoring you while shopping or following in ther store, or crossing the otherside of the street. Ive heard that the south is more outspoken and they love their guns. Does anyone know how safe it is in dade county, miami shores, or metro since I think these are diverse areas? Are there robberies, rapes or frequent homicides? Thanks again.

[beachmouse]

While Florida is a Southern state geographically, socially it's decidedly different than Deep South states like Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi and non-Atlanta Georgia. I'd put the most Southern urban parts of the state as Jacksonville, Pensacola, Panama City and Ocala, and even most of those have some pretty huge transplant non-Southern populations (Pensacola, Jax, and to some extent Panama City with the military and Ocala with retirees)

I've lived in other parts of the rural South, and urban Florida isn't even close.

[Cheer5]

You should look in orlando florida there are great colleges and homes there

[Chrome Microphone]

I'd say the southern part of FL would be best. Central Fl is hit and miss. Overall, Northern FL is gonna have a lot more racists and more narrowminded. Jax is on the east coast, and better for you than the panhandle of FL, which is much more like Alabama or Georgia than what people think of as Florida, despite what a few newer residents to that area might think.

[psouth]

Coming to Florida like a lot of dreamers in search of warm weather and no plan to make a living would be a huge mistake. There are few if any jobs for college graduates compared to big city living in the north. If you have a good paying job and a plan in hand then maybe take a risk. Otherwise don't waste your time here. You will only end up waiting tables or selling t-shirts at a flea market while paying astronomical rent.

[TriMT7]

Originally Posted by psouth

Coming to Florida like a lot of dreamers in search of warm weather and no plan to make a living would be a huge mistake. There are few if any jobs for college graduates compared to big city living in the north. If you have a good paying job and a plan in hand then maybe take a risk. Otherwise don't waste your time here. You will only end up waiting tables or selling t-shirts at a flea market while paying astronomical rent.

Please do not conflate personal experiences with what is "typical" for anybody. Thank you.