Leaving the WI Cold to Head South...Racism Issues? (Atlanta: insurance, homes)

[irvm]

Originally Posted by Frankie117

Curious that so many people from the North and West see the South as a huge racist part of the country when in fact that is simply not true, what gives?

Those who say there is racism in the South have probably never been to it, or lived in it.

The image of southerners as backward, toothless, banjo-picking trailer-trash is very much in vogue in the north and the west. Especially California - which, by the way, is the ONLY place I've seen anyone actually get beaten because they were 'different'. So much for 'diversity'.

To the original poster: come on down. You'll be ok, as long as you don't say 'we did it this way back in ....'. And, yes, there are mixed-race kids even out in the boondocks. They seem to fit in just fine.

[Frankie117]

Originally Posted by atlantagreg30127

The good news, is that "all of the above" is thinning out in some areas of the South, due to the fact that so many people from other areas are migrating here, as well as the old timers who kept a lot of these things going are simply getting old and dying. They're being replaced by younger generations that generally speaking are more tolerant than their parents were.

Thats actually a rather depressing thought that so many would want to suppress our culture in order to allow another one to step in. Isn't wanting our Southern culture dead and gone just as bad as not accepting outside ones? We're Americans too you know, and we have the right to live how we want just like everyone else.

And for the record, I believe that these assumptions of racism come from movies, TV, etc as opposed to real facts.

[deja-zebbie]

I agree with Frankie that a lot of ideas about the South come from movies and TV. If I see one more movie in which the Southerners are protrayed as dumb, I think I'll SCREAM.

zebbie

[blueeyes30]

Originally Posted by irvm

The image of southerners as backward, toothless, banjo-picking trailer-trash is very much in vogue in the north and the west. Especially California - which, by the way, is the ONLY place I've seen anyone actually get beaten because they were 'different'. So much for 'diversity'.

To the original poster: come on down. You'll be ok, as long as you don't say 'we did it this way back in ....'. And, yes, there are mixed-race kids even out in the boondocks. They seem to fit in just fine.

It's amazing that Southerners are always the intolerant ones. The national perception and stereotyping of Southerners is alot worse in my opinion.

[Emeralds52376]

Thank you to all who have shared their opinions and personal stories; I appreicate it all and have lots to do - and lots of places to visit; thank you again!

[dubuqueaskme]

Please, Please stay in Wisconsin.

When the warmer time of year comes around, as it always does, eventually, lol, you will regret your move. Trust me, I moved to Georgia for the same exact reason about 25-30 years ago and was so Midwest-sick that I HAD TO MOVE BACK. I thought that I would not miss the snow at all... Boy oh Boy was I wrong...

Wisconsin is one of the best states in the country--moving to Georgia you lose the great educational system, the low crime, the quality of living...

Each of the above I also missed while I lived in N'rn Georgia. Moving is a huge hassle, if you are still not convinced from my post not to move, please do some more research, there are not very many areas in Georgia I can think of that meet your standards.

[user1000]

Originally Posted by Emeralds52376

[SIZE=2]Hello :-)[/SIZE]

[SIZE=2]I am 31 year old single mom with 8 and 9 year old boys. We currently live in Appleton, WI - approx 68,000 people. I love the city we live in (the schools are great, it's extremely safe, cheap, my commute to work is only 7 minutes). I am just sick of the cold, ice and snow! It was -47 below for a whole week and we are supposed to get another 12 inches of snow this weekend. I want to move somewhere warmer with a much milder climate! [/SIZE]

[SIZE=2]I have looked at several cities in SC, but was told that SC would not be the best place for me since I am white and my boys are bi-racial. I was told everything from there are still plenty of KKK stores on mainstreet to the fact that bi-racial children and black children are ostrisized (spelling). And that it's not in my or their best interest to live in a state that still freely flies the confederate flag. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=2]I was told beware of 'blackstabbers' & that Northerners are not welcome at all. I was also told that many people are still fighting the 'war'. Call me naive or whatever you wish; but I truly was shocked by this. I live a predomiantly white city and my boys have never been treated poorly or treated differently than their white friends. The school they go to is very diverse; many mexican migrant workers, a few russian students, many asian students, white students, and only a small number of black or biracial students. Don't get me wrong, I have experienced racism here while I have been in smaller towns by older people - but nothing like what I'm told I'll experince if I move down south. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=2]I would love to live in the south (north carolina, northern florida, ga) But I am just not sure where to begin. I have visited Atlanta twice, I loved visiting it; but I'm not sure if I'd like to live in that area - I honestly don't know![/SIZE]

[SIZE=2]I'd love to live in a city of less than 100,000 people with good schools and many activities to keep us busy. Sports, theatres, museums, malls, parks are important to us. As well as nothing too pricey or commercialized. I currently work in the insurance industry (not selling; LOL). I don't have to stay in this field though.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=2]My mother is moving with us too and she is retired and looking forward to a warmer climate. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=2]I would like to rent an apartment or duplex for a while until I am sure on a city and most of all a neighborhood. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=2]Thank you for all your help, ideas and suggestions. Please - don't hold back in your comments. I was brutally honest and would like to hear the same. [/SIZE]
[SIZE=2]Thanks again![/SIZE]
[SIZE=2][/SIZE]

Sounds like you live in a great place! I feel it would be all but impossible to duplicate your present positive situation--7 minutes to work! Most would die for that commute!

[snowflake01]

OK.....I am from NYC and I moved to GA six years ago.I am mixed Asian and black. When I moved there this is what I encountered from black folks "WHAT ARE YOU"? My answer was WTF I am human just like you are. Why is that so damm important in the black community? OMG...I've never seen so much racism. The sad part about is when its black on black, so when folks are talking about white and black it's also black on black but no one in the black community talks about it.

[Revellanotvanella]

Originally Posted by snowflake01

OK.....I am from NYC and I moved to GA six years ago.I am mixed Asian and black. When I moved there this is what I encountered from black folks "WHAT ARE YOU"? My answer was WTF I am human just like you are. Why is that so damm important in the black community? OMG...I've never seen so much racism. The sad part about is when its black on black, so when folks are talking about white and black it's also black on black but no one in the black community talks about it.

Yea, I totally agree. Here in Delaware its also this way. Even just with my last job (Im a homemaker) there was criticism from two black women because another black girl there preferred dating mostly white men. Im adopted, and grew up only around white people (farming community) and a primarily black school and prefer white people. I didn't coddle back and told them YES, that what I like, but she got so much press from them because she acted ashamed about it. Also, when I went to school (Im 26 now), it was a tough world being around primarily black people because there seems to be so much focus on color, it is not just among whites. The whites were way more accepting of me. Something that is also different is HOW you have to be to make friends with most of them, even at my last job. I got respect because I was very IN YOUR FACE like they were but I had only learned that from school, sadly. I don't see this as a big issue here in Delaware but it was tough in school and I would never want my kids to have to endure that. They are American Indian, Black and Turkish (their father 100% Turkish).

Does Georgia have an abundance of progressive charter schools?

[deja-zebbie]

Revellanotranella (hope I got that name correct?)

I think you've discovered a "secret," i.e., most groups have SOME members that are prejudiced against others they perceive to be outsiders or different. And, those prejudices aren't just limited to race but can extend to accent (just ask Southerners about this one) hair color (a number of articles from England recently on the prejudice towards redheads), ability/disability, etc. etc. A biggie on that list is religion. I've known people 20+ years before religious prejudice bubbled to the surface ("why are you going to a JEEW-ISH doctor?") and that sure can be shocking when you think your values are shared with your long time friends. The list of POSSIBLE prejudices goes on and on.

As corny as this sounds I honestly believe that the more we are around people who are "different" from ourselves, the more we see how much we have in common.

As for the questions regarding race, I think the best "defense" when asked questions about background -- or weird comments to that effect -- is to keep a GOOD sense of humor. For example, I've been referred to as "high-yellow" (by Blacks). I've had parts of my face referred in doc reports as "deformed,"and my teeth referred to by dentists as "odd" (because they are not in the American-European style) What the docs were seeing, but not realizing is that the skin around my eyes and my teeth are NORMAL for many Amerind peoples, but probably look odd to them pasted onto a face that they otherwise perceived as "white". What the Blacks in our rural Georgia area, who referred to me as "high yellow" might have been seeing was a skin tone that they might not have been familar with, and the closest "fit" to a skin tone they WERE familar with was "high yellow".

I just have a good laugh WITH these folks and explain my background.

Every PHYSICAL anthropologist I've ever known has taken one look at me and INSTANTLY figured out my background down to my eye teeth.


I think sometimes when people are asking about racial background, they may simply be curious, but are going about asking in a way that might be upsetting.

All the best,
zebbie