Racism/Georgia (Atlanta, Roswell, Marietta: homes, neighborhoods, buying)

[jeanifca]

Hi,
We are here in South Florida and making our first trip to GA at the end of the month. We are looking at Kennesaw and Woodstock. I am starting to be a little concerned about racism. We are a tri-racial family. I'm German/American, husband is Cuban and the love of our life is our 2 year old adopted Chinese daughter. My husband has voiced concerns over this and I have always told him it is nothing to worry about. I am just looking for some input. Since So FLo is such a melting pot it has never been a problem. We are moving his parents and my mother to. Our housing selection will be based on a good school district for our daughter and possibly any other children we adopt. We need to have our parents close by and access to doctors etc for them. We are not looking to live in a all hispanic or asian area as we do not now. We actually live in a mostly Jewish neighborhood. I hope this does not offend anyone as I was not sure about posting this or not. I just wanted to get some input for myself before making the trip.
Thank you for any replies.

[mwildman]

Hi there,

We too live in Florida, but we have twins adopted from China, and have had the same thoughts about buying property elsewhere. However, in my travels around the China adoption forums, I have seen several people who live in Georgia who have China babies. I don't really think it would be a big issue - most people think that these kids are wonderful - like any kids. It would be rare to get negativity from someone - they would not represent the majority.
just my 2 cents :-)
Mandy, FL

[jdaryl2002]

I am originally from Woodstock but now live in Florida. Don’t worry about the natives and how things use to be. You’ll never run into anyone who was raised in Woodstock. It’s as much as a melting pot as it is here in central Florida. Are you looking for a small town? I have read quite a few posts on here where Woodstock is mentioned when looking for a small town. Woodstock is NOT a quant little town with tree lined streets and people gather in town for a relaxing evening. Even if you could walk to town you’ll not find much there. And the two lane road (Hwy 5) through town is heavily congested. Woodstock is a bedroom community to Atlanta and that is about it. I moved to Woodstock in 1979 when it was a small town. What I saw happening in the remanding years before I moved in 1993 was disbelief. Uncontrolled growth and no planning by city or county officials created total gridlock. It’s a shame that what Woodstock could have been will never be.

[Tdiddy0027]

uh, do people still think that was about georgia, even if it's in the metro? I guess I can understand your concern though. I promise you, there's nothing to worry about.

[jxu66]

East Cobb is pretty conservative, used to Newt's hometown.

But if you live most place in Atlanta, it is pretty liberal city. For example, city of Duluth has large population of Asians, hispanics and a lot of diversity. Just check Duluth high school students, 25% asians, 15% hispanic, 15% black.

[jeanifca]

Originally Posted by Tdiddy0027

uh, do people still think that was about georgia, even if it's in the metro? I guess I can understand your concern though. I promise you, there's nothing to worry about.

I guess we still do think that way about GA. Sorry . I haven't been to GA in 12 years. When I was there I didn't really get to see the Atlanta metro area. I was in Blairsville, Dahlonega, and Helen. It was a bit rural for me but I have always wanted to go back and make it my home. I think GA is beautiful compared to South Florida.
Thank you
jeanifca

Originally Posted by jxu66

East Cobb is pretty conservative, used to Newt's hometown.

But if you live most place in Atlanta, it is pretty liberal city. For example, city of Duluth has large population of Asians, hispanics and a lot of diversity. Just check Duluth high school students, 25% asians, 15% hispanic, 15% black.

Sorry, who was/is Newt's hometown?
Thanks

Originally Posted by jdaryl2002

I am originally from Woodstock but now live in Florida. Don’t worry about the natives and how things use to be. You’ll never run into anyone who was raised in Woodstock. It’s as much as a melting pot as it is here in central Florida. Are you looking for a small town? I have read quite a few posts on here where Woodstock is mentioned when looking for a small town. Woodstock is NOT a quant little town with tree lined streets and people gather in town for a relaxing evening. Even if you could walk to town you’ll not find much there. And the two lane road (Hwy 5) through town is heavily congested. Woodstock is a bedroom community to Atlanta and that is about it. I moved to Woodstock in 1979 when it was a small town. What I saw happening in the remanding years before I moved in 1993 was disbelief. Uncontrolled growth and no planning by city or county officials created total gridlock. It’s a shame that what Woodstock could have been will never be.

Everyone we know keeps talking about the traffic being horrible. Could you give me an idea how long it takes to get from Woodstock area to downtown, during rush hour? Thanks

[quote=mwildman]
However, in my travels around the China adoption forums, I have seen several people who live in Georgia who have China babies.

Thanks, I am going to check out the Atlanta FCC and search the other boards for people with babies from China in the Atlanta area. We have never experienced any problems here. Just some stares or nice comments.

[Tdiddy0027]

in rush hour it can take about an hour to get to Downtown from Woodstock. The rest of the time it's about 30 minutes

[jxu66]

Newt = Newt Gingrich, the former leader of Republic house. His homebase is around Marietta, ga, closer to Dobbs air Force.

Traffic is terriable in Atlanta. It is best to live where you want to work. My co-worker lives in East Cobb and work at Duluth. Sometimes, it takes him a hour to a hour half to get home.

Just reread your message. You may want to consider Duluth, Alpharatta, Dunwoody, Roswell, west side of Norcross, Suwanee instead. East Cobb (Mariatta, Woodstock, Kennesaw) is used to be very conservative (the whole Republican revolution in 1994 started there) when I was in school ten years ago. Not sure what's going on nowaday.

[isabellevandora]

HI,
We are also a multiracial family. Our three eldest adopted children, born in Atlanta area with birth parents of Mexican descent, are currently teens attending Harrison in West Cobb. Our youngest is white, anglo, also adopted through DFCS, from local area. North West Atlanta suburbs are replete with multiethnic families....we're practically the norm. When we adopted in 95, we had no idea that we were at the front of a wave that would sweep at least this area, if not the nation. No one, and I mean no one, bats an eye at us.... while Harrison High is majority white, Georgia, and Cobb, and the South, just isn't what the old stereotype portrayed......most people in metro Atlanta are from other regions and the natives are not the natives that peopled old movies about the South. Actually, I experienced more racism in western New York than here. We actually live together, in the same neighborhoods, and 'majority' white here means over 50%, not 99.9%, like our neighborhoods in western New York. If I get homesick, I need only visit ten or twelve of our closest neighbors, all of whom are also from some part of the state of New York, lol. Welcome, and good luck on your move.

[jeanifca]

Isabellevandora,
Thank you for such an encouraging response. We are looking forward to our trip in a few weeks.
jeanifca