Minorities living in Idaho, How is it??? (salon, buying)

[associationhater]

Wondering how minorities are treated in Idaho? Considering it being a 92% white population.

[norcalmom101]

There is more than one kind of minority in Idaho...I'm several kind myself but probably not in the sense you mean. I had similar concerns prior to buying property, and availed myself of the closest thing to an Ethnic Studies Dept. at ISU for assistance. After a very frank discussion with a faculty member there, himself a person of color, I had a better appreciation for the predominance of caucasions here being less a function of any kind of intrinsic racism as simple demographics. Many more racially diverse places have a higher activity rate for groups like the KKK etc. I haven't lived here long enough to give you a better answer.

[stingraynm]

I agree with norcalmom. You'll be pleasantly surprised by what a non-issue it is. Really, most people will only make it an issue if you try to make it an issue. Otherwise, it's just a different spectrum of light coming into the retina when we look at people. Idaho is also very multi-cultural, even among caucasians, so those differences are treated more as personal preference than something to be uneasy about, just as is the case with hunters and hikers. I'm not going to puke and tell you it's roses, and few individuals in a minority are strangers to the burning of an awkward stare and the out of place feeling that ensues when they're "alone among many" as is said, but in Idaho those stares will be more out of novelty than any ill will. After all, as a demographic fact that you pointed out, it is mostly caucasian.

[Sage of Sagle]

Lack of racial diversity does NOT equate to lack of racial tolerance. I saw WAY more racial friction (among ALL races, the worst of it being black vs hispanic) during several decades living in SoCal.

[mistyriverranch]

We live in a very white and rural small town and while my daughter was in high school, the prom king and the homecoming king were both Hispanic.
Can't be too racist I don't think.

[Avaria]

From my direct experiences - the majority of people I have talked to in Southeast Idaho are racists. They don't seem to express it outwardly, but they will between two "white folks." My ex-hairdresser told me she wont vote for a black man because all the blacks will rise up against us. She said it loud and all the other people in the salon agreed. I am so glad I moved out of there.

[eastidahomom]

I've seen a lot of intolerance. Someone mentioned they do it between whites and I think that's accurate because I hear it all the time. I am one who sticks up for the minorities and have been in many rather heated discussions as a result. I don't like racists, plain and simple and I can honestly say, most who do, don't like themselves. Few of us are Native Americans.

BTW, I'm not black or Hispanic. But my family had to cross the border a few generations ago.

[cleosmom]

Out of all my years living here, I only know of one person who is a blatant racist.

In my opinion, people are people despite skin color/race. Idoits however happen to come in a variety

[eastidahomom]

Originally Posted by cleosmom

Out of all my years living here, I only know of one person who is a blatant racist.

In my opinion, people are people despite skin color/race. Idoits however happen to come in a variety

Now that's a true statement! I'll send you a dm. I think you'll see why I see so much of it then.

[norcalmom101]

Originally Posted by Avaria

From my direct experiences - the majority of people I have talked to in Southeast Idaho are racists. They don't seem to express it outwardly, but they will between two "white folks." My ex-hairdresser told me she wont vote for a black man because all the blacks will rise up against us. She said it loud and all the other people in the salon agreed. I am so glad I moved out of there.

That must have been right before I came in and shut them all up by having a loud conversation about Obama and closet LDS homosexuality with my gay hairdresser.