Anyone else encounter racism in Yorkville, Sandwich and Plano, IL (Chicago: apartment, daycare)

[Southerngal79]

I have been in Kendall County for over 6 years now. I have to say once I left Oswego and moved to Plano and later into Yorkville, I was appalled at the underline racism. I have been called derogatory names and gawked at in public places. The ignorance is even passed down to children, you get stared at in the Library, at public events "Homecoming Parade" people won't sit by you and don't talk to you intentionally don't throw candy to your child because they are black, at the local Super Target. Recently we moved to Bristol Bay a huge subdivision and I had a man drive by in a pick-up truck spit out the window in my direction and call me a ******. My parent lived in the Senior Apartment community and she was the only African American that ever lived there. The people would stare and the other seniors would say things initially like, "There she is, there's the ******." My Daughter went to a daycare in town and was treated badly, I noticed that many of the Hispanic and Black children previously enrolled when we had placed her at the center later withdrew and many of the teachers of Hispanic race quit or transferred to another center. My child attended the Sandwich festival this year and while at the local gas station getting gas a woman riding on the back of a motor cycle hollered out, "Woo, this ****** is making me quiver." I can go on and on the many encounters I have had in Plano, Yorkville and Sandwich. On the bright side, my child graduates high school soon and we are running not walking, far, far away from this town and county. I will say I have seen more diversity in the past 3-years. My physicians are great, but I will tell you there is an element of deep rooted racism or undertone I should say. I have been nearly ran off the road late at night by crazed people in pick-up trucks. I am from the South and I have to say this is the worse and most I have ever encountered racism in my life. Why the hostility and anger in a town that is encouraging people to relocate, that claims to want growth. I am disgusted with it. When I take my child to play groups or sign her up for extracurricular classes I take her to Aurora to avoid the issues. I just wondered if anyone else has experienced anything similar and so profound. It's hidden the racism here most times but it's always there, lurking in the background. I hate it here, I really do. I loathe it at this point. May can not arrive fast enough for us to move on from this place!

[chet everett]

I cannot speak to any of your specific experiences as I am not a minority. That said I have spent quite a bit of time the areas around Sandwich and Plano. In a fact a good friend of mine is gay and lives out that way. He is a collector of American made Craftsmen furniture and he has never said other than nice things about his neighbors and their acceptance of the lifestyle he and his partner live. The partner is Hispanic and works in Aurora as a health professional. He too has never said other than nice things about his coworkers and neighbors...

It is true that there are lot more folks out that way that do work in more traditional trades, drive traditional full sized pick-ups and otherwise are a lot less "urban" in their ways. However I tend to suspect that the majority of even the least sophisticated people with the appearance of a "rural" lifestyle would know that racial epithets stares and not fairly handing out candy are rude and ought not be acceptable behavior. Perhaps as folks gradually focus less on superficial appearances this will change.

[Foques]

Yeah, this reminds me of my last project in Chicago when a African American family walked out and started calling me a cracker...

[linicx]

Ignorant people are taught ignorance and disrespect starting at a young age. Now they are adults who think it is their right and duty to be as offensive as possible. I would move and blog about it. I would certainly make my thoughts known at the city and county level.

[mjtinmemphis]

Southergal,

I feel your pain. I've run into more hostile and racist people in Chicago than any other place I've lived. Many here are in denial of how far behind the city is when it comes to Black and White race relations. Oh it's liberal this or this is how it's always been so let's keep it that way is the attitude of many.

[westcoastforme]

There are idiots everywhere you go. Maybe Kendall has more idiots than other places

[nsg1]

Yes will have been living in Yorkville IL for a couple of years in a Heartland. The kids avoid my kids because we are minority. The are very "clicky" but should not surprise me because the parents are the same. What I find intresting is that they act like fools with the extra marital affair & domestic abuse and their obnoxious drinking parties but we are looked down upon? Not that we are perfect but we are quiet, clean and pretty friendly. We have Masters degrees & one of us served our country yet we are excluded?? My kids don't leav garbage at the parks or swear but thy do but still not talked to??? Very sad and ignorant.

[linicx]

First of all thank you serving our country. No Veteran should be disrespected. Regardless!!!

IL is an AG state with many small communities that are predominately white by a large margin. It is a fact of life. The towns are clannish, small-minded, closed, rude. and more than a few were 'Sundown' towns that act like the still are. I do not know that attending church makes much difference. Small IL communities are no different than those small communities in MO or GA or IA or MN.

To get away from the nonsense, it is necessary to live in an a town that is not only has a larger AA population, that has been racially integrated for many years, and it also encourages groups of all sizes and colors to interact with the city. The city in turn creates parks, community events. and things for children, and families to enjoy. These cities do not exclude based on race, religion, or personal lifestyle. There is no segregated living. No oe will tell an AA family who can buy a mansion they have to live in a ghetto or farm town.

When you find a city that has a wide variety of colors, events, churches, temple, and mosque, and big parks you may find your home. With master's there should be zero probable finding a job. The cities I know do not have so many residents with Master or PhD degrees that they can afford to be arrogant and ignorant, too. .

[todd00]

I was reading a bit about Yorkville and wondered if at least part of this doesn't have to do with the growth of the town. Perhaps at least some of the original residents and their extended families aren't happy seeing it change and outsiders moving in. The population was about 6100 back in 2000 and as of 2012 had grown to almost 17,500 people.

Small towns can be cliquish, even some with the attitude if you haven't lived in the area for generations then you are an outsider. In northwest Iowa there are a couple of towns that won't accept you well if not of Dutch heritage and very religious. People can be really petty and weird. There are plenty of threads on CD about these subjects. A larger minority population doesn't always assure a non-segregated friendly community either. Some towns are just more friendly and welcoming to new people than others. If possible it's always smart to make several trips to a town where ya might want to live. Talk to folks in the stores, restaurants, ask questions, and see how ya get treated. NSG1, I hope you find a better community to call home.

[linicx]

I traced my Dutch roots to the Low Countries in the early 16th century. A large minority population doesn't mean a thing unless its integrated, contributes to, and is part of. the whole. Communities make it happen or break it, either overtly, or in a dozen different subtle ways.

If you really want to know how a town ticks check in a motel. Spend the first night examining the local newspaper and also the phone book front to back. Look at churches. If they are all one kind that practices the same basic dogma, go home. Look at the types of restaurants. Look at organizations, societies, unions, and trade schools. Lood at schools. The second day go to the grocery stores. Who do you see? What type of foods do you find on the shelves? Talk to the shoppers. People are more likely to respond to a compliment from a stranger; then ask the question, "What's the best restaurant for breakfast?" . The third day eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner in the local restaurants. Check out the parks, walk on the main streets, go in the stores and spend your money. Then drive off the main streets. Look at the public buildings such as churches and library. By the 4th day you will know if this is a town where you are comfortable and might want to relocate.

You will find a lot of frogs before you meet your princess. I did this severe times before I moved. I found great restaurants in towns where I would never move a family.