Thinking about moving to West Des Moines (Cedar Rapids, Clive: environment, military)

[Family oriented]

Ronnie, do you live in WDM? If so how long?

[Family oriented]

YORKIEMOM Thank you for your input. People in the South, in some parts are pretty friendly, but they still fly the rebel flag around and although they may wave the thought pattern is "you should know your place". I know you can not lump every one in the same pie. In whatever state a person may be in there are some pro's and some con's. I'm hoping that Iowa is a place different from where I am now. From what I have heard it is a nice place. Like I mentioned before I want to raise my childeren in a welcoming enviornment, safe and peaceful. I know the is no "perfect" community but thos are the things that I'm looking for. Down South there are many blacks so people here are used to seeing us around. For instance I looked up the schools --Waukee, I hope I spelled that right will be the elementary school my children will attend and they have only 4% black in the school. I don't want them to be looked upon as the odd ball . That concerns me just a bit. Truly just a bit, because I teach my children that it doesnt matter the color of the skin and they can excel no matter where they are, however , I want them to feel comfortable. I also know that every family isn't teaching acceptance of all people. I am really looking forward to this move, I have been very prayerful about it. I want to make the best decision for my family. It's not like moving from Sc to Ga. Once again I thank you for you in put. If you have anymore I would love to hear it!

[Yorkie_Mom]

Originally Posted by DSMGuy

Style515 (Ronnie) strikes again (banned on most boards around DM)!

I was wondering what you meant by this statement? Would love to hear more, so you can pm me or get back to me asap. Thanks, Yorkie

[Yorkie_Mom]

Family oriented, if you pick the bigger cities, you will not have a problem. My town size is around 20,000 and we have all shapes and colors, I used to work at one of the schools, to me it doesn't make any difference what color or shape you are.
I will be honest with you though, it never used to be that way around our area, and some people need time to get used to the idea, but if you are good folks, you will not have a problem, I promise you that.
Sometimes us white folks need a little adjustment made, and once they see what good folke you are, well I would be more then happy to have you for my neighbors. I also think that speaking for the white population, and if someone don't like what I say they can correct me.
Ok here goes, it doesn't make a difference what color you are, you have your good people and your bad people, no matter if it is white, black, mexican, or anything else I may be missing. It just takes a handful to ruin it for the others. White people don't like gangs, theft, or mainly any problems, even though we have whites that commit the same crimes as other colors do, just to set an example, and sometimes it is easier to be able to handle things if it is your own race.
Whites are also scared of other races turning there town into ghetto's so to speak, with run down neighborhoods, and graffiti, gang violence, you have to admit, those are scary things when you haven't been used to being around it, I said I would be honest, but here goes, yes some of this scares the crap out of me, I have a 12 year old girl, and have to worry about her, and I would in no way go into an area where I felt it to be unsafe.
I love all colors, but at the same time safety is what comes first for my daughter and I. Now I sound like an idiot, but what helped me to adjust was to meet the kids in school, and later on I got to meet the parents of some of the children, I did in no way feel uncomfortable, because it was at a school setting, and not in some neighborhood.
I wish it was so much eaiser for everyone to learn to get along, most of the colored folks all lived down south, and we never got to meet up with you all until not that long ago, but everything is changing now, and it should of changed years ago, maybe then there wouldn't be so many people worried about other colors.
If you ever make it to Minnesota, I would love to give you a warm and happy welcome. I am sorry if this didn't come out like I would have wanted it to, but it is time we all gave each other a chance no matter what color our skin was, so I am sending you a big hug, and I hope you don't take my letter the wrong way, because I really feel bad for the good folks out there that are never given a chance. I will give you that chance and then maybe we can start a trend, and really show this world how to get along. Take care, HUGS FOR EVERYONE AROUND THE WORLD!!!!!!!!!!!! Yorkie

[Tek_Freek]

Originally Posted by RonnieJonez

Yorkie, you need to be realistic. People in Iowa treat those with original ties to the state better than minority newcomers. For some reason, Iowans cannot accept being told that, although it is true. You are a perfect example, I said it is a quiet place but not the most accepting of minorities/newcomer all together. There aren't enough people from other places, that is why.

This person must live in some weird pocket of all-white, racist, I don't wanna knows somewhere. I've lived here my whole life and what he says simply isn't true.

In fact, I live in WDM and I think that on the horseshoe where I live there are perhaps 10 natives of Des Moines out of 50 families. We have neighbors from Kenya (dude won a million dollars on the lotto!) as well as a wide swatch across the US.

Read my post elsewhere regarding diversity. You'll recognize this Ronnie guy in that post.

[Stevie]

Originally Posted by RonnieJonez

Yorkie, you need to be realistic. People in Iowa treat those with original ties to the state better than minority newcomers. For some reason, Iowans cannot accept being told that, although it is true. You are a perfect example, I said it is a quiet place but not the most accepting of minorities/newcomer all together. There aren't enough people from other places, that is why.

No offense, Ronnie, but I think you may be looking at demographic sheets too much.

I go into Des Moines all the time and I find plenty of minorities regardless of which area in the city I am in. Some areas are whiter than others, yes, but the point is minorities are all over in Des Moines and never seem to have problems being accepted.

I grew up in between Drake University and Highland Park, an area that has a very large African American population. When I went to school in that area about half (or more) of the students at my school were African American. Also one of my best friends there was biracial and he was from Milwaukee. I had another biracial friend there and he was from Minnesota. As “minority newcomers” they both seemed to get along with the “original ties” just fine.

And speaking of “ties” I was in a small town in Northern Minnesota once and the locals there all seemed SHOCKED that I was from Iowa. So basically it’s not Iowa that treats those with original ties better than newcomers; it’s small towns. And even in small towns you can still be accepted once in a while.

I lived in West Des Moines for a while. Yes, it was whiter than the other area I grew up in. But I still found plenty of minorities in that area. In fact I found quite a few Asian minorities there.

So unless you're thinking of the suburbs in Los Angeles or whatever then you won't find many more minorities like that in any suburb of any city (at least not the size of Des Moines anyway).

I once looked at the demographics for Cedar Rapids and the African American population there only made up 3% of the city. But when I was in Cedar Rapids one time I found lots of African Americans and even some Hispanics. It may have just been the area I was in.

However, I just don't think you can judge a city by a few census/demographic facts on the Internet. Just my opinion, of course.

[Stevie]

Originally Posted by RonnieJonez

It is probably like 98% white, minorities are very far and few in between. It is a good place to raise a family, but you could find more culture in a wooden shoe.

Oh, I do have to comment on this post. WDM is actually 92.66% white.

[anniniowa]

Come to Waterloo! We have a large African-American community, plus lots to do (between Waterloo and Cedar Falls we have TWO Wal-Marts and TWO theatres, LOL!). Seriously, though, Waterloo has a very diverse population and while we aren't as big as Des Moines, we still have plenty to do with Cedar Falls and UNI right next door, a great waterpark, a new casino opening this summer, shopping, dining, sports...

http://waterloocvb.org/

[Movingrightalong...]

Originally Posted by Family oriented

I live in South Carolina at the present, Im trying to decide if I should stay here move to Iowa or NC. School is the reason, Drake, USC and UNC. However I am ex-Air Force, single parent going back to school to finish my degree in Elementary Education. Is WDSM a family oriented place, how is it when it comes to acceptance of blacks. I'm really looking for a welcoming community. I don't need much, but good schools for my children, a Walmart, Target, and a movie theater. We are pretty low key. Thanks for the input in advance.

Hi,

I've never lived in North Carolina so I'm not in much of a position to compare...

West Des Moines is a relative "new" city, much of the stuff around here seems to have grown right out of the cornfields in the past 10 years. All of the "typical" chains of suburbia exist here, surrounding a very new mall. Real estate isn't cheap relative to the rest of Des Moines, and property taxes are relatively high. Also, rush hour traffic is a bit of a bother during weekdays and the local police spend an inordinate amount of time setting speed traps.

It's not a bad place. There are people of varying heritages all over Des Moines and I'd say that racism is a non-factor here. The smaller towns around the state tend to vary a bit. Some judge people based on their behavior, personality, and work ethic. Everyone appreciates a good neighbor. Others are quite insular and you could live there for a decade and never truly be at home.

Good luck. By the way, if by USC you mean the University of Southern California, from what I know of that school it doesn't sound like the sort of place you'd want to move and enroll a child in a local school. It's in a bit of a rough neighborhood.

[EscapeCalifornia]

Originally Posted by Movingrightalong...

Hi,
By the way, if by USC you mean the University of Southern California, from what I know of that school it doesn't sound like the sort of place you'd want to move and enroll a child in a local school. It's in a bit of a rough neighborhood.

Understatement of the year. Its not a place you want to exit the freeway, much less leave your children in.