mixed race families welcomed in tn? (Johnson City, Kingsport: transplants, schools, university)

[MountainLovin' Mom]

Hi, all,
We're also looking to move to the Johnson City area. Our situation, which leads to my question, is that we are a mixed race family: black dad, white mom, 2 mixed boys. I've been told different things about the people there. Some say it's a wonderful community and the people are great... that they don't have an issue with someone's color. Some say be sure you stay in large cities only cause the smaller communities have lots of racists. Now that I've stumbled onto your conversations about the area, I'd like to ask for your input. Is the tri-city area welcoming to people of all colors??? Would my boys meet lots of nice kids there??

Thanks for your time...

[mbmouse]

I thought you might get more input if you had your own thread so I moved it here.
I think the person who told you to stick to the larger cities was more accurate. Not to say there is a whole lot of a racist issue here, but I found when I lived in more rural counties here in East TN there was a higher number of close minded people than in more populated areas. If your children attend just about any Washington County/City schools or Sullivan County/City schools your children will not be the only mixed race children and I have not heard of any racial issues in any of the local schools here so I think you and your family will be just fine here.
There are a lot of really nice people here, welcome.

[MountainLovin' Mom]

Wow! Thanks. I've been stuck in So. CA for 20 years. I've just now convinced my husband to get me out of here (I'm from Texas... he's from Georgia). I am so excited and nervous about the move. Thank you for your input (and for moving my thread... it's my 1st one, d'uh!)

[mbmouse]

That's ok, we are here to help
I'll get rid of the one in the main TN forum to as here is a better place to get local answers.

[GrannyLois]

I love east Tennessee, and only when I travel, do I (sadly) realize how 'white' our area is. I just came back from Portland, Oregon, with its huge number of Asians and Hispanics, including lots and lots of mixed families. It was so refreshing to see other races in large quantities.

If your kids are friendly, have good self-esteem and visible talents of any kind, they'll be looked up to, I'm sure. But you all will have some racism to deal with .... maybe you do now, too.

My concern would be that they would be in about a 1% minority here, and that would be a hard thing to grow up with.

Of all the places in east Tennessee to live, I would think that Johnson City would be the best for a mixed family, as the university is there.

Good luck to you!

[williboy]

If you go online and put city, state detailed profile; you can find out all the info you will need on a city including the racial breakdown of it's population. We are trying to relocate to the Johnson City area ourselves and have found most everyone we've talked to to be very friendly. Best of luck to you and your family.

[kamoshika]

FWIW, I probably saw more mixed-race couples (always black male, white female) in a few days of Kingsport's Fun Fest than I'd normally see in several months in Metro Atlanta.

While Atlanta has a huge minority population, blacks and whites seem to mingle/socialize less there than they do in the Tri-Cities. Compared to Atlanta and some other large southern cities, I think it's probably fair to say that this area is more thoroughly integrated and that race relations here are less "tense."

That does not mean, however, that you and your husband will be completely free from occasional dirty looks and perhaps even stupid comments from some individuals, given that ignoramuses are everywhere.

Since kids tend to be much less prejudiced than adults, I'm sure your boys would meet tons of friendly & kind young'ns their age in JC...and I think your whole family would be warmly welcomed by most people.

[dreamofmonterey]

Originally Posted by MountainLovin' Mom

Hi, all,
We're also looking to move to the Johnson City area. Our situation, which leads to my question, is that we are a mixed race family: black dad, white mom, 2 mixed boys. I've been told different things about the people there. Some say it's a wonderful community and the people are great... that they don't have an issue with someone's color. Some say be sure you stay in large cities only cause the smaller communities have lots of racists. Now that I've stumbled onto your conversations about the area, I'd like to ask for your input. Is the tri-city area welcoming to people of all colors??? Would my boys meet lots of nice kids there??

Thanks for your time...

Yes. I am very liberal and live in J.C. As you get further out of town people may be more close-minded, but where I am there are alot of NY, NJ and MA transplants. It is very integrated.

[jabogitlu]

Where I live, work and go to school race is a non-issue, as it should be. I guess (maybe) as you got further into the country (south Carter County, Unicoi, etc.) there would be some people who still see differences in blacks, whites, Asians, Hispanics but even those people these days are relegated to "Well I'd never do it myself, but it's others' choice" kind of people.

I don't foresee you having any problems at all.

[MountainLovin' Mom]

Thank you all so much for your input... we're coming out on Aug. 9 for nine days. We'll fly into Atlanta, visit a couple of friends and family there, and then drive up to the tri-city area to check it out. I can't believe we're actually going. I've waited 20 years to move out of CA. Please advise us of any places we really should visit while we're there. Again... thanks!!