Interracial Couple considering Madison (Wausau, Marinette: neighborhoods, tenants, public schools)

[Hatless Wonder]

Hi! I'm Black, Hubby's White, and we're looking to leave Boston in a year or two. I like cold winters, and I lived in Steven's Point for 2 years when I was very young. U'm going to be a nurse, so findong a job shouldn't be a problem.

How is the racial climate in Madison? I'm aware of problems between Hmong and Whites, and I'm a bit concerned. How is the economy? Would a biracial kid have problems there?

[Chelito23]

I wasn't aware of a problem between the Whites and Hmongs in Madison. I have heard of racial tension in Wausau, but not Madison. I suppose it is like anywhere else, you always have a few bad apples that spoil the bunch, and then people label the entire area as a place with racial tension.

Madison is pretty open and accepting all across the board. Race, sexuality, political beliefs etc. A biracial couple would have no problems here that they wouldn't have in Boston or any other large city.

The Madison Public schools are 50% "minotity." Pretty diverse, even though the city on a whole is only 15% minority. I think you all would be fine here.

[Sideblinded]

How is the racial climate in Madison? I'm aware of problems between Hmong and Whites, and I'm a bit concerned. How is the economy? Would a biracial kid have problems there?

Nope! I grew up in Madison in the 60's-70's and went to school with multi-racial children, it was not an issue way back then.

Very liberal for the most part. (East side more than the west) You might like East side: Marquette, Tenney or Yahara Neighborhoods. West side: Closer to UW campus the better.

Good luck, you will love it there.

[Drover]

The white/Hmong issue is more of an upstate thing. There was a high-profile incident two years ago where a Hmong hunter shot 8 white hunters on their own property, 6 of them fatally. Two weeks ago a Hmong hunter was found shot dead in a public wildlife park in Marinette County. Charges have been filed in that case against a white hunter. Much of the tension stems from the fact that some Hmong hunters are not accustomed to and/or familiar with American private property rights. Trespassing and firearms can be a problematic combination.

Madison, on the other hand, is consciously and conspicuously progressive. Folks will bend over backwards to show you how progressive they are almost to the point of being patronizing. You'll probably encounter fewer problems in Madison than any other place this side of Berkeley.

[weshop94]

Very racially made-up would recommend it

[gzo13]

As an ethnic minority living in Madison, I have to say that the place is welcoming to "people of color" . . . but to a certain extent.

You have to get used to the subtle racism that exists here because discrimination is not too overt in these parts. I also think that many white people who are lifelong Madisonians hold very stereotypical views on different cultural and ethnic groups. They can be very paternalistic at times.

It's also very frustrating not to have venues that cater specifically to minority groups. The very few that exist here either get a bad rap (hip-hop night clubs) or get burned to the ground (Latino night club/sports bar). The only hip hop station recently changed format without warning.

The social scene for young minority people here is also severely lacking in options. If you are non-Mexican Hispanic, some people still think you are Mexican, despite your objections.

I enjoy living here a lot. But these are few of the things I've noticed about racial attitudes in Madison.

[wildfan]

Originally Posted by Hatless Wonder

Hi! I'm Black, Hubby's White, and we're looking to leave Boston in a year or two. I like cold winters, and I lived in Steven's Point for 2 years when I was very young. U'm going to be a nurse, so findong a job shouldn't be a problem.

How is the racial climate in Madison? I'm aware of problems between Hmong and Whites, and I'm a bit concerned. How is the economy? Would a biracial kid have problems there?

Funny even asking this today especially in madison a college town....

[Drover]

Originally Posted by wildfan

Funny even asking this today especially in madison a college town....

Being in a college town is no guarantee that the surrounding community is particularly liberal/progressive, especially here in the Midwest. Around here it's not uncommon for a university to be an island of social and political liberalism in the middle of an otherwise conservative town, with attendant culture clashes between the students and the locals. Even though I lean toward political and social conservatism, one thing I appreciate about Madison is that it lacks this type of culture clash since the local culture and the university culture are basically seamless, and this makes for a more peaceful setting. The downside of course is the lack of exposure to other viewpoints, which can lead to intellectual atrophy and false sense that everyone believes the same things you do.

[Drover]

Originally Posted by gzo13

It's also very frustrating not to have venues that cater specifically to minority groups. The very few that exist here either get a bad rap (hip-hop night clubs) or get burned to the ground (Latino night club/sports bar

First of all, the seriousness of the situation is bad enough without using hyperbole like it was "burned to the ground." Tenants in the same building were allowed to return the next day so the place obviously didn't burn to the ground. The sprinkler system caused more damage than the fire did. Second, you don't know what the motive is yet (unless you know who did it and why, in which case the police would love to chat with you), so let's not be so hasty in attributing it to racism.

[hyrazz]

i am white, my wife is black. we have lived in madison as a married couple for about 6 years. coming from a small town i like the fact that we can go out and nobody even seems to notice or care that we are a "mixed "couple. living here we just feel like a couple. the economy is quite good.