Is Maine a racist state? My family and I are wanting to move there. (Presque Isle: buy, live)

[mainebrokerman]

Originally Posted by JoshCube

Hello everyone,

My family and I are wanting to move to Maine because it has a really good education system, and we love the beautiful scenery. However, there is one thing I am just a little bit skeptical about. I went on U.S. Census and found out that Maine is 95.6% white, and I am assuming this place is very racist due to this. I have taken sociology classes, and they have pointed out that areas where one specific race populates can tend to have discriminatory factors.

I am not black, I am a Sicilian (Italian) with dark colored skin. I currently live in Wisconsin, and I have run into a ton of racial situations up here. I have had people "assume" my ethnicity to be Arabic; say rude things such as me "blowing up buildings"; and have been racial profiled here a lot by people AND the police. When I tell people that I am Sicilian and not Arabic, they just look at me with confused faces. Wisconsin is 86% white on U.S. Census when I last checked, and I haven't made ANY friends the entire 6 years I've lived here. So yeah, does Maine's population of people act like this? I just want to know what I am getting myself into before I spend a lot of time and money moving there. I seriously don't want to be stuck in another state where every time I walk some place, someone is looking at me like I am an alien from another planet. Someone told me that Maine has a large Italian community, and that I shouldn't have this problem due to this.

Really looking forward to hearing some responses. Thank you.

YOU are assuming maine is very racist?

and then you go on to say how folks stereotype you as a middle-eastener? not sicilian?

if your post is honest, then knowing how wrong it is for others to ASSUME about you, then why would You do the same??? (ASSUME about a whole state's population? )



if you are seriously looking to move to maine - move to portland,

we welcome sicilians up here, tony soprano brought his daughter up here to look at colleges

[Maine Writer]

Originally Posted by tcrackly

Calm down everyone. I understand the poster's position. The premise is that because there are fewer people of color that diversity is restricted or unwanted----in other words, it's implied that there is a reason for a place being 96% white. You don't think I had my concerns, too, at one time?

Calm down? Who's riled up? When someone makes a racist remark like his they should expect to be called out on it.

There's a difference between being concerned about acceptance and assuming an entire state is filled with racists. I can't imagine you thought we're all racist.

[tcrackly]

Maine Writer, please quote my posts fully. I never referred to Maine or anyone as racist. I have a long history with Maine going back to my childhood from early family connections. I am simply stating that is in not unusual as a person of color to have reservations about going from an obviously diversified area to a more homogeneous area where people like yourself are fewer. Take my word for it. This is a cynicism that is ingrained in us from lifelong bad experiences. I'm happy to say that love and an adventurous spirit won out and and no manner of fears were realized.
You don't have to understand this feeling to accept that it exists. That is why this question keeps cropping up in this and other forum threads. It is not an indictment of Maine, specifically, it is just an observation based on unfortunate events that have existed long before either of us. Events that are sadly not uncommon in American history.

[7th generation]

Now that the OP has riled up the regulars, we'll sit back and see if it's a drive by or not.

[tcrackly]

Not riled.

[tceffo]

I am not black, I am a Sicilian (Italian) with dark colored skin.

- hey me too
Come to Jersey,,thats where all us Sicilians hang out - -hah

[Maine Writer]

Originally Posted by tcrackly

Maine Writer, please quote my posts fully.

For goodness sake, I did.

I never referred to Maine or anyone as racist.

I didn't say you did. I clearly said "I can't imagine you thought we're all racist." We can't have a conversation this way so I'll bow out.

[msina]

Is Maine a racist state? My family and I are wanting to move there.

No.

[tcrackly]

One of the things I've always liked about Maine is that there are fewer people with deeply ingrained preconceived notions about those that are different. They are just regarded "different" and then the learning begins. The discussion gets more difficult when, as the poster points out, it is tainted with with bad experiences.
Maine Writer , I'm sorry you were so sensitive to my statements. I was merely pointing out that there are degrees of intolerance, from minor discomfort with things unfamiliar to outright racism. Seeing a statistical population demographic that is more extremely skewed from the national average does make one think, that is if one is a member of a "minority" or looks like a stereotype of an unpopular group. That's not an uncommon thought.

[rdt2usmc]

To the OP. I'm an black male in an interracial marriage in Northern Maine. Limestone in Aroostook County to be exact. I was a bit skeptical moving here from Hawaii once I finished up my military service. My wife insisted we move to either Maine or Alaska, lol. I agreed which ever place I received a job offer, we shall go. When we arrived, I was overcome by the sheer generosity of the people here. We love it so much that we've decided to buy a home in either Presque Isle or Houlton.