Relocation help! (Minneapolis, Bloomington, Brooklyn Park: apartment complexes, crime rates, attorneys)

[2blessed2stress]

Originally Posted by rcsteiner

I didn't really mean to make light of it, but I guess I didn't realize the extent to which it would impact things. You're right, though -- I've never been in that situation, or when I have (the only contract employee at a site, for example) the difference isn't immediately obvious.

That said, however, I really don't think you'd get gawked at in many of the suburbs. Why? There are so many Somalis in Bloomington, Richfield, and the like that it really isn't that unusual any more to see someone not white.

Somalis are not Black...THEY have these pre-conceived notions of black people and many of them discriminate against Black american's also...

[hotbucki]

We're moving there in August. After reading so many of the posts on here, talking to real estate agents and faculty, we've decided to look at Como/Roseville/Falcon Hts area and Maplewood/Woodbury. I have 5 houses that I've found that seem to fit our needs. It's hard doing this search solely online here in Ohio, but I have faith we'll find something.

[hotbucki]

I'd love to meet with 2Blessed2Stress and mspryce once I arrive there. I'm assuming from your posts that you are also African American?

[rcsteiner]

Originally Posted by 2blessed2stress

Somalis are not Black...THEY have these pre-conceived notions of black people and many of them discriminate against Black american's also...

To my eyes there isn't much physical difference. Wasn't that the stated reason for the gawking?

[$how Me $tate Bred]

Originally Posted by 2blessed2stress

Somalis are not Black...THEY have these pre-conceived notions of black people and many of them discriminate against Black american's also...

What do you mean Somali's are not black?

[2blessed2stress]

Laughing. After I posted that, I knew how it would read. But, trust me, other Black people know what I am saying. They DO NOT consider themselves "black" and DO NOT want to be labeled as "black" because they (like most other races/ethnicities/nationalities) believe that Black is bad!

RCSteiner, I'm sure to your eyes there is no difference. Unfortunately I often cannot tell the difference physically between a Vietnamese person and a Laotian, but they'll be pissed if I mess it up!

I am Black. I do not consider myself African American. Not in a negative way at all. My parents are American. My grandparents on both sides are American. My great grandmother on my mother's side is Irish. She married a man who was part Apache and Black. My great grandmother on my father's side is Caucasian/Black. She married a man who was Caucasian/Black.

Now, at some point, I'm sure I have ancesters from Africa. But I'm American...thus just...Black.

Everyone I know tells me I am difficult...I know it. I know it. but it's just me...

[$how Me $tate Bred]

Originally Posted by 2blessed2stress

Laughing. After I posted that, I knew how it would read. But, trust me, other Black people know what I am saying. They DO NOT consider themselves "black" and DO NOT want to be labeled as "black" because they (like most other races/ethnicities/nationalities) believe that Black is bad!

RCSteiner, I'm sure to your eyes there is no difference. Unfortunately I often cannot tell the difference physically between a Vietnamese person and a Laotian, but they'll be pissed if I mess it up!

I am Black. I do not consider myself African American. Not in a negative way at all. My parents are American. My grandparents on both sides are American. My great grandmother on my mother's side is Irish. She married a man who was part Apache and Black. My great grandmother on my father's side is Caucasian/Black. She married a man who was Caucasian/Black.

Now, at some point, I'm sure I have ancesters from Africa. But I'm American...thus just...Black.

Everyone I know tells me I am difficult...I know it. I know it. but it's just me...

I am black and I understand what you meant now that you have clarified your statement. I do not live in the Twin Cities area but have been considering a move to the area and I realize you have more knowledge about Somali's than I do since I am not in contact with them. But if they think they are not black they better take a look in the mirror.

[JenLee]

Originally Posted by 2blessed2stress

Laughing. After I posted that, I knew how it would read. But, trust me, other Black people know what I am saying. They DO NOT consider themselves "black" and DO NOT want to be labeled as "black" because they (like most other races/ethnicities/nationalities) believe that Black is bad!

RCSteiner, I'm sure to your eyes there is no difference. Unfortunately I often cannot tell the difference physically between a Vietnamese person and a Laotian, but they'll be pissed if I mess it up!

I am Black. I do not consider myself African American. Not in a negative way at all. My parents are American. My grandparents on both sides are American. My great grandmother on my mother's side is Irish. She married a man who was part Apache and Black. My great grandmother on my father's side is Caucasian/Black. She married a man who was Caucasian/Black.

Now, at some point, I'm sure I have ancesters from Africa. But I'm American...thus just...Black.

Everyone I know tells me I am difficult...I know it. I know it. but it's just me...

Thank you, 2blessed2stress! THAT is a beautiful post!

When my son was about 3 or 4, I remember him asking why his friend could be dirty and why I wouldn't let him be dirty too. His friend was Puerto Rican and very tanned that summer; so I told my son and his friend to come with me and called my hubby into the bedroom and we looked in the mirror. Now, I worked nights at the time and my skin tone is normally sallow, my red-headed Irish/Scandinavian hubby was badly sun-burnt that day and my son has an olive complexion and his friend was very dark. I just pointed out to my son that we are ALL different-colored on the surface but we all had the same red blood under our skin, the whites of our eyes were all pretty much the same, and we all had the same red tongues.

I don't think our son (or his friend) ever mentioned skin color again until he was in 8th grade (when he told me his new school only had white kids!).

I hope this doesn't come across wrong; but Black is a whole lot easier to say than African American!

And I agree: the Somali's do not consider themselves as being Black or African Americans; they prefer to be called Somalis!

[2blessed2stress]

You are right on target JenLee

[dbf32771]

Welcome to Minnesota!

If you want diversity and safety try Lake Harriet, Cedar Lake, and Lake Calhoun areas of Mpls. You may want to try the Lake Calhoun area. The Linden Hills area of Mpls. is nice too.

If you want to live in the burbs, any area is very open to diversity. The area with diversity and safety combined is St. Louis Park and Golden Valley. I would not recommend Brooklyn Park, Brooklyn Center, Columbia Heights, and Robbinsdale as the crime is higher in those areas. Parts of Bloomington are ok. It depends on what area of Bloomington. Bloomington is near the airport. I hope that helps you.