Looking to relocate- 'My husband's black and I'm white- will we be okay there? (Jackson: apartment, rent)

[PITBOSS]

I'm going to be honest, most of the people I know do not like seeing interracial couples. Although I don't think you'll have any problems aside from people turning their heads or avoiding you.

[Jammie]

Hey Pittboss, it just sounds like you need to get to know some nicer people.

[alanpierce]

i think yall will be good there. i agree with others when they say that it iis mostly the seniors that focus on the racial issues. i am only 17 years old but i live in grenada over on sundown road and i know that most of the younger generation is cool with bi-racial relationships

[Devallsbluff]

Relax,we've got a great mayor and a great city. Please don't believe what the media says about Mississippi

[Mississippienne]

Yes, there are people who won't approve, and I would counsel an interracial couple to stick to the cities, like Jackson or Biloxi. It'd be really difficult to be accepted in any of the small, rural towns (not that there ain't no racemixing out there, too, but it's all "behind the shed" kind of thing, not out in the open). Here in Gulfport I do see lots of interracial couples of several different kinds, and I've truly not overheard anyone making any rude comments or staring.

[charlie92]

I'm in Union,MS (east central MS) and only have about a 13% black population. This town and it's people for the most part are racially biased against ALL non-whites..just not blacks. It is ironic that the most prejudiced white folks are "prominent church-going pillars of the community". I moved here from a western state about 4 years ago and the racial bias here makes me sick. I have studied a lot on southern culture and especially MS history and it is or was at least part of their upbringing. It was tuff for myself ( a white adult male) to be accepted here since i was labeled a "northerner" an d was probably down here to "stir things up". Once it was discovered I did not hate black people I was labeled a "n__ger lover" which is worse than if i was an African American. That is my honest $.02 worth...good luck to you both!

Charlie

[SashaBlue]

I have lived in MS most of my life and agree that it depends on where you live in the state as to how much racism you will experience. However, racism will be the least of your worries. You will also find that there is prejudice among the social classes. Namely there are only two social classes here - rich and poor. In other words, if your children attend public schools you will be considered "poor", but if they attend prep schools like Jackson Prep, Madison-Ridgeland Academy, Jackson Academy, etc., you are considered "rich". The same goes for what kind of car you drive and where you live. Here in the Jackson metro area, if you live in Madison then that means you are "rich" but if you live in Pearl, then you are "poor". You will find that this is one of the first things people will ask you, "Where do you live?", and based on your answer, they will place you in a category as either "rich" or "poor". It's totally ridiculous. The same goes for church, and oh, if you live in MS you HAVE to go to church if you want to be successful in business. Not only go to church, but go to the "right church". If you go to First Baptist Jackson or Galloway Methodist then it is known that you have money; if you go to a small non-denominational church or a smaller Baptist church, etc., then you are not considered important in the community. I dislike MS very much, but my family is here and I choose to be with them. Do yourself a favor and do not live inside the city limits of Jackson. The crime is astronomical. If you can live with social class intolerance, then you will do fine in MS.

[SashaBlue]

I lived in Vicksburg in the 1980s and can't stand the place. It is racially intolerant and the blacks and the whites separate themselves for the most part. The casinos coming in during the 1990s changed the level of tolerance somewhat, but Vicksburgers are snooty know-it-alls who think they have a clue what life is all about. It was very difficult to make friends because they accept no outsiders. Keep looking... don't plant your roots in Vicksburg.

[cncguy2000]

I agree with Mississippienne, I see mixed couples on coast, I have friends that are mixed couples, not a big deal here, not sure about upper part of state.

[Lynn65]

Muskrad is absolutely correct in his explantion of mixed marriages livng in MS. I have known several that have successfully established residence in MS but mainly in the larger cities. The Delta is off limits. I lived in Greenwood for many years and to say they are behind the times is a complete understatement. There are two resturants in particular in Greenwood that refuse to wait on "people of color".

For example: My family is white, my dad Irish, my mom Italian. We frequented one of these two resturants on a regular basis an average of once a week. My dad loved their homemade chocolate pie. One summer my parents went to Jamacia for a week on vacation and when they came back went to their favorite resturant. Now mind you my mom's mom was born on the boat on the way over here from Italy. So a week in Jamacia turned her rather dark rather fast. They sat there at the table for 30 mins waitresses going by ignoring them and giving my dad dirty looks. He being Irish and not a patient man lost it grabbed on who was again passing by their table and asked them what the problem was. The lady politely and quitely leaned over and whispered in my dad's ear, now "Mr. Martin you know we don't serve coloreds here." They were all embarrassed when they realised their mistake. And that's just one small example of how behind the times the Delta is. Stay clear.

I do know a mixed couple who lives in the Jackson area. He is white and she is black. Very beautiful smart woman. She is a nurse and he manages a fast food resturant. They do fine but they deal with their share of problems in the area.

Black or white I wouldn't live in Jackson, North, South, East or West and suburbs are not always color friendly.

Suburbs of Memphis and Memphis area are a very accepting area. The MS Coast is as well due to the hugh military base and casino area where mixed race couples are more common.

Good luck. And welcome to MS from one of many who doesn't see color but the person before them only for who they are.