Interracial Couple moving to Madison, Miss (Jackson, Senatobia: credit, buy, movies)

[joemom]

Hello,
I am in an inter-racial relationship currently living in Virginia with a teenage son. For business reasons my better half maybe relocating to Madison, Mississippi. My question is how will we be treated and looked at? How will my son get along with the other kids? My son is a very happy and friendly child. I am thinking of putting him in Catholic school in Madison. Has Madison moved on from the Mississippi history?

[Indygarden]

I suspect it has. It's not Madison, but when I go to the Wal-mart in Senatobia, I'd say 30% of the women I see have children with them who were clearly fathered by someone of much darker descent than they were. And sometimes I see interracial couples.
And I see quite a few lesbian couples.

And no one is reacting to any of them.

Most of the movies made today that are set in the south, are still set in 1950. That was almost 60 years ago. Maybe it's Hollywood who needs to move on.

We've got some mean and nasty white folk here.
And some equally scary mean and nasty black folk.
But, I do recall mean and nasty folks in every other state I've been in as well, which is all but six states.

[SassyGirl2]

Mississippi is not as it appears in the movies. You will find a much more accepting society here. I do not think you will find the problems you fear. Having said that, you will always find people who are ignorant and vicious no matter where you go. The people of the south are more tolerant than protrayed and most tend to bend over backwards to prove how far we have advanced. Also, there are many adoptive/foster parents, of all descents, who have interracial children; children who, by all appearances, are very well loved.

Good luck with the move and the new job. Hope all works out well for you and your family.

BTW, welcome to C-D. I hope you will stick around. Check out the relationship forum as you will find a good support system if you would like to communicate with others in your particular situation.

[mswebb06]

You will have no problem in Madison, as I live in Madison as well. Madison being a suburb of Jackson, nothing happens around here, there is very little to do here. We you go shopping, out to eat, to the movies or whatever, you might an occassional stare or two but no one will harass you espeically not in the Madison area. I will tell you that my wife and I are looking to move, but only because there is nothing to do here, and that when we have children so that they can have more diverse oppourtunities than what is currently in Jackson.

[ggluvbug]

I think living close to Jackson will make it much easier for you. I won't say that there aren't pockets of stubborn folks who just don't want to change their ways.....that that is all over the US, not just Mississippi. I live on the Coast and no one evens thinks twice about interracial relationships. I would venture to guess that of the students I teach, 10-15%are from interracial relationships. It is not uncommon at all.

[joemom]

does anyone know about St. Joseph's Catholic School?

[bwb2346]

Originally Posted by joemom

does anyone know about St. Joseph's Catholic School?

I know it is a fairly good school in terms of academics. I also know that it serves as a feeder school, athletically speaking, for Madison Central, as any accomplished athlete in any sport is going to get attention from the local public school.

I guess it depends on why you want your kids there. The Madison public school is highly accredited in a fairly affluent town, although much of Madison county itself is lower income or poverty level. If you are going to send your kids to St Joe, you had better buy in Madison or North Jackson, because the reservoir commute stinks and South/West Jackson are economically dying. East Jackson heading towards Ross Barnett Reservoir is OK, but not as safe as Madison will be.

[RUsmilin2]

Originally Posted by bwb2346

I know it is a fairly good school in terms of academics. I also know that it serves as a feeder school, athletically speaking, for Madison Central, as any accomplished athlete in any sport is going to get attention from the local public school.

I guess it depends on why you want your kids there. The Madison public school is highly accredited in a fairly affluent town, although much of Madison county itself is lower income or poverty level. If you are going to send your kids to St Joe, you had better buy in Madison or North Jackson, because the reservoir commute stinks and South/West Jackson are economically dying. East Jackson heading towards Ross Barnett Reservoir is OK, but not as safe as Madison will be.

Athletics are terrible in Madison all together

[merigold307]

What? How odd. The [Madison] Jags are superior in soccer and swimming. I don't follow football, but in those two sports the Jags excel.

[jeanmc]

Of course it has; the people in Madison County are educated. As long as you are refined and educated, you will be judged on that; not anything else. If you are a Christian then you know that people will respond to you in a Christian manner and it has nothing to do with your race. BTW, I am from Madison County Mississippi.