Just got back from Fairhope.... (Mobile, Gulf Shores: 2009, hotel, homes)

[adventuregurl]

...and I absolutely loved the eastern shore. I don't think Mobile is my cup of tea, I just didn't feel completely safe there and the energy felt kinda heavy to me (I know that some of you may be up in arms about that but it's just my honest feedback). I must also state that I didn't spend much time there, so it may have been different if I did.

Alabama is a wonderful gem though and it was so nice to be there. Fairhope was a little jewel as was Gulf Shores (but not to live, for me anyhow).

The weather wasn't great - cloudy and rainy most of the time but I understand that is not the norm.

I did experience some major racism in Fairhope which was rather upsetting to say the least. I just couldn't believe that in this day and age that that kind of thing can happen...in that regards, it's way behind other places I've been and I don't have tolerance for it so it almost turned me off. I hope this was an isolated incident. I believe all beings are equal.

I tried some really wonderful southern food....yummy! Hush puppies, grits, trigger fish, shrimp, craw fish etc.

Well, that's all for now.

[oscottscotto]

Hey, everyone has their own opinion. Glad you enjoyed the stay. Please tell me you didn't go north of Spring Hill or south of Government while east of I-65 in Mobile. I don't think that would be any newcomer's "cup of tea" . Did you perhaps go to midtown or west of I-65?

Glad you finally took the trip, whether it was a good experience or not. Sorry for any "racism" that might of occured. Any rural setting can provide that unfortunately. Fwiw, here in town (STL), I just finished having drinks with American whites, American blacks, Spaniards, and Italians.

[adventuregurl]

Originally Posted by oscottscotto

Hey, everyone has their own opinion. Glad you enjoyed the stay. Please tell me you didn't go north of Spring Hill or south of Government while east of I-65 in Mobile. I don't think that would be any newcomer's "cup of tea" . Did you perhaps go to midtown or west of I-65?

Glad you finally took the trip, whether it was a good experience or not. Sorry for any "racism" that might of occured. Any rural setting can provide that unfortunately. Fwiw, here in town (STL), I just finished having drinks with American whites, American blacks, Spaniards, and Italians.

Well we did drive around after we crossed the bridge from the eastern shore and initially made a right turn I think along Water St. and ended up on a freeway that went along Pritchard which was definately bad looking (we wanted to turn around and go the other way but were too scared to get off) but then we took the 65 I think and got off at 98 which was Spring Hill and drove along that and Government and the homes were beautiful but it was more the feel that I wasn't crazy about so I guess it's not for me. I just loved the other side though, especially Fairhope.

Where I live (and anywhere I have lived) I don't witness racism the same way as I did there (and it was from a guy who mans the booth to the park down by the pier...maybe I should send a letter to the town in case he is an employee of theirs). I am white myself but just cannot believe that people can feel this way in this day and age (it's 2009 people!)...even in Fairhope there is a section where the African Americans live that is seperate....that is sad to me, we are all humans and equal.

[LovinDecatur]

The Eastern Shore is delightful; I'm surprised more people don't know about it, although I'm not sure that would be a good thing.

[karena]

Originally Posted by adventuregurl

...and I absolutely loved the eastern shore. I don't think Mobile is my cup of tea, I just didn't feel completely safe there and the energy felt kinda heavy to me (I know that some of you may be up in arms about that but it's just my honest feedback). I must also state that I didn't spend much time there, so it may have been different if I did.

Alabama is a wonderful gem though and it was so nice to be there. Fairhope was a little jewel as was Gulf Shores (but not to live, for me anyhow).

The weather wasn't great - cloudy and rainy most of the time but I understand that is not the norm.

I did experience some major racism in Fairhope which was rather upsetting to say the least. I just couldn't believe that in this day and age that that kind of thing can happen...in that regards, it's way behind other places I've been and I don't have tolerance for it so it almost turned me off. I hope this was an isolated incident. I believe all beings are equal.

I tried some really wonderful southern food....yummy! Hush puppies, grits, trigger fish, shrimp, craw fish etc.

Well, that's all for now.

I am also considering a move to Fairhope for all the same reasons you are. My big concern, is also racism, because I have no tolerance for it also. I would like to know more about the incident you encountered. If you don't fell free to discuss it on the general forum, would you please send me a private message.

[southernnaturelover]

Adventuregurl, what type of "racism" did you experience? You say you're white, was the other person white too? Was it white on white racism? Not sure I understand here.

[southernnaturelover]

Originally Posted by oscottscotto

Please tell me you didn't go north of Spring Hill or south of Government while east of I-65 in Mobile. I don't think that would be any newcomer's "cup of tea" .

No doubt. LOL

[humacaena]

adventuregurl,

Sorry you had a bad experience at the Pier. Yes, I would write to the Mayor's office and report it. Whatever this yo-yo said that was racist needs to be addressed. Many blacks come to the beach and have family picnics on the weekends, many times outnumbering the others who come to the park, and that is perfectly OK with folks here. I take my afternoon ride through there and go visit with the cats that live at the end of the park area...so I am very familiar what goes on at the beach.

The black areas you refer to as being segregated are areas that have existed as longer than Fairhope has. When the first group of white settlers that came from Iowa to establish the Single Tax Colony, there were already black ( or creole as they were referred to) families in Fairhope. The predominant areas were the descendants still live are south of town, in the Twin Beech and Point Clear areas. These lands were handed down since then, and if it seems the whites are separating them, it's perhaps the opposite. If they own the land, why should they move? Think about that. Around the corner from The Grand Hotel and the very expensive homes in Point Clear, are the old black neighborhoods...walking distance, and the owners of these very homes built them knowing what was there. I would not call that separatism.

There is a book "Images of America", by Cathy Donelson that has many photos and history of the town. It is quite interesting. Also, much of this info is found at the Museum of History.

[adventuregurl]

Originally Posted by southernnaturelover

Adventuregurl, what type of "racism" did you experience? You say you're white, was the other person white too? Was it white on white racism? Not sure I understand here.

Ok, here is the story as it will make more sense to you if you understand it:

We went to the park immediately to the right of the main pier in Fairhope and pulled up to the gate attendant, we were just going to take a quick drive through but decided not to as the fee was $8.00 and we had so many other things to see so I told him I was just going to turn the car around and leave. With a big smile on his face, he said that there was a green van in the park (down by the water there) and that it was full of black people and there were all kinds of black children in it and he asked us (2 women) to go in there and tell them to get out of the park or he was going to have to call the police. My jaw almost hit the ground and I felt like saying 'are you for real' but he kept going on about it and even inferred that if we did, we could get in free. I was really speechless and we just said we were leaving. I was TOTALLY disgusted and really should have told him that they had as much right to be there as anyone did but I was in such shock that I didn't. I regret this now but my friend who used to live there said that's often the mentality of the south.

Later, a woman I met who lives in Fairhope, and is a friend of my friend (who was with me) told me it was probably his version of flirting with us. Seriously!!!

[adventuregurl]

Originally Posted by humacaena

adventuregurl,

Sorry you had a bad experience at the Pier. Yes, I would write to the Mayor's office and report it. Whatever this yo-yo said that was racist needs to be addressed. Many blacks come to the beach and have family picnics on the weekends, many times outnumbering the others who come to the park, and that is perfectly OK with folks here. I take my afternoon ride through there and go visit with the cats that live at the end of the park area...so I am very familiar what goes on at the beach.

The black areas you refer to as being segregated are areas that have existed as longer than Fairhope has. When the first group of white settlers that came from Iowa to establish the Single Tax Colony, there were already black ( or creole as they were referred to) families in Fairhope. The predominant areas were the descendants still live are south of town, in the Twin Beech and Point Clear areas. These lands were handed down since then, and if it seems the whites are separating them, it's perhaps the opposite. If they own the land, why should they move? Think about that. Around the corner from The Grand Hotel and the very expensive homes in Point Clear, are the old black neighborhoods...walking distance, and the owners of these very homes built them knowing what was there. I would not call that separatism.

There is a book "Images of America", by Cathy Donelson that has many photos and history of the town. It is quite interesting. Also, much of this info is found at the Museum of History.

Thanks so much for clarifying that humacaena, it makes me feel better.

I ate lunch at the Grand Hotel, it was lovely!