Attitudes toward biracial children (Billings, Missoula: school, college, living)

[chewybaby12571]

My husband and I live in Texas. We have 3 adopted children one of which is biracial (black/white). He is a majority race here in our town but we are afraid of how he will be received if we move. I plan I graduating from nursing school in Aug 2007 and we really want to move to the Billings, Montana area. Does anyone have any feelings on how we would be received?

[MagpiesMagpiesMagpies]

Hi -- I think you'll find most people in the Mountain West follow the live/let live principle. If your son has got a good character & can adapt to the locals' way of doing things, he should get on pretty well. My experience with the few African American families that lived in my town was that they were all very well respected community members.

That said, in MT, ID, WY there isn't a long tradition of diversity. It's all pretty caucasian. But there is a good side to that in the fact that people don't generally grow up with racism as part of their day to day lives.

That's my take anyway. You should do OK.

Magpies.

[cluckk]

As a relocated Texan who has lived in Montana and now Idaho, I don't think you'll have any problem, especially in the Missoula area. Here in Northern Idaho there is more problem in this regard, but we still have several biracial kids in our town and they seem to enjoy living here. Most people in the area are open and accepting.

You will probably have more of a problem than the kids because you are from outside of the community. People are slow to accept those from outside and take time to warm-up. In Missoula this is not such a problem though because it's a college town with new people coming in and out regularly.

[elevation]

It frightens me that you would even have to ask! Actually, it is more sad, than frightening, that we just respond like your asking about hardware stores in the area.

Best of luck! Go to community that will embrace you AND your children.

[chewybaby12571]

Why do you think I was asking. I have had my son since he was an infant and it would suprise you the attitudes that people have. This is why I posed the question so that I may find a place for us to live and be happy without being confronted with closed mindedness.

[elevation]

No, It does not surprise me the attitudes that people have, it saddens me!

The point is - You - anybody - should simply be able to just go wherever you - they - desire to live and not have to ask first - and be happy without needing to worrying about ridiculous prejudice and closed mindedness.

I understand, but I just don't get it! In one post I'm in awe of a woman and her work in the area of Civil Rights - and in another I am reminded of why we need to keep being in awe of people and their work in civil rights!