moving to nm (Albuquerque: crimes, home, live in)

[curiousgeorge09]

Hi, please do not think my question is insulting...just need honest answer. I am in an interracial marriage(black/white). We are thinking of moving to New Mexico in the northwest corner. We have never been to the area before and are curious about being accepted in new areas. We would appreciate any help you could give us, thanks!

[mortimer]

Almost no one will notice.

The best plan for you is to visit and see if anyone pays attention
to a couple who is both melanin-enhanced and melanin-challenged.

Go to restaurants. Go to pools ( let the darker
one slather on the sunscreen for the lighter one ).

Better yet, have a nice visit and see the sights.
You'll get back home and realize that it was fun.

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by mortimer

Almost no one will notice.

The best plan for you is to visit and see if anyone pays attention
to a couple who is both melanin-enhanced and melanin-challenged.

Go to restaurants. Go to pools ( let the darker
one slather on the sunscreen for the lighter one ).

Better yet, have a nice visit and see the sights.
You'll get back home and realize that it was fun.

good advise, no one can decide what will work for an individual or couple like the person or person themselves. I know in ABQ acceptance would be no problem, but NW who knows. It is smaller and not as transient.

Nita

[Solidwood]

One good quality of NM is its multi-ethnic communities. The NW part of the state is no different. I have lived near the NW for years and can safely say that you are not likely to have problems there. There have been incidents of so-called "racial crimes" but I believe that to be a mis-nomer. The crimes were against street-people or drunks. It wouldn't matter what race they were.

[GreatSantaFe]

Like others have said, I too doubt you'll raise an eyebrow. One of the things I love about New Mexico is its multi-ethnicity. Whites, browns and reds predominate, with much fewer blacks and yellows, but in a state with so much color in it, it would be hard for most residents to be prejudiced against any one hue. Of course there'll always be some idiots who feel better about themselves when they trash others, but you'll find those troglodytes in every state - so don't worry about those few, just live free and enjoy all that this state has to offer.
It is good advice to come for a visit. You may want to check out other parts of the state to see what vibe you get from each. I wish you both the best.

[songinthewind7]

I think that NM is the only state I've lived in that doesn't care about that.
Too bad you still in this day have to ask the question you did but you will be welcome in this state.

[Radicat]

African Americans have played a part in the development of New Mexico from the earliest of times.

They have fought and died with honor defending others. Many who came with white families in the 1800's stayed and became an integral part of New Mexican society. There are many accounts of their relationships with early Anglo and Mexican families that lift the heart. Prominent men such as Oliver Lee had life-long African American friends who came to New Mexico with them as part of the family. One gentleman operated a ranch for him for over 35 years.

I would be ashamed of any community that would make you uncomfortable. I wish you happiness and success in New Mexico.

[casden]

Actually, I looked up African American History in New Mexico, and it goes back to the first non-Native American Explorers who came into that area. There was a black man who went into New Mexico in the 1500s with the first Spanish explorers. Check out this website about African American History in Albuquerque (there are links to other resources in ABQ and NM):

http://www.itsatrip.org/albuquerque/...-american.aspx

[mcol]

You know what I saw when I lived there? It's not the community itself
but certain individual people themselves...please don't blame the community for the actions of a few people. That being said you've gotten great advice, as the only way to know is to visit. How many of the 'certain people' live in certain areas I don't know.

Where I lived in NM, I could tell you exactly who the racist people were. And I'm caucasian! But the town I lived in as a whole wasn't that way.
Good luck and I hope things work out great for you!

[malamute]

Originally Posted by curiousgeorge09

Hi, please do not think my question is insulting...just need honest answer. I am in an interracial marriage(black/white). We are thinking of moving to New Mexico in the northwest corner. We have never been to the area before and are curious about being accepted in new areas. We would appreciate any help you could give us, thanks!

I think the whole West is different that way than some parts of the country. It won't matter as much, or won't matter at all. There's a new-ness about many of the cities and towns out West, they don't have the same hangups or history as towns and cities back East. There also aren't black ghettos in most cities so there isn't that stereotype.