Moving to NYC with wife-Interracial Couple

[yodel]

I'm white and my husband is black. We've been together about 12 years and have had very few problems. We live in Bedford Park, Bronx, and used to live in Inwood. I don't think people really care, or if they do, they tend to keep it to themselves. Once some lady started yelling at us downtown, but she seemed to be pretty out of her mind anyway. The only issue we've had was in Astoria (which I just wrote about in another thread), basically me not being able to take over the lease of an apartment I lived in because (I was told by a reliable source) my black boyfriend would be moving in.

Otherwise, pretty much nobody bothers us, or says anything about it. We have had more issues regarding our children-nothing big just sometimes people asking "Are you thier mother?" which I find kind of rude. There have been some comical situations too. Once I was with the kids in a predominantly white neighborhood here in the Bronx. I was talking to my friend who lives there when we realized there are some mothers who thought my kids were there by themselves (because there was no one else of color in the playground) and were about to call the police.

[Chelsa1075]

I have to add that in my experience there are tons of bi-racial relationships in NY, however, if we are all keeping it real then let the truth be told that it usually does not involve black and white. It usually is black and spanish or black and asian or White and spanish and white and asian (obviously a whole lot more), but rarely do you see black and white and when you do, it is usually a black woman with a white man. I lived in MD as a kid and saw black men with white women frequently, probably more often than I saw black men with black women. It is the rare occassion when I see a black man and a white girl here. That has just been my experience. I take it that the part of the bronx you will be going to doesn't have the best reputation. I'm just wondering if you feel this way about NYers why are you coming here?

[addarc]

I will admit that I may have a mean mug look when walking the streets, but it is usually just my regular blank expression. When I see a guy stare, I will look at him as well, but not in a "I am going to watch you watch my girlfriend and turn my head as you pass to keep my eyes on you in hopes that you see me and say something so we can fight." I just watch. And if they look at me, I don't immediately look away.

So to most people, it may be a bit of an aggressive behavior, but I just usually look in awe at how open they are when they stare.

It just leads me into a whole other argument about who in this modern time is still racist. I mean, the south is now much more mixed with blacks. So those old white bigots are becoming more accepting. But it does not seem like many white people are moving into the projects, which leads all the blacks to stay set in their ways of blacks with blacks. Does that make sense or am I completely insane?

[kovert]

As a few other previous posters suggested, it's probably be easier to be comfortable for a black/white couple in an ethnically diverse, middle to upper income area.

I used to see a black, butch thuggish looking female with her femme, east indian girlfriend publicly be affectionate with each other without a care or concern in the world. Yet a few months back, a man was killed in brooklyn because someone mistakenly thought he and his brother were gay.

So although NYC is incredibly diverse, there are bigots around that you have to be on the lookout for.

[Coolhand68]

Racism cuts from all directions. For every white man who doesn't want there daughter to date/marry a black guy, there is a black father out there who would flip his lid if his daughter brought home a white man. You think southern whites are bad, try visiting Japan some day. There are restaurants and bars that have signs on the door that say "Japanese Only" to keep out the Americans, especially blacks.

[passdoubt]

I was walking down Lexington in East Harlem with my black female friend last summer (I'm a white man). A bunch of guys on the street made rude, threatening comments toward us and I think it could have gotten ugly. They called her a "lil Mod cut: language race traitor" and told her that I was keeping her a slave.

On one hand there are a lot of interracial couples in Harlem but on the other hand I think there is a lot of tension about it with some folks. I think people are more socially liberal downtown.

[N.Y.Traveler]

Prospect Park, Brooklyn!
Fort Greene, Brooklyn!
I hope my suggestion will help you!