discrimination x 2 (Hempstead, Babylon, Huntington: neighborhoods, best schools, living)

[mead]

Interesting article on Afro-Latinos: Dominicans Face Assimilation in Black and White

[Elvira Black]

Now THIS, my friends, is a worthwhile thread...

To the OP: why move from Brooklyn? But if so, check out the Bronx. Sounds ideal for what you're talking about. And I do mean in every possible way.

[Elvira Black]

Diverse hoods in Queens include Flushing, Astoria, and last but not least, Jackson Heights. Check out Jackson Heights and the Queens links on about.com.

[TrudiRose]

I'd recommend looking on the Long Island forum for suggestions for towns there.

One thing, though: We were thinking of moving to Long Island, so I spent a few months reading the Long Island forum, and I was shocked by how much racism I saw there. Living in Brooklyn I'm just used to the mix of races. But on the LI board I would see things like, "You don't want to move to North Babylon - the high school there is already less than 75% white!" Not everyone's like that, of course, but the amount of casual racism I saw, not even subtle, amazed me.

[Elvira Black]

No need to look further than on these here boards for that nonsense, TrudiRose.

[NooYowkur81]

Dominicans can be very mixed. We are mostly mulatto. The country itself is filled mostly with Mulatto's, then Blacks, then Whites. In my family alone, I have family members that are mixed with Italian, Spanish, Turkish, and Black, and those are just the ones that I've been able to figure out.

[SuperMario]

Im also dominican. For a dominican im more on the light side. But everyone else thinks im black and white and not spanish. But who cares anyways, im proud to be where im from and no matter what anybody says I'll always be dominican.

[SilkCity0416]

Wow. I find this interesting! I'm a black guy, but my girlfriend is Dominican. I was planning on taking a trip down there to Santiago. I know in the black culture, "passing" has a long history. I personally know some blacks who can pass off as white. Americangirl, I know how you feel at times. Sometimes my girlfriend will joke around and call me an "oreo" (because I act "white" to her. whatever the hell that means). However, I'm proud of being black. It just just some elements that I don't care about.

[StuyTownRefugee]

Originally Posted by americangirl

I am looking to move my family to Long Island from Brooklyn. I need to find a town that is diversified. I seem to always experience predjudice, not only from white folks but from my own kind as well. I feel caught in the middle. So the town must have minorities that are Americanized and legal. I am a second generation American of Puerto Rican descent. I don't speak Spanish. For some reason that is very shocking to some people. Heck, I know lots of Italian Americans, Irish Americans, etc. that don't speak the language of their ancestors. Hispanics take that to mean that I am not proud of my heritage or that I want to pass. This could not be farther from the truth. I am very proud to be PR but extremely proud to be American. Anybody out there have any suggestions or in the same boat?

I've always observed that moreso in NY area, encouragement or the actual assimilation of people is not as complete as in the rest of the country. They cling to former languages and are often not only enabled but prefer to do so. Most people id with their other heritages over being American, first. I empathize with you.

Thats is one of the biggest drawbacks of living in the NY area. People judge too much what race or what your background is or was.

It's an irony in NY, there is so much reinforcement with constant replenishment of certain groups I guess. BUt there is plenty of immigration elsewhere as well. People apparently are more allowed to be absorbed into the mainstream.

When I go away people don't really talk about these ancestries. My brother is half Japanese american and speaks with a Southern Accent since he was born on an AF Base in ALabama.

There are plenty of Hispanic people for generations in TX who speak with a Texas accent. Too many people in NY are just off the boat. Look at the Russian presence.

Your observance though was good, most Polish, Italian, German ancestry people all only speak English, like the Irish long ago stopped speaking Irish though many still can.

[Guywithacause]

Interesting thread...I have nothing to contribute that already hasn't been expressed by others. I pay no mind to anyone that doesn't think I am Hispanic-enough..anymore than people who claim someone is not Black-enough..etc. It is human nature to categorize people..it makes life much easier..so when you don't fit those categories they are perplexed...don't take it personal.