Would you recommend OC to a White/Hispanic couple? (Long Beach: employment, college)

[CUCUY]

Hey all so OC doesn't sound like it is going work out for us sounds too conservative and too many people say don't move there as a hispanic american.

Another place we could go is San Jose does anyone know if it is friendly to hispanic/white couples?

[bhcompy]

Honestly I just think you're looking at the wrong part of the county. Newport(and it's ilk) is smug and doesn't like outsiders, regardless of what you look like. You'll find completely different worlds in places like Fullerton, Seal Beach, Huntington Beach, etc. Prior to meeting my wife I dated a Puerto Rican girl for a long time and spent most of our time in Orange County with no problems. Hell, the county seat is 80% latin-american(mostly Mexican). If OC was that racist they'd move the county seat to Newport Beach, which is 90+% white.

Also, one of your concerns in your first post was seeing a large number of asian/white relationships over others. You'll notice that in San Jose as well. There is a very large asian presence in San Jose and the neighboring areas.

[crisp444]

Mach50, cabolissa, and everyone else, I would like to hear your opinions of whether you think the issue is:

-Racism against dark-skinned mestizo and native American-appearing Hispanics,
-Classism against working-class and lower-income Hispanics, or
-General prejudice against those of Latin background.

I ask because a good friend of mine of Latin background (Mexican) is considering an employment opportunity in Orange County. If the problem there is racism, this isn't a concern because he is white. If the problem is classism, there isn't a concern because he has a college degree, will be working a professional job, and will live in a nice area. However, if the issue is general prejudice against those of Latin background, this is a major problem (he has lived always lived in "Latin friendly" places like Monterrey, Boston, and San Antonio) and I would like to know in which areas of Orange County this can be avoided so that I can relay this information to him.

Assuming that the issue is prejudice against people of Latin background, why would this be such a problem in an affluent area like Orange County? I ask because I have lived many places and have observed that usually the most tolerant places are those in which a high percentage of the population is educated and affluent. Why do people have a problem with Hispanics? I have heard people cite OC's general "conservative and Christian" vibe. Given that people of Latin background tend to be socially conservative, have strong family values, and religion-wise are Christian, I would think that these people would be embraced in Orange County.

Would a young, educated Latin guy in his mid-20's encounter any problems in the more "liberal"/"tolerant" areas like Laguna Beach, Irvine, or Huntington Beach?

[Mach50]

Crisp444,

I wish I knew the exact answers to all your questions, but I don't.

My hypothesis would consist of all of the issues you listed:

-Racism against dark-skinned mestizo and native American-appearing Hispanics,
-Classism against working-class and lower-income Hispanics, or
-General prejudice against those of Latin background.

In addition, I would say any of these issues can occur above an aleady strong tradition of OC being: conservative, hyper-patriotic, and very proud of being segregated.

I guess if I had to weight the prejudice in OC, I would say:
1) Brown Hispanics (Anyone that looks mexican) get 75% of the prejudice

You could be from Bolivia, Honduras, shoot! You could be from Tunisia, if you look Mexican, expect prejudice IMO

2) Spanish Speakers (Latin surnames, regardless of color) 15% of the prejudice

I know many White Mexicans with the last name Perez and they get it all the time here...
Maybe your friend moving here is in this category?

3) Classism, Snobiness regardles of race, ethnicity - remaining 10% of the prejudice.


Don't forget if you are a white non-hispanic (or Asian in some cases), and you are seen fraternizing with the above in OC...you will also receive a high rate of prejudice. As far as the educated and affluence you have witnessed in other parts that tend to lean towards tolerance. I would say OC seems to take the opposite stance of; as you get more affluent it gets less tolerant.

Last part of my OC theory is, what you see in OC are the affluent, "educated", successful people that don't want to be part of the whole "tolerance" movement. I am not sure how to compare OC to anything else, it is like no place I have ever lived. "The Orange Curtain" didn't make sense to me for the longest time, but I think I understand now...

[crisp444]

Thank you for your reply. Yes, my friend has a Spanish last name... it would be a shame if many people would give him problems due to this. I am surprised to hear that the upper-income/high average educational achievement areas in Orange County are often the least progressive/tolerant. That is the total opposite of what I have witnessed in other parts of the country... so much for the theory that education is enlightening! Also, what you say about the Anglo-American residents not fraternizing with the Latin residents is sad to hear. I guess I grew up in fantasy dreamland (suburban Miami) where every fourth person in my school classes was 1/2 non-Hispanic white and 1/2 Hispanic and "Collins-Garcia" and "Perez-Hensen" family reunions were not uncommon.

Again, are there any nice areas of Orange County (commutable to Irvine... LA is too far!) where people aren't so closed-minded about Hispanics? Is Huntington Beach promising?

[NaplesRes]

This thread is pretty ridiculous. OC is like 35% hispanic. And while there is larger concentrations in certain areas, they are spread all over. There was an article in the Times a couple months ago on how much Mission Viejo has changed demographically over the last 20 years. It used to be overwhelmingly white and now there is a substantial contingent of hispanics.

It calls Misson Viejo a "Haven for middle class hispanics."

Census snapshot: Mission Viejo a haven for middle-class Latinos | L.A. Now | Los Angeles Times

I don't think you have anything to worry about.

[mimimomx3]

Who cares what people say or do?? If you have a good business opportunity take it. Then be sure to let all the a$$holes in the OC know how successful and happy you are. Let them talk....and realize how upset it makes them to see a successful minority.

[bhcompy]

Originally Posted by Mach50

Don't forget if you are a white non-hispanic (or Asian in some cases), and you are seen fraternizing with the above in OC...you will also receive a high rate of prejudice. As far as the educated and affluence you have witnessed in other parts that tend to lean towards tolerance. I would say OC seems to take the opposite stance of; as you get more affluent it gets less tolerant.

This is the biggest load of bullcrap I've ever heard in my life. I am a white person that has worked in hispanic dominated service industries in OC(including Newport) until recently for about 7 years. I've played baseball in a Mexican/hispanic league based out of Santa Ana for the past 5 years. I've never encounted any of this bullcrap of which you are speaking. Racism, and being friends with people of other races outwardly as a white person, just isn't even close to what you are stating. Racism exists everywhere, but the particular brand of bigotry practiced in the areas mentioned in this thread are classism, and they are by a select group of people in select areas. Being hispanic or having a hispanic last name has little to nothing to do with it.

If racism was even close to the way you speak of it in Orange County, there would be open war on the streets between races. As it stands now, there are little race relation problems in OC, which has sizeable Mexican, other hispanic, Vietnamese, other oriental, and various white populations.

[missionhome]

Originally Posted by bhcompy

This is the biggest load of bullcrap I've ever heard in my life. I am a white person that has worked in hispanic dominated service industries in OC(including Newport) until recently for about 7 years. I've played baseball in a Mexican/hispanic league based out of Santa Ana for the past 5 years. I've never encounted any of this bullcrap of which you are speaking. Racism, and being friends with people of other races outwardly as a white person, just isn't even close to what you are stating. Racism exists everywhere, but the particular brand of bigotry practiced in the areas mentioned in this thread are classism, and they are by a select group of people in select areas. Being hispanic or having a hispanic last name has little to nothing to do with it.

If racism was even close to the way you speak of it in Orange County, there would be open war on the streets between races. As it stands now, there are little race relation problems in OC, which has sizeable Mexican, other hispanic, Vietnamese, other oriental, and various white populations.

I agree. I stand by my original post that Newport Beach in particular is a place that values how much money you have over what race you are. If you are Hispanic and rich the Newport crowd would most likely accept you. You will be "in" with their money crowd. Most of their judgements are based off material things (ie. jewelry, clothing, cars, neighborhood you live in, where you vacation, who you know, where you eat, etc...).

The rest of Orange County, even South OC which often gets steroetyped as Stepford wife USA, is more accepting of people of different backgrounds, ethnicities, financial status, etc... than Newport Beach. North OC is probably even ten times more accepting than South OC is. Both of my sons are good friends with Hispanic students at their high schools. I'm glad he has been able to see past both color of skin and/or financial status and build relationships with other students in an area often stereotyped as having elitist white suburban brats (which is true for some kids, but not the overwhelming trend). Capo Valley High is one of the more diverse high schools in South OC though so their experience and outlook might not be the same if they went to a school like Tesoro.

[LAMelanie]

Originally Posted by CUCUY

My fiance and I currently live in Orlando, Fl and she has a chance to work from Newport Beach for a large legal firm. We just got back from a visit there and we both thought it was a very nice much like the good parts of Orlando (Winter Park, Windermere) but even better. We can afford it there and everything no problem!

The only issue with OC is that my fiance is from Honduras (American) and I am your plain American white guy, I guess and it appeared we caught a lot of attention and honestly "bad vibes" from the people there in Newport and OC all together, in a very racist sort of way, it is hard to describe if it is just snobbishness or real racism. It is really causing us to think twice about moving there....

We do have money and look nice, here in Florida it is very common for Hispanic and White couples to mix so have never been in this situation. I seem to only notice Asian and White couples there as mixing...do they think they are better than Hispanic and White couples out there?

She really wants the job, but we are both afraid of moving into an area that is intolerant of white/hispanic couples we want to have kids in a year and don't want to be in that type of environment.

WE ARE CLOSE TO MOVING THERE and need to know if this will be a problem...I'd rather just stay in FL if it is.

I would really appreciate some honesty we can talk over email if you like
shoot you can call me this is a huge deal!

If you move here you might want to consider north Orange County. Maybe Brea? Newport and surrounding areas are very conservative, but I have to say the people have always been friendly. Maybe you are not used to the culture here?