Interracial (White/Mex-Amer) couple to Phoenix from OC-Cali? (Glendale, Scottsdale: to buy, schools)

[rockx]

Hi everyone,

My wife and I are a White/Mexican-American couple with a child on the way, living in Orange County California, thinking about a move to Phoenix to buy a house.

Just a few questions and concerns about the area out there:
Is Phoenix pretty acceptable to Interracial couples?
Is there a particular area more suited for non-racist people? Especially Mexican/White?
What about a mixed race child attending schools around Phoenix?

Basically the overall question is:
Are mexican-americans integrated into society out there, or are they perceived as 2nd class humans?

We both make really good salaries as Senior IT and could easily afford to live in the Scottsdale area and are thinking that is the place.

[Ponderosa]

Originally Posted by rockx

Hi everyone,

My wife and I are a White/Mexican-American couple with a child on the way, living in Orange County California, thinking about a move to Phoenix to buy a house.

Just a few questions and concerns about the area out there:
Is Phoenix pretty acceptable to Interracial couples?
Is there a particular area more suited for non-racist people? Especially Mexican/White?
What about a mixed race child attending schools around Phoenix?

Basically the overall question is:
Are mexican-americans integrated into society out there, or are they perceived as 2nd class humans?

We both make really good salaries as Senior IT and could easily afford to live in the Scottsdale area and are thinking that is the place.

With all respect, Mexicans are caucasians and "white/Mexican" is not a interracial marriage. Anyway, such marriages are extremely commonplace here. Hardly anyone is even going to notice much less be concerned about it.

[rockx]

Originally Posted by Ponderosa

With all respect, Mexicans are caucasians and "white/Mexican" is not a interracial marriage. Anyway, such marriages are extremely commonplace here. Hardly anyone is even going to notice much less be concerned about it.

White / Mexican is not considered interracial? I am pretty sure hispanics are a different race than caucasians, at least on most demographics and job applications I have seen.

But none-the-less, this is good news about AZ.

So it sounds like racism is not that present there.

[Ponderosa]

I wouldn't go so far as to say racism can't be found here. It is just that there are so many hispanic families and such a heavy influence of hispanic culture here that mixed marriages, dating and such are nothing at all out of the ordinary. There is a lot of animosity over illegal immigration and that has served to poison relations to some degree I think, but overall, you just won't stand out from the crowd that much. It is really not something that I would be concerned about with two educated, affluent parents moving to a nice area. Maybe I am wrong, but I just don't think it is an issue.

[topjimmy]

Hispanic is an ethnicity, not a race.

No one here would give a white/hispanic couple a second look.

And as far as racism... there are more hispanics than white people in Phoenix.

[PoolGoddess]

>>White / Mexican is not considered interracial? I am pretty sure hispanics are a different race than caucasians, at least on most demographics and job applications I have seen.<<

Typically, most Mexicans filling out a US Census form should mark "White" as his/her race; therefore, you would be a White/White couple from the racial perspective. But since Hispanic is an ethnicity and not a race, there are some Hispanics who would fall under other races like African or American Indian.

There is a SEPARATE question that asks whether the person is Hispanic.

See more info here:
http://www.census.gov/prod/2001pubs/cenbr01-1.pdf

Husband of PoolGoddess

[silverbear]

Originally Posted by rockx

White / Mexican is not considered interracial? I am pretty sure hispanics are a different race than caucasians, at least on most demographics and job applications I have seen.

But none-the-less, this is good news about AZ.

So it sounds like racism is not that present there.

From the Census Bureau:

"The concept of race is separate from the concept of Hispanic origin."

White persons, not of Hispanic/Latino origin, percent, 2000

That's why your marriage is not interracial solely on the basis of one of you being of Mexican heritage. At most, it might be a considered a "mixed marriage," a phrase with no official meaning. As for prejudice, there's certainly some of that, although as suggested above, it is aimed mainly at those perceived to be illegal/undocumented. Live in a diverse area -- Central Phoenix, Glendale, Tempe, etc. -- and it's unlikely to be an issue for you.

[Ponderosa]

Originally Posted by PoolGoddess

>>White / Mexican is not considered interracial? I am pretty sure hispanics are a different race than caucasians, at least on most demographics and job applications I have seen.<<

Typically, most Mexicans filling out a US Census form should mark "White" as his/her race; therefore, you would be a White/White couple from the racial perspective. But since Hispanic is an ethnicity and not a race, there are some Hispanics who would fall under other races like African or American Indian.

There is a SEPARATE question that asks whether the person is Hispanic.

See more info here:
http://www.census.gov/prod/2001pubs/cenbr01-1.pdf

Husband of PoolGoddess

Good point. Latin America has had many influences over the centuries. Knowing someone is Hispanic tells as much about their heritage as knowing someone is an American.

[dorado0359]

It was my belief that Mexicans were caucasians also, just as the Spaniards of Spain consider themselves as caucasians.

[Paddington]

Originally Posted by dorado0359

It was my belief that Mexicans were caucasians also, just as the Spaniards of Spain consider themselves as caucasians.

I don't know about that. Most Mexicans are Mestizo, with a lot more Native American than white parentage. Maybe they check "white" on the U.S. census forms, because the categories are so crappy.

Most of the Mexican immigrants I see the U.S. are quite "Aztec" looking, as opposed to Mexico's ruling class which is largely of Spanish stock.