Interacial Couples in Phoenix (Tucson, Glendale: fit in, high school, taxes)

[Jazzjazz07]

Is Phoenix a good place for interracial couples as in Black/White Couples and is it a good place to raise Bi-Racial Children? Is there a lot of racism in the Phoenix area? Also is there a lot of gang activity in Phoenix?

[Bondurant]

There's gang activity in most of the valley of varied degrees. South and west Phoenix and parts of Glendale have the most activity from what I've heard. Like anywhere else if you're not involved with stupid stuff you shouldn't have much to worry about.

As for being bi-racial, I don't think anymore would care to much aside from your racist nut that you will find living anywhere. I am a white man with a black female roommate. She has a bi-racial child. When we go out to eat or out in general no one gives us funny looks or negative vibes.

[PoppySead]

You don't even need to mention the bi racial issue, not a problem. Gang activity won't be noticed unless your dealing with them personally or watching the news. I don't even notice.

[goolsbyjazz]

Yeah, the bi racial issue is not an issue here. As a matter of fact, when I first moved here from Charlotte, NC I was pleasantly surprised at the number of interracial couples we encountered. It was quite refreshing, to be honest. Gangs are not much of an issue either. They are here, but are limited to smaller areas.

[Jazzjazz07]

Thank you for your feedback.

[Howard Roark]

I was part of an interracial couple. We never felt stared at or anything. We lived in Scottsdale and before that, Tucson. Face it, The Phoenix metro area is one of the top 5 in populations. Anywhere you have a big population you are going to encounter tolerance.

I wrote on another thread that I once lived in a small town for eleven years. I felt like I was under a microscope because I just did not fit in. But in a big metro area like Phoenix you will fit in, whatever your characteristic!

[Jazzjazz07]

Originally Posted by Howard Roark

I was part of an interracial couple. We never felt stared at or anything. We lived in Scottsdale and before that, Tucson. Face it, The Phoenix metro area is one of the top 5 in populations. Anywhere you have a big population you are going to encounter tolerance.

I wrote on another thread that I once lived in a small town for eleven years. I felt like I was under a microscope because I just did not fit in. But in a big metro area like Phoenix you will fit in, whatever your characteristic!

How do you like it in Phoenix? I am from the East Coast and looking to relocate to Phoenix.

[Howard Roark]

Having worked on the east coast in the New York area, mid-Atlantic, and southeast off and on for a few years yet stayed a resident of Phoenix, the first difference you will see obviously is the dryness and very low humidity. The streets are on a grid layout in Phoenix. Very easy to get around.

I lived in hot climates most of my life though. I am tolerant of it. And when it gets too much for me I drive up to Flagstaff. I like everything about Arizona.

Originally Posted by hughesbb

How do you like it in Phoenix? I am from the East Coast and looking to relocate to Phoenix.

[Howard Roark]

Good point. I always felt more secure among diversity. It's kind of the opposite of high school, where you have to be like everyone else just so that you are not hassled. I also work in a diverse environment, races, preferences, and everything. I crave the differences.

Originally Posted by goolsbyjazz

Yeah, the bi racial issue is not an issue here. As a matter of fact, when I first moved here from Charlotte, NC I was pleasantly surprised at the number of interracial couples we encountered. It was quite refreshing, to be honest. Gangs are not much of an issue either. They are here, but are limited to smaller areas.

[azriverfan.]

Arizona might make headlines for conservative wackiness but with regard to race, remember this isn't the South. We were not a member of the confederacy nor did we rely on slavery and have a long history of strained race relations. We didn't have an economy that relied upon slavery. We don't have large Baptist churches on every corner with large Christian banners on the freeway which traditionally have divided people among racial lines in the South. So while cities like Charlotte and Atlanta may have a lot of Blacks, the overall environment is not necessarily more tolerant due to their history of strained race relations. Thankfully, Arizona and Phoenix is relatively new to the point that we don't possess the history that would strain race relations.

I've been to cities like Atlanta, Charlotte, Memphis and Dallas and while they might have more African Americans, the majority White population in those cities are not very tolerant toward African Americans particularly when it comes to marriage and relationships, they still feel the races should be separate. And what is sad, is those people don't consider themselves to be racist for thinking this way. You don't have anything remotely close to that in Phoenix. People here are socially fairly liberal even if they vote Republican to save on taxes and have issues with illegal immigration.