There is a racial element in Phoenix and the surrounding area (Tucson: middle-class, neighborhoods)

[flypnay704]

Originally Posted by azkylady2

perceive the way Phoenix is, If I were black I would probably think my neighbors disliked me, most drive right in the garage and put the door down right away, I dont know the names of my neighbors after 5 years! lol I usually dont just speak to people in passing anymore unless I sense I in a friendly environment, like a coffee shop, a lot of times people wont even respond back to a friendly hello in passing. My point is its probably not you at all but your experienceing the Phoenix way of people keeping to themselves, most times in the house, usually never on the street or out in about in the yard. I am a stay at home mom, I can only imagine how terrible it would be to having to work here with these closed off people dont take it personal, its not you!

I agree with azkylady. I went to ASU for 2 years and lived in Chandler and Phoenix during the length of my 'living' in Arizona. I was born and raised in California (bay area), and I think it's just a different world. I don't know if 'racist' is actually the word to describe it...but maybe the fact that people do keep to themselves and are not as friendly as the environment you've experienced. I was DEFINITELY a minority in Phoenix and growing up in an environment where I was the majority and Caucasians were not, opened a whole new perspective. Yes I came across some racist people in Arizona - but I also found that when I traveled to Minnesota one year. But then again, when I traveled to Maine, no one even batted an eyelash at me. Perhaps it is just the "keep to myself/not as personable as the kinds of people you've dealt with in the past" that you are experiencing.

I have since moved back, not because of the less than par experience I've had while living there, but because I'm more comfortable elsewhere (in terms of weather, people, things to do, and all factors that come with deciding on where to plant your roots). I like a mixture of color and races if you know what I mean. Yes Arizona had lots of Hispanics and lots of Caucasians, but there are so many colors in between and outside of that box. I dated a Caucasian guy while I lived in SF and we both moved to Phoenix for school (he went to Embry Riddle in Prescott and I went to ASU in Tempe), and he said while we both lived in SF, he would get "stare downs" from guys who were Asian or Pacific Islander. I thought he was truly crazy. When we moved to Phoenix and we would walk in the mall, I would see some Caucasian girls give me dirty looks and whisper under their breath when they saw us together. Fast forward 8 years later, back in SF. My Caucasian boyfriend is from Phoenix - born and raised there (different guy), and he tells me he has never experienced ANY kind of racism before in his entire life. 3 months after we started dating, he said he started getting weird looks and stares from Asian guys while we walked in places like the mall in downtown SF. If it's racism or any kind of weird behavior you are experiencing...you will experience that anywhere. Just brush it off and move forward.

In any event, good luck with your situation.

[fcorrales80]

Originally Posted by flypnay704

I agree with azkylady. I went to ASU for 2 years and lived in Chandler and Phoenix during the length of my 'living' in Arizona. I was born and raised in California (bay area), and I think it's just a different world. I don't know if 'racist' is actually the word to describe it...but maybe the fact that people do keep to themselves and are not as friendly as the environment you've experienced. I was DEFINITELY a minority in Phoenix and growing up in an environment where I was the majority and Caucasians were not, opened a whole new perspective. Yes I came across some racist people in Arizona - but I also found that when I traveled to Minnesota one year. But then again, when I traveled to Maine, no one even batted an eyelash at me. Perhaps it is just the "keep to myself/not as personable as the kinds of people you've dealt with in the past" that you are experiencing.

I have since moved back, not because of the less than par experience I've had while living there, but because I'm more comfortable elsewhere (in terms of weather, people, things to do, and all factors that come with deciding on where to plant your roots). I like a mixture of color and races if you know what I mean. Yes Arizona had lots of Hispanics and lots of Caucasians, but there are so many colors in between and outside of that box. I dated a Caucasian guy while I lived in SF and we both moved to Phoenix for school (he went to Embry Riddle in Prescott and I went to ASU in Tempe), and he said while we both lived in SF, he would get "stare downs" from guys who were Asian or Pacific Islander. I thought he was truly crazy. When we moved to Phoenix and we would walk in the mall, I would see some Caucasian girls give me dirty looks and whisper under their breath when they saw us together. Fast forward 8 years later, back in SF. My Caucasian boyfriend is from Phoenix - born and raised there (different guy), and he tells me he has never experienced ANY kind of racism before in his entire life. 3 months after we started dating, he said he started getting weird looks and stares from Asian guys while we walked in places like the mall in downtown SF. If it's racism or any kind of weird behavior you are experiencing...you will experience that anywhere. Just brush it off and move forward.

In any event, good luck with your situation.

Very good words of advice. Yeah, parts of Phoenix can be pretty avoidance ridden and neighbors don't interact. I have lots of friends who live in Chandler, N. Scottsdale, Glendale, etc and they don't really know their neighbors, wave, or just ignore and this is after many years being in their homes. That changes dramatically in the central city areas and Tempe; even differs in Old Town Scottsdale and some of the more densely populated/more established areas of the suburbs. I think this type of behavior is weird for some people who are new to the area and thus perpetuates the "myth" and pattern of avoidance. However, it isn't like people in cities such as L.A., NYC, or San Fran are all smiles and hugs in the streets either...

[lazlaz]

Originally Posted by Hakeem989

I am a black male who recently relocated to Phoenix, from Los Angeles. I accepted a lucrative offer from a hospital to be there main social worker. I have been here for a little over two months and I have encountered many diffrerent types of personalities, but I have noticed that there is a racial element that is occuring, especially whenever I come into contact with the people who live here.

Throughout my adult life as a black man, I can notice if someone has a problem with me because of the color of my skin. I went to school in Michigan back in the day and I noticed a racial element there. However, after not experiencing that feeling for years, it appears as if the people here are just releasing that racial element.

I am experiencing this not only outside, but in the workplace too. I believe I am the most experinced and the most knowledgeable worker they have, yet they don't want to provide me with any appreciation, and only talk with me when ever they are nitpicking to find mistakes in my work...unbelieveaeble.

I think the people here just don't do a great job in disguising there racism... Or there prejudice towards a black man that appears to be smarter and more interpersonal than themselves. I did not experience this in LA, where I was the only black individual in the clinic, and I have not seen this racial element in years. Is this whole area really that far behind when it comes to race compared to the whole nation?

It's probably not what you think. May want to consider your job, I can see how someone would be standoffish being social workers are scanning for issues and questionable behavior in people. It could be your approach social workers may have a different personality about them. People could feel intimidated by you for some reason. I had a Black supervisor, nicest guy in the world very smart but he always made me feel strange or that I wanted to keep it short and to the point. He always asked personal questions yet we didn't hang out after hours as friends, would ask me if I found Christ, just different but very nice guy. He seem to be easily offended when I would say things and never intended for it to be offensive. Some people are very sensitive. I am minority and never had issues. UNLESS, i just don't give a crap about what others think of me to notice.

[Hakeem989]

Originally Posted by Skywayy2001

Coming from Louisiana, I can honestly tell you that Arizona, and the Phoenix metro area in particular, is the most heavily populated Caucasian area I have ever seen. It's almost bizarre. If you're looking for a diverse place to live, this about the least diverse city you're going to find in the US, not matter what anyone on this board says.

Interesting perspectives from most of you, and I enjoyed reading your post trudawg. However as a new resident of this state, this post I quoted is probably the one thing I have noticed the most about the whole area other than the racial element. I am well traveled and have been everywhere to the upscale neighborhoods in the OC, suburban Detroit, Chicago and Philadelphia, and upstate New York. If anyone has visited these areas, a quick observation will tell you the area is predominantly Caucasian. However, it just did not feel that way or come to think of it, whenever I came to those areas to visit a client, to shop, or to see a friend. The whole Phoenix area is populated with Caucasian people and at times it overwhelms me.

It is sad, because in my opinion this place becomes a trap for many of the residents in the Valley, especially the youth. For example, a white kid who is rasied in suburban Detroit, Michigan. If he wants to see a professional baseball or football game they have to commute to the city which means they are going to be exposed to different people from other backgrounds. If they play organized sports and lets say there team makes it pretty far, they will probably play a team in an urban area or possibly travel to an area that is ethnically diverse. If they are interested in the arts and historic monuments, it would mean traveling to the city where again they would be exposed to people from many different backgrounds.

If a white kid was raised here, all of the possibilities of having an opportunity to be exposed to different people from other racial backgrounds is mute for many of the youth who live here. The whole area is practically Caucasian. Quite frankly, I wonder how children here stimulate there minds outside of school? The whole Phoenix area is seriously lacking any culture. There are no major attractions, no great museums, no great institutes of higher learning.

I had a young male patient, raised in Arizona who was white and a recovering meth addict. He told me after graduation from high school, he decided to move to Washington DC because he wanted to work for the government. When he arrived it was a culture shock to him. He saw people from many different ethnic backgrounds, especially black men and women. He told me growing up he thought black men and women grew up to be criminals, athletes or entertainers. He thought they were supposed to be loud and dangerous. He was surprised to see many professional black men and women, who were managing restaurants, and opening there own businesses. He also saw the many employees working near the capital building who were not white, and he also mentioned being evaluated by a black doctor too. He ended up going back to Arizona because he could not handle the competition...and because of income. I asked him "where did you learn all of those stereotypes about black people" he responded like this "I really have not met a black person, until I went to DC, I guess I learned all of it by watching TV".

It is a trap, because basically if you raise your child in the Phoenix area, there is a high probability the only place that they will feel completely comfortable would be the Phoenix Area. This place is one of a kind, hot weather 360 days in the year, mixed in with many people who have that "I don't care mentality". Most youth would not be able to adjust to any other surroundings, and by the time they are 6 or 18 years old it would be too late.

There minds are already filled without knowledge of the arts, different cultures, and diversity, because as one person pointed out, this place feels like a different world sometimes.

[sheena]

Originally Posted by fcorrales80

Why was he pulled over? Speeding, following too closely, running a light.

Arizona adopted the holiday in 1992 and it was first enacted in 1986. The last state to enact the holiday was New Hampshire in 1999; a "bastion" of liberalism. Too fast to rush to judgement. We'd be better off with people who don't rush to conclusions.

I guess we should be happy the rabid wild dogs couldn't drag them here. We don't need anymore of that attitude here.

[azriverfan.]

Arizona is what you make of it. I like my privacy and people here respect that. At the same time, I've NEVER found people to be anything but friendly if I engaged them first and was friendly. I have a ton of friends here and yes i made the first move but I accepted that it was my responsibility to do so since I was the new person.

The problem with Arizona is your social life can get too packed. The reason is because everyone moves here from some place else and are looking to meet people. I often have to deliberately avoid people otherwise I will get myself invited to too many events and I don't want to refuse and provide people the wrong impression. I have a good set of friends and I don't want any more. I learned my lesson because 7 years ago, I was going to some baby shower, birthday party, BBQ, Sunday football, a golf outing or a local trip to Vegas, LA, SD just about every weekend. I had no privacy. And it was often an exponential effect. You would meet a new person who had new people. It was just crazy and my phone rang all the time. My wife and I wanted nights where we could cook at home and watch movies instead of going to some event. That's why I think people are nuts if they say they can't meet people here. It's really easy to meet people here. I've lived in other cities like LA, Dallas and OKC and it was harder to meet people there. Sure, people there were friendlier in a superficial way in which they would wave hello to you in their car, stop and chat with you but they rarely took you seriously and invited you to their house or to meet for dinner some place. They had their own cliques and didn't want to get to know you on any genuine level unless you went to their church (Dallas, OKC). In Arizona, it's the opposite. People are not friendly in the superficial sense but are friendly in the genuine sense. It doesn't take long before you are having dinner with people you just met here. But again, people won't walk up to you here. However, if you engage them first, they will roll out the royal carpet for you.

It doesn't make sense that it would be hard to meet people from a rational standpoint. Phoenix is a transient city. So unlike other cities, you are not competing with people who all attended the same high school or college. People here move here from some place not really knowing anyone. I think people are just being whiners because they are too shy.

[fcorrales80]

Originally Posted by Hakeem989

Interesting perspectives from most of you, and I enjoyed reading your post trudawg. However as a new resident of this state, this post I quoted is probably the one thing I have noticed the most about the whole area other than the racial element. I am well traveled and have been everywhere to the upscale neighborhoods in the OC, suburban Detroit, Chicago and Philadelphia, and upstate New York. If anyone has visited these areas, a quick observation will tell you the area is predominantly Caucasian. However, it just did not feel that way or come to think of it, whenever I came to those areas to visit a client, to shop, or to see a friend. The whole Phoenix area is populated with Caucasian people and at times it overwhelms me.

It is sad, because in my opinion this place becomes a trap for many of the residents in the Valley, especially the youth. For example, a white kid who is rasied in suburban Detroit, Michigan. If he wants to see a professional baseball or football game they have to commute to the city which means they are going to be exposed to different people from other backgrounds. If they play organized sports and lets say there team makes it pretty far, they will probably play a team in an urban area or possibly travel to an area that is ethnically diverse. If they are interested in the arts and historic monuments, it would mean traveling to the city where again they would be exposed to people from many different backgrounds.

If a white kid was raised here, all of the possibilities of having an opportunity to be exposed to different people from other racial backgrounds is mute for many of the youth who live here. The whole area is practically Caucasian. Quite frankly, I wonder how children here stimulate there minds outside of school? The whole Phoenix area is seriously lacking any culture. There are no major attractions, no great museums, no great institutes of higher learning.

I had a young male patient, raised in Arizona who was white and a recovering meth addict. He told me after graduation from high school, he decided to move to Washington DC because he wanted to work for the government. When he arrived it was a culture shock to him. He saw people from many different ethnic backgrounds, especially black men and women. He told me growing up he thought black men and women grew up to be criminals, athletes or entertainers. He thought they were supposed to be loud and dangerous. He was surprised to see many professional black men and women, who were managing restaurants, and opening there own businesses. He also saw the many employees working near the capital building who were not white, and he also mentioned being evaluated by a black doctor too. He ended up going back to Arizona because he could not handle the competition...and because of income. I asked him "where did you learn all of those stereotypes about black people" he responded like this "I really have not met a black person, until I went to DC, I guess I learned all of it by watching TV".

It is a trap, because basically if you raise your child in the Phoenix area, there is a high probability the only place that they will feel completely comfortable would be the Phoenix Area. This place is one of a kind, hot weather 360 days in the year, mixed in with many people who have that "I don't care mentality". Most youth would not be able to adjust to any other surroundings, and by the time they are 6 or 18 years old it would be too late.

There minds are already filled without knowledge of the arts, different cultures, and diversity, because as one person pointed out, this place feels like a different world sometimes.

This is a very ill-informed post and lacks any real credibility. Everyone who's lived in Phoenix knows that if you go to high school here you will "play" against schools that are mostly minority. Trevor Brown (mostly black), Caesar Chavez (hispanic), Maryvale (black and hispanic), Central (black and hispanic), Tempe (black, white, hispanic, asian), North (black, white, hispanic), Sunnyslope (black, white, hispanic), Tolleson (black, white, hispanic), Mountain View (white and hispanic), etc etc I can go on and on. This post is so off base. Not to mention Phoenix and Scottsdale are home to world famous and one of a kind Native American and Hispanic museums and archeological finds. To say that isn't culture is small minded. There is over 3,000 years of ancient civilization based in Phoenix and one just has to go to the Pueblo Grande Museum to explore the ancient cultures of Phoenix and the canal and aqueduct system built here that rivals ancient Rome. Moderator cut: redundant phrase and not necessary As someone with a background and cultural history in Arizona and Phoenix that dates back to Spanish Colonialism I find your small minded comments offensive.

[rickers]

I think the OP needs to grow up and deal with the little bit of bit of racism that will be found everywhere. I am a white guy and when I worked for ten years in a Hispanic and Black area of San Diego I was the victim of racism every freaking day. Buck up and ignore it, there are racists everywhere. I even experience a bit of racism when I pass through or stop for business on the Blackfeet Reservation. There will always be a few racist attitudes to be found everywhere.

[azriverfan.]

Originally Posted by fcorrales80

This is a very ill-informed post and lacks any real credibility. Everyone who's lived in Phoenix knows that if you go to high school here you will "play" against schools that are mostly minority. Trevor Brown (mostly black), Caesar Chavez (hispanic), Maryvale (black and hispanic), Central (black and hispanic), Tempe (black, white, hispanic, asian), North (black, white, hispanic), Sunnyslope (black, white, hispanic), Tolleson (black, white, hispanic), Mountain View (white and hispanic), etc etc I can go on and on. This post is so off base. Not to mention Phoenix and Scottsdale are home to world famous and one of a kind Native American and Hispanic museums and archeological finds. To say that isn't culture is small minded. There is over 3,000 years of ancient civilization based in Phoenix and one just has to go to the Pueblo Grande Museum to explore the ancient cultures of Phoenix and the canal and aqueduct system built here that rivals ancient Rome. Very small minded post indeed; I suggest you get out and learn about the cultures of Phoenix before you post such nonsense! As someone with a background and cultural history in Arizona and Phoenix that dates back to Spanish Colonialism I find your small minded comments offensive.

Very informative post! This is becoming a common theme. The transient population doesn't really understand the valley because they haven't lived here long enough to reach beyond their bubble. That is understandable and I'm not critical of them. It's easy to see how one could form that opinion if for example if they lived in an apartment Scottsdale for a few years and assume Phoenix is only white. The people who set up roots here meaning they raise their family and send them to schools or were raised here themselves have a better understanding of the valley than some of these transients. Like you pointed out, it's foolish to assume you will never see a Black person here. It's an ignorant stereotype

[LovingSAT]

Originally Posted by Hakeem989

I am a black male who recently relocated to Phoenix, from Los Angeles. I accepted a lucrative offer from a hospital to be there main social worker. I have been here for a little over two months and I have encountered many diffrerent types of personalities, but I have noticed that there is a racial element that is occuring, especially whenever I come into contact with the people who live here.

Throughout my adult life as a black man, I can notice if someone has a problem with me because of the color of my skin. I went to school in Michigan back in the day and I noticed a racial element there. However, after not experiencing that feeling for years, it appears as if the people here are just releasing that racial element.

I am experiencing this not only outside, but in the workplace too. I believe I am the most experinced and the most knowledgeable worker they have, yet they don't want to provide me with any appreciation, and only talk with me when ever they are nitpicking to find mistakes in my work...unbelieveaeble.

I think the people here just don't do a great job in disguising there racism... Or there prejudice towards a black man that appears to be smarter and more interpersonal than themselves. I did not experience this in LA, where I was the only black individual in the clinic, and I have not seen this racial element in years. Is this whole area really that far behind when it comes to race compared to the whole nation?

Funny you say that, I was just driving home from errands here in San Antonio and I was thinking about this here. I am guessing it is with the election of Obama but I am not certain. I am hispanic and saw it years ago, but like you I am seeing it also. Keep you chin up, be the best that you can be, and continue to be who you are.

Try to ignore those who do not know better and move on, I wish we could just love one another!