Interracial Couple - Where to live? (Phoenix, Tucson: apartment, renting, condo)

[hopsonkl]

My husband and I will be retiring next year and moving the the Phoenix area from Michigan. We live in a college, artsy smallish city where interracial couples don't get a second glance.

He's 57 and I'm 50. Is there a place anywhere around Phoenix where we might feel the most comfortable? We're middle-upper middle class and will probably be renting an apartment or condo in the beginning.

We recently visited and did a lot of driving around. Loved it.

[Howard Roark]

I had an interracial relationship while living in Tucson and Phoenix. Tucson is a college town and people are pretty social liberal. Phoenix is not as socially liberal, but the city is large enough that no one will hassle you if you are have a different skin color than your spouse or lover. We did not feel hassled. We lived near old town Scottsdale.

[Ritchie_az]

I'm one half of an interracial couple, and we've had zero issues in Phoenix (or Tucson) regarding that.

[fcorrales80]

I think you'll be pleasantly surprised to realize that interracial couples are actually more of a norm in metro Phoenix than other areas of the country. No one will pay attention to it...Phoenix is rather socially liberal but some of the outer burbs are more conservative (Mesa, Surprise).

[Ponderosa]

We're are an interracial couple as well. You can live anywhere you want without issues. No one cares. So focus on other things that matter to you when looking for a home and forget about the race concerns. Isn't that nice?

[shiphead]

Agreed with others. My grandparents had no problems back in the 60's and they are an interracial couple.

[MalteseJane]

we have an interracial couple as neighboors and nobody cares.

[zox]

I'm Asian Indian and I've never had any trouble in the Phoenix area. I've felt more comfortable in Phoenix because there are so many Hispanics that people are used to being around ethnic people. Believe me that isn't the case in most cities in this country. I've never been treated differently or discriminated against.

Interestingly enough, I drove through my first Border Patrol stop on I-10 outside of Tucson. Yes, they asked if I was a U.S. citizen and asked to check my trunk. That was it. They didn't ask for ID. They didn't harrass me. They didn't talk down to me. I'm from Dallas and love Big D but outside of Dallas, it could be a little scary if you got pulled over because you never knew how the highway patrol officer would treat you. Some of them could be really racist and would have you sit in their patrol car with them or have you stand outside your car and frisk you. I've never experienced anything like that in Phoenix. I've dated outside of my race here and its never been an issue either. Phoenix has always felt socially liberal to me.

[observer53]

If you like the college city atmosphere, give Tempe a look. As the others have said, I don't think you will find any issue whatsoever in most areas of the Valley.

[garisonthebull]

I find it difficult to believe that interracial couples still see a lack of acceptance. I suppose it may be happening, but in the last decade nearly all prejudism had declined immensely. We have some issues as a society with Arab Americans being looked upon with suspicion since 911 and also a bit of discontent with Mexican Americans due to a immigration issue playing a role in an ever collapsing economy. But these prejudices have little to do with color, rather they are related to larger political problems within the country as a whole. It is unfortunate that we racially profile individuals based upon the larger scope of what we learned about a group through media and public information.

As far as any mixed couple moving somewhere do not fear any particular neighborhood in the valley. Phoenicians are pretty accepting folk. But they may look at you a lot in an air port if your Arab or be upset if they hear you working a job they applied for and you don't speak fluent English.