Racism In Portland (Kittery, Belfast, Jackson: college, calculating, living in)

[stephenw]

I've never been to Portland and it looks like a very nice place, but I'm wondering if there is any racism (mainly because it appears, by at least the statical data, that quite a lot of white people live there) - and I'm a half black guy.

Just wondering, thanks!

[montgomster7]

I'm originally from Maine and lived in Portland after college for a couple of years. Its been 6 yrs since I've there, but I would say from my perception of the city is that it is a very progressive accepting community. There are 'quite a lot of white people' for sure, but in Portland in particular, many of the inhabitants grew up in other areas of the country and moved to Maine later in life---hence have more wordly exposure. I think the job I worked at there were 20 people, and 2 of us were from Maine originally. Its a great city!

[brattpowered]

I don't think it's quite fair to assume that the amount of racism in a city is directly proportional to the amount of white people. Birmingham, AL has plenty of blacks and so does Jackson, MS--but I'd think that racism is much more alive and well there than in Portland.

[stephenw]

Originally Posted by brattpowered

I don't think it's quite fair to assume that the amount of racism in a city is directly proportional to the amount of white people. Birmingham, AL has plenty of blacks and so does Jackson, MS--but I'd think that racism is much more alive and well there than in Portland.

Good points, thank you for the info --- and RE the Alabama comments, yes, they are racist black people, I agree. I think all the south is stuck in civil war time zone. Portland just looks like a nice easy going city.

[Dwatted Wabbit]

Originally Posted by brattpowered

I don't think it's quite fair to assume that the amount of racism in a city is directly proportional to the amount of white people. Birmingham, AL has plenty of blacks and so does Jackson, MS--but I'd think that racism is much more alive and well there than in Portland.

Excellent point. Racism comes from all races and classes. Or not.

[bobo255]

Im a blk male living in and around the Portland,Me. area for approx.25-30 yrs.,have seen many changes racial wise over the years.As Portland blk population increased over the years,ive noticed the white people their are more careful of how they treat you,and what they might say to you.When i first came to the area,it seemed almost as if the majority of people there,rather not bother with you,unless it was something directly related to them...they wouldn't go out of there way to become acquianted.My experiences have been of positive and some negative as far as how i see this city as racist.There is a hidden agenda type racism in certain circles of people,there is a in your face type by another group,and there are some who just have old ways of thinking and wont change,or should i say do not want to change.As i grow older,i am not as naive as i was when i first moved to Portland.I guess its a individual assessment,and it is judge in periods of time.It is obvious that white people there are the majority in most everything you do,and when you try and make a change or challenge something,as a blk male,thats when you see them in full force,how calculating and munipulative they can be.Being that we are few,rarely you see any outward racism being displayed,just when it is needed to keep the tables unbalanced in certain avenues of life in Portland.To live there as a blk man,is to feel the good things and the bad things.Your walk in life there as a blk man is almost always a new experience daily occuring,be it racism at its best,or racism at its very worst.So,i said all that to say,i feel racism is on the rise in Portland,as we grow in numbers.

[oceanfit185]

Portland is anything but Racist

[gettininfo]

I have lived in Vermont most of my life and I have vacationed and spent much time in Maine. Portland is a great city and I have not seen much racism if any there adn I have not heard much from others who live there that are black, white, indian, or from other ethnic backgrounds.

[seldomseen]

Originally Posted by brattpowered

I don't think it's quite fair to assume that the amount of racism in a city is directly proportional to the amount of white people. Birmingham, AL has plenty of blacks and so does Jackson, MS--but I'd think that racism is much more alive and well there than in Portland.

I think you completely misunderstood the rationale behind this person's question, because of miseducation, but that's another topic. However, to answer his question, despite the fact that Maine/Portland is predominately white. You probably won't experience any overt racism in the Portland area. And it's safe to say, that the white people in Portland won't act as though they've seen an alien, be shocked by your presences when they see non-whites. Portland definately isn't the eclectic cosmopolitan like Atlanta Metro, DC Metro, Dallas Metro, etc...where there's an high number of racial diversity and cultural/racial integration. But it's definately not as bad as one might presume, because Maine, is known for being a rural, homogenized white state.

Portland is a very nice, small, lovely city. You will most likely experience some level of racism/bigotry, etc in the far north/north western areas of Maine. The areas along the coast of Maine from like Belfast to Kittery are all pretty nice/decent towns where you won't really have to be concerned about much overt racism, ignoramous mentalities.