Thinking about moving to Prescott but me and my family are black (Phoenix: low crime, schools)

[Portia336]

Went to Prescott to visit and everyone was so friendly didn't get any stares and the locals came up to us and asked us how we were ect..but me and my husband are in our mid 20s with 2 kids is it very racist in Prescott will my kids get picked on for being black will they. Be excepting of us moving there I didn't see any black people on our trip

[infocyde]

The area is pretty gringo but the vast majority of people in the area are very nice and laid back. I wouldn't expect much trouble. A lot of parents might thank you for exposing their kids to a little more diversity One thing I would worry about is education doesn't seem to be a high priority for the government up here. They just closed / consolidated a few schools. Also the economy is rough up here. If you have a job lined up or can bring your job with you this is a great area, but landing here looking for jobs can be a real problem.

I dig it. Four seasons, none of them too extreme, big enough to have most of the shopping you could want, close to Phoenix/a big city, lots and lots to do within a few hours car ride. If you are in to hiking and camping this is a great area. Relatively low crime and not too expensive to live in.

Good luck.

[Ex New Yorker]

Portia336:

Went to Prescott to visit and everyone was so friendly didn't get any stares and the locals came up to us and asked us how we were ect..but me and my husband are in our mid 20s with 2 kids is it very racist in Prescott will my kids get picked on for being black will they. Be excepting of us moving there I didn't see any black people on our trip

I don't think so. Your first statement speaks volumes. In the 5 years that I've lived here I've yet to hear anyone speak in racist tones. In the end it's how you treat other people that really counts. If you are outgoing and friendly, no matter what race you are you will blend in with the rest of us. I've found that since moving out here complete strangers will wave to you which was unheard of in New York.

[Tempesta]

I have family in Glendale and my Niece has spoke of Cottonwood as being her favorite little town. We are from a small town in Wyoming 17,000. We are interested in relocating there or close to Cottonwood. Wish we were closer to retirement, we are about 10 years away from it and wondered about jobs around there too. Where do people go for jobs that live in the town?

[smilinpretty]

Portia336, Prescott and the area is very conservative and Republican. My neighbor's are African American. I have run into more people than I care to admit that have referred to President Obama as the "n" word. Back in 2008 one of the schools in Prescott had a Muriel painted on the school building depicting of young students playing and one is of a African American boy playing basketball and the Prescott Mayor and some of the City Council felt he was too dark of color and had the color toned down and it made the national news. However; this area is like a melting pot and people from all over the country and world relocate to this area. If you like this area, the worrisome is more trying to make a decent living, Arizona is the right to work state and the wages are hard to live on.

[Portia336]

Thank you guys for your input I feel much better

[Ex New Yorker]

Portia336:

Thank you guys for your input I feel much better

Well then start packin'. You'll get along fine here.

[SickOfAllThePC1983]

I reckon' probably about 100 places are better suited to folks of your certain kind:

I've heard that Macon is Very Racist - True?


One of the best things about Prescott in my opinion is its homogenous, traditional nature.


Not everyone under the sun wants to be progressive, and what's more shouldn't be forced to live as such.

[Ex New Yorker]

SickOfAllThePC1983:

Not everyone under the sun wants to be progressive, and what's more shouldn't be forced to live as such.

I'll have to agree with that statement, I've seen what those policies have done to New York State. God forbid it should ever happen here. This was but one of the reasons why we chose to move here. The other was a life long desire to live in the Southwest. Not to mention the 2nd Amendment freedoms that are severely lacking in the Northeast.

Unfortunately there is racism everywhere. At least in the 5 years I've lived here I haven't heard too many people speaking in racial tones, at least not those that I have met. From the sound of "Portia336" post they sound like good people who love this place as much as we do. If there is a lot of racism out here and they do decide to move, I would hope that people accept them for who they are and not the color of their skin. No, I do not care for Obama at all but we can't judge all black people to be like him. After all there are also the Ben Carson's the Tim Scott's and the Clarence Thomas's and a host of other Conservative black politicians who I greatly admire.

I am a white "right wing" Conservative that grew up in an all white small "Conservative" town along the Hudson River. Yes they do exist in New York State and the New York metro area does not represent the entire state although they rule it with an iron fist. There was one black family that lived in that town of 5,000 and they were not looked upon as being any different than the rest of us. My wife and I both went to school with their children and we all shared a lot of great times together. Good down to earth people every one of them.

[NC34]

I'm white, but I'd say live where you want. There are mean-spirited or ignorant people no matter where you go, but I feel, racially, they are in the minority. In this day and age most people are beyond skin color, and some are even beyond issues over religion. Be comfortable in your skin, and don't let the media scare you out of believing most people are good. I was reminded of this amongst thousands of people on 4th of July celebrating and bbqing and kids wandering around and some blasting music and there were no noticeable issues or problems. Everyone had their spots, and shared facilities, and it was great to see. Wishing you well!