Racism in Walnut Creek? (San Francisco, Concord: sales, home, school) - City-Data Forum

Dulcinea_El_Toboso · 05-23-2010, 09:33 AM

Hello everyone; we're a family of four who have just moved to WC (in March, 2010) from Ann Arbor, Michigan. I have had some odd experiences which I am having trouble interpreting... I am half-japanese half-german, my husband is white, and my children 14 + 16 are obviously, mixed. We are both PhDs and thought that this area had a highly educated populous.

I have had some extremely rude customer service in WC, and am trying to determine if it racially motivated, class motivated, my discomfort in being new here, or just plain callousness on the part of the service folk..
The first incident was at the train turnstile (I was using BART for the first time) and my ticket wouldn't go in all the way; I touched the turnstile and it flipped for me. My experience in other subway systems (NYC, London) is that if the turnstile moves, then the ticket has worked and you are fine/paid up can enter the system. Apparently, that isn't how it works here; the young gal in the ticket booth literally *screamed* at me through the glass that the ticket didn't work and I would have to re-do something. She took my ticket (so, again, I thought I was kosher) and I turned to walk up the stairs and she *screamed* again that I had to exit-and re-use my ticket. I was extremely embarrassed, as she treated me as if I were trying to enter without paying.

In the Downtown WC area, I've had salespeople completely ignore me; or worse, do weird things like have me hold up my wallet so they can see my drivers license--and keep moving it (hold it closer! move it back!) -- just some real oddball stuff, in my opinion.

Yesterday, I was at the Macy's in Downtown WC at the makeup counter with my daughter. We told the gal we were new here, and she asked us if we lived in Concord. Why Concord?

My thoughts thus far:
1. Many people here have told me I don't look half asian- what do they think I look like?
2. We dress very casually; as we did back in Ann Arbor; there you never could tell anyone's socio-economic status by their clothing, and it was considered gauche to wear one's wealth -- could it be my jeans? Is this area like the south, and you have to go out in full body armor, lipstick and red toenails?
3. I am heavier than the average Californian (7 months of winter takes it toll)-- could it be the weight?

I am sincerely interested in fitting in here but am getting a very weird and uncomfortable vibe from this area--I'm wondering if people are reacting to my ethnicity (one gal said she thought I was hispanic--but why should that matter?) or my mid-west weight, or my casual clothing?
BTW, my husband and children are getting along just fine - I seem to be the only one experiencing the weirdness. Other than my negative sales-person experiences, the area seems to be quite nice and one of my neighbors is extremely friendly and helpful. What gives? Any advice on how to make this transition easier?

Gentoo · 05-23-2010, 10:02 AM

No one's responded so I will for now but you will get better responses from someone who actually lives in that area.

I've heard of racist incidents in the outer east bay, mainly in Concord and that was about 20 years ago. What happened to you sounds like just rude people to me. I wasn't there with you of course so I couldn't pick up on the subtleties the way you could have.

Is the town you're from in Michigan really racist? If so it could be a defense mechanism kicking in. Again, I'll let someone who's more familiar with that area chime in.

Dulcinea_El_Toboso · 05-23-2010, 10:47 AM

Actually, Ann Arbor is not at all racist; at least, not in my years experience as a resident with the city. It is home to the University of Michigan, and there are all types of folks drawn to the area because of it's diversity and tolerance. People are people in A2; mostly very nice folks, some not so much. What I was so struck with in Walnut Creek was the fact that I was met with an almost brutal rudeness which I have not experienced in the midwest; or in other parts of the US, for that matter. Nor abroad. It pains me because we chose this area so carefully...
I'm hoping these were isolated incidences, more to do with the impatience of the local folk to a newbie, than a negative response to a stereo-type.

hsw · 05-23-2010, 11:05 AM

WC and EastBay (and Marin) suburbs have notably lower socio-economics/education lvls vs PaloAlto area (Berkeley Engineering PhDs generally move to PA area if they need real jobs post-grad)

But racism and/or class distinctions prevail in any town in world, no matter socio-economics

For ex., in PA area, much like on Stanford campus, socio-economic divides/schisms exist between engineers and non-engineers; engineers vs financiers; Indian immigrants who are Stanford/Berkeley PhD engineers in PA vs uneducated (sometimes illegal) Indian immigrants who often reside in EastBay/SJ; wealthy Prius-driving PA commie techies vs Mercedes-driving Woodside/Atherton capitalist/libertarian techies, etc etc....forms or verbal/nonverbal/violent expressions of these diffces vary by region, but they exist everywhere: humans will be humans

Zachj7 · 05-23-2010, 11:44 AM

Ann Arbor is a huge college town, walnut creek is not. You lived in a educated college town compared to east bay. I am surprised about your experience, as I lived just a mere 5 or so miles to the west in Orinda. I am half black/ half german and have never had any problems in Walnut Creek. I did however have one minor problem in Concord, but that is the only time I ever had experience racism in the bay area. It sounds like you are just dealing with incredibly rude people. I am sorry you are experiencing this, as this is abnormal. I hope this comes to an end so you an enjoy the SF bay area.

clongirl · 05-23-2010, 11:55 AM

I'm bi-racial (Asian) and married to a very white European - I've never experienced racism here. There can definitely be some snooty acting people at the Broadway Plaza (usually the salesclerks- God only knows why since their only making 9 bucks an hour to stand around waving bottles of perfume) but I've experienced it in upscale shops (or even not that upscale) wherever I go...

Definitely not what your wearing either..I'm very casual and don't think anyone cares. My kids even sloppier! I think you might be over thinking perceived racism/classism. If you're very overweight, this might be it...but even then, not atypical to see someone heavyset either.

Bart attendants are notoriously rude, impatient and unhelpful all over..like San Francisco bus drivers without the bus. It's highly doubtful the rudeness because of what you look like. I see plenty of diversity in Walnut Creek at Target, other places and never felt uncomfortable.

I was called a "*****" starts with "ch" in San Francisco of all places..where I grew up!

HSW's post makes no sense..don't even bother trying to sort out his "language". He's notorious around here for talking about Palo Alto/engineers/financiers no matter what the topic.

Gentoo · 05-23-2010, 12:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zachj7

Ann Arbor is a huge college town, walnut creek is not. You lived in a educated college town compared to east bay. I am surprised about your experience, as I lived just a mere 5 or so miles to the west in Orinda. I am half black/ half german and have never had any problems in Walnut Creek. I did however have one minor problem in Concord, but that is the only time I ever had experience racism in the bay area. It sounds like you are just dealing with incredibly rude people. I am sorry you are experiencing this, as this is abnormal. I hope this comes to an end so you an enjoy the SF bay area.

That's pretty much my experience and how I view this as well. Guess Concord hasn't changed much.

Gentoo · 05-23-2010, 12:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by clongirl

I'm bi-racial (Asian) and married to a very white European - I've never experienced racism here. There can definitely be some snooty acting people at the Broadway Plaza (usually the salesclerks- God only knows why since their only making 9 bucks an hour to stand around waving bottles of perfume) but I've experienced it in upscale shops (or even not that upscale) wherever I go...

Definitely not what your wearing either..I'm very casual and don't think anyone cares. My kids even sloppier! I think you might be over thinking perceived racism/classism. If you're very overweight, this might be it...but even then, not atypical to see someone heavyset either.

Bart attendants are notoriously rude, impatient and unhelpful all over..like San Francisco bus drivers without the bus. It's highly doubtful the rudeness because of what you look like. I see plenty of diversity in Walnut Creek at Target, other places and never felt uncomfortable.

I was called a "*****" starts with "ch" in San Francisco of all places..where I grew up!

HSW's post makes no sense..don't even bother trying to sort out his "language". He's notorious around here for talking about Palo Alto/engineers/financiers no matter what the topic.

Ok thank God it's not just me. I read that post three times and could not decipher it

Ceece · 05-23-2010, 04:18 PM

You are experiencing bad customer service, not much more to say about that. There are all sorts of people around here of different race, style of dress, color of hair, size and shap. I highly doubt anything in the OP is related to that stuff. But, like everywhere else, we have some stupid people in the workplace. There is no cure for that.

PeixeGato · 05-23-2010, 05:19 PM

Can't speak to whether or not its racism, but I've found BART and AC Transit people to be incredibly rude all over, regardless of what station/city I'm in. Not sure if its the budget cuts or what, but saying they are rude is being polite.

I have found that sales clerks in "upscale" places like WC can be incredibly snooty and can be quick to judge your ability to pay for the items in the store by your appearance (either clothing or ethnicity). I won't bother going into how stupid this is on their part, as I'd be preaching to the choir. I have been both ignored and given WAY too much attention when shopping in such areas.

IMHO, I doubt what you experienced is racism, but again, I wasn't there, so I can't say for sure.

Welcome to Northern California! I went to Business School in A2 and you'll appreciate it more here in the winter