slightly worried about petaluma/santa rosa (San Jose, Yuba City: to live, restaurant, mall)

[SonomaCo]

I have never found Petaluma to be very racist, so I'm not sure what you are talking about here. Eureka, maybe, since I went to high school there and it was racist toward the Native Americans, which were the only minorities in the 50's & 60's. I understand it has changed a lot.

[bellalunatic]

Originally Posted by bayarea-girl

Novato and Santa Rosa would be better choices. Stay away from Eureka or Petaluma very racist places. Look at the stats for KKK, there are huge stats for that area of large conscentrated members in those areas. I worked in Petaluma briefly and always felt uncomfortable and many times was stopped by the police. The people were nice for the most part but your race will get you some looks.

Really? I've lived here for almost 5 years and I've NEVER seen or heard of any such KKK types.

[bayarea-girl]

bellalunatic, if you aren't part of the goup and or are not in the know about racisim in that area good for you. I use to work there and have many things to say about the place. If you aren't a minority and or an obvious one then you wouldn't get the looks I got and kids pointing out how different you look.

[blueseas123]

Originally Posted by bellalunatic

Really? I've lived here for almost 5 years and I've NEVER seen or heard of any such KKK types.

Here's something to read for your reference:
No, I’m Not Crazy at Racialicious - the intersection of race and pop culture

This Asian-American woman has recounted my experiences with race to a "T". As this woman states in her article, very little racism is straight up calling someone a racial slur. It is much more covert.
I want to note a different Asian-American woman's comment about her article:

"Normally i dont keep track, but one incident at Borders stood out to me. I remember the white man in front of me buying the same book as me. The white employee at the counter strikes up conversation, acting smiley, cheerful, etc. I come up in line with the same book. I smile, nothing unusual, typical behavior of a polite customer. Of course at this point i’m not expecting anything other than friendly service from his side. little did i know.
Dude’s face *switched*. The moment he sees me, his smile drops. What, am i wearing a dead racoon on my head? I come up to the counter, he quickly looks away. Cold, robotic movement, monotone voice, extremely detached presence, etc. like I was the black plague."

This experience was identical to what I encountered at a deli in downtown Petaluma and again at a store in Santa Rosa.

I have traveled throughout Texas and throughout rural (mostly white) North Carolina (where my boyfriend is from) and the only place where I am bitingly aware that I am Hispanic and he is white has been Petaluma and Santa Rosa, CA. It has been shocking how different we are treated and some people (especially white women) have acted towards us. Something to think about. I have asked him to reenlist elsewhere outside of the state.

[bellalunatic]

Originally Posted by bayarea-girl

bellalunatic, if you aren't part of the goup and or are not in the know about racisim in that area good for you. I use to work there and have many things to say about the place. If you aren't a minority and or an obvious one then you wouldn't get the looks I got and kids pointing out how different you look.

It's interesting, I dealt with more nasty looks and treatment from people when I lived back in Ct. (super WASP land) than I ever have out here in the Bay Area.
And sure I do see Confederate Flag dumbazz-ness boys in their 20's riding around in their stupid-arse muddin' trucks in Petaluma, but they just make me laugh since they don't seem to realize that they'll just marinate in their one-dimensional selves for the rest of their lives.
Back when I was dealing with this crap in CT, I was also in my late teens and early 20's then....I wonder if I just noticed it more then?
So I'm curious now, bayarea-girl and Blueseas123, are you both in your 20's?

[caligirl1082]

Wow. I'm surprised that you had that happen to you. I lived in Santa Rosa/Petaluma for 5 years, and grew up part time in Napa, and I've never seen any real racial issues - maybe it's because I'm white, red haired, blue eyed girl, but I have friends that aren't and they have never made any comments to me about stares and such happening to them. I agree, it's probably because of your Texas accent - there aren't too many accents in the North Bay!
I think that Petaluma and Santa Rosa are some of the friendliest and most gorgeous places - I'm living in Boston now and am homesick!! You'll have fun in the North Bay!

[bellalunatic]

Originally Posted by caligirl1082

Wow. I'm surprised that you had that happen to you. I lived in Santa Rosa/Petaluma for 5 years, and grew up part time in Napa, and I've never seen any real racial issues - maybe it's because I'm white, red haired, blue eyed girl, but I have friends that aren't and they have never made any comments to me about stares and such happening to them. I agree, it's probably because of your Texas accent - there aren't too many accents in the North Bay!
I think that Petaluma and Santa Rosa are some of the friendliest and most gorgeous places - I'm living in Boston now and am homesick!! You'll have fun in the North Bay!

My condolences on your move from the North Bay to Boston!

I have never experienced worse racist cr#p than in Boston many times over.
IMHO one of the worst cities ever.
North Bay Ca. is so NOT like Boston!

[bayarea-girl]

bellalunatic, I wish I was still in my 20's!! But when I had to work there I was.

[blueseas123]

Originally Posted by bellalunatic

It's interesting, I dealt with more nasty looks and treatment from people when I lived back in Ct. (super WASP land) than I ever have out here in the Bay Area.
And sure I do see Confederate Flag dumbazz-ness boys in their 20's riding around in their stupid-arse muddin' trucks in Petaluma, but they just make me laugh since they don't seem to realize that they'll just marinate in their one-dimensional selves for the rest of their lives.
Back when I was dealing with this crap in CT, I was also in my late teens and early 20's then....I wonder if I just noticed it more then?
So I'm curious now, bayarea-girl and Blueseas123, are you both in your 20's?

I'm in my twenties. One thing of note Bellalunatic, are you walking around holding hands and acting couple-like with a super white looking guy? That may make a difference to some people, at least around this area where they seem to think any naturally tan-skinned person is automatically a prole.
It really sucks, because my experiences there have changed my mind about a lot of things, even political things!! My sociology prof had it right: beliefs are rooted in the feeling of safety.

[Grumbler]

Originally Posted by blueseas123

I'm in my twenties. One thing of note Bellalunatic, are you walking around holding hands and acting couple-like with a super white looking guy? That may make a difference to some people, at least around this area where they seem to think any naturally tan-skinned person is automatically a prole.

A good friend of mine, who happens to be Spanish, helped me ride my two motorcycles from San Jose, CA to Boise, ID back in the summer of 2002 (I moved my family here). We decided to have breakfast at the local IHOP the next morning. Every single person in that restaurant was white except for him. It was almost surreal as California is such a diverse state compared to Idaho. He lives near Yuba City, CA.

However, none of the other customers nor the servers seemed to care that he looked hispanic. It's more about *who* you are than *what* you are. Boise is more diverse now than it was 7-years ago. If people can't accept you for what you are then it's their loss, not yours.

BTW, my college sweetheart was an absolutely stunning and brilliant Italian woman with olive skin. She has a PhD in education. Both of us were very secure people, and that's how we projected ourselves.