moving to seattle 30 professional african american woman. . . HELP!! (Tacoma, Bellevue: best neighborhood, hair salon)

[jinj]

I find it interesting why people have to tell us what race they are, move, mix in, it doesn't matter.

[heavyweight]

Originally Posted by jinj

I find it interesting why people have to tell us what race they are, move, mix in, it doesn't matter.

About as interesting as mentioning gender, marital status, age, stage of life (student, professional), kids.... Mentioning race is no different from including any other details. Doesn't indicate an unwillingness to "mix in". Awfully presumptuous to imply that it does. OP seeking out the black community is not any more "interesting" than her seeking out the Christian community. I don't expect her Christianity precludes her from socializing with atheists or attending a concert where (gasp!) Jewish people may be present.

Interesting you singled out race when she also mentioned age, marital status, gender, religion and that she's a professional.

Interesting post.

[willow9713]

Originally Posted by vandygirl

As a Black woman I totally disagree with this. Moving to Seattle was the BEST decision of my life. I've lived in the San Francisco area, Atlanta and Nashville, and I've visited many other cities including Los Angeles.

It does not surprise me that someone from LA would not fit into Seattle regardless of race. Northern Californians have a lot more in common culturally. There is not a sense that every Black person has to acknowledge you on the street in Northern California. People don't strike up extended conversations often in grocery store lines in the bay area. The fact that people don't do it here is not strange to me. It's normal behavior.

I have lived in many diverse settings where African Americans are the minority. I spent a lot of time in Chinatown, working in a Hispanic community and living in a majority White community. For me, it is not a big deal. I don't feel a need to be surrounded by African Americans all the time. I see them at church from time to time. My identity and happiness are not tied to the color of the people I'm around. I know I'm Black and I love my cultural heritage but it is not foremost on my mind. Ok, I'm Black. And...?

My friends here are all colors. I like it that way. It makes life more interesting.

I am an educated person, too. I don't feel like a novelty at all. In fact, most of the Black people I know here are educated. They are all middle and upper middle class. Besides, the community at large is very educated in Seattle. I'm surprised the other poster felt this way.

Living in Seattle I have felt the most comfortable I have ever felt in my life. In LA I have to worry about whether I'm skinny enough or my hair is light enough. In Atlanta I have to stay in my community and not venture out where I might not be accepted as much. In Nashville I have to follow society's rules and not rock the boat. In the bay area I have to be wealth conscious, hide my privileged background from folks in the ghetto and downplay my ghetto ties when I'm with the gentry. In Seattle I can be me, whatever I want to be. This place gives you the room to be yourself.

If you are African American, before moving here ask yourself these questions:
1. Are you socially mobile and comfortable in any social circle?
2. Are you an adventurous or worldly person who gets bored easily with the same comfortable and familiar experiences everyday of your life?
3. Are you fed up with a lousy economy and race mindedness enough to move to a place where it's gray and wet six months of the year?

If you can answer yes to all of those questions, Seattle is for you.

Wow....very well said for anyone of any race....thinking of moving here

[Virtuouswon]

Originally Posted by jinj

I find it interesting why people have to tell us what race they are, move, mix in, it doesn't matter.

As I said before, you....must not be Black. If you are, that explains my point about Seattle exactly.

[I'm miserable, plz let me]

Never come to this garbage dump, especially if you're black.

Try watching Portlandia on IFC and if you can handle those type of jackasses you can handle it here. Still it's June 11th and I'm wearing a hoodie indoors miserable.
Miserable dating scene, especially for a black woman.

[AlohaHuey]

Originally Posted by I'm miserable, plz let me

Never come to this garbage dump, especially if you're black.

Try watching Portlandia on IFC and if you can handle those type of jackasses you can handle it here. Still it's June 11th and I'm wearing a hoodie indoors miserable.
Miserable dating scene, especially for a black woman.

Spreading a little sunshine, huh?

Uh, did you ever visit before moving? A hoody in June, like, DUH!

Perhaps you were miserable before you moved here?

[vandygirl]

Originally Posted by I'm miserable, plz let me

Never come to this garbage dump, especially if you're black.

Try watching Portlandia on IFC and if you can handle those type of jackasses you can handle it here. Still it's June 11th and I'm wearing a hoodie indoors miserable.
Miserable dating scene, especially for a black woman.

FYI temps are very similar in the bay area right now. High of 65 in June is the norm north of Santa Cruz.

Portlandia is about Portland. Portland is NOT Seattle. Portland is over 150 miles away and extremely unique as an American city.

Sorry about your dating life. I have found guys to date here and I'm a black woman. It isn't perfect but it's better than where I came from. You might want to turn the TV off, ditch the hoodie for something cute and get out more. Then see what happens.

[I'm miserable, plz let me]

^I'm a white male. Portand and Seattle are about the same, don't front, you seem like a stuffwhitepeoplelike.com black person though.
The bay area is a dump too, at least I'll be in Atlanta in September.
I hate this place so much. I wish there was more black girls here that didn't have Arab features like the Ethiopians and Erritrians.

Originally Posted by AlohaHuey

Spreading a little sunshine, huh?

Uh, did you ever visit before moving? A hoody in June, like, DUH!

Perhaps you were miserable before you moved here?

Moved here? Son I was born here and have never left, been here 23 years.

[eskercurve]

Originally Posted by I'm miserable, plz let me

^I'm a white male. Portand and Seattle are about the same, don't front, you seem like a stuffwhitepeoplelike.com black person though.
The bay area is a dump too, at least I'll be in Atlanta in September.
I hate this place so much. I wish there was more black girls here that didn't have Arab features like the Ethiopians and Erritrians.



Moved here? Son I was born here and have never left, been here 23 years.

Don't let the door hit you on the way out.

[vandygirl]

Originally Posted by I'm miserable, plz let me

^I'm a white male. Portand and Seattle are about the same, don't front, you seem like a stuffwhitepeoplelike.com black person though.
The bay area is a dump too, at least I'll be in Atlanta in September.
I hate this place so much. I wish there was more black girls here that didn't have Arab features like the Ethiopians and Erritrians.



Moved here? Son I was born here and have never left, been here 23 years.

Wow. That was offensive. Sorry I don't fit your stereotypical notion of what a black woman should be in your opinion. Yes, do take it elsewhere.