What is Seattle Like for an Inter-racial Couple (Spokane, Tacoma: gated communities, to live)

[green_mariner]

Gentoo, it doesn't surprise me about Portland. Portland might be a radical,leftist, hippy place, but go back 150 years. Oregon passed a law, which basically barred African-Americans from settling in Oregon. Although the law was ignored much of the time, few African-Americans moved to Oregon, they were basically discouraged from moving there. The law was not repealed until 1926. The state of Washington wasn't like that. There was prejudice and discrimination in Washington, it wasn't to the extent of what happened in Oregon. Oregon was one of the western strongholds for the KKK. Many of Oregon's cities and towns were sundown towns. The African-American population in the PNW increased during WWII, mainly because of jobs in the shipyards in Portland, Seattle, Tacoma, Bremerton,etc. After WWII, many Blacks found very few opportunities in Portland. Some when to California, some went to Seattle. Oregon had a law against interracial marriages that wan't repealed until 1951. Oregon became the big leftist place as of the 1960s. Still, I am not totally shocked about Portland.

[Do a Barrel Roll]

Originally Posted by Howest2008

Portland Oregon is one of the MOST LEFTIST RADICAL CITY on the West
Coast , and might I also add a HOMOSEXUAL HAVEN and UTOPIA To BOOT
how in the WORLD CAN IT be behind San Diego California..????

There are plenty of radical leftist cities that will defend homosexuals to death (and anything else that's currently chic with liberals like going green and pro-choice) but will gawk at interracial relationships, especially if it involves Hispanic and Black males. I don't know about if that's the case for Portland, but this is the case for a lot of radical-liberal East Coast cities.

[green_mariner]

Originally Posted by The_Fairfaxian

There are plenty of radical leftist cities that will defend homosexuals to death (and anything else that's currently chic with liberals like going green and pro-choice) but will gawk at interracial relationships, especially if it involves Hispanic and Black males. I don't know about if that's the case for Portland, but this is the case for a lot of radical-liberal East Coast cities.

I found a blog regarding interracial dating in Portland,OR:...That black girl: date night

Portland is a hippy type of place, but it also has a dubious history, something to keep in mind.

[Gentoo]

Originally Posted by pirate_lafitte

Gentoo, it doesn't surprise me about Portland. Portland might be a radical,leftist, hippy place, but go back 150 years. Oregon passed a law, which basically barred African-Americans from settling in Oregon. Although the law was ignored much of the time, few African-Americans moved to Oregon, they were basically discouraged from moving there. The law was not repealed until 1926. The state of Washington wasn't like that. There was prejudice and discrimination in Washington, it wasn't to the extent of what happened in Oregon. Oregon was one of the western strongholds for the KKK. Many of Oregon's cities and towns were sundown towns. The African-American population in the PNW increased during WWII, mainly because of jobs in the shipyards in Portland, Seattle, Tacoma, Bremerton,etc. After WWII, many Blacks found very few opportunities in Portland. Some when to California, some went to Seattle. Oregon had a law against interracial marriages that wan't repealed until 1951. Oregon became the big leftist place as of the 1960s. Still, I am not totally shocked about Portland.

And as often cited, leftist doesn't always mean open to other races, just as not all conservatives can be called racist. I think Washington has always been the most progressive state on the west coast. Even California has a checkered past. The KKK was, and might still be, really strong in Southern California as well, (Riverside, San Bernardino and San Diego Counties in particular). Washington, and especially the Seattle area, while they had their problems at one time because most of the country did, were among the first to outgrow them.

I also heard, but can't confirm, that Seattle was also one of the first cities in the country to voluntarily inter-grade it's schools. Berkeley Ca. was the only other west coast city I know of that did as well.

[green_mariner]

Originally Posted by Gentoo

And as often cited, leftist doesn't always mean open to other races, just as not all conservatives can be called racist. I think Washington has always been the most progressive state on the west coast. Even California has a checkered past. The KKK was, and might still be, really strong in Southern California as well, (Riverside, San Bernardino and San Diego Counties in particular). Washington, and especially the Seattle area, while they had their problems at one time because most of the country did, were among the first to outgrow them.

I also heard, but can't confirm, that Seattle was also one of the first cities in the country to voluntarily inter-grade it's schools. Berkeley Ca. was the only other west coast city I know of that did as well.

I don't know for sure. Seattle came up with its own plan. By law, Seattle schools were not segregated in that sense. On the other hand, most African-Americans lived on the southern portion of Seattle. Seattle was never perfect either:HistoryLink.org- the Free Online Encyclopedia of Washington State History
On that note, if you look at Boston, and other cities, Seattle, though had its issues, wasn't like Boston in a sense, or other cities.

[Vells]

Being aware that I myself have chimed in with related information in reaction to some other responses posted, I hope that the original poster can take away from this that the Seattle area is very tolerant and welcoming (in general) of interracial couples. Interracial couples are common enough to not typically be stared at or otherwise singled out in a crowd.

While political and demographic information does not guarantee individuals' (or couples') experience will be positive, in relation to other parts of the United States, an interracial couple moving to the Seattle area should hopefully not have to worry about "worse" social treatment and can likely expect to experience tolerance/acceptance overall.

The tolerance vs. acceptance debate is actually somewhat moot, in my opinion, given that the usual and most likely concern of an IR couple is having some kind of unpleasant social experience in public or how their children would be treated in schools (by teachers, peers, etc). The "acceptance" part is really about how one feels as much as how others act. I think that part is subjective, especially as human interacion is complex and open to much interpretation.

[Tryclopss]

My husband (white male) and I (black female) and we live in West Canada and considering to move to Seattle. I can't thank you enough to have started this conversation and feel comfortable to move to this city to make the leap with our children on day in the far future :-)

[green_mariner]

Originally Posted by Vells

Being aware that I myself have chimed in with related information in reaction to some other responses posted, I hope that the original poster can take away from this that the Seattle area is very tolerant and welcoming (in general) of interracial couples. Interracial couples are common enough to not typically be stared at or otherwise singled out in a crowd.

While political and demographic information does not guarantee individuals' (or couples') experience will be positive, in relation to other parts of the United States, an interracial couple moving to the Seattle area should hopefully not have to worry about "worse" social treatment and can likely expect to experience tolerance/acceptance overall.

The tolerance vs. acceptance debate is actually somewhat moot, in my opinion, given that the usual and most likely concern of an IR couple is having some kind of unpleasant social experience in public or how their children would be treated in schools (by teachers, peers, etc). The "acceptance" part is really about how one feels as much as how others act. I think that part is subjective, especially as human interacion is complex and open to much interpretation.

I would think so.

[Gentoo]

Originally Posted by pirate_lafitte

I don't know for sure. Seattle came up with its own plan. By law, Seattle schools were not segregated in that sense. On the other hand, most African-Americans lived on the southern portion of Seattle. Seattle was never perfect either:HistoryLink.org- the Free Online Encyclopedia of Washington State History
On that note, if you look at Boston, and other cities, Seattle, though had its issues, wasn't like Boston in a sense, or other cities.

That's not too bad. Rather typical actually. That busing thing happened here as well.

[aeroz]

Originally Posted by ckhthankgod

Is this a serious question? I say that because Seattle is probably one of the best areas in the country for an interracial couple and has been for a long time. I think you will be fine just about anywhere in the area.

You must be joking. In Seattle there is a strong sense of general distrust of and annoyance with black people because the downtown lower class black folk give the rest a bad rap. Check out the Craigslist postings or internet chatter regarding how blacks are perceived. Seattle is filled with haters.

White women who marry black men are stereotyped in Seattle as all kinds of horrible things. Read up on the internet chatter. You will see what is covered up by political correctness but what is really thought in people's minds.