What is Seattle Like for an Inter-racial Couple (live, store)

[harborteacher26]

Western Washington has the highest rate of interacial couples per capita. No one looks twice. No one cares.

[garrett05]

i cant wiat to move to port angeles. just from these chats everybody just
seems so nice i cant believe it! you cant even wave hi and get a response
were i live in folsom ca so tired of that its almost depressing you know
what i mean.

[VIBЄ]

Originally Posted by SonicsFan93

Well, San Diego is 65.3% white, while Seattle is 67.1% white. However, African-Americans make up 10% of Seattle's population, but only make up 6.9% of the population in San Diego.

But how much of the 'white' population of either city identify themselves as Hispanic or Latino? Also, we're comparing a city of over half a million people (598,541 people as of July 2008) to a city twice the size with over 1 million (1,279,329 as of July 2008)

According to CD...

Seattle's demographics look like this:

White - 67.9% (about 406,410 people)
Asian 15.5% - (about 92,773 people)
Black 8.4% - (about 50,277 people)
Hispanic/Latino 5.3% - (about 31,772 people)
Native American - 2.1% (about 12,569 people)
Two or more races - 4.5% (about 26,635 people)
Other - 2.4% (about 14,364 of whoever)

San Diego's demographics look like this:

White - 49.4% (about 631,988 people)
Hispanic/Latino - 25.4% (about 324,945 people)
Asian - 20.9% (about 267,379 people)
Black - 7.9% (about 101,066 people)
Native American - 1.3% (about 16,631 people)
Two or more races - 4.8% (about 61,407 people)
Other - 12.4% (about 158,636 of whoever)

And that's not considering the metro areas or counties (which are probably better gauges for determining diversity). To elaborate - if you factor in nearest major cities:

Tacoma's demographics look like this:

White - 66.5% (about 131,125 people)
Black - 11.2% (about 22,084 people)
Asian 7.9% (about 15,577 people)
Hispanic/Latino - 6.9% (about 13,605 people)
Native American - 3.6% (about 7,098 people)
Two or more races - 6.3% (about 12,422 people)
Other - 2.9% (about 5,718 of whoever)


Long Beach's demographics look like this:

Hispanic/Latino - 35.8% (about 166,036 people)
White - 33.1% (about 153,114 people)
Black - 14.9% (about 69,104 people)
Asian - 12.6% (about 58,437 people)
Native American - 1.7% (about 7,884 people)
Two or more races - 5.3% (about 24,580 people)
Other - 20.6% (about 95,540 of whoever)


Orange County's demographics look like this:

White - 51.3% (about 1,537,477 people)
Hispanic/Latino - 30.8% (about 923,086 people)
Asian - 13.7% (about 410,593 people)
Black - 1.7% (about 50,949 people)
Native American - 1.3% (about 38,961 people)
Two or more races - 4.1% (about 122,878 people)
Other - 14.8% (about 443,560 of whoever)

...And this is not including Los Angeles' demographics

I didn't want to toss out all those statistics at you. Just pointing out that San Diego and surrounding areas still have a larger black population (while not being as predominately white) even though Seattle has a higher percentage.



...But back to the original poster's question. No, I don't think you will run into many problems in Seattle (keyword: many). Most of the west coast is cool with interracial relationships. In fact, I'm sure there are plenty of places of every region of this country that won't give you and your husband a hard time... you just have to do a little research.

[Gentoo]

Originally Posted by SonicsFan93

Well, San Diego is 65.3% white, while Seattle is 67.1% white. However, African-Americans make up 10% of Seattle's population, but only make up 6.9% of the population in San Diego.

yep

[Gentoo]

Originally Posted by VIBЄ

But how much of the 'white' population of either city identify themselves as Hispanic or Latino? Also, we're comparing a city of over half a million people (598,541 people as of July 2008) to a city twice the size with over 1 million (1,279,329 as of July 2008)

According to CD...

Seattle's demographics look like this:

White - 67.9% (about 406,410 people)
Asian 15.5% - (about 92,773 people)
Black 8.4% - (about 50,277 people)
Hispanic/Latino 5.3% - (about 31,772 people)
Native American - 2.1% (about 12,569 people)
Two or more races - 4.5% (about 26,635 people)
Other - 2.4% (about 14,364 of whoever)

San Diego's demographics look like this:

White - 49.4% (about 631,988 people)
Hispanic/Latino - 25.4% (about 324,945 people)
Asian - 20.9% (about 267,379 people)
Black - 7.9% (about 101,066 people)
Native American - 1.3% (about 16,631 people)
Two or more races - 4.8% (about 61,407 people)
Other - 12.4% (about 158,636 of whoever)

And that's not considering the metro areas or counties (which are probably better gauges for determining diversity). To elaborate - if you factor in nearest major cities:

Tacoma's demographics look like this:

White - 66.5% (about 131,125 people)
Black - 11.2% (about 22,084 people)
Asian 7.9% (about 15,577 people)
Hispanic/Latino - 6.9% (about 13,605 people)
Native American - 3.6% (about 7,098 people)
Two or more races - 6.3% (about 12,422 people)
Other - 2.9% (about 5,718 of whoever)


Long Beach's demographics look like this:

Hispanic/Latino - 35.8% (about 166,036 people)
White - 33.1% (about 153,114 people)
Black - 14.9% (about 69,104 people)
Asian - 12.6% (about 58,437 people)
Native American - 1.7% (about 7,884 people)
Two or more races - 5.3% (about 24,580 people)
Other - 20.6% (about 95,540 of whoever)


Orange County's demographics look like this:

White - 51.3% (about 1,537,477 people)
Hispanic/Latino - 30.8% (about 923,086 people)
Asian - 13.7% (about 410,593 people)
Black - 1.7% (about 50,949 people)
Native American - 1.3% (about 38,961 people)
Two or more races - 4.1% (about 122,878 people)
Other - 14.8% (about 443,560 of whoever)

...And this is not including Los Angeles' demographics

I didn't want to toss out all those statistics at you. Just pointing out that San Diego and surrounding areas still have a larger black population (while not being as predominately white) even though Seattle has a higher percentage.



...But back to the original poster's question. No, I don't think you will run into many problems in Seattle (keyword: many). Most of the west coast is cool with interracial relationships. In fact, I'm sure there are plenty of places of every region of this country that won't give you and your husband a hard time... you just have to do a little research.

uh..there's a problem with this. Orange County and LA county (where Long Beach is) cannot be included in "the San Diego area". San Diego County is it's own distinct and specific area. It is much further away from Orange County than Seattle is from Tacoma. How far is Tacoma from Seattle? My guess is that it's about the same distance San Diego is from Oceanside? That's about 30 miles. Except OS and SD are in the same county so that should tell you how large SD county is. Once you cross out of Camp Pendelton and get into Orange County, it's obvious even along I 5 that you're in a different metro area.

So if you look at San Diego County as whole by itself which it is, it's still predominantly white. Not that this in itself is a problem. Afterall it's not the racial makeup that make a place IR friendly, it's the attitude of that population.

[qwy]

I'm considering moving to Seattle to go to college, and this was one of my main apprehensions about moving there when I researched the demographics, because as one poster said in many states people smile outwardly but still believe all blacks are what they see on rap video's... I don't even like rap music.

Now don't get me wrong I'm old enough to know that it isn't an entire race, but individuals and I shouldn't pre-judge an entire race based off the actions of individuals... Now with that said how is asian population's mentality toward dating blacks? I only ask because of the mindset of the asian population here in the midwest... For some reason (I think rap videos, and gangsters/thugs in moves) I know this first hand: both blacks & white love for me to date there daughters as long as I'm a good person (though I did have one experience with one older white lady that was so nice and really cool to hang with that it shocked me when we had a conversation about dating she told me that if she had a daughter she wouldn't want her to date a black guy... I mean WoW! I loved her honesty... But WoW!

Anyway I've noticed with asians that if they were not born in the U.S they will be friends with blacks, but wouldn't consider dating one, and if they were born here then they may want to date a black guy but it depends on how strongly they are influenced by there family.

I've never date a white girl but I have dated two asian girls before, one phillipina (not born here) & one chinese (born here). Both assumed I automaticly cold dance and play basketball -I'm a great dancer by the way, but can't play B-ball-, but the girl not born here hid our relationship from her family while the one born here told me she just didn't care what her family thought, but they both told me how asians view blacks.

Questions:

1). So since we are talking about interacial dating, how is the mindset of asians toward dating blacks?

2). Would a white girl date me because of me or just out of curiosity to try a black guy... I know it may sound silly, but I've seen it happen too many time

[WishToLiveInSeattle]

Where are you at in the Midwest?

I am a white chick and I dated whomever I dated - regardless of race on the fact that I wanted to get to know him, never out of curiosity.

I have dated from white to black, half asian / black, hispanic, middle eastern and Indian. I dated an Ethiopian, not born in the United States and he was a bit possessive, so I broke that one off real quick.

I think you would be able to find people to date that would genuinely want to be in your company.

Originally Posted by qwy

I'm considering moving to Seattle to go to college, and this was one of my main apprehensions about moving there when I researched the demographics, because as one poster said in many states people smile outwardly but still believe all blacks are what they see on rap video's... I don't even like rap music.

Now don't get me wrong I'm old enough to know that it isn't an entire race, but individuals and I shouldn't pre-judge an entire race based off the actions of individuals... Now with that said how is asian population's mentality toward dating blacks? I only ask because of the mindset of the asian population here in the midwest... For some reason (I think rap videos, and gangsters/thugs in moves) I know this first hand: both blacks & white love for me to date there daughters as long as I'm a good person (though I did have one experience with one older white lady that was so nice and really cool to hang with that it shocked me when we had a conversation about dating she told me that if she had a daughter she wouldn't want her to date a black guy... I mean WoW! I loved her honesty... But WoW!

Anyway I've noticed with asians that if they were not born in the U.S they will be friends with blacks, but wouldn't consider dating one, and if they were born here then they may want to date a black guy but it depends on how strongly they are influenced by there family.

I've never date a white girl but I have dated two asian girls before, one phillipina (not born here) & one chinese (born here). Both assumed I automaticly cold dance and play basketball -I'm a great dancer by the way, but can't play B-ball-, but the girl not born here hid our relationship from her family while the one born here told me she just didn't care what her family thought, but they both told me how asians view blacks.

Questions:

1). So since we are talking about interacial dating, how is the mindset of asians toward dating blacks?

2). Would a white girl date me because of me or just out of curiosity to try a black guy... I know it may sound silly, but I've seen it happen too many time

[Gentoo]

Originally Posted by qwy

I'm considering moving to Seattle to go to college, and this was one of my main apprehensions about moving there when I researched the demographics, because as one poster said in many states people smile outwardly but still believe all blacks are what they see on rap video's... I don't even like rap music.

Now don't get me wrong I'm old enough to know that it isn't an entire race, but individuals and I shouldn't pre-judge an entire race based off the actions of individuals... Now with that said how is asian population's mentality toward dating blacks? I only ask because of the mindset of the asian population here in the midwest... For some reason (I think rap videos, and gangsters/thugs in moves) I know this first hand: both blacks & white love for me to date there daughters as long as I'm a good person (though I did have one experience with one older white lady that was so nice and really cool to hang with that it shocked me when we had a conversation about dating she told me that if she had a daughter she wouldn't want her to date a black guy... I mean WoW! I loved her honesty... But WoW!

Anyway I've noticed with asians that if they were not born in the U.S they will be friends with blacks, but wouldn't consider dating one, and if they were born here then they may want to date a black guy but it depends on how strongly they are influenced by there family.

I've never date a white girl but I have dated two asian girls before, one phillipina (not born here) & one chinese (born here). Both assumed I automaticly cold dance and play basketball -I'm a great dancer by the way, but can't play B-ball-, but the girl not born here hid our relationship from her family while the one born here told me she just didn't care what her family thought, but they both told me how asians view blacks.

Questions:

1). So since we are talking about interacial dating, how is the mindset of asians toward dating blacks?

2). Would a white girl date me because of me or just out of curiosity to try a black guy... I know it may sound silly, but I've seen it happen too many time

You know, I used to be the admin of an interracial board.

You're right, you cannot judge an entire race. However what you can do is look at region. The phrase "people are people" is a feel good phrase, not reality. People are not the same everywhere. I think the fact that we're having this discussion proves that. Seattle is certainly not Charleston. When I was in Seattle, I saw lots of IR couples and I was with (but not dating) a white female. It was like the Bay Area, no one cared. No one looks at you twice.

Like I said before, the racial makeup doesn't matter, it's the attitude of that population that matters. An area can be 90% white and be completely friendly toward IR. Or, it can be 20% of 5 races and be very racist toward IR.

Basically what I'm saying is, if you're wondering about IR in Seattle, rest your mind. The west coast by and large (with a few exceptions) is rather...I don't want to use the word open because that implies they care. They don't; just do your thing and they will do theirs.

[qwy]

I agree that each state in the U.S has it's own subcultures and views toward different things such as interacial dating. And people are the same like russian rulet you always taking a chance. I wanted to choose L.A or New York city, but I have a big issue with the whole wanting to be a actor, singer, hollywood thing, though I shouldn't stero-type an entire state.

[pirate_lafitte]

Originally Posted by WishToLiveInSeattle

Hi, my husband and I are researching to see if relocating to Seattle, WA is something we would like to do.

We are an interracial couple, my husband is black and I am white. What will life be like for us out there?

Will we have problems finding jobs due to racism and/or sexism?

My husband is a Semi-truck driver (drives locally) and I work in the I.T. field.

We relocated from Virginia (where my husband is from) to Illinois (where I am from). The problem is, we live in a very non-diverse area that is rural and we have had problems finding good jobs with any type of benefits at all.

Can we please get some insight on this so we can get the H*ll out of here soon?!?!?!?

From what my sources have informed me, Seattle was rated one of the top 10 cities for interracial families. Something to think about.