A move from Nashville, TN to Spokane (sales, to buy)

[mstrozier]

I currently reside just outside of Nashville, TN and my family is deciding to make a move to Spokane due to a better job offer. I have done some research on the school system as we have 3 kids, and they have Lewis and Clark rated as one of the top 7 schools in the country. For us that is very appealing.

However the major deciding factor is racism in the area. Does it exist and how bad is it? This is one of the reasons why we are looking at moving away from the South, aside from the 110+ degree heat we have had lately.

I am white of German/Iris decent. However my wife is Domician (she looks white however with a tan )

But I am concerned as her first child was with her ex husband and he also was Domician. You can tell the child is hispanic and he is 11 years old. Plays football here for the middle school and is a good kid. I just don't want to move an area where people are going to act uneducated and uncultured. The two children we have together are as white as I am so I know they will be fine. My concern is for my stepson and my wife.


Thanks

[kena]

In response to your questions, I think that you will find that the vast majority of people in Spokane will have no issues with the makeup of your family. My spouse is hispanic and as a so-called mixed couple we never encountered any overt issues when living in Spokane. Demographically, you'll find Spokane less diverse than Nashville but there is a nice community feel to most of Spokane and many of the schools are excellent. Lewis and Clark is a great school, if you visit, try and make time to look around the school. You will generally see a good mix of students from many backgrounds fitting in pretty well together. As you allude to in your posting your current residence has some issues with race and I think that is probably unfortunately true no matter where you go in the country. Nonetheless, I think you'll find Spokane generally welcoming. A link to the recent diversity celebration in town:
The Spokesman-Review.com

[abautista]

thanks very much for all your information. i read one of the postings that wendy had, and she answered my shopping question. there is a gap! and my best friend said that there's target, and a walmart opening near them. they live in airway heights right now, but, they're going to get a better place for the 3 of us in the coming months. but, i did see other posts about the restuarant situation, but, that's one of my downfalls, so, it's better that there's not a whole lot of good restuarants to eat at, anyways. it's looking better in prospects for moving. and i'm not worried about the racial thing anymore. i just didn't want to be hunted down, or told that i probably couldn't afford something that i was trying to buy by a sales clerk.(i've heard bad stuff from someone who lived there and was told that when she was looking a piece of jewlery at a shop) so, the prospects for moving are getting better. california's not right for me, it never has been. i don't mind rain, or snow, as long as it doesn't come up past my knees. and i'm moving to the uk, so, i figure it's the best way to prepare for that. well, anyways. thanks again!