Beaumont, TX (San Antonio, Austin, Fort Worth: middle-class, construction, school district)

[Rocketmedic]

I'm looking at a job with Acadian Ambulance in the Beaumont area as a paramedic, and in the San Antonio area. My wife is Hispanic, and I've heard a few rumors that Beaumont is a bit racist. Is there any credence to these?

[doctorjef]

Yes, there has been more overt Southern style racism in Beaumont and the whole "Golden Traingle" area than in San Antonio. I haven't lived in Beaumont in almost 30 years, so can't say what it's like now, but in the mid-1980s it was way behind much of the State in attitudes. Years after other cities had named a street for Martin Luther King, Jr, the Beaumont City Council was still declining to rename a street in 1985 and the Black community was still struggling over this issue and far more substantive things. African-Americans worked in distinctly servile positions for the most part, and the psychiatirst who was medical director at the hospital where I was on staff made overtly racist comments in staff meetings.

Back then, there were very few Hispanics in Beaumont. That has no doubt changed somewhat over the intervening years. I can't imagine that prejudice toward a middle class Hispanic would be anything like the difficulties faced by African-Americans historically in Beaumont and the surrounding area. However, I wouldn't particularly recommend Beaumont as a place to live, for a variety of reasons. We spent 13 months there and then thankfully I found a position in Austin.

[BobTex]

I work at the largest hospital in Beaumont but live 50 miles north of town. There is no racism or bigotry that I notice at any time. There is a very large Latin community, along with many other nationalities/races ... including substantial Filipino, Vietnamese, Indian communities. I work with many other healthcare workers of Mexican and other Latino roots. Just on my unit (a small ICU) there is a social worker from El Salvador a unit secretary form Singapore but of Chinese decent, a charge nurse from the Philippines, a young RN of Vietnamese decent, another staff nurse who is Filipino. Also a Cajun from very South Louisiana, 2 rednecks (I am one), a Harley motorhead, a supervisor from South Dakota, and etc, etc, etc,. Half the RN staff at the hospital is black. BTW --- My wife is also a non native being French Canadian. Diversity is here!!!!!

Beaumont population:

Moderator cut: graph removed, linking to competitor sites is not allowed


Unfortunately (I don't know why) "Hispanics" are not listed on the graph but here is the same info in able form:



2010 Population by Race and Ethnicity Beaumont, TX --Texas--U.S.

Population by Race:

White 49,781 44.54% 16,870,032 67.40% 221,809,059 71.91%

Black or African American 48,467 43.36% 2,810,289 11.23% 37,036,996 12.01%

American Indian and Alaska Native 79 0.07% 144,031 0.58% 3,026,418 0.98%

Asian 3,053 2.73% 908,606 3.63% 13,906,406 4.51%
]
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 61 0.05% 38,408 0.15% 662,031 0.21%

Other 10,326 9.24% 4,256,927 17.01% 32,014,224 10.38%

Population by Ethnicity:

Population Hispanic 12,612 11.28% 9,188,431 36.71% 49,511,501 16.05%

Population Non Hispanic 99,155 88.72% 15,839,862 63.29% 258,943,633 83.95%

The data for Beaumont, TX !





This info is from the 2010 US Census.
Also to relate that attitudes have changed drastically in SE Texas since the days of Reconstruction, Beaumony Independent School District superintendent is black and has been in this position for 16 years. So dem white folks is trustin' theyze chilren to a black administrator .... hmmm sounds all racist and backwards to me. And for 16 years! Call the KKK !!!!! Over half the city council is black also. Reality anyone? (these are just anecdotal examples though).



Look, I work here and have lived locally off and on throughout my lifetime. I've lived many other locales also including the emotionally cold and hateful Northeastern US too. There is no problem with "Hispanics" (I have a personal problem with the term "Hispanic" as there is no longer a "Hispanola") in Beaumont. They make up almost 12% of the population making them the third most prevalent ethnic group. I don't know your wife , or you, but a well adjusted person will get along fine here.


Now, for sure Latinos will be THE major ethnic group in San Antonio and a majority of the ethnic population at 60+%. So, if y'all have the least bit of nervousness that you'll be in the minority and maybe some jerk may treat you bad because of ethnicity then by all means go to S.A. (but it COULD happen there too).

Beaumont is a nice place IMHO for a town of 110K population. And even though I don't live here, I shop here frequently and never see displays of racism ... I just don't ... ever !!! My assessment is based on the fact I am here now, not 30 years ago (although I was around then). I work with the Acadian staff frequently.

[BobTex]

Don't be a one hit wonder ... come back here and give us some feedback!

[doctorjef]

Bobtex makes some valid points, but is also naive. You can't expect institutional racism in the modern context to present itself whilst shopping (well, possibly in nearby Vidor, which has a thread of its own on the Texas forum). I'm sure things have improved in Beaumont in the last 27 years or so. However, I also know something of the particular history of the place. A lot of the historic racism in Texas has been covered up, and there were some terrible atrocities committed by white people. However, systematic institutional discrimination continued in East and Southest Texas far longer. I can also tell you that IME, Hispanics haven't been terribly well accepted in areas where they are relative newcomers in the USA. Thus, in Austin, there was no real reaction to the increasing Hispanic/Latin American immigrant population, even as it increased in recent years, whereas in my present little State of Delaware, I was aware of a lot of negative reaction to the NEW Hispanic migration to the State in the previous decade, even though this State hadn't demonstrated popular racism against its sizeable and long-established African-American population in many years. What I'm suggesting here, by way of analogy, is that I'd look out in East Texas, where the Latino population is rather recently established. Still, I don't think a middle-class English-speaking Latina will experience overt discrimiation there.

I don't like being treated as though I know nothing about Texas sociology. I was born there and lived most of my life there up until the second half of 2004. I've lived all over most of Texas and have a basis for cultural comparison from one area to another. I was living in Fort Worth prior to moving to Beaumont. I have acknowledged that my observations are dated, but I don't think they are irrelevant. IMO, San Antonio has so much more to offer.

[Rocketmedic]

I'm thinking the same- but in the end, it's wherever I get hired. Any paramedics on the board?

[DanielWayne]

If you are worried about your wife in Beaumont, don't. I grew up in the Golden Triangle and even spent way too many years at Lamar U. I am Hispanic myself. There is a sizable community in the avenues in near downtown Beaumont and also near the old fairgrounds. If we were talking 1940, then yes, my parents had a hard time growing up in the area. The English-only thing was a bigger deal way back then.

But the Hispanic population is actually growing in that area now days. Even when I was a child, it was not an issue.

[doctorjef]

Unless it has been gentrified in recent years - which I realise is entirely possible - the near downtown area of Beaumont is not an especially good or salubrious part of town.

[BobTex]

Originally Posted by doctorjef

Unless it has been gentrified in recent years - which I realise is entirely possible - the near downtown area of Beaumont is not an especially good or salubrious part of town.

Crockett Street Entertainment District, Beaumont Texas

Revitalization is ongoing.

[BobTex]

Originally Posted by doctorjef

Bobtex makes some valid points, but is also naive. You can't expect institutional racism in the modern context to present itself whilst shopping.

I work there also, our family physicians are there, I work with and am friends with MANY blacks and Latinos who live in Beaumont thus conversing with them including the subject of felt or noticed racism/bigotry. I am MUCH more qualified to make observations than you are as my CURRENT time in and experience with Beaumont and Beaumonters hugely outweighs your claims based on living in Beaumont 27 years ago. Oh, I was here (living in Beaumont) too in 1985-86.

Originally Posted by doctorjef

However, I also know something of the particular history of the place. A lot of the historic racism in Texas has been covered up, and there were some terrible atrocities committed by white people.

Old history ... OLD history !!!! More on that below.

Originally Posted by doctorjef

Still, I don't think a middle-class English-speaking Latina will experience overt discrimiation there.

Eggzactly what has been conveyed to answer the OP's worries (except by you until this opinion).

Originally Posted by doctorjef

I don't like being treated as though I know nothing about Texas sociology. I was born there and lived most of my life there up until the second half of 2004. I've lived all over most of Texas and have a basis for cultural comparison from one area to another. I was living in Fort Worth prior to moving to Beaumont. I have acknowledged that my observations are dated, but I don't think they are irrelevant. IMO, San Antonio has so much more to offer.

We know you are a "native" Texan ... you bring that up frequently while posting on the Texas Forum while having been an 8 year resident of Delaware. But you pretty much despise Texas and that comes through in many of your posts ... frequently expounding on your perceived virtues of Delaware vs Texas ... thus your despite for Texas bleeds through on many of your posts blemishing your credibility IMHO.

You can't let it(your despite for Beaumont)go either ... you hammer Beaumont every chance you get even though you haven't lived here (or "shopped" here) in 27 years. Yes, things change, places change, people change, and attitudes change. You did and end run on the question of a Latina feel/experiencing racism and began on your self righteous diatribe against Beaumont ... bringing up history from a time before you were born (1943) ... I am assuming you aren't that old and wrinkled.
Linky: BEAUMONT RIOT OF 1943 | The Handbook of Texas Online| Texas State Historical Association (TSHA)

Been a lot of racial tensions over time and most race riots have been in California and north of the Mason-Dixon, this comment in response to my link above and subsequent race riots in the 1960's and 1990's. Surely those areas have more racial injustices to suffer these racial tensions than in the South!

Irrelevant observations??? Dated and irrelevant in this day and age!

You need to purge all that ill will, it is definitely not good for your qi/chi!