Biracial life in Texas (Houston, Dallas: to live, military, moving to)

[NOTAM]

exactly. i lived in small town Mississippi, and there were gun totin' rebel flag wavin' folks everywhere, lots of references found everywhere to the civil war, southern heritage, lots or racist overtones. it was common to see bumper stickers that said "if i had only known, i would have picked my own damn cotton"............i have lived in Texas for most of my life and i have never seen this kind of stuff here (and i have lived in VERY small town Texas pop 500)..........i just dont consider Texas the "south" in the traditional sense, i think of Texas as Texas-it's a whole other country!

Originally Posted by crbcrbrgv

I live in Houston. It's about the least racist place in the country. I am in an interracial marriage (I'm a white guy, wife is Mexican-American) and nobody really seems to care. I wouldn't lump Texas with the south. This isn't Mississippi. Texas is Texas. People might care about being in an interracial relationship in a small town in Texas, but I would say that's pretty much true in small town anywhere.

[texas7]

Racism is taught and it starts at home and it transcends to all ethnicities. You put a bunch of kids in a room, they all play together just fine and may ask curious questions about children who look different from themselves BUT when parents teach kids that a certain group is inferior or to expect to be treated as less by other ethnicities - then expectations on both sides create suspicion and often perceive innocent questions as something other than they are.

[blueskies49]

Originally Posted by bellestaroftexas

exactly. i lived in small town Mississippi, and there were gun totin' rebel flag wavin' folks everywhere, lots of references found everywhere to the civil war, southern heritage, lots or racist overtones. it was common to see bumper stickers that said "if i had only known, i would have picked my own damn cotton"............i have lived in Texas for most of my life and i have never seen this kind of stuff here (and i have lived in VERY small town Texas pop 500)..........i just dont consider Texas the "south" in the traditional sense, i think of Texas as Texas-it's a whole other country!

I have a good friend born and raised in Mississippi but has raised a family here in Texas. We went into Vern's (soul food place) in Dallas one day for lunch and there was a truck with a confederate flag on the front. Kind of ironic, huh? This guy was in the soul food restaurant for lunch! Anyway, my friend said how that wasn't right and my hubby said it didn't mean the guy wanted slavery back, it was just his heritage.

I agree, Texas isn't necessarily the "south" in the traditional sense even though it was settled by Southerners. Texas really IS a whole other country with many layers including the cowboy/ranching tradition.

[Turk]

Originally Posted by teatime

"However it is the south and we all know its history..."

You do know this remark is insulting, right? If you've filled your kids' minds with things like this, then I'm afraid y'all won't be happy in Texas -- and it won't have much to do with Texans or "the South."

Good post. If you come with the expectation of being offended, you'll find a way to be offended.

Open your mind, and you'll see as much racism here as LA, or NY. Its there, its here, its everywhere. Its a stereotype thats its worse in the south. But generally, 99% of society in any state or city will accept you for what you are. Like someone else said. Its 2007.

[Delta Planter]

Originally Posted by nativeDallasite

Good point. If she comes here expecting to be offended, she'll be offended. If she's that dainty, she should probably stay out of shoot-from-the-hip Texas. We're not really racist here, but we're pretty blunt.

Can I use that last statement for a byline? I like that, and I'm from Mississippi, originally!

[smackie94]

Originally Posted by mxj9797

I live in Los Angeles and have 3 biracial kids and am considering moving to Texas so increase our quality of life.However it is the south and we all know its history so I was wondering what life has been like for any biracial kids growing up in Texas. Have you delt with any racism have ever felt picked on because of who you are etc.
Thank You

dont come here.....please.

you are exactly what you are worried about, you are make race and prejudice an issue. you have already probably taught them they are at a disadvantage for being bi racial, which is a preparing them for failure.

if your kids are punks or have a chip on there shoulder because of race they might get some name calling or into fights. if they are descent kids and you dont push race being a disadvantage its a non issue and they will be fine.

[fitzy24]

How did you get all of that from the original post?

"dont come here.....please.

you are exactly what you are worried about, you are make race and prejudice an issue. you have already probably taught them they are at a disadvantage for being bi racial, which is a preparing them for failure.

if your kids are punks or have a chip on there shoulder because of race they might get some name calling or into fights. if they are descent kids and you dont push race being a disadvantage its a non issue and they will be fine."

[texasdreamin]

I'm starting to wonder if Smackie is really Smackie. He sounds hauntingly familiar to that of another poster, whose ID I will let you figure out. I have never seen a newbie come on board and in less than a week of being here has such a horrid attitude toward other posters. Think about it.

[Huckleberry3911948]

Originally Posted by mxj9797

I live in Los Angeles and have 3 biracial kids and am considering moving to Texas so increase our quality of life.However it is the south and we all know its history so I was wondering what life has been like for any biracial kids growing up in Texas. Have you delt with any racism have ever felt picked on because of who you are etc.
Thank You

biracial life in texas is being at the track with your corvette and a GTX on the same weekend.
stephen s
san deigo ca

[Kave64]

Originally Posted by mxj9797

I live in Los Angeles and have 3 biracial kids and am considering moving to Texas so increase our quality of life.However it is the south and we all know its history so I was wondering what life has been like for any biracial kids growing up in Texas. Have you delt with any racism have ever felt picked on because of who you are etc.
Thank You

I don't think the original poster intended any harm by asking the question. There are still some places in this country (and we're not just talking about the South) where interracial couples and their children would not be accepted. That's a reality that she is trying to avoid. From my experience, this is not a problem in most of Texas, but it probably doesn't hurt to educate yourself, if the issue is a concern.

With that being said, I would think you have much more to fear in a place like Los Angeles where there currently seems to be open warfare between black and hispanic gangs, occasionally resulting in the taking of innocent lives (http://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/17/us/17race.html). As a black man, I am thankful that my children don't have to deal with that sort of racial strife and would never choose to live in such an environment.