What was your experience as a person of color in the Texas Hill Country (Houston: spring break, living in)

[Simplesticks]

My family and I reside in Houston...born and raised. Were AA with German, French and Jewish ancestry... But are brown toned people. It's currently Spring Break here and I thought of taking a drive to the Texas Hill Country Bandera County area..or a place with large green hills. We've never driven to West Texas any further than San Antonio or Austin during the relays. I know there's racism and prejudice in every race but I don't want to subject my kids to unnecessary racism in the name of a trip. How are black people treated in those rural areas? Are they wanted there?
Have you heard of any experiences or have any first hand accounts?

[CptnRn]

Bandera County is far from Austin, so I'm not sure this is the best place to ask. San Antonio might be better.

I expect it is probably more conservative, but it is not "West Texas" by any means. You will probably be fine.

[TXsurburbanmom]

Having lived in West Texas and had family living in East Texas in my experience West Texas is actually less racist than East Texas. (I'm not including Houston these areas were deeper east) Now I'm blond haired and blue eyed so have no firsthand knowledge but my ex sister-in-law is Hispanic/Asian and they experienced a lot of issues. I also visited in-laws in a different town and it was sadly obvious there as well. Can't attest for all of West Texas but I suspect you would be just fine there.

Bandera isn't West Texas though. It's outside of San Antonio and is fairly touristy as the "Cowboy Capital of the World" so I would think they get visitors of all shades. The bluebonnets are out already according to a friend that drove from Houston to Bandera last week and it's been so rainy it should be a nice drive. Have a great time wherever you end up going!

[radiolibre99]

It's all a toss up. I've never had issues in Texas but that's because I'm white and had always called BS on people claiming racism until I started dating women of color and realized it up close. It's there and present in all of Texas.

Heck, I remember how my own family they thought Bohemian Czech was too exotic. My uncle married a woman who would be seen as white elsewhere but because she has natural black hair, this meant she was "something". So OP I do understand your concerns even as what's considered an "ethic white", because unless your blonde blue eyed racism will rear its ugly head in Texas. But the good news is that it's few and far between and the insistence on maintaining a polite demeanor will deter most acts of racism. I wouldn't worry about it and enjoy your time.

[Gunion Powder]

Speaking as a black Texan, I can assure you that you will have no problems at all. The residents of the Hill Country are overwhelmingly white, but visitors come in all colors and from all walks of life.

[War Beagle]

My guess is green is the only color that matters in the Hill Country.

[philopower]

I didn't have problems at all. I worked west of Austin for a year and they treated me quite well, maybe cause I was a UT student, but in all it was a good experience. Dating on the other hand was a different story.

[Gunion Powder]

Living in an area where there are only a handful of people of the same race can be difficult, in one way or another.

[dihappy]

Well, im not black, but im a light hispanic and frequent Bandera and the hill country pretty often. Great bunch of people.

[gtt99]

"What was your experience as a person of color in the Texas Hill Country?"

Your experience is what you make out of it. It's all up to you. Racism is like stupidity, we'll never get rid of it.