Racism in Victoria, Texas (Corpus Christi, Portland: water, culture, African-Americans)

[taliba]

I'd say Teatime was the closest to the true picture. I've lived in Bryan, College Station (better only if you're in College there), Houston, Wharton, Waco, and Port Arthur. Stay away from small town Texas.

[The_Fairfaxian]

Originally Posted by TexasReb

We Texans/Southerners really are the most tolerant people in the country...in the true and classic definition of the adjective and virtue. No, our definition of "tolerance" does not mean embracing and touting of every single trendy chic "progressive" (whatever THAT means) thing that comes along in the name of it. But rather, live and let live...and a natural understanding of how to do so...!

Simple as that. Don't you think, my friend?

This is the kind of mentality I'd prefer, even above so-called "liberalism." Trust me when I say liberalism does not always (and uncommonly, almost never) equal acceptance of everything. Even with the things liberalism is associated with, particularly interracial relationships. A pure example is where I currently am in the Northeastern Mid-Atlantic state of Maryland. Even though it's solidly liberal and rather open to "chic-liberal" things like abortions, handouts, and gay marriage, when it comes to things like "tolerance" for interracial relationships, Maryland (and the northeast for that matter) talk the talk with "tolerance." But in reality, either they only refer to the acceptance of IR couples that involve Asians and South Indians with Whites, or they'll emphasize "tolerance" which BY DEFINITION, means to "put up with an inconvenience that usually is otherwise unwanted." Like how one "tolerates" a flu or "tolerates" traffic jams, there's a sense of putting up with it, but the feeling of acceptance (or even neutrality such as what the "live-and-let-live" perspective is more about) is not there. And now leading to my main point, I realize that Texas is more conservative than many states, but in all honestly, I'm not gay so there goes the concern over homophobia. I'm not a woman (and even if I was, I'm more of a pro-life advocate anyway), so there goes the abortion. I am predominantly black, but I'm as far as "Afrocentric" as it gets. All of these reasons led me to the conclusion that I'll be rather well-off in Texas (particularly the four larger metropolitan areas) and end up hooking-up, dating, and eventually marrying a woman outside of my race. All I demand is for the people around me to not parade or get on my case about the skin color or women I decide to date, do, and marry (and that's a demand I expect people from all races to uphold!).

[UTHORNS96]

Originally Posted by tindo80

I find it very interesting (not to mention suspicious) that most of the people that identified themselves as Texans in their thread either claimed racism was a product of 'other states', that it was just as bad as other states and no worst, or that there was no racism in Texas.

I grew up in south texas, and am SHOCKED too see how many people here claim its not racist at all. I dont know what state they were living in, but the south Texas I grew up in (and my family is from gonzales County, I grew up in SA) is NO place to place on a 'non-racial pedastol'. Police profiling, hate crimes, racist jokes, workplace discrimination are all at least as common as other states in the south (with the exception of maybe louisiana, where it is much worst). If you are hispanic, and you are in areas where hispanics are not the majority, expect to be treated as a possible 'illegal', unintelligent, lazy, and a potential cholo or criminal. If you are black and in a white area, expect bad looks, clenched purses, to be followed around by security and stopped frequently by police (especially if you have a good job and drive a nice car). If you are gay, be expectant of people who wont touch you, assuming you have aids, and verbally (or worst) harassed by locals. Likewise, domestic abuse towards women has always been a big problem in the entire state, and is rarely reported by its victims.

In each case, it is not simply 'just white folks' who will perpetrate such acts, every group is equally racist. Granted, there are many many non-racist, decent people who just want to be left alone. Unfortunately like many other things, the idiots out there are more noticeable and make everyone else look bad.

Search 'hate crimes in texas', or Jasper, or Tulia, or countless other incidents within the last 15-20 years. Youll see in each case people swearing race had nothing to do with the incidents, when it obviously (and would later be proven) did.

Its easy to look at a place with rose colored glasses, but I would not want to move anywhere thinking its the best place on earth only to discover its got its problems like anywhere else.

There is gonna be racist, idiotic scum anywhere you go. For every Jasper in Texas there is a Sean Bell in New York or a Rodney King in California. But nobody every blasts those states for their BS.

Texas is by no means perfect. But it's nothing like Hollywood movies portray it to be.

[jtur88]

Originally Posted by UTHORNS96

Texas is by no means perfect. But it's nothing like Hollywood movies portray it to be.

But it IS quite like King of the Hill.

[argiemom1]

My husband and I moved to Portland, Texas (from Southern California) a year ago. My husband is Caucasian and I am South American. I have met all kinds of people here. Some of them curious of my accent and looks (I could pass for Italian or Middle Eastern), some friendly and accepting, and some unfriendly and indifferent. Sometimes racism is so subtle that it is hard to tell whether it is truly racism or someone who doesn't like you .

Anyway, even though I miss L.A., I have found that, for the most part, people are nice and friendly in South Texas. I don't mind the humidity and enjoy the beach .

However, my only concern is my son's future . I have a five-year old son, and I believe that he doesn't have a great future here. Since I am very skeptical of the education system here, I am currently home-schooling and, when the time comes to go to college I will definitely encourage him to apply to universities out of state (or at least out of South Texas).

[argiemom1]

Originally Posted by UTHORNS96

There is gonna be racist, idiotic scum anywhere you go. For every Jasper in Texas there is a Sean Bell in New York or a Rodney King in California. But nobody every blasts those states for their BS.

Texas is by no means perfect. But it's nothing like Hollywood movies portray it to be.

I just moved from L.A. to Portland, TX. I lived 15 years in L.A. and one year in South Texas (I am South American). I don't mean to offend anyone but Corpus Christi/Portland is nothing like L.A.
You can't compare the melting-pot that a cosmopolitan city like L.A. is to South Texas.

The people who grew up in South Texas (Caucasian/African-Americans or Hispanics) have no idea what it means to be truly diverse. Over here is only white or Mexican (or Mexican-American). If you are Hispanic you are Mexican (they have no idea that a variety of other Spanish speaking countries exists out there). Asians are almost non-existent. As for African Americans, I think I've seen 2 in Portland in one year...

What I'm trying to say is that comparing L.A. and South Texas is like comparing elephants to oranges....there is no comparison.

I hope I didn't offend anyone. This is just my unbiased opinion

[pirate_lafitte]

Originally Posted by argiemom1

I just moved from L.A. to Portland, TX. I lived 15 years in L.A. and one year in South Texas (I am South American). I don't mean to offend anyone but Corpus Christi/Portland is nothing like L.A.
You can't compare the melting-pot that a cosmopolitan city like L.A. is to South Texas.

The people who grew up in South Texas (Caucasian/African-Americans or Hispanics) have no idea what it means to be truly diverse. Over here is only white or Mexican (or Mexican-American). If you are Hispanic you are Mexican (they have no idea that a variety of other Spanish speaking countries exists out there). Asians are almost non-existent. As for African Americans, I think I've seen 2 in Portland in one year...

What I'm trying to say is that comparing L.A. and South Texas is like comparing elephants to oranges....there is no comparison.

I hope I didn't offend anyone. This is just my unbiased opinion

You make a good point. Diversity is more than just being of a different ethnicity. It is about the whole, people of all different ethnicities, not just one or two.

As for not seeing many African-Americans in Portland, I would venture into the northern parts of Portland. I have some more info:Oregon.com - African American Heritage in Portland

[bamba_boy]

It think you are confused. The last few posts are about people in Portland, Texas - across the bay from Corpus Christi. Not that Portland on the slightly bigger body of water The Pacific Ocean.

As for not seeing many African-Americans in Portland, I would venture into the northern parts of Portland. I have some more info:Oregon.com - African American Heritage in Portland[/quote]]

[jtur88]

You sound like an intelligent person, and you obviously care about your children's education. In that case, it doesn't matter where your kids go to school, they will get what they can out of the education opportunity, with your support and encouragement, and turn out just fine.

[pirate_lafitte]

Originally Posted by bamba_boy

It think you are confused. The last few posts are about people in Portland, Texas - across the bay from Corpus Christi. Not that Portland on the slightly bigger body of water The Pacific Ocean.

As for not seeing many African-Americans in Portland, I would venture into the northern parts of Portland. I have some more info:Oregon.com - African American Heritage in Portland

][/quote]

I misread the post.