Need Friendly Town that's Racially Tolerant (Milwaukee, Madison: rent, travel, work)

[Fishtacos]

Originally Posted by Drover

Races in Brookfield:

• White Non-Hispanic (93.3%)
• Asian Indian (1.4%)
• Hispanic (1.2%)
• Chinese (1.0%)
• Black (0.8%)
• Two or more races (0.8%)

Brookfield may be a nice place. It may even be a welcoming place. But "widely diverse," it's not.

This is true an illustrates a good point. Some people have no idea what diversity and integrated is....You won't find much diversity in terms of race in most of Wisconsin, if not all of it. You can live just find in WI, as long as you don't mind stats like these in some areas.

Again, all depends on your lifestyle. If you want a small city but big college town, try Madison. If you are lookinf for more of a city, try Milwauykee, a small city but a little bit bigger. There aren't any bigger cities in Wisconsin. A lot of the small towns around the rest of the state are as white as the snow.

[quijote]

If living in the Milwaukee metro interests you, here are my recommendations for a mixed-race family:

* The city neighborhood of Bay View. It's just south of downtown, and is very densely populated and liberal. Many of the residents are youngish (college age and in their 20s and 30s), but the area's popularity has made it a destination for people who want a community that's tolerant of differences. (Many gay and lesbian couples have moved here.)

* The suburb of Shorewood, just north of Milwaukee's east side. It's the most densely populated community in Wisconsin, and is also very liberal. I know of two mixed-raced families that live there, and several gays and lesbians call the place home, as well. The schools are very good.

[EnjoyEP]

Originally Posted by mel55880

I also suggest you avoid the smaller towns in Central WI and the North west areas of WI. I disagree about the statement made that your would be fine in these small towns. Small towns are generally not tolerant of outsiders of any kind, but being a mixed race family you would have even more trouble.

It's so interesting how WI is such a liberal state when it comes to voting, yet such a non-progressive state when it comes to dealing with racism. It must be all the liberals in the bigger cities and pockets of liberals swaying WI into voting blue instead of red. The area I grew up was all white and people were very intolerant of other races, and extremely conservative.

I wish you luck, maybe your family can break the mold and help our state become more racially tolerant!

I heartily, HEARTILY disagree with this post's assertions. That, if you are a conservative, or a "red" state, you are much more racist?

Comemon...that is as silly stereotyping as any racist stereotyping. Sure, conservatives may be against afirmative action...that does not equal in any way racism. Are there conservatives who are racist? Of course. Just like there are liberals who are racist too. To try to equate conservatism as being "non progressive" and thus poor at dealing with racism is just wrong.

[lem]

Originally Posted by sporty-57

Are you serious? if you want racial tolerance move to southern wisconsin, stay away from anything north of Port Washington on highway 43....Trust me, we lived in the Green Bay area for 15 years and heard the "N" word many, many times...

absurd post. Come on people, there are racists everywhere, Milwaukee was just on the national media news for having "racial problems". Look at this persons post past, everything is negative about Green Bay, not that Green Bay is a great place or doesn't have it's share of problems but obiviously this posters problems with Green Bay go deeper than racial tension, which I hardly ever see BTW.

[Packrat]

Everywhere in USA is racist get real folks.That said you are not likely to be bothered in Madison or LaCrosse which is more than can be said for most places.

[pirate_lafitte]

Originally Posted by Drover

I disagree somewhat with some who say the further north you go the better off you'll be, or that small towns in central Wisconsin will be "just fine." Some specific towns up north are pretty tolerant and laid-back, but once you get outside the Milwaukee area and pockets of Madison, Wisconsin is astonishingly white. (The notable exception is the generally successful integration of a sizeable Hmong population in the Wausau area.) It is not rare at all for small towns in Wisconsin to have a black population of zero. I'd bet there are more than a few towns that have NEVER had black residents. I don't want to give the wrong impression; this has much more to do with historic black migration patterns than outright white hostility. Nonetheless, depending on where you go, this lack of exposure could render your kids something of a curiosity which in turn can result in insensitive, unenlightened comments. Even though no harm may be intended by the offenders, it could be a bit dehumanizing for the kids.

I do agree that you should avoid the Milwaukee area altogether. An earlier post about the racial tensions there is pretty much on the mark.

My advice is to check out Madison. It's a fairly segregated city, at least to the extent that a city with a 6% black population can be segregated... BUT, it's also a very progressive city -- home of UW after all -- and people will trip over themselves to demonstrate how tolerant they are. Racial tensions are generally low, crime is low, the quality of the public schools is surprisingly good for a city of its size, and there are enough blacks there that your kids won't be regarded as a novelty.

About fairly segregated. Doesn't every city have some degree of "segregated" in it? Atlanta can be the same way. The "black" part of town is mainly south and the "white" part of town is mainly north near Buckhead. Every city has a side of town that is more of a particulat ethnicity than another part of town. My question to this thread: Is Madison "totally" segregated and are there mized parts of town? I have never been to Madison so there might be and there might be not. I don't know.

[Wi_Girl]

Originally Posted by lem

absurd post. Come on people, there are racists everywhere, Milwaukee was just on the national media news for having "racial problems". Look at this persons post past, everything is negative about Green Bay, not that Green Bay is a great place or doesn't have it's share of problems but obiviously this posters problems with Green Bay go deeper than racial tension, which I hardly ever see BTW.

I have to agree. I grew up for 20 years "north of I-43" and just south of Green Bay and never dealt with race issues. I am white and it was not something we talked about. I move to Virginia and I had to learn the hard way what racism is all about. Its amazing how bad it is where we live. So I agree that it doesnt matter where you are, there is going to be some type of sterotyping or something going on.

[Milwaukee Ronnie]

In Milwaukee I would suggest Washington Heights, Sherman Park, Bay View, Riverwest, or perhaps the East Side.

Milwaukee is quite simply the only place in Wisconsin with any diversity on par with what you're likely used to on the West Coast.

As a multi-racial, multi-cultural city, there are frictions and, yes, not everyone gets along with each other. It's not all "kumbaya" here, unlike, say Madison. But, of course, Madison is 90% white. No big shock that everyone "gets along" there. It's an incredibily homogenous community.

You can find tolerant, diverse places in the city of Milwaukee. The neighborhoods I have listed above are such places.

I have many friends in bi-racial families and relationships. They live in Milwaukee, are aware of the racial tensions, but still live good lives among like-minded people.

I would advise against any of Milwaukee's suburbs, however.

[berries]

but wisconsin is not the most racially accepting state. I do not like that that is the facts but it is. It is and has been a predominatly white state from the 1800's until the present. Sure people are nice in general, but without a lot of interaction with other races there is a deep seated mistrust/unknowing among the populace. This is just stating the facts. I live in a town of about 4500 and the talk of the town is now that we have a "black" guy in town., I am not saying it is right...just the way it is. the neighbors already want to move, and are woried about there property values. If you are uncomfortable with this kind of "attention" then the small towns are not for you. Milwaukee, madison, green bay are a different story, there it is more common, but in small towns you will stick out and if you are comfortable with that by all means go for it as you will not be ostercized, just scrutinized and that may be uncomfortable. Good luck in your endeavors and sorry things have to be this way. Please no one neg me for giving an honest opinion, and by the way I hope things change for the better and maybe it takes people like you!!!!!!!!!

alll the best

God bless

and if your in WI you gotsa say CHEERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[nikkj123]

Originally Posted by maevel

Hi All
We're white parents to 6 black children and looking for a quiet, clean place to raise them. We've heard WI is a great place to live. Any suggestions for wonderful, tolerant, FRIENDLY places to live that are affordable? Any places to stay away from?
Thanks,
Maeve in Olympia, WA

try Green Bay , Wausau, Appleton