Being Black in Wisconsin (Appleton)......... (Milwaukee, Madison: job outlook, college, to live)

[jjacobeclark]

Originally Posted by pirate_lafitte

This is my answer to the OP:If crime and a peaceful places are you main concerns, then Appleton and Madison are you best bets for what your looking for. As for being black, be aware of history, be aware of what is around you now, and press on for your future. I wasn't trying to scare anyone. I just wanted to give some honest facts. If you choose to move to Appleton, do what you can to enjoy yourself and live a great and productive life and be aware. It's not paradise, but not the worst place either.

Do you have some actual connection with Appleton, Wisconsin or do you just search the forums for threads with words like "Black" or "African-American" in them?

[43north87west]

Originally Posted by jjacobeclark

I was thinking Atlanta was the original capital city of the CSA, but it was actually Montgomery, Alabama. Richmond served as capital from 1861-1865 and after that it was Danville, Virginia. Sorry, I normally fact check my posts more thoroughly. I'll take a raincheck on visiting the South, besides Virginia is more East Coast than South.

You're a regular Einstein. Ignoring history that doesn't change, then rearranging it because it benefits your internet forum post.

You have no idea what you're talking about. Fortunately you're doing a good job of proving that.

[pirate_lafitte]

Originally Posted by jjacobeclark

Do you have some actual connection with Appleton, Wisconsin or do you just search the forums for threads with words like "Black" or "African-American" in them?

I have a friend from Appleton.

[Great Joy]

Originally Posted by pirate_lafitte

Wisconsin had its share of sundown towns and Appleton was among them.

I haven't heard of "sundown towns" so I had to look it up. I'm very surprised and have a hard time believing that Appleton or any city in that area was ever a sundown town because I was born and raised in that area. Even though the area is mostly white, it is welcoming to all people. There are quite a few national and global companies in the Fox Cities area that hire and transfer employees with many different ethnicities.

SongBird, I think you and your family would do just fine and really enjoy living there. Best wishes!

[pirate_lafitte]

Originally Posted by Great Joy

I haven't heard of "sundown towns" so I had to look it up. I'm very surprised and have a hard time believing that Appleton or any city in that area was ever a sundown town because I was born and raised in that area. Even though the area is mostly white, it is welcoming to all people. There are quite a few national and global companies in the Fox Cities area that hire and transfer employees with many different ethnicities.

SongBird, I think you and your family would do just fine and really enjoy living there. Best wishes!

It was a sundown, but that was then, this is now. It isn't one anymore. Perhaps that is why it has become more welcoming. It was willing to shed its ugly days.
I don't see alot of people relocating there, and from what I have observed, many African-Americans are moving to cities like Atlanta, Charlotte, Dallas, Houston,etc.(basically, cities in the Sun Belt region. Even Los Angeles is losing some of its African-American population to cities like Houston and Dallas). Personally, I have somewhat of a bias for Wisconsin because my father is from Milwaukee and he would rather live there than in metro Atlanta.
Migration patterns today could have something to do with a relatively small black population in Appleton, or any of the Fox river cities. Oshkosh actually has the largest number of blacks of any of the Fox River cities.

[MCPatrick1970]

There are still some sundown areas in the South. They are typically places you do not want to be in after dark if you are WHITE! Believe it.

[pirate_lafitte]

Originally Posted by MCPatrick1970

There are still some sundown areas in the South. They are typically places you do not want to be in after dark if you are WHITE! Believe it.

Some parts of metro Atlanta are like that. Crazy places.

[jjdavis]

Computer- Blue, I have to agree with a lot of the posters, Appleton is a nice area of Wisconsin, being a AA female that moved to Wisconsin 3 1/2 yrs ago I have to say Appleton has been an interest of mine. I shop there but I live in a near by area (Oshkosh) being from St.Louis I understand your concerns TRUST ME- DON'T WORRY! THe people are nice and race really isn't an issue like it is in Oshkosh. Appleton really is a small big town- Think Greenbay also

[peace_love_midwest]

As far as Wisconsin goes, I've lived in Milwaukee, Madison, & Appleton, where I currently live. I like all three cities for all different reasons--while Appleton is by far the smallest of the three, I also feel that it has very friendly people & that the population is becoming increasingly diverse, albeit with a smaller population in general, that increase in minorities is still relatively small compared to larger urban areas. However, in my neighborhood alone (a fairly quiet, older neighborhood w/ period houses and giant tree-lined streets) we have people of all backgrounds, varying in ethnic diversity, class, or sexual orientation all living side by side and I have yet to see a problem among any of us. I believe that most everyone I know here in Appleton is able to recognize diversity and acknowledge and embrace our differences, which is part of what makes this smaller midwestern town a great place to live.
So many of my friends from other places have commented on how surprised they were by all that Appleton actually had to offer--martini lounges, activist groups, coffee shops, lots of bars & pubs, ethnic restaurants, the Appleton Art Center, outdoor festivals, the farmers' market, live music, Lawrence University, international business--I think there are a lot of things that could make your life & home in Appleton a great one if you decide to come our way! Best of luck with your decision-making--hopefully we can welcome you to our city in the future!

[peace_love_midwest]

Originally Posted by Lookout Kid

Appleton has changed considerably since then, and it's definitely the most happenin' Wisconsin town outside of Madison or Milwaukee, but Appleton is still just a tad bit hickish. And the Republican Party is king. There are tons of great people there (including many of my family members), but there's also a contingent of redneck types. But northern rednecks aren't like southern rednecks. They still like NASCAR and all, but are into deer hunting and are much better educated and friendly than their southern counterparts.

In regard to this, I would have to say that the Democratic party has been gradually taking hold of Outagamie County & Appleton, as evident by the 2008 election in which Appleton, Outagamie County, and Wisconsin went to Barack Obama. I was happy to take part as a volunteer in the campaign and was greatly inspired by all the other Appletonians who worked hard canvassing and volunteering their time to help make a difference in the election.

Yes, there might be some "rednecks", but I think there is just a different vibe here in Appleton that makes it largely different than its neighboring cities (even Green Bay & Oshkosh) & much more enjoyable and liveable, and I think it might have something to do with the people who choose to live here.