Is it weird to move to Chicago if you don't have any friends there? (neighborhood, live)

[AriannaB]

Originally Posted by Vlajos

I have a very similar mix of friends and coworkers. I think it's just you and me though.....

So I have another question. Is Chicago more racially integrated? I have been reading through the forum and I can't tell. I am Mexican American but I've always had very racially/ethnically/culturally diverse friends and that is rare around here (Dallas). As a matter of fact, I can't tell you how many times I've been to a wedding or special event of a friend of mine and I'm the only non-whatever there (the only person not black/white/Asian/etc.) On the contrary, when I've hosted events it is always a very diverse group of people. It naturally happens that way and I'm very comfortable with it.

A friend of mine that is from Chicago told me that I will be shocked at how much more diverse and integrated Chicago is compared to Texas. She said she was shocked at the level of racism she's experienced since moving to Texas.

Is there any truth to this? I mean, even in my experience I've had to cut ties with people when they made it known that they thought it was odd that my friends are African/Asian/White/Whatever and not necessarily all Latino. I mean, who the heck cares? But it's something I've heard about/dealt with and just wondering if Chicago is any different.

[ChiNaan]

Originally Posted by AriannaB

So I have another question. Is Chicago more racially integrated? I have been reading through the forum and I can't tell. I am Mexican American

I'm afraid not. Latino/as and White people are far more integrated than Black people and White people, though.

[SalingerBananafish]

Originally Posted by AriannaB

So I have another question. Is Chicago more racially integrated? I have been reading through the forum and I can't tell. I am Mexican American but I've always had very racially/ethnically/culturally diverse friends and that is rare around here (Dallas). As a matter of fact, I can't tell you how many times I've been to a wedding or special event of a friend of mine and I'm the only non-whatever there (the only person not black/white/Asian/etc.) On the contrary, when I've hosted events it is always a very diverse group of people. It naturally happens that way and I'm very comfortable with it.

A friend of mine that is from Chicago told me that I will be shocked at how much more diverse and integrated Chicago is compared to Texas. She said she was shocked at the level of racism she's experienced since moving to Texas.

Is there any truth to this? I mean, even in my experience I've had to cut ties with people when they made it known that they thought it was odd that my friends are African/Asian/White/Whatever and not necessarily all Latino. I mean, who the heck cares? But it's something I've heard about/dealt with and just wondering if Chicago is any different.

Chicago still has a lot of racial segregation. Overall I notice people around here still preconceive a person based on race/ethnicity. Not everyone is like that, but you just have to be more aware of it. Though if you're coming from Texas, I don't know how it'll compare. Chicago is way less integrated compared to California, but could be better compared to Dallas.

[marothisu]

A lot of the older, northern cities like Chicago, NYC, etc are still pretty segregated and you'll find that with Chicago too. When you are in certain areas though, you won't notice it as much. Like the Near North Side is probably 70% white, but because it's "downtown" and there's so much business and what not, it seems like less than that sometimes. I have been noticing, as I mentioned before, more areas where people are now expanding their horizons. Some people don't feel the need to stay in their enclaves still, but statistically speaking - black/white segregation in Chicago can be pretty bad. There are areas on the south side that are easily over 95% black. Statistically speaking too, some of the areas on the far north side like Albany Park, West Ridge, Rogers Park, Uptown, and a few south side areas like Bridgeport are pretty racially integrated. I believe Albany Park's zip code was semi-recently one of the most diverse in the entire US, if not #1.

Still a long way to go, but I pay attention to it a lot and at least around where I live (near north side), I tend to see a lot more integration today than I did even four years ago.

As you are Mexican-American though, there are some very, very hispanic/Mexican parts of town, but there are some where it's pretty well integrated (i.e. Albany Park). Chicago is home to 600,000 people of Mexican descent, and 1.1 million in the metro area.

[AriannaB]

Originally Posted by marothisu

As you are Mexican-American though, there are some very, very hispanic/Mexican parts of town, but there are some where it's pretty well integrated (i.e. Albany Park). Chicago is home to 600,000 people of Mexican descent, and 1.1 million in the metro area.

Thanks for the info.

[Irishtom29]

Originally Posted by AriannaB

So I have another question. Is Chicago more racially integrated? I have been reading through the forum and I can't tell. I am Mexican American but I've always had very racially/ethnically/culturally diverse friends and that is rare around here (Dallas).

Expect to be chased by working class Irish guys, many have a thing for Mexican women. Many Polish guys do too. I know many Irish-Mexican marriages, several in my family.

The Euro ethnic working class gets on very well with the Mexican working class, very open and familiar. Most people I know like and admire Mexicans; up here many simply consider them another ethnic group, like Poles, Irish, Lithuanians, Italians etc. No big deal.

[emathias]

Originally Posted by Irishtom29

Expect to be chased by working class Irish guys, many have a thing for Mexican women. Many Polish guys do too. I know many Irish-Mexican marriages, several in my family.

The Euro ethnic working class gets on very well with the Mexican working class, very open and familiar. Most people I know like and admire Mexicans.

In fact, last year at a Polish grocery store I came across imported, Polish-produced, Mexican mixed vegetables:

[nearnorth]

Originally Posted by Irishtom29

Expect to be chased by working class Irish guys, many have a thing for Mexican women. Many Polish guys do too. I know many Irish-Mexican marriages, several in my family.

The Euro ethnic working class gets on very well with the Mexican working class, very open and familiar. Most people I know like and admire Mexicans; up here many simply consider them another ethnic group, like Poles, Irish, Lithuanians, Italians etc. No big deal.

Based on her description, the OP does not appear to be of the working class.

[Irishtom29]

Originally Posted by nearnorth

Based on her description, the OP does not appear to be of the working class.

In any event a large number of Chicagoans will hold no prejudice about her being Mexican.

[ByTheLake]

Originally Posted by emathias

In fact, last year at a Polish grocery store I came across imported, Polish-produced, Mexican mixed vegetables:

That picture made me laugh out loud.

Right there, Arianna. That's Chicago. Or at least our better side.

I hope you find that job and move here. I think you'll like it. And as far as the racial and ethnic divides go--yeah, that's part of my adopted hometown I'm not proud of. But as has been pointed out, there are neighborhoods where it's not so extreme, I'd say especially on the north side.