Will We Be Accepted in Idaho (Boise, Idaho Falls: transplants, home, university)

[Ironmonkey]

I will be moving to Boise Idaho in just two weeks and am concerned about how we will be accepted because my wife is from the south Pacific. My son is also dark skin just like her mom. I am White. She's from the island of Palau. My wife has been hearing rumors from her co workers that there is a lot of prejudice in Idaho. Could i be making a big mistake? Can anyone tell me what to expect? I was there 6 months ago visiting a familey member and i remember how friendly everyone was. Everyone was always smileing. Will they smile when they see us as a familey?
P.S Any information would be helpful. You may e-mail me at
evas.hart@sbcglobal.net. Thank u.

[Idaho]

I am not much help on this one - Afraid I must answer your question with questions: You said a family member lives there?
Is this person apt to answer honestly regarding what reactions, if any, they have seen around the Boise area?
When you were there, did you see folks of various ethnicities?

My familiarity is with the Idaho panhandle area - Around Coeur d'Alene, so a long way from Boise.
Keep checking in here, though. I have no doubt some folks 'in-the-know' about Boise will come forward
and help you out. I have found this to be a very honest and sincere forum overall.

Fingers are crossed that your whole family might find southern Idaho to be a welcome home.

[cleosmom]

I'm afraid I won't be of much good to you either as I'm across the state near Idaho Falls. I know we have "blended" families here (is that the terms I want? ) And as far as I can tell they get along alright, then again it's not like we've sat down and discussed things either.

Like I said, I'm not much help, sorry. Don't give up, someone will chime in sooner or later

[davekn]

I will be moving to Boise Idaho in just two weeks and am concerned about how we will be accepted because my wife is from the south Pacific. My son is also dark skin just like her mom. I am White. She's from the island of Palau. My wife has been hearing rumors from her co workers that there is a lot of prejudice in Idaho. Could i be making a big mistake? Can anyone tell me what to expect

Ironmonkey,
I have lived in the Boise area for a little over 30 years. During this time, I have seen many mixed couples. Over this time, I have never witnessed any type of action against anyone of them. A few have become my friends.

"Rumors" are just made to scare people. Some are started to frighten newcomers into staying away, and others are started because someone was bored. I hear others, from out of state, say we are prejudice, but have yet to see it with my own eyes. We as a State, were finally able to get rid of the "Skin Heads" that were up north. That should say something as to how the majority feels about our beliefs. But, most of us enjoy people who treat us as they want to be treated. If you and your family come here with a chip on your shoulder of any kind, someone will try to knock it off.
Thats just how most of us are. If you come with the expectation of helping the community better itself, and making a better life for you and yours, then you should fit right in and have a happy life here.

[my3arabs]

Boise is more diversified than the smaller towns in ID. I really don't think that you will have a problem. Move there expecting the best from everyone and give your best as well and you should be ok. Just remember that all towns and states have their few wackos but they don't determine what the rest of the ppl are like. Boise has the University there so there are tons of other ethnicities there as well.

My three oldest kids are all very dark and haven't really had any problems with ppl in Idaho Falls. The two middle children are half Shoshone and they are treated very well in their small community on the East side of the state.

I am not kidding move in with a smile and don't assume that they are saying things about you. Get involved with your new community as soon as you can and things should work out fine.

Good luck with your move.

[burdell]

Originally Posted by davekn

Ironmonkey,
Thats just how most of us are. If you come with the expectation of helping the community better itself, and making a better life for you and yours, then you should fit right in and have a happy life here.

I want to move next door to you


That's EXACTLY the kind of environment I hope to find!

[zeta]

I had the same type of feelings before moving here. The first week, it was on my mind a lot, I kept feeling like we stood out or something (the city is 90%+ white). But in reality, people in Boise are very nice and not racist - you're wife will probably never hear anything racist said to her. The race thing is mostly in your head, and is only a problem if you let it be a problem.

Before I moved to Idaho, people would always mention two things that they knew about it: potatoes, and white supremicists. Well, there is no white supremecist thing happening anymore.

[Ironmonkey]

And the potatoes?.lol

[mejaka]

I live in the North, and to be quite frank, the white supremacist thing was never as big as it looked in the news. Most of the whackos were transplants from outside (there IS space to be isolated in here, and most Idahoans will mind their own business until someone starts to be a significant problem--so whackos sometimes think this will be their Utopia). The supremacist leader died two years ago and all his flunkies (40? 50?) mostly went home (out of state).

I do remember the first time I saw the supremacist leader's wine-red Volvo with all its slogans. Holy cow. I'm a lifetime Idahoan and I was stunned...which just goes to show that supremacists aren't very visible here. (I only saw that Volvo twice).

You'll be fine, your family will be fine, and if anyone says anything it won't be because they're Idahoans. It'll be because they're racist jerks.

What you may find is that your wife will draw attention from someone who will stun her by greeting her in Belauan or Tobian and asking about specific things or people. My friend here has a Korean student staying with her who about fell over when a guy walked up to her and started speaking her language. It's not an absolute, but because of the LDS population, it's a possibility.

[burdell]

Originally Posted by mejaka

You'll be fine, your family will be fine, and if anyone says anything it won't be because they're Idahoans. It'll be because they're racist jerks.

BRAVO! If yours was a more common attitude we'd live in a better place.