DC to Silicon Valley

[nobodysbusiness]

Originally Posted by Nell Plotts

Pay less attention to the skin color of your neighbors and focus on community culture. The Silicon Valley puts a high value on education - if you share that value then you and your family will fit right in.

I agree with this sentiment - there is lots of "diversity" in the Bay Area, and it might not focus on skin color, per se . . .yet perhaps living in DC you have been accustomed to a true cultural experience that you want to continue and that is also valid . . .

The biggest obstacle to enjoying life in the Bay Area will be the traffic, and if that doesn't bother you then you should enjoy a very privileged life at your price point.

Maybe you could join groups or clubs in Oakland or Berkeley that meet up on weekends.

[Pinky1110]

Originally Posted by Nell Plotts

Pay less attention to the skin color of your neighbors and focus on community culture. The Silicon Valley puts a high value on education - if you share that value then you and your family will fit right in.

Your response indicates that I was not clear enough for you to understand my point in my original post: I want my child to at least see others that look like her. We don’t expect or want a predominantly Black area. I don’t want my child to feel isolated as the only child with brown skin in her environment. If you’re not Black or some other minority, you won’t understand where I’m coming from. Have a nice day.

[Pinky1110]

Originally Posted by nobodysbusiness

I agree with this sentiment - there is lots of "diversity" in the Bay Area, and it might not focus on skin color, per se . . .yet perhaps living in DC you have been accustomed to a true cultural experience that you want to continue and that is also valid . . .

The biggest obstacle to enjoying life in the Bay Area will be the traffic, and if that doesn't bother you then you should enjoy a very privileged life at your price point.

Maybe you could join groups or clubs in Oakland or Berkeley that meet up on weekends.

Yes, coming from DC, it will be a major culture shock. There’s a difference between diversity and isolation. Isolation is not what I want for my child and I’ll just have to make a sacrifice or two to alleviate that for her.

[nobodysbusiness]

Originally Posted by Pinky1110

Your response indicates that I was not clear enough for you to understand my point in my original post: I want my child to at least see others that look like her. We don’t expect or want a predominantly Black area. I don’t want my child to feel isolated as the only child with brown skin in her environment. If you’re not Black or some other minority, you won’t understand where I’m coming from. Have a nice day.

I know you know that the Bay Area is diverse. Easy to check demographics for particulars.

No matter where your kid is raised, they will see people of color - more so in some cities than others, but I think you will find people of color everywhere.

[nobodysbusiness]

Originally Posted by Pinky1110

Yes, coming from DC, it will be a major culture shock. There’s a difference between diversity and isolation. Isolation is not what I want for my child and I’ll just have to make a sacrifice or two to alleviate that for her.

If your child is social, s/he will most likely be fine. I understand a parent's worry about such things though.

[Pinky1110]

Originally Posted by nobodysbusiness

If your child is social, s/he will most likely be fine. I understand a parent's worry about such things though.

Thank you.

[CiCi2]

I love Google Earth. Take a "trip" on GE and go down into the neighborhoods of the cities you are interested in. You will be able to see it all from street view. I've been in South San Jose for 39 years and absolutely love it but will be selling and moving to be closer to my kids in SoCal. I agree with the other poster. Campbell would be a nice place. It is a smaller quaint little city. You will love it in Cali. Your kids will make friends of all races.

[alanadoodle]

Originally Posted by Pinky1110

Thanks all. I must admit that almost everything I’m reading here is depressing. I have researched the demographics but figured locals on this board could give more accurate input based on how things really are with the traffic, etc. I’m going to have to make a sacrifice or two: stay close with no diversity vs move farther out for my child to see people that look like her.

I honestly think she will have kids that look like her in most of those places, but it won't be as many as she is used to. But I don't think it's a bad thing. I loved growing up in California, even though being biracial, I was usually one of a 3-5 in my classes. We are currently living in Southern Maryland (military) and though my kids go to more "diverse" schools and see kids that look like them, they still befriend who they befriend, which are kids that share the same hobbies and interests. My son's middle school is 25% black and he is friends with mostly white kids. Not a big deal to me at all - I actually appreciate the diversity of California in that it's several different races and not just black and white.


We will be moving back to SoCal (Ventura County) in the summer and I've looked at the diversity numbers again (we lived there a total of 9 years) and though it's not great, it's not terrible either. Where we are going the "better" schools tend to have a higher white population. I doubt I would send my kids to a mediocre high school just for some diversity - I want to give them the better opportunities to succeed. Not sure if this helps at all, but I am hopeful you will enjoy living in CA as it really has so much to offer! The best thing being NO SNOW!

[Nell Plotts]

If finding a place where there are children who look like her is important contact the Urban League of the Greater San Francisco Bay area. ulgsfba@gmail.com. Their phone number is 202-230-3744.

Schools in Redwood Park and East Palo Alto are not the best.