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No broad brush here. Unh-uh. Just diligent, open-minded research. Buttressed by reams of documentation and incidents.
^ Wow, you uh, have a way with words.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Pierre Nickatina
Dislike
Ignorance - Acute Nativsm runs rampant in the area .
Disregard for " book learning "
Intolerance
Rather than just describing Spokane as simply an insular city that is largely homogenous , I would tread further and describe the city as simply intolerant for those of non-Caucasian complexion . Furthermore in comparison to cities such as Vancouver , BC or Seattle it would not be unfair or an exaggeration to state that Spokane is maybe 10-20 years behind in attitudes toward race. The racial climate was so tense , that two of my co-researchers both Asian Americans felt so uncomfortable doing work in the area that they both left 3 months early . However I do not want to paint the whole city with one brush , as Spokane has its class acts ......beautiful people...unfortunately I did not get to meet many .
Kinda useful note
I found that individual who move from cosmopolitan hubs will probaly find Spokane the most depressing. As the divergence in attitudes about race between Spokane and --Seattle and Vancouver , British Columbia is very significant.
So basically, Spokane is mostly a bunch of inbred, uneducated, racist hicks? (you did say it in a nice way)
For a place so non-diverse, I found Spokane to be oh so refreshingly un-hung-up on race.
I rented a motel room from a very nice Korean family in Spokane. They seemed happy there.
I am Chicano and grew up in, and have lived in some of the West's most "cosmopolitan hubs" (), the Southern CA blob centered on Los Angeles, the skinnier blob centered on Seattle, and Denver. All three have way more racial issues than Spokane IMO; a minority person in Spoklahoma can live wherever they please, not in some segregated enclave like one would feel the need/pressure to in a "cosmopolitan hub".
I heard a quote recently that went something to the effect of, "If you're judging people for a particular reason, you too will be judged for that same reason", which is almost to say, "if you are expecting and/or anticipating that you're going to find something negative, you are surely going to find it."
Before I commence with my post I would like to state that my experiences in Spokane were unusual. For approximately six months myself and two other researchers resided in the city , as our research was concentrated in the Spokane area.
Like
Quietness/Isolation
Beautiful natural landscape
Great place for those who enjoy the outdoors
Dislike
Ignorance - Acute Nativsm runs rampant in the area .
Disregard for " book learning "
Intolerance
Rather than just describing Spokane as simply an insular city that is largely homogenous , I would tread further and describe the city as simply intolerant for those of non-Caucasian complexion . Furthermore in comparison to cities such as Vancouver , BC or Seattle it would not be unfair or an exaggeration to state that Spokane is maybe 10-20 years behind in attitudes toward race. The racial climate was so tense , that two of my co-researchers both Asian Americans felt so uncomfortable doing work in the area that they both left 3 months early . However I do not want to paint the whole city with one brush , as Spokane has its class acts ......beautiful people...unfortunately I did not get to meet many .
Kinda useful note
I found that individual who move from cosmopolitan hubs will probaly find Spokane the most depressing. As the divergence in attitudes about race between Spokane and --Seattle and Vancouver , British Columbia is very significant.
What research were you doing? Was this research done in cooperation with one of the universities in Spokane? I would think that the company or university that you were working for would like to have heard about this racism that was so rampant.
And you say that two researchers, both Asians, left town because of racism? Did they file any sort of complaint? Notify the company you are working with? Were there out and out instances, or was this just a feeling of "icky too many white people"?
What you are saying is that the minority of people (both in Spokane and in America) are not confortable being around white people? Hmmm....diversity can work both ways can it not?
Last edited by aplcr0331; 07-18-2011 at 02:31 PM..
I find it odd that the 2 Asian-American folks cited by our researcher found Spokane so intolerant that they left. Spokane must have radically changed, especially since the Vietnam War era when it seemed every other GI at Fairchild had an Asian wife and many Asian-American kids, and many retired in the Spokane area giving it a relatively large Asian American community, especially compared with nearly any like-sized city further east.
Not once did I ever know anyone of any shade to flee Spokane because of such rampant racist attitudes.
So basically, Spokane is mostly a bunch of inbred, uneducated, racist hicks? (you did say it in a nice way)
For a place so non-diverse, I found Spokane to be oh so refreshingly un-hung-up on race.
I rented a motel room from a very nice Korean family in Spokane. They seemed happy there.
I am Chicano and grew up in, and have lived in some of the West's most "cosmopolitan hubs" (), the Southern CA blob centered on Los Angeles, the skinnier blob centered on Seattle, and Denver. All three have way more racial issues than Spokane IMO; a minority person in Spoklahoma can live wherever they please, not in some segregated enclave like one would feel the need/pressure to in a "cosmopolitan hub".
I heard a quote recently that went something to the effect of, "If you're judging people for a particular reason, you too will be judged for that same reason", which is almost to say, "if you are expecting and/or anticipating that you're going to find something negative, you are surely going to find it."
great post david
thanks for setting the record stright........
spokane may be pale faced overall but people do mind their own business and i've never heard any racist slurr and in fact i hear a lot of negs about the skin heads that are in and around couer d alene idaho.
so outsiders or people who maybe stayed here for a short time aren't experts on the area.
but as with anyplace there will always be people who have had neg experiences and have neg opinion about a town, but if you read the list of post for spokane you'll see a hugh majoriety are positive post for spokane.
I just found this website today, and have been reading through the various posts. My daughter has been in Spokane since August 2010, attending nursing school. We are from Hawaii, and my daughter is of mixed ethnicity (Japanese/Chinese/Hawaiian). I've been to Spokane several times to visit her, and I must admit that I don't always feel comfortable, although I'm not exactly sure why; I haven't experienced any overt acts of racism--it's just a feeling I get. In general, there are nice people, as well as not so nice people, just as in any other city.
As a side note, I really do believe that Spokane is the pothole capitol of the world!
As I've pointed out before and shot down at the time because I misstated the percentage of the population was of Japanese ancestry in Spokane, Spokane has a very prominent history of Chinese and Japanese influence as both Chinese and Japanese settled in Spokane in the late 1800s because of railroad and mining jobs.
I remember being in Spokane in the early 1970s and going to a bon odori. Spokane does have a JACL (Japanese American Citizens League) and has celebrated for the past several decades an annual Japan Week. JACL chapters are mainly in cities which have relatively large Japanese American populations.
I have a difficult time believing that the Asian researchers "fled town" because of being uncomfortable there but sure, if they're used to being in Seattle or San Francisco, perhaps they did feel uncomfortable just because they didn't see anybody who may have had the same physical characteristics as themselves. Justification to flee town? ...perhaps, but not because others were "making" them feel uncomfortable. Yes, Spokane can't be called diverse but to me, it has always been accepting to all people. Lots of great people there.
As I've pointed out before and shot down at the time because I misstated the percentage of the population was of Japanese ancestry in Spokane, Spokane has a very prominent history of Chinese and Japanese influence as both Chinese and Japanese settled in Spokane in the late 1800s because of railroad and mining jobs.
I remember being in Spokane in the early 1970s and going to a bon odori. Spokane does have a JACL (Japanese American Citizens League) and has celebrated for the past several decades an annual Japan Week. JACL chapters are mainly in cities which have relatively large Japanese American populations.
I have a difficult time believing that the Asian researchers "fled town" because of being uncomfortable there but sure, if they're used to being in Seattle or San Francisco, perhaps they did feel uncomfortable just because they didn't see anybody who may have had the same physical characteristics as themselves. Justification to flee town? ...perhaps, but not because others were "making" them feel uncomfortable. Yes, Spokane can't be called diverse but to me, it has always been accepting to all people. Lots of great people there.
I agree 100%.
For another exanmple. look at the way the community has embraced the Mukogawa Ft. Wright campus, which has been the American home for thousands of Japanese students since its inception in 1990.
Also, consider the history of the Spokane Islamic Center, which was opened just a few years ago -- in the wake of 9/11, among other things. As I recall, the mayor, several members of the City Council, all the major college presidents, and a whole lot of ordinary folks, were there for the grand opening. In addition, the Center opens its doors each year to the community for the Eid al-Fitr celebrations. I attended several times when I was living in Spokane, and it was great.
The facts are these -- Spokane is overwhelmingly white, and always will be. And many of those caucasian people are the descendants of pioneers of German and Scandanavian heritage (not the most demonstrative people in the world!), who had to struggle against an inhospitable climate and other obstacles. The city`s general attitude is skeptical, standoffish, but basically positive -- if you give it a chance.
Add to this the inferiority complex which Spokane carries as the poor cousin of booming, uber-rich, uber-slick Seattle. Spokanites defensive? A little!
I criticize Spokane a lot in this forum, mostly because I feel that it could be an even better place if folks were a little less provincial in their outlook. But it`s a long, long way from provincialism to the kind of discriminatory racism and its accompanying ugliness that some imperceptive visitors profess to feel...
Spokane people are not ther world`s most sophisticated or internationally-minded. But they are genuinely curious, and with very few exceptions, capable of welcoming strangers with real and heartfelt hospitality.
I’m recanting what I said about Spokane. After giving it considerable thought I changed my mind completely. For one thing I have a lot of friends there and they are not racist. And for another, I lived there for 10+ years and no one said a racist comment to me. I think probably like a person that is overweight and becomes self-conscious about it, I have some odd looking features and tended to get the same reaction from people. Spokane is not a racist town, my friends swear by it. I think truthfully, Spokane is a great city and is growing fast. The way the city is transforming into a modern Mecca for shopping/art/culture/etc is a testament to the hard working individuals striving to make it great. Move to Spokane, find a job, start a business. Peace!
I’m recanting what I said about Spokane. After giving it considerable thought I changed my mind completely. For one thing I have a lot of friends there and they are not racist. And for another, I lived there for 10+ years and no one said a racist comment to me. I think probably like a person that is overweight and becomes self-conscious about it, I have some odd looking features and tended to get the same reaction from people. Spokane is not a racist town, my friends swear by it. I think truthfully, Spokane is a great city and is growing fast. The way the city is transforming into a modern Mecca for shopping/art/culture/etc is a testament to the hard working individuals striving to make it great. Move to Spokane, find a job, start a business. Peace!
thanks coquille for your update....very nice and very welcomed....
Thinking a lot about Spokane, myself. Seems the city is experiencing a resurgence of sorts. I like the fact that you could see decent shows in town. Love to learn more about the Fox Theater and go see a show there, too.
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(you did say it in a nice way)
