Racism in St. Louis (California: move, radio, health)

[BoomBoxing]

University City and Clayton are the only cosmopolitan parts of St. Louis county. And Clayton isn't diverse at all. But I'd say most of the inner ring (inside of I-270) St. Louis county is going to be accepting of all different types of people/cultures.

[stlcitygirl]

I agree, U-City and Clayton for St Louis County. If you are looking for cosmopolitan, you need to look in the city.

[DinsdalePirahna]

Originally Posted by OC Investor2

Actually all you have to do in LA/OC is go to the inland empire in riverside/ San Bernadino county to feel like you are in the rural south or midwest. Lots of Okies and Southerners came to CA during the depression (think Grapes of Wrath) and brought their rural/ southern/ religous values with them. Those values, attitude and culture are still prevalent today in the IE.

OC has always been knocked as being rich, white and a bit racist and people, particularly Angeleno's, love to point to some of the isolated white supremicist incidents as an indictment of the county. The reality is OC is one of the most truly diverse counties in America with large East Asian, South Asian and hispanic populations.

Just ask the 4 skinheads who jumped & stabbed a mexican guy in Huntington Beach. By the time the cops showed up his hispanic neighbors had put a beat down on them. So not only are the skinheads going to jail for assault & hate crimes, they got their butts kicked too.

Back to STL: What are the more diverse/cosmopolitan parts of St. Louis county? Any suburbs that are known for a particularly positive racial climate?

The HB gangs are a bit of a joke. Skinhead, Hispanic and Asian. If anyone of them get out of line, the HS football teams and the cops do a pretty good job of keeping thimgs under control.

I do agree that OC is probably one of the most diverse counties in the country. If you seen any group of college or HS kids, its almost like the UN. It doesn't look like any one race dominates.

[billiken]

If cosmopolitan suburb is what you're after, and you've got the $ to spend, Clayton is the place to be in my opinion. In my head, Clayton barely has the typical suburbia "feel." It's got a downtown area with lots of business/high rises, lots of restuarants/bars/local stores, awesome housing stock, MetroLink access, and is close to Forest Park & many of the things that make St Louis city great. The suburban aspect is that it's very safe, and has great schools.

UCity is probably more diverse, also has a trendy dowtown strip, MetroLink access, etc. and is less expensive--probably bc crime is higher and schools aren't quite as good.

There's families in these areas, but it's very popular for childless young professionals as well. Webster Groves is also a suburb that has kind of an artsy/hip reputation, and in my opinion it's much more family oriented than Clayton or UCity.

[STLdragon]

Originally Posted by Marksman84

I'm 50/50 on this.

I concur with STL not being a "Bible Belt" city: I do emphasize city, as South County is where one starts seeing the Pro-Life Billboards (in close proximity to the Casino billboards, ironically). St. Louis is more religiously tolerant than its rep dictates.

However, I disagree with the "no more racist than any other Midwestern major city." My wife and I have spent time in Chicago, Indianapolis, Cleveland, Cincinnati and Des Moines, and as a mixed-race couple with a 7-year-old, St. Louis has been the most unpleasant city from that standpoint, with Des Moines as a close second. Now, before the City Anti-Defamation League freaks, this is mostly attributable to parts of the County and outlying areas. Usually it's just dirty looks from low-class members of either race (which we really don't care about, because these samples are generally unable to even complete a sentence with a subject and predicate), but on occasion we have heard the extremely inappropirate racist comment that has escalated into an unpleasant situation. I don't care what anyone says about me, but if they crack on my wife or daugther, I politely remind them that I have four marksmanship awards and a CCP .

We chose Creve Coeur/Maryland Heights because it's fairly diverse, populated by fellow educated professionals, and is close enough to our favorite City hangouts.

I agree with you on the racist part. STL is so far the most xenophobic city I have experienced. But the discrimination occurs in a very subtle way, both at work and around community. My daughter constantly feels left out at school. I lives in West County. Lots of educated, professional people live there but it does not seem to help that much.

[queenvic]

Originally Posted by CharlieL

I was in Memphis for a time, where there are actually more African-Americans and I never had a problem. There just seems to be more anger toward other minorities here and I don't know the cause.

Sometimes ignorance is just that - ignorance. I have thought about relocating to Missouri (so my kids wont have to worry about not passing a high school exit exam), but I am concerned about the racism and ignorance (I am in a black/white relationship). I am originally from Los Angeles and I know there is strife between blacks and Asians, but I dont know about Missouri. Perhaps they are less educated in MO compared to TN. Sometimes ignorance cannot be explained.

[billiken]

Things that make me laugh: Thinking about relocating to Missouri so your children don't have to pass a high school exit exam...and then linking education and racism. I hope I'm reading this wrong.

[Marksman84]

Originally Posted by queenvic

Sometimes ignorance is just that - ignorance. I have thought about relocating to Missouri (so my kids wont have to worry about not passing a high school exit exam), but I am concerned about the racism and ignorance (I am in a black/white relationship). I am originally from Los Angeles and I know there is strife between blacks and Asians, but I dont know about Missouri. Perhaps they are less educated in MO compared to TN. Sometimes ignorance cannot be explained.

Speaking as someone else in a black/white relationship, with a 7-year-old daughter:

Yes, you will get some looks of indignation and consternation from people in the STL area - mostly the older folks in pockets of South (White on Black) and North (Black on White) Counties. There will be noticeably less racism with the City people (younger, more cosmopolitan).

But at the end of the day, you know what? The hell with the haters. There are some decent people here that are intelligent enough and mature enough to care about issues other than race, religion etc. The majority of our friends here are implants from Western states.

Since we moved back here (2004), we had one serious racial incident in 2007..and of course, it was in Imperial (hoosier stronghold) at a friend's wedding reception. Rather than ruin a lovely wedding, we quickly diffused the situation when my wonderful wife offered to demonstrate her proficiency in Tae Kwon Do, and I offered to give a target shooting demonstration (I was a firearms trainer in the USAF for 15 years).

You sound intelligent enough to avoid the areas of St. Louis that house the haters - you'll be OK.

[SCB123]

Originally Posted by CharlieL

I've been living in St. Louis for 3 months now and have experienced 3 incidents. I am Asian-American and lived in California most of my life. The first incident was soon after I moved here. I was walking down the street in in the Central West End when a yellow schoolbus full of African-American kids drove past. A bunch of them started yelling "*****" out the window. I couldn't believe it! The second incident occured at a suburban Kmart. I was just shopping when two teenage male African Americans walked behind me and one said to the other "I hate chinks." The third time was at a sandwich shop at the airport. Two African-American women were behind the counter and joking around. I walked up and they ignored me, although I know they saw me because one looked right at me. Then another African-American customer walked up and one of the women said "What can I get for you, honey?" Then I said that I was there first, and she rolled her eyes at me and said "What do you want?" At that point I just left.
I don't know if this is a common occurrance or if I just had bad luck. In all cases it was unprovoked and was directed at me by African-Americans. I also lived in Memphis, TN for a short while, and this never happened there. Is there something about St. Louis? I am seriously considering moving.

From a fellow Californian, go back home. Bigotry (self-hate, phobic, closed minded) is deeply ingrained in STL. It's not only racism, but women are not respected here either. If there is anything that is different about you, other than being a white male, you will find trouble here in STL. Move back to civilization, you will be happier and healthier. I'm sorry this happened to you.

[stlcitygirl]

^
FAIL, Get out and make a friend!