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OK, I want to apologize. I went out last weekend to the "O.B" in downtown Fargo, and was suprised to see a much more diverse crowd than anywhere else I have been. I dont see that on a typical day in Fargo, but at least now I know where everyone is at, lol. I guess it took me three months!!
OK, I am a bi-racial (black and white) female who has been working in Fargo for three months now. My experience has been somewhat positive.
-people will do a double take when they see you ESPECIALLY if its another black person, because a whole day can go by without seeing another African American. Yes, you might see Somolians, but another AA....ive gone days.
- people will generally be interested in your blackness. They wont OVERTLY come out and ask you about it, but you will be able to tell. Remember, there are NO black radio stations up here or BET, so Tyler Perry Films and Oprah (for what shes worth) are the extent of there exposure to black culure. So if anyone says anything "funny" they are probably just curious, and are not trying to offend you.
Generally the people here are very helpful and friendly. Ive had a few older people look at me like I am an alien, and I over-heard a white boy say the "N" word while I was out drinking one night. But this area of the country is far from racist, or supressive, they are conservative, but its not the same ignorant conservative you will see in....Alabama or Mississippi.
I feel I have learned ALOT from North Dakotans, they are hard-working people, who for the most part are morally grounded and do the right thing. The rest of the COUNTRY could learn alot from them. There is alot of underlying reasons as to why they are so prosperous - and it started way before the oil was even thought of.
Myself and a middle-aged lady, who is a local to this area, were talking and mentioned to her that I've travel and do travel all over the country. Some way or another, we started talking about the history of the area and she said that many people settled here in the mid to later 1800's from Norway, Sweden, and Germany. I responded "that explains it!" I told her that the people here are so quiet, calm, polite, courteous, and peaceful. I believe the tone of the current people here was set by their ancestors who for the most part, are quiet, peaceful, and peace-loving people (Norwegians, Swedish, but I don't know about Germans pre-Hitler). It's their culture. The locals here speak of other towns and other people in this area whether large or small in positive terms; never publicly mocking or sneering at farm town, larger suburban areas, or other people.
Whereas, in other parts of the country even sister cities have animosity towards or look down on the other: for example Kansas City, KS vs. Kansas City, MO. Or Texarkana, AR vs Texarkana, TX. Or people living in small towns in IL hate Chicago and vice versa. I've not heard that type of rivalry or animosity among North Dakotans. I hope the new transplants coming to this wonderful state do not corrupt it by bringing their bad and negative behaviors from their former home to ND. Keep ND the way it is. It's a breathe of fresh air!
I feel I have learned ALOT from North Dakotans, they are hard-working people, who for the most part are morally grounded and do the right thing. The rest of the COUNTRY could learn alot from them. There is alot of underlying reasons as to why they are so prosperous - and it started way before the oil was even thought of.
Had to comment on this! I SECOND this comment. Great people here in ND. As an Arican-American woman, I'm very happy to have gotten the opportunity to come here for a couple of months. They're not only moral (99% but there has been a murder since I've been here), and hard working but down-to-earth too. They are prosperous because they're blessed -- they're good people. As an aside, I'm partial to Nebraskans and Iowans too although they're not the same as North Dakotans. I've lived and/or been to both states numerous times and it's always a pleasure to do so.
From what I understand, the only race problem in Williston area is the race to the Walmart and campground bathrooms as there are many people wanting to use them.
I know the locals are not thrilled to have so many outsiders in Williston anyway, but do black people have a harder time finding jobs or fitting in? Are there any race problems in the area? Prob not many black people living in this area before the boom, but how about now? I do not realy want to move if I will be allmost the only one.
Did you ever find out if Williston was warm towards diversity? My husband just got a job with G.E. there and I'm struggling to get my head set to moving there. Oil workers, rednecks, stripclubs, and farmers don't sound like a fun mix to me. I grew up in Cudahy, California...an all Mexican/El Salvadorian neighborhood in L.A. where I was the only white child within a ten mile radius. I know how it can be when you're the odd one out. People can be so mean. I hope it worked out for you there...if you did end up working in Williston. I hear the money's good...but is it worth it?
Did you ever find out if Williston was warm towards diversity? ... Oil workers, rednecks, stripclubs, and farmers don't sound like a fun mix to me. ...
If it's not the kind of diversity you want, then it's OK to make judgments about people you don't know. ... you know; be a bigot.
Did you ever find out if Williston was warm towards diversity? My husband just got a job with G.E. there and I'm struggling to get my head set to moving there. Oil workers, rednecks, stripclubs, and farmers don't sound like a fun mix to me. I grew up in Cudahy, California...an all Mexican/El Salvadorian neighborhood in L.A. where I was the only white child within a ten mile radius. I know how it can be when you're the odd one out. People can be so mean. I hope it worked out for you there...if you did end up working in Williston. I hear the money's good...but is it worth it?
GE is an oil company out here... your husband is going to be one of those people who don't sound like a fun mix lol.
I also find it funny you listed strip clubs (we have two) yet when I look at the yellow pages for Cudahy, CA it brings up 167 escort services and strip clubs in the Cudahy area.
Williston is what you make it. If you come here with a negative attitude you will only find bad things. There's plenty of good, but you have to want to see it.
Did you ever find out if Williston was warm towards diversity? My husband just got a job with G.E. there and I'm struggling to get my head set to moving there. Oil workers, rednecks, stripclubs, and farmers don't sound like a fun mix to me. I grew up in Cudahy, California...an all Mexican/El Salvadorian neighborhood in L.A. where I was the only white child within a ten mile radius. I know how it can be when you're the odd one out. People can be so mean. I hope it worked out for you there...if you did end up working in Williston. I hear the money's good...but is it worth it?
I'm sure that wasn't too fun. I think it's strange how nearly every racial group thinks they "have it bad" in many areas, but I've known a few people who grew up poor and White in some neighborhoods in Baltimore where they were maybe one of a dozen or so White kids in their school. THOSE kids and folks have it bad!
No one has it worse than Whites when Whites are the minority. No one! What's sad is Whites have been trained to be the least racist people in the country, but if find yourself walking through the "wrong" neighborhood one day, well no one is going to look out for "just a white guy", there will never be a hate-crime report, and there is no NAAWP to back you up and shout your story all over the media.
If it's not the kind of diversity you want, then it's OK to make judgments about people you don't know. ... you know; be a bigot.
They don't even notice their Micro-Aggressions against so called "rednecks" and working class white folks in general.
Of course reverse the colors and it would be all over the media. Totally acceptable to bash, debase, humiliate and degrade others, but only if the recipient is white of course.
Way into the future, if we survive that is. No one will be just one race and then we will find other reasons to hate.
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My recent conversation with a local
because a whole day can go by without seeing another African American. Yes, you might see Somolians, but another AA....ive gone days.
) are the extent of there exposure to black culure. So if anyone says anything "funny" they are probably just curious, and are not trying to offend you. 
and I over-heard a white boy say the "N" word while I was out drinking one night. But this area of the country is far from racist, or supressive, they are conservative, but its not the same ignorant conservative you will see in....Alabama or Mississippi. 
