Give us 10 reasons NOT to move to the Minneapolis/St.Paul metro

[uptown_urbanist]

^ I wasn't talking about just the city. Suburbs and small towns are more diverse than you are perhaps realizing, too. But I think you're arguing something different here; before you seemed to be saying that everyone in MN is white, I disagreed, and now you're saying that the suburbs are overwhelmingly white but the city is? That doesn't make much sense. My larger point was that a graduating class of 250+ kids with only four non-white kids is NOT the norm in the Twin Cities (whether city or suburb), and, I would assume, in many other parts of the state.

And yes, I am well aware of cities like Los Angeles, as I have lived there (and many other cities). Obviously Minneapolis is more white than most other cities, and still majority white (just as I've lived in other areas with a non-white majority), but the percentages you were suggesting earlier (like 4 out of 250, or whatever it is) is pretty misleading. The state as a whole has changed dramatically over even the past ten years, and I think the new census numbers will reflect that.

[Voyageur]

Originally Posted by City Data Guy

Nonetheless, it is still ignorant to suggest that racial and ethnic diversity simply means "less white people". Doing so disregards the ethnic diversity in the Euro-American populace. In European ethnic groups, there is diversity in ethnicity, languages, culture, and customs. In the European American population, there is diversity in ethnicity. That is true. Just as Asian Americans and Hispanic Americans are diverse in ethnicity, so are European Americans.

Yes, there is diversity within the subset of people who are European. But, so what? There's also diversity within the subset of Europeans who are Germans. And within the subset of Germans who are Bavarians. And within the subset of Bavarians who hail from Munich. But at each level, there is also increased homogeneity. And each increasingly small subset, the degree of diversities tend to shrink.

It seems glaringly obvious that a group of five people from Warsaw, Buenos Aires, Nairobi, Tehran and Tokyo represents greater diversity in outlook, culture and attitude than five ethnic Germans from five different neighborhoods in Munich.

And as someone of German-Norwegian-French-English-Irish extraction, I'm hard-pressed to say that I add much ethnic diversity to Minnesota. That doesn't bother me one bit, but I'm also not going to deny that it's true.

[Kid Cann]

Originally Posted by uptown_urbanist

^ I wasn't talking about just the city. Suburbs and small towns are more diverse than you are perhaps realizing, too. But I think you're arguing something different here; before you seemed to be saying that everyone in MN is white, I disagreed, and now you're saying that the suburbs are overwhelmingly white but the city is? That doesn't make much sense. My larger point was that a graduating class of 250+ kids with only four non-white kids is NOT the norm in the Twin Cities (whether city or suburb), and, I would assume, in many other parts of the state.

And yes, I am well aware of cities like Los Angeles, as I have lived there (and many other cities). Obviously Minneapolis is more white than most other cities, and still majority white (just as I've lived in other areas with a non-white majority), but the percentages you were suggesting earlier (like 4 out of 250, or whatever it is) is pretty misleading. The state as a whole has changed dramatically over even the past ten years, and I think the new census numbers will reflect that.

Yeah, some of my posts are misleading. This is a Metro-Heavy area. the city of MPLS only makes up 11% of the 3.3 million residents in the 'Twin Cities'. I understand MPLS and STP have come a long way since the blonde hair blue eyed , Mary Tyler Moore, knit sweaters and hotdish days.

I do understand that the 4 out of 250 (well 230 graduated, 20 some didnt' or something) isn't the norm whatsoever. I had a cousin who graduated from Cooper High School, where there were actually more students of color than whites.

I guess what I'm saying is that there are a large number of whites here, that it may be misleading for somebody moving here from Chicago, Atlanta, or Philadelphia. I went to Philly in 2007 for the first time and I had a giant culture shock. 50% of the city is black. You just do not see that in the Twin Cities, and to me it was mind boggling, quite a change for a midwest guy.

Same thing happened in LA. So many Hispanics that you just do not see in the Twin Cities.

What's great about this area is that its changing and growing, and it's a sophisticated enough society where we don't really see any problems.

[10,000Lakes]

Kid Cann, familes with a lot of kids drive minivans not honda pilots. Honda Pilots are actuallly pretty cool, minivans on the other hand.......

[Kid Cann]

Originally Posted by 10,000Lakes

Kid Cann, familes with a lot of kids drive minivans not honda pilots. Honda Pilots are actuallly pretty cool, minivans on the other hand.......

LOL>

[rcsteiner]

Originally Posted by Kid Cann

I guess what I'm saying is that there are a large number of whites here, that it may be misleading for somebody moving here from Chicago, Atlanta, or Philadelphia. I went to Philly in 2007 for the first time and I had a giant culture shock. 50% of the city is black. You just do not see that in the Twin Cities, and to me it was mind boggling, quite a change for a midwest guy.

I experienced the same thing moving from the Twin Cities to Atlanta. Still in the suburbs here, and Atlanta certainly has its majority white areas, but the area that I live in (southeast Cobb County) is a lot more diverse than anyplace that I've ever been before.

Personally, I like it. I believe that more diversity tends to increase the number of conflicts you see here and there, but it also tends to open your eyes to things you might not otherwise see.

[City Data Guy]

Originally Posted by Voyageur

Yes, there is diversity within the subset of people who are European. But, so what? There's also diversity within the subset of Europeans who are Germans. And within the subset of Germans who are Bavarians. And within the subset of Bavarians who hail from Munich. But at each level, there is also increased homogeneity. And each increasingly small subset, the degree of diversities tend to shrink.

It seems glaringly obvious that a group of five people from Warsaw, Buenos Aires, Nairobi, Tehran and Tokyo represents greater diversity in outlook, culture and attitude than five ethnic Germans from five different neighborhoods in Munich.

And as someone of German-Norwegian-French-English-Irish extraction, I'm hard-pressed to say that I add much ethnic diversity to Minnesota. That doesn't bother me one bit, but I'm also not going to deny that it's true.

Hey! French Americans make up only 4.3% of Minnesota's population, and English Americans make up 6.4% of the population. I'd say you add a little diversity. I'm 3/4 Scandinavian (Norwegian, Swedish, Danish, and Finnish) and 1/4 French, and I look more French than the average Scandinavian (very pale skin, blond hair, blue eyes). I think French Americans add a little diversity in Minnesota. Look at all those Germans! Almost two million of them!

[west336]

I believe the METRO is still about 20% or so non-white, and whether that is diverse or not is subjective, but if you compare to the national average, it is still less than average, but much more than 1% like suggested above.

[Lanaglorious]

Change can be good.
That said, I am considering relocating to this new place. Since I've lived in Boston before I am familiar with the cold winters. Having lived in the Northwest I prefer the balance more. However this is about wanderlust so if anyone has any life experiences and wisdom to share with me on this huge decision, please share. Especially info on great colleges. Who knows, we might just become friends someday. Hope to see you there, if you are cool and comfy in your skin. True to thine self and kind to others.

[RC01]

Originally Posted by Lanaglorious

Change can be good.
That said, I am considering relocating to this new place. Since I've lived in Boston before I am familiar with the cold winters. Having lived in the Northwest I prefer the balance more. However this is about wanderlust so if anyone has any life experiences and wisdom to share with me on this huge decision, please share. Especially info on great colleges. Who knows, we might just become friends someday. Hope to see you there, if you are cool and comfy in your skin. True to thine self and kind to others.

The University of Minnesota is a great school and has a location in the Twin Cities.