Chicago Segregation Worries Mixed Race (Park Forest, Olympia Fields: public school, living in, gangs)

[Lookout Kid]

Originally Posted by skyeINIL

...but it can get tiring being stared at or on the receiving end of double takes.

I often wonder about this. People who are self-conscious about being stared at will naturally always feel like they're being stared at. I'm sure I've stared at an interracial couple without even realizing it because someone was good looking or had an interesting haircut. And I've got interracial couples in my own family and grew up around them. It's never been a big deal to me. But there are certainly areas of the city that seem to have more racists--I'm not denying that.

[skyeINIL]

Originally Posted by Lookout Kid

I often wonder about this. People who are self-conscious about being stared at will naturally always feel like they're being stared at. I'm sure I've stared at an interracial couple without even realizing it because someone was good looking or had an interesting haircut. And I've got interracial couples in my own family and grew up around them. It's never been a big deal to me. But there are certainly areas of the city that seem to have more racists--I'm not denying that.

I'm not saying that the people staring at us (my husband and I, our parents, etc.) are racists. I don't believe that. No matter the reason they are staring (and people do stare), it's still irritating. And I have to reiterate, it's not an issue or a really big deal. I've gotten used to it. However, when I'm having a really bad day, and someone stares at my family and I or inquires about my racial background, I'm ready to choke a *****.

[Avengerfire]

Originally Posted by Chi-town Native

local (35th ward)...but people here seem a lot more politically attuned.

Ah nevermind. I am sick of arguing.

[Lookout Kid]

My aunt (white) married a black man in the early 1960s while my father and his brother were still in high school. He was from Oak Park. My aunt and her new husband had to travel from Oak Park to Phoenix shortly after the wedding, and they brought both my dad and his brother along for protection because they were worried about traveling in the south as an interracial couple. My dad still has vivid memories of the intimidating looks they received in certain areas of the south, and it wasn't even clear that there was an interracial couple to onlookers because there were three white people and one black man. It was enough for whites and blacks to be traveling together at all. Times have certainly changed. But even in the 1960s Oak Park was becoming a model of racial tolerance.

[Nauticadon]

Originally Posted by At1WithNature

It depends on you and your partner IMO. If you have totally adopted the African American lifestyle (how they do in Memphis - Gold fronts, clothes, speech, etc.) we would probably recommend other places for you than if you were a typical white guy with a typical african american woman. if you are both "typical" then I don't think you'll have problems anywhere near downtown. But you have to tell us more about you. Do you represent memphis like a lot of southern boys do aka 3-6 mafia style/paul wall style? Because if you do, then it will change some things. There is nothing wrong with it but obviously we'll find a better fit for you if you do. Need more info. to give you the best possible answers. I think your only problems may be in certain all black neighborhoods or certain all white suburbs. That's why diversity is best for you IMO. And downtown can offer that as well as many other neighborhoods and suburbs.

Gee, I didn't realize that lifestyle was representative of all 40 million Africans Americans in this country. See this is why I love the internet, you learn something new everyday

[skyeINIL]

Originally Posted by Lookout Kid

My aunt (white) married a black man in the early 1960s while my father and his brother were still in high school. He was from Oak Park. My aunt and her new husband had to travel from Oak Park to Phoenix shortly after the wedding, and they brought both my dad and his brother along for protection because they were worried about traveling in the south as an interracial couple. My dad still has vivid memories of the intimidating looks they received in certain areas of the south, and it wasn't even clear that there was an interracial couple to onlookers because there were three white people and one black man. It was enough for whites and blacks to be traveling together at all. Times have certainly changed. But even in the 1960s Oak Park was becoming a model of racial tolerance.

This is why I can't take it too seriously. My life has never been in danger because of my race or my choice of husband. Most likely, by the time my children are of a dating age, it won't be even a small issue.

[j33]

Originally Posted by At1WithNature

It depends on you and your partner IMO. If you have totally adopted the African American lifestyle (how they do in Memphis - Gold fronts, clothes, speech, etc.) we would probably recommend other places for you than if you were a typical white guy with a typical african american woman. if you are both "typical" then I don't think you'll have problems anywhere near downtown. But you have to tell us more about you. Do you represent memphis like a lot of southern boys do aka 3-6 mafia style/paul wall style? Because if you do, then it will change some things. There is nothing wrong with it but obviously we'll find a better fit for you if you do. Need more info. to give you the best possible answers. I think your only problems may be in certain all black neighborhoods or certain all white suburbs. That's why diversity is best for you IMO. And downtown can offer that as well as many other neighborhoods and suburbs.

What on earth does that mean? There is no more an 'African American' lifestyle than there is a 'Caucasian' lifestyle.

[ajolotl]

I think you need another hobby.

Originally Posted by Avengerfire

Ah nevermind. I am sick of arguing.

[Chi-town Native]

yeah, I'm not sure why you'd call this arguing, I thought we were just having a discussion.

[Avengerfire]

Originally Posted by Chi-town Native

yeah, I'm not sure why you'd call this arguing, I thought we were just having a discussion.

I originally said something that would have caused one with you and I decided to drop it.