Interracial relationships in Ithaca (Buffalo, Elmira: neighborhood, school, college)

[mellat]

Can anyone tell me what's the general attitude toward interracial couples in Ithaca? I'd love if you could share your experiences or an experience you know of. Thanks!

[tviz25]

I don't know much about interratial couples in Ithaca and I didn't know that there were very many interratial couples. There are a lot of interrrational couples in Elmira and the general attitude is that it is a good thing and is accepted here because there is a lot of it.

[mellat]

Thank you. I'm not interested in Elmira though. I think Ithaca is a more progressive town that would suit my lifestyle and I'm hoping that people won't bat an eyelash at interracial couples.

[homeward bound]

Maybe this is wishful thinking, since I've only been through Ithaca, not really visited or explored it (gonna do so real soon, though!). BUT I do know many people who lived/went to college there, and I have lived in somewhat similar college cities and towns since 1979. So my guess is that an interracial couple would not turn heads there--that, to the contrary, Ithaca is a very easy-going, even welcoming place in this regard.

I base this in large part on my own experiences in Buffalo, Charlottesville, VA, and Blacksburg, VA. If snooty Charlottesville and out-in-the-Appalachian-boondocks Blacksburg accept interracial couples as either a "whatever" or something to be respected (as the couple's own business), I don't see why famously "tolerant," highly educated Ithaca should be different. I've had interracial couple friends in all these college cities/towns, and all of them felt entirely comfortable with their environment. I've known an interracial couple who lived in Ithaca and they loved the place. They moved because of finishing school there and getting jobs elsewhere, not due to any ethnic tensions.

Of course, if you got far out of Blacksburg, and for that matter far out of Ithaca, that might be different. MAYBE countryfolk would be more inclined to stare, probably more out of curiosity than hostility. But even in this regard, I've found that most Appalachian Virginians are far from the stereotype of close-minded rednecks. The sense of honoring other people's right to their own lives is very real to the vast majority of rural Virginians I've known. And certainly most Upstate NY country people are similarly sane and civilized enough to respect your choices as individuals. And every place, no matter how human and humane generally, is going to have its share of bigoted morons. But I seriously doubt you'd have any real reason to feel alienated by/in Ithaca.

[vicarian]

I don't think you'll have any problems here in Ithaca. From my experience, people here tend to be socially open-minded (politics, however, now that's a funny story...) I think most of the smaller towns near Ithaca are reasonably open-minded as well.

[Rachael84]

I don't think you would have a problem. I did part of my student teaching in Ithaca, so I saw many families. Some of them were mixed.

[icpooreman]

I went to college in Ithaca for 4 years... You'll have no problem as an interracial relationship will be about the nineteenth strangest thing you'll see in a walk through town. It's a very liberal area, and it seems to be ok with all the gay couples so interracial shouldn't be a big deal.

[tviz25]

Yes, like what vicarian said, people are very open-minded to things like interracial marriage, homosexualality, etc.

[mellat]

Thanks for all your replies. Now to do some more research on Ithaca

[Ellie C.]

As mentioned above Mellat, I doubt anyone will even blink an eye. There were two girls making out on the corner in front of my neighborhood coffee shop this morning and no one gave them a second look.

I did some heavy research and made many trips to the area before moving to Ithaca. So far I've found the people here pleasant and open minded. There is a ton of stuff to do, especially if you like the outdoors. The area itself is beautiful with all of the lakes and waterfalls. There are a lot of organizations to get involved with from civic organizations to church organizations (and no, religion is not a dirty word here).

Feel free to send me a private message if you'd like to ask me anything.