A "safe" place for us??

Homeschl2 · #1 09/02/11, 10:51 AM

Hello, my family and friends of ours want to move and start living self sufficient farming life. We have 8, our friends have 5 in our families. The issue is we are black. We are to find places were we won't unwelcome just because we are black. We know new people have to work to become party of the community. But even within 40min from were we live here in Cincinnati,Ohio, we have been warned by our friends about how it would not be "safe" for our families (their exact words). So, that being said, does anybody know of any areas that we would fit into? We are looking for 5-20 acres each. Thanks
Mellisa

DamnearaFarm · #2 09/02/11, 10:59 AM

Oh, Mellisa. I have nothing to offer on the location thing but I just wanted to give you <<<hugs>>>. It is horrible that y'all have this trouble for just wanting to live....well, can't call it simple, really, due to the work involved (we had a thread on homesteading terminology a while back) but I guess I can call it 'living honestly'. I wish y'all much luck and if you happen to land near my part of the globe I'd be proud to call you neighbor.

geo in mi · #3 09/02/11, 10:59 AM

FWIW, try the western half of Van Buren County, MI in a fifteen mile radius from Covert or South Haven. You can take it from there......

geo

Parttimefarmer · #4 09/02/11, 11:10 AM

I second Michigan. South Haven is a very tolerant area for all people. We have a white cousin that has adopted several black and mixed children that lives there in peace. Western rural Michigan is fairly white, but I have never heard any anti-black or "pro-white" talk.

SilverVista · #5 09/02/11, 12:10 PM

This is almost funny -- I instantly thought of Van Buren County, MI too! Because of the campgrounds and summer cottages along the lake shore, South Haven does a booming tourist trade several months of the year, nice for the surrounding economy. There's a farmer's market in town, and produce stands along the highways do very well. Good land for fruit and vege crops, lots of blueberries, cherries, peaches in that area. Rural, but good services aren't far off -- South Haven has a small hospital and 2 bigger ones in Kalamazoo 40 minutes away, and Covert has a very nice library.

ErinP · #6 09/02/11, 12:10 PM

Where I live, black families are pretty unusual. Just part of the region, I guess. But we do have them.
No one really thinks anything of it. They're hard working, friendly, pay their taxes and watch American Idol like everyone else.

roneil76 · #7 09/02/11, 12:39 PM

Honestly I find it odd (and disturbing abit) that there is a place your in America your family is not safe... Im not blind so i realize the welcome might be more harsh in some areas id guess but "SAFE"..... yikes

Come to Western NY well have ya & be proud to know ya. Plus we wont expect you to live anyway you dont want to.

Good luck with the search. Hope you live with who and where you like.
But, Id say be careful who you listen to. Good people with good intentions often talk to much and say things as fact that are actually just a thought with no real basis.... Sorry not tryin to be jumpy or over assertive.

"SAFE" sounds very harsh for a nation that elected a "Black" Leader.... Just sayin'

Old Vet · #8 09/02/11, 01:02 PM

There are places that are not safe for anybody not just blacks. There are places that as a white person are not safe and there are places that blacks are not safe. Finding a place takes time and when you move in you need to fit in not become an eye sore or try to change it like what you left. I would not move to an all black neighborhood because of Black On Black crime move to one of those mixed neighborhood(one that have enough whites and blacks in proportion of the country) they are the best.

oz in SC V2.0 · #9 09/02/11, 01:05 PM

I don't see the 'issue' being you are black,it sounds more like you are being told things that are simply preconceived notions by others...I would think your current locale is much more dangerous.

I find it quite doubtful you would be unsafe because you are black almost anywhere in the USA.

You might not be welcomed with open arms,but then that is the case in lots of places with ANYONE of ANY color who aren't 'from there'....

But I guess having been a 'furriner' my entire time living here I don't see the issue.

eggzackly · #10 09/02/11, 01:17 PM

I am going to be moving to the Virgin Islands at the end of the year. Very ag friendly, 90% black, or black/hispanic. Land is not cheap, but not too expensive on St Croix. Recent court rulings are very pro-ag. If you own your land, and you want to farm it or keep livestock, to the capacity you think you can do it, more power to you. No winters to speak of. Advance warning for tropical storms.
http://www.livingonstcroix.com/listings-p-3.html to search database
vifresh.com to check out ag support programs.

Crime rate is sky high, but just don't flash cash, or stay out at night in town drinking and your risks are greatly improved. The government is lazy and corrupt, but that means they are not nosing around in your business about minutia either. Too busy scamming each other LOL.

Freeholder · #11 09/02/11, 01:18 PM

I don't know if you'd like our climate (high semi-desert), but you'd be welcome here. There aren't a lot of black families, but there are some, and they are nice people. Quite a few Mexicans, though, and I know in some areas they don't get along well with blacks. It's too small of a community, though, to have much of that kind of problem. Anyone here who shows themselves to be hardworking, honest, decent people should get along just fine. If you decide to come this way, I can introduce you to some nice people who won't care one bit what color your skin is!

Kathleen

oth47 · #12 09/02/11, 01:26 PM

I can't help you,but welcome to the board.You'll find some nice folks here.

Wanderer0101 · #13 09/02/11, 02:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Homeschl2

Hello, my family and friends of ours want to move and start living self sufficient farming life. We have 8, our friends have 5 in our families. The issue is we are black. We are to find places were we won't unwelcome just because we are black. We know new people have to work to become party of the community. But even within 40min from were we live here in Cincinnati,Ohio, we have been warned by our friends about how it would not be "safe" for our families (their exact words). So, that being said, does anybody know of any areas that we would fit into? We are looking for 5-20 acres each. Thanks
Mellisa

Central Oklahoma along Highway 7 west of Interstate 35. Very rural, lowish population density, pretty good climate, reasonable access to water and decent soil, access to larger towns not too far away. Small towns with a very interesting history. You would feel right at home in the area, believe me. Research the following towns: Boley, Brooksville, Clearview, Grayson, Langston, Lima, Red Bird, Rentiesville, Summit, Taft, Tatums, Tullahassee, and Vernon.

If I were in your situation this is exactly where I would go.

Pink_Carnation · #14 09/02/11, 02:11 PM

I think a lot of areas would be fine. Where I grew up there were only 2 black families that I know of and they seemed to fit in just fine. When new kids came to the high school it wasn't the color of skin that mattered but how they dressed. The girl that came with the punk rock look had a much harder time than the ones that were in t-shirts and jeans. That was eastern Oregon and you have to expect that there are a lot of Mexican heritage people there also. Many of the Mexicans are 2nd and 3rd generation US citizens.

dablack · #15 09/02/11, 04:00 PM

Mellisa,

I think your friends that are warning you are from the city. I live in TX and have two black children that we adopted from Uganda. I know for a fact that you would be welcome in our comunity and in our church.

Come on down to East Tx (just not Jasper.....)

Pony · #16 09/02/11, 04:15 PM

Welcome to the board!

I understand that there are places where "different" is just plain not welcome, and that's if you're black, yellow, red, white, or polka dot. Just a fact, and it does seem to be a bit more so in rural areas, where change marches along at a snail's pace.

That said, I like the area where we live. Land is relatively inexpensive, water is available, folks are neighborly if you're a good neighbor, and people are a little more open to change than I've seen in other areas. We had a black female pastor in our UMC, and the Baptist preacher and his wife have two multi-racial adopted children.

Another area I'd consider if you're looking for sparse population would be Montana.

Just consider the wisdom of Joel Salatin: You can be a Buddhist, or you can be a nudist, BUT don't be a nudist Buddhist. People can only handle so much "different" in rural America.

TheMartianChick · #17 09/02/11, 04:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by roneil76

Honestly I find it odd (and disturbing abit) that there is a place your in America your family is not safe... Im not blind so i realize the welcome might be more harsh in some areas id guess but "SAFE"..... yikes

Come to Western NY well have ya & be proud to know ya. Plus we wont expect you to live anyway you dont want to.

Good luck with the search. Hope you live with who and where you like.
But, Id say be careful who you listen to. Good people with good intentions often talk to much and say things as fact that are actually just a thought with no real basis.... Sorry not tryin to be jumpy or over assertive.

"SAFE" sounds very harsh for a nation that elected a "Black" Leader.... Just sayin'

I'd like to add a second vote for NY State! I am black and I live in Central NY. As Roneil mentioned, you might want to carefully weigh the advice that you receive from others about what places are safe for you and your family.

My parents moved to a rural area area of NY in the 1950's. They were essentially the only people of any color in the area. The only problem that they had with someone threatening their safety was a next door neighbor who was an admitted racist. After my parents moved even further out in the woods, that man had a massive heart attack that somehow "adjusted" his thinking. He didn't die... He started treating my family as though we were long lost friends!

My family has traveled to a lot of areas and we've noticed that sometimes, there is still some old time thinking about where African Americans are allowed. Our relatives in St. Petersburg FL tried to tell us that we were in danger in the Treasure Island tourist area.Much of this is outdated. It doesn't mean that you won't run into racism...It does still exist. However, you cannot live in fear, nor can you allow anyone else to dictate where you should and shouldn't live.

Find a town with properties that you can afford, good schools for the kids and land that looks like what you've been dreaming about.

TheMartianChick · #18 09/02/11, 04:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dablack

Mellisa,

Come on down to East Tx (just not Jasper.....)

Good point about Jasper!

Old Vet · #19 09/02/11, 04:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheMartianChick

I'd like to add a second vote for NY State! I am black and I live in Central NY. As Roneil mentioned, you might want to carefully weigh the advice that you receive from others about what places are safe for you and your family.

My parents moved to a rural area area of NY in the 1950's. They were essentially the only people of any color in the area. The only problem that they had with someone threatening their safety was a next door neighbor who was an admitted racist. After my parents moved even further out in the woods, that man had a massive heart attack that somehow "adjusted" his thinking. He didn't die... He started treating my family as though we were long lost friends!

My family has traveled to a lot of areas and we've noticed that sometimes, there is still some old time thinking about where African Americans are allowed. Our relatives in St. Petersburg FL tried to tell us that we were in danger in the Treasure Island tourist area.Much of this is outdated. It doesn't mean that you run into racism...It does still exist. However, you cannot live in fear, nor can you allow anyone else to dictate where you should and shouldn't live.

Find a town with properties that you can afford, good schools for the kids and land that looks like what you've been dreaming about.

I agree with everything said here. Where I live there are 1% black and not far from here the KKK has a compound but they are kept in check by the local land owners.If you leave them alone they will leave you alone. Racist are everywhere even where you think they are not. Most of the time if you leave them alone they will leave you alone most detest them. I can't say where to live because each one of us has their own idea about what they want. I live in a republican area of the state that is mostly democratic. Once you leave the city you will be safe and the further you live from a major city the safer you are. I used to live in a predominately black area of Little Rock and have seen Black on Black crime at its worst. Most of it was gangs that had no respect for the law but sometimes innocent people were gunned down for no reason except they were in the wrong place at the wrong time. In the country you are separated from them so you will be safer if you don't belong to a gang. Gang activity ceases at the suburbs because they have no where to hide.

JuliaAnn · #20 09/02/11, 04:58 PM

Well, we're in east Texas, not far from Jasper, and there is a pretty broad mixture of ethnicities. Even in Jasper, for those who have never been there. There is a black family about three properties down from where we live, and the people who live out at the entrance to our little neighborhood have adopted children of at least three different ethnicities. I see white, black, hispanic and asian kids all together, running and riding their bikes up and down the road all the time, all in a big gang together, and it's not even an issue. There is a daily migration of little girls in swim suits with beach towels that go down the road after school because someone has a pool, and a little while later you see them going back, wet, hair plastered to their heads, laughing and giggling. Our boys are getting to the age they are starting to play more with the kids in the area, but they're a bit young yet to ride their bikes, but soon they'll be right out there with all the other kids.

I would also strongly caution the OP about listening to what they're being told. No way to know why they were cautioned about moving some place that would be unsafe, but that's a very judgemental attitude.