Posted on 09/09/2005 2:35:47 PM PDT by RWR8189
CAMP WILLIAMS, Utah (Reuters) - Asked whether he would relocate permanently to Utah after being brought here as a refugee from Hurricane Katrina, Larry Andrew rattled off a series of questions on Friday on the delicate issue of race.
"How do the adults really feel about us moving in?" he asked at Camp Williams, a military base 21 miles south of Salt Lake City housing about 400 refugees from last weeks disaster. "What if I find a Caucasian girl and decide to date her?
"Will I have to deal with whispering behind me and eyeballing me?" asked the 36-year-old black man.
For the mostly poor, black refugees evacuated from New Orleans, few places are as geographically remote and culturally alien as this corner of Utah, where 0.2 percent of the population in the nearest town is black.
Still, some refugees, especially younger adults, say they are ready to make a new start in the region even though they did not know they were coming until the doors shut on the airplane evacuating them from New Orleans.
"I'm planning a whole new life," said Phillip Johnson II, 23, who has already arranged an apartment in Salt Lake City. "It's an opportunity knocking for me out here."
He said even though the population of New Orleans was two-thirds black, his appearance with dreadlocks and a goatee still worked against him. "In New Orleans, being a young black man, you get harassed a lot, stereotyped a lot," he said.
One of the volunteers at the base, Newton Gborway, who moved to Utah from Liberia in West Africa five years ago, shared his first-hand impression of life in an economically prosperous state with a less than one percent black population.
"Don't be shocked and surprised if you meet someone who is mean to you or doesn't want to associate with you because you are black," he told Darisn Evans. "You don't worry about the negative stuff."
"Everything is going to be okay, but it is just a matter of time."
Evans said he would remain in Utah, and would like to work either as a handyman or as a highway patrolman.
His ex-wife Tanya Andrews, 44, said race played a part in their escape from flooded New Orleans, an adventure which she said included looting food, a television and a boat to get to higher land. She said rescuers picked them up only after a lighter-skinned black woman waved down a helicopter.
UTAH OPEN ARMS
So far the local community has welcomed the refugees with open arms, although they say they face an adjustment to life in Utah, stronghold of the socially conservative Mormon Church.
"Any time you go in where you are in the minority -- and I'm experienced in this -- it's going to be more difficult," said Wayne Mortimer, mayor of Bluffdale next to Camp Williams.
He cited his past missionary work in Canada when he was a relatively rare Mormon. Mortimer said his town of 6,500, a well-to-do bedroom community of Salt Lake City, had 20 low-income housing units available for the refugees.
"When you are an affluent community like we have, the greatest blessing we can have is to lift someone else," he said in an interview.
Larry Andrew's brother Adrian and sister Tanya, despite initial shock about being sent to Utah, say they will remain in Utah. Even Larry, despite his doubts, says the state is offering him a unique chance.
"According to what I see, it will be beneficial to me economically, even socially," he said. "But how would they adapt to me?"
I was socialized into some negative stereotypes about black folk when growing up, but got over it. I hope everyone else learns to also. I like people -no matter what shade.
You probably need to check and see if he has a wife and kids back home in Mississippi.
But do it in English and learn to converse with anyone you come in contact with. Conversate [sic] smacks of ebonics, and isn't a word.
I've heard that. Yet I've always thought it funny that we white girls try to get as black as we can in the summer.
No one ever wants to be "white" when you can be TAN.
Guess each culture has it's own oddities.
Exactly what I was thinking.
"But do it in English and learn to converse with anyone you come in contact with. Conversate [sic] smacks of ebonics, and isn't a word."
People make typos. It is embarrassing enough without having someone make a big deal out of it.
Over the years, the only downside I have ever heard about Utah is that you will have a problem if you aren't Mormon. Color didn't seem to be the issue. I worked for a company that had an office in NYC and SLC and folks would come back from Utah saying they weren't accepted by the Mormans - to the extent of Mormon parents didn't want non-Mormon kids to play with their children.
I have run into blacks who've spent time out there and who told me that I would have a difficult time since I'm not Christian. Nothing about me being black.
I find Utah kinda interesting and considered applying for faculty positions out there, but I don't need the religious hassles. Personally, I don't have an issue w/Mormons - they strike me as hard working, family oriented, Americans, but I've heard this issue about non-Mormons too much not to give it some consideration.
I'm willing to be disabused of this notion by any Utah Mormons. I'm open.
What does THAT have to do with anything?
Yes,the black females get angry when they see the"brothers"with white and Mexican women.
But,suga,lets be real.Way too many of these young black women won't give these young men any play unless they are athletes,have bling bling flash or have"game".That hard working young scholar is seen as a "fake n----"and won't get any play.
Then,around 25,after these little gangstas and bad boys are dead or locked up,these same black females want to trip about"where are all the good black men?"
Lots of them are with the white girls now,honey."You had your chance",is what many of them say.
"No offense, but I don't agree with that statement at all. I lived in Utah for five years. I don't think it is any less or more racist than anywhere else."
Fair enough. I understand your point of view. I didn't wish to start an argument.
My point was that it is not justified for folks from another area to presume a state like Utah, because it is conservative, would be hostile to minorities.
I'll stand with that contention.
Friends
Dated a black gal pretty seriously in my youth. Coldest summer day I ever experienced when I met her family. She was gorgeous enough to put up with the crap though! Ended up marrying an Italian from the South, which is a sort of European answer to US black folks.
Beth and I are pretty good FRiends.
I know she's one smart lady.
I lived in Utah for five years. Mormons want their kids to marry Mormons, etc., just like Jews want their kids to marry Jews. If you are not a Mormon, you are not in the click in many parts of Utah, no doubt about it.
On a Monday morning several years ago, our boss at NASA announced that John(white) and Janice(black) had gotten married over the weekend (both worked in same office.) Everyone asked "Who did they get married to?" When he said, "each other" we all laughed. There was no discrimination shown by anyone and from then on were accepted completely. This was in Houston area. However, this couple felt secure with themselves -- and IMO, people reacted positively to their being proud of each other. I never saw any indication of backlash.
IMO, we are treated as we show respect of ourselves, no matter the race, (in most situations.) Feel sorry for yourself-- and the world will shy away. etc. Love yourself and show it... and the world will love you too. Have a chip on your shoulder and will not be liked.
Where have you been lately?
O! I've been to Oakland quite a bit, but live about 50 miles east of there. Work and visit the East Bay often. It's always about 20 degrees cooler in the summer, so it's a nice place to be when it gets to be about 102-103 where I live!
We're in the same boat, Sis. I met my husband when I was 20 and he was 21. We eloped 7 months later because our parents had issues with the black/white thing. I lived in my house for 2 months with a 12 midnight curfew without my parents knowing I was married. At night we would go our separate ways. I started gathering things together to move into an apartment and my Mom said "That boy don't want you, he is just using you" I said "Mom, we're married. She sat down so hard I thought she fainted. Well, I met his Dad not to long after and we grew really close. He would talk to my husband for 5 minutes and then me for 30 minutes on the phone and my parents grew to love my husband too. 17 years, 2 kids and a dog later... we made it when people said we never would.
Fighting Katrina...lol.
I feel so sorry for Natalee's family.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.