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?"
Is it possible she asked him because he was the closest "young man" near her? Maybe she figured he looked big enough to handle all her stuff. Is it at all possible she really didn't notice his color and just needed help??
Tall Texan -- I'm not trying to flame you here -- I realze you're just posting what you read/heard.
Kudos to Karl Malone on not making a big deal out of it though.
***As a former member of the church, I am very proud of the heritage, however many folks forget about the persecution, yes I should say a form of racism, that the early church endured...My great great grandfather lost everything he had in Jackson County Missouri. The women were raped and the men killed or tarred and feathered just for having a belief that Smith convinced them about. ***
You best be careful...there are some Freepers on here that actually believe that didn't happen or believe that it was justified if it did. It's known as the classic FR anti-Mormon bash session. LOL
By whites, blacks, or both?
It should be interesting to see how this Black Diaspora works out.
I really don't have any answers except to take the chance to know each other. Try to approach everyone without a preconceived opinion and see what happens and thats on both sides of the equation. If anyone goes around thinking that they are going to be discriminated against they will be. When my sons were younger and they came complaining to me that people were treating them badly and they wanted me to fix it, I used to tell them "there are a$$holes in this world, deal with it."
The world is filled with discrimination and prejudice. NOt just black and white but ugly, fat, thin, rich, poor, beautiful. The prejudice usually comes from the insecure but it surrounds us. There are times to stand up and fight and there are times to just ignore. We all just need to grow up and try to "love one another." ...even liberals, I guess.
excellently said. I can add no more.
excellently said. I can add no more.
Having lived in RLDS City for a few years and seen the attitude, I have no doubt that many in Utah will hate every one of them before they even arrive.
I look forward to the social experiment that's happening, though. Give less wealthy people from Louisiana a change for the better here in the west, and invite western suburbanites here to move to Louisiana with its hurricanes and different flavor of government. ...good trade, IMO.
"Will I have to deal with whispering behind me and eyeballing me?" asked the 36-year-old black
These are the first things I'd want to know after I just barely escaped that hell hole with my life
He really wants to know if he can pull his crap on the honkies of Utah without having to pay a price for it
Did I hear a thank you in there..or a God bless these white folks who care so much?
imo
And I'm sure if they make positive contributions to society, Utah will be more than happy to embrace them.
I would say so too.
When have black women lynched anyone?
and put my focus on being worthy of those mercies.
Well put.
where exactly is Caucasia???
It's an area of Asia known primarily for its fighting roosters.
That's a great story.
I cannot imagine a person who would not think about such things. That would be a person who might be considered a fool and niave. Is it racism? Maybe it is, but I do not think so.
I'm a non-Mormon who has lived in Utah for over ten years now and have never found this to be even remotely true.
I'd be much more inclined to believe someone may not
associate with you because you are not Mormon.
LOL. You see to have lots of self confidence. It shows - consequently others respect you.
BTW, just spent the last 4 days with Star Parker,
www.urbancure.org
We brought her to Austin and she rocked the town. Everyone should hear her.... especially with regard to the hurricane victims. She says that for many of these folk they will be given a new opportunity in this country after living on a "plantation" in N.O. We need to reach out to them and help them help themselves to jobs, etc.
Guess you can tell I love her attitude.
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