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My dh is considering a job in Utah. I am concerned about moving there (Davis County) as I have an interracial family. I have two children adopted from SE Asia, a bio caucasion child and two from Haiti. We live in Seattle which is VERY diverse and race honestly has never been an issue. Our family is not weird and does not stick-out at all up here. Most of my kids classmates are of a minority race and there is almost no racism (at least not that we have seen). I am worried about my kids being the only "brown" kids in the school. I am worried about us sticking-out and being different. I am worried about them being able to date.
My family is all in Davis County so that would be a HUGE plus for moving there, not to mention the cost of living! I just don't know if it would be fair to my kids. I know how cruel children can be to one another and the most important thing is for my kids to have a good self-esteem.
Could those who have interracial families in Utah tell me their experiences? Am I being too paranoid? Are there areas that you would recommend or not recommend moving to?
Thanks!
Kelly
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I am not an interracial family, but I have lived in all parts of Utah nearly my entire life. Racism (of a negative type) is not a factor here, so much as undue attention IS. Some parts of Davis County are more diverse than others. Utah is quite adoption friendly and most people will be overly curious as to your family's story. Curiousity would be based usually on their interest in the unusual (not your typical white farm raised kids).
You will be welcomed into any community and in a smaller one, your kids will recieve some level of notorious status similar to a celebrity just for being unique or for being from a large city. Especially in a school that has less than 1500 kids in it. Larger schools will be more diverse and they won't be seen as being that unique. Be prepared for nosy questions that for the most part are innocently intended. Anonimity doesn't really exist in Utah, most people like to know ALL about every neighbor or associate.
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I agree with that. I grew up in Heber City, in Wasatch County. I had a foster brother that was half Navajo and half AA. He was CELEBRITY in our town b/c there were no black people there (that has changed now). When we go back to visit my parents and friends with my transracial kids, many of the older people will say to us "I have three black grandkids" or "my granddaughters are from China". Most folks know someone that adopted and they have ALWAYS been friendly. My mom teaches second grade there and she has mostly white, latin and asian kids and a few black--but most have white parents. It is starting to become more normal. I think that times are changing and more and more families like our exist now. I agree that you might find CURIOUS people, but not racist ones (only the ignorant kind of racisim...).Good luck!!
aspenhall
Racism (of a negative type) is not a factor here, so much as undue attention IS.