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Hello Alex,

Honestly, the whole world has this issue. It all depends on your attitude. If you have good manners, are open to new customs, learn from your environment, adapt to your environment, and are friendly - you should rarely have problems. The hardest thing to do is leave your expectations and prejudices behind you.

Many 'white' people live on STT and have adjusted and are happy. So can you.

As far as prejudice against 'white' people, the experiences you may have heard are in truth probably just prejudice against strangers to the island in general. At least that is my perception.

Relax, have a good time, and enjoy your new experiences on STT. Life is too short to worry. 😉

Teresa

I'm white and I've been on STX for about six weeks, and I've had only one slightly unpleasant experience with a West Indian. Perhaps it was my own fault for not doing the "Good Day" thing. Many people ask how I like it here and if I'm settling in OK.

I lived in inner-city D.C. for eleven years with whites, blacks, and Hispanics and can recall only a couple of unpleasant encounters, and there it was with rif-raf types. Treat people with respect, and you'll usually get the same in return.

~Pointing to OhioGuy and Teresa~

What they said. My spouse and I have been on STX for about the same amount of time as OhioGuy and we have yet to have anything but pleasant encounters with folks of many races/ethnicitioes, including West Indians, Arabs, and Hispanics/Latinos. I attribute our good experiences to being obsessive about observing the local customs, which shows that you understand this isn't the continental US and demoinstrates respect for the people of the USVI. It also helps to distinguish you from many of the tourists.. Anyone who has lived in a popular tourist destination and suffered through a few tourist seasons should cerainly have some understanding that not being branded a tourist is a very good thing indeed!

Always say "Good Morning/Afternoon/Night." (OhioGuy, I really believe that may have been the reason you had that one bad experience.) It also helps to ask how someone is doing before getting into any business that your are there to conduct. We also say thank you quite often to everyone who helps us (or makes an offer to help out), even if someone has only provided minimal help. If the person wasn't overly warm before that, the show of appreciation for their assistance has always opened them right up to release a smile and some kind words in return, and those that were already friendly absolutely shine with warmth.

I just came here from DC, but unlike OhioGuy, I felt far more discriminated against tehre than I do here, but I think that's because I use a wheelcjhair, not because I am white. DC folks tenmded to ignore me,. talk over my head, slam doors in my face instead of holding them, etc. Here, total strangers will stop and ask if they can help me reach something, load my chair in the car for me, or go way out of tjheir way to create a way for me to get into places that aren't rally accessible. That's why I tell everyone that I think Crucians are, collectively, the nicest people I have ever encountered.

Hope this, along with the input from Teresa and OhioGuy, eradicate your concerns.

HC

Alex,
These are about the exact things that my mother in law said to us when we said we might move to STX! She said it to her son and I have yet to speak to her since then about it. She has no experience with Island life, where does she come up with these ideas?

She told my husband that the people on the island don't like Americans and that we shouldn't go because we have two kids (3, and 10 months)

My mom is of course supportive, especially after telling her about what I've read here. It sounds like there are sooooo many more positive experiences. And like what was said before, it's all about your own attitude, how others will perceive you.

I soooo hope that my husband gets the job he applied for!

Susan

Susan wrote about her mother in law
"She told my husband that the people on the island don't like Americans"

It appears the native people of the island of St. Thomas are afflicted with a sense of self hatred for they hate Americans yet they are Americans. : )

Well as a Virgin Islander, I feel that politically we are American, yet culturally we are not. We are more West Indian than American, and although there are American elements in our culture, we have a distinct culture than that of the continental U.S. Also we do not dislike Americans, but there may be an underlying distrust of them. However, it is something that we put aside when we get to know you better. That is how I feel as a Crucian/Virgin Islander.

Hello Alex

You will not encounter racism on a white vs. black level that you seem to be inquiring about often. I won't say it doesn't ever happen, because it does. You might quicker encounter some insider vs. outsider situations. For example waiting in line at a local restaurant and the server knows the people behind you personally and does them a little favor and gets them sat down before you. On a more hostile end of things; if you got in a bit of road rage and the other driver figures out you are new on island (either because of your looks, car or how you talk) they might say some obsenity that includes you being from the states. In work places; if there is a frequent turn around of employees/managers from the states new employees might be treated with lack of interest because the long time employees are thinking "sure lets see how long this guy last" or might feel other issues toward new employees from the states because of past situations (wage differences, getting passed up for promotions). There are defintely some social cycles going on here that at some point might have you feeling left out of the loop or picked on. And there are situations where you and a long time resident might both get crappy service and you both stand there and think GOSH and discuss amongst yourself what crappy service that was?? The majority of the time you will be treated like just another customer; hello, how do you do, thank you, have a good day.

--Islander

To DL.,

I both respect and support your opinion. I was just trying to reveal an error the woman's statement.

Oh ok I got you, I guess I was reading too fast.

All of you have been very helpful. Thanks much. We look forward to bumping into you with a hearty "Good Morning...."