Racial equality

that requires a thorough response.
As a black-american woman married to a white-dutch male, I have a particular perspective on the questions you have asked.
Pressed for time, however, I hope that I can articulate some helpful answers to your real questions.
My short off-the-cuff response is this:
For perhaps the first time in your daughter's life, she will be a member of the majority. Skin tone may become a secondary consideration for her over time, rather than her first thought when she doesn't get immediate seating at a table, or doesn't get a job she was overqualified for, or...well the list goes on. Speaking of seating at a restaurant, your family may be passed up for a table, not because of race, but because you are not born here. There is a fierce "Island-centric-nationalism" that results in all things island being exalted, and all things Yankee being denigrated. (That is, of course, an exaggerated statement.)
There is not an overabundance of interracial relationships on the island, but we haven't felt any negative response as a result.
All in all, things are much better for us here than in SF, CA, where there is a greater racial diversity, but noone actually spends any time with anyone of another race!
The most important tip: Be good to people and they will be good to you. Not to be religious or new-agey, but our experience has been that if you approach folks on the island with an open-mind, they will respond in kind.
Good luck and feel free to email me if you have any other questions.

Atlanta is supposed to be relatively progressive.

Here are some comments from a the white mother, whose husband is African American, of a racially mixed daughter. We moved from San Francisco, an extremely diverse city when my daugher was five years old. She been in a Montessori preschool for three years. The first three months we were here she commented to me over five times, "Mommy, there are children in my school who look like me." She always said this with joy. There are many children of mixed race at her school so she never feels different. In SF I was constantly asked if I was her grandmother. I haven't been asked that once here. Recently my daughter and I went to Michigan. When we arrived in the Detroit airport my daughter said, "Why are there so many white people here?" She is now very used to seeing blacks as the majority. We can attend a church in which the majority of the members are black. Her school is extremely diverse.

The island is about 80% black and most people in government are black. This is a great thing for my daughter as far as self esteem, examples set, role models, etc. She won't be growing up with that subtle and sometimes not so subtle racism that is so rampant in the states.

I could write much more but this is all time allows. If you would like to ask any questions, feel free to email me.

Teresa...
Not being a racist myself even though I was from New Jersey and worked as a fireman for 25 yrs in an 80% black city. I have noticed that as a white person many blacks just hate you for being white. It different in areas of mostly white populations too. In the VI the same thing happens. It's not where you live it's who you live with. Blacks are to blacks as whites are to whites. It's so sad that the world has come to this. I have been to the USVI many times and I can tell you even though you are friendly and courteous like the big smile and a good morning, It still can bring you a comment you do not expect. This is the World 2003 and it will take forever for blacks and whites to really like one another.
Eddie

Hello,

I find your daughters comments at 3 years old concerning. Sounds like something she would have heard someone say, and not an idea she herself would come up with, certainly not at 3 years old. Perhaps the environment (day care, school, babysitter, even friends or family - may have said something in front of her or to her, to put this idea in her head.)

My own opinion and not to be pessimistic; blended or not blended communities, regardless of if we are talking about race, religion, ethnic background, the accent you speak with, the job you have, the cloths you wear... people (in general terms) just find something, something to find as being different. And it is sad as Eddie stated. But it goes beyond racial lines really. I think it has much to do with appreciation of differences vs. fear and condemning differences; these attitudes are taught/learned. It is certainly a hard thing to un-learn, for even the most eduated people hold unto very unfair and 'racist' ways of thinking. Like Onika said, in the U.S.V.I an island person (or belonger like the B.V.I uses to distinguish residents from visitors) might get a bigger hello, quicker service, a cheaper taxi fare... because they are a Virgin Islander. Of course this is a smaller issue then full blown racism as many have experienced in the mainland and in other parts of the world.

Comments from a child's perspective. My experience growing up in the VI as a minority in terms of race, but a belonger in terms of being a born/raised Virgin Islander was enjoyable. Minority - I never used that word or considered myself as such until someone said that to me in college, it really took that long for someone to point out to me that I was that different then the mainstream in the USVI - and it was a stateside transfer student that pointed it out; and to continue the story - everyone in the class said 'what are you talking about, thats a St. Thomian sitting there not a statesider. Comments were made to me at school about race in the same sentences as comments about how I dressed, ran, how well I did in school.... kids in the VI are kids. They comment on everything, they are truthfully hurtful - without knowing it. Children growing up in the VI I don't think are exposed to race issues the same way I imagine they are exposed to it in some parts of the mainland. I don't think the separation on those lines exist in small children in the VI. In teen years yes, issues based on race arise, whites vs. blacks and private schools vs. public schools and a combination of both do occur. Particularly in boys, but also in girls, flights based on race differences and school attended do happen among boys in the VI. As adults this issue again seems to somewhat settle, but not disappear, in St. Thomas.

To comment on what Onika said about Virgin Islanders - absolutely - there is a strong sense of being an Islander. And I think this had much to do with my view of race not being a big issue as I grew up in St. Thomas. People in the VI and somewhat in the Caribbean do separate race on a different line, almost blurring race and where you come from into one. The dominant population in the VI is Black, Yes 'Afro American', but West Indian first! And as such locals see a difference between Blacks from the US mainland and West Indian Blacks and likewise they see a big difference between Whites from the mainland and Whites who are born or long long time residents of the VI. Again, it goes to who belongs and who does not belong.

Often times I heard young teens make comments about 'Yankee' while standing close to me, and when I would answer them - they would say 'oh oh, sorry you are from here'. I would laugh. Additionally I have heard local blacks make comments about black statesiders and about locals who moved to the states and never returned, mouthing off about them really. (This is more of a crab in the barrel problem in the VI, and a different problem all together.)

Inter racial relationships in the VI are fairly common and accepted. So you and your spouse would not be so different. And your family would be very much like other families in the VI.

There are often in a classroom, children who are white from stateside backgrounds, whites that are locals, black west Indians and black statesiders, children of Indian descent, kids from other Caribbean islands, and 'mixed' (which is commonly used word in the VI for children who are of various racial or ethnic backgrounds).

Your daughter might hear comments growing up in the VI, girls often comment on 'mixed' children having 'nicer' hair, they might ask her about her parents, they might ask whether she considers herself white or black or mixed or whatever, boys often comment on the girls being 'butter skinned', if she has an accent that is different - different in any way, kids will say something, tease her about the Southern thwang if she has one; but they will still be friendly with her; and often times as small kids - ask is all they will do, curious about her, perhaps as a new student. Living in the VI does not promise that she will not be aware that she is 'mixed', she is and thats it. Your job is to insure that she is as confident in the body that she is in as she can be! Growing up in the U.S.V.I will however provide perhaps a less hurtful environment if she encounters hurtful commentary constantly where you guys live now as she will not be that different from anyone else and because the difference is not so critical an issue in the VI.

Questions you asked.
The ethnicity percentage in the VI is about 80% Black-West Indian, 15% whites and 5% other.

By the way you might not be familiar with the term West Indian - these are not Indians (not anymore), the Caribbean was known as the West Indies from back in Columbus time..... thus the name has stuck, and Caribbean people are called West Indians.

I would say racism in the VI is not as extreme as some parts of the mainland. But it does exist in some form everywhere including the VI.

(This came out a little longer then I intended - hope it helps 🙂

--Islander

No, I am not in Atlanta. I am 25 south of Atlanta. I would not consider relocating to the city of Atlanta, too much traffic. I am looking forward to living back by the ocean. I am originally from Ft. Lauderdale and do miss the beach. I am contracted to work for the State of Georgia for two more years and then I am free to choose where I can go. My daughter will be of school age by then, so the move will be at a perfect time. I have a resource at the hospital in St. Croix and I was also looking into Government work on the island as well.

My daughter has a strong sense of herself and I encourage her daily to be all that she can, no matter what others think and say. I have just had several racist remarks made to me by people here in the South and I feel as her parent to give her the best opportunity in life. I had never paid too much attention to race issues but now that I have a child, it is a major concern and I now see the equality blacks have to fight against.

I appreciate your input and I will be in touch. Thanks again.

Thank you Islander for your deep perspective into my concerns regarding race and attitude in the VI.