[blessed with 2]

Hi, my name is Michelle, and my husband and I are CA, we have a biological daughter and we adopted our beautiful AA son. We live in Oregon, but we have family in Henderson Texas, and we plan on moving there in the next 4-5 years. I know this is a ways out, but I was wondering what experience anyone has being a multiracial family in that area. We are planning to visit next summer, but I am hoping for some reassurance! I hear so many different things! My parents are truck drivers and drive all over the country. My mom has told me it would be hard for James living in the South, but I think it is because she doesn't want us to move, and she views things through that! I don't mind educating people gently about our family, and we stand out now, so that wouldn't be a big change, but I want to make sure we make the best choice for our entire family! Any advice would be welcomed!

[j_golda]

Hi Michelle,

I am Asian Indian and my husband is Caucasian. We live in Austin, TX. I have to say that I have never seen any discrimination here. In fact, I know several mixed couples and we are even trying to organize a playgroup for biracial kids.

I am not sure how Henderson is, but if it was Austin, I would tell you this isn't an issue at all.

[redhedded]

Austin Texas girl checking in. . . now living in Los Angeles. Blessed with Two: We are a multicultural multiracial family with my being Irish American, our daughter being African American and hubby being Thai. We would not live ANYWHERE in the South again with our rainbow family except Austin. I am not familiar with the community dynamics of Henderson but have seen enough small Texas towns in my 35 years as a Native that I would not move anywhere without visiting several times and gauging the environment for myself. Good luck.

JGolda: A move back home is imminent for us. Would love to find out more about the playgroup when we get there.

[lambeausam]

Former Tyler resident here! Henderson is much like Tyler in many ways. We still visit East Texas at least every 18months. I have two mutli-racial sons - Italian/Peruvian/Venezuelan and Italian/Unknown (most likely Central American). We garnish a few looks from some, but most people don't seem to have issue with multi-racial families. However, that being said, I would still carefully choose my neighborhood, school, and church.

I think the East Texans we knew were more prejudiced about our family moving there from California!

[Sharon]

I live in Austin, I've lived here for my entire life, and I have never witnessed or experienced racial discrimination. Austin is very liberal but at the same time very sheltered (college town; low crime rate... HIGH cost of living, however). I've never heard of Henderson and I'm not sure where that is... I guess it's possible that a smaller town might have a higher concentration of prejudiced and/ or closed-minded people. Some friends of mine were the target of racist remarks/ threats while driving through Southeast Texas... I believe the name of the town was Vidor, down by Houston.
I don't know how things are up North, but I don't think there's an extreme problem with racial prejudice in all parts of the South... and certainly not in my part of it.
~ Shar

[j_golda]

Redhedded, email me when you get to Austin, we will definitely do the multi cultural playgroup.

[Kazmum]

Hey, Blessed-with-2 --

I'm black (West Indian), my husband is white (born and bred in England), and we're in the process of adopting a biracial child (in the sitting-by-the-phone-waiting-for-the-call stage). We live in Houston -- and there's no problem here. Gotta agree with Redhedded in one respect though -- the ONLY places I would ever live in Texas with our multicultural family are the big cities: Houston/Dallas/Austin, specifically. In Houston, we live "inside the loop" (read: more urban than suburban) and we've never had a problem. I'm not familiar with Henderson, although for some reason I'm thinking it's near Dallas? Anyway, if it's possible to move to one of those big cities, I'd recommend it -- small town Texas can be a bit less tolerant than you might like/need.

Hope that helps,

K.

[bwinks]

I'm not sure where Henderson is but we live in the Ft Worth Area You will not have any problems down here. We have a lot of Muli racial families. When you do get down this way please look me up. Barbara

[sdwjones]

We're in Houston, a big ol' humid melting pot. All are welcome!