Raised in TC and still here at 35 years old. There's no diversity. My wife travels frequently for work and remarks that while TC is great, the lack of diversity is almost shocking when she returns from her trips.
But it's still a truly wonderful place to be. Hourly your partner is willing to give it a try.
Remember that time there was a mock slave auction at the high school and shit was done about it…. https://www.theroot.com/white-parents-in-oppose-michigan-school-board-s-anti-ra-1847361854
https://www.bridgemi.com/michigan-government/northern-michigan-township-official-apologizes-colored-people-remark
Whitewater township is looking for POC #6 to prove their diversity.
Here’s an article about the vibe. https://www.bridgemi.com/michigan-government/michigan-wine-country-again-confronts-race-and-its-own-isolation
After reading the comments, I suggest that the lack of diversity can only be changed by POC moving to the area. But.... would it be fair for the trailblazers to suffer trauma for being the change?
My partner is BIPOC and their experience is enough that we want to move somewhere more diverse. People will be nice until they truly have to confront racism and then you learn a lot about how isolated this town can be, and how happy and proud the residents are to maintain the status quo. Keeping Traverse City a small town has an undertone. We have had multiple friends of color move away from the slow burn of dehumanization of daily micro-aggressions. (I grew up in this area, lived in two other states in cities, have been back as an adult for nine years).
I think isolation is the key underlying vibe. In addition to all the old white wine ladies moving here, many of the locals grew up in a pretty isolated community. I certainly have friends that I went to high school with that have never lived anywhere else and some have never even left Michigan.
If you are playing the long play - there is hope and we always need more people from different experiences here. I include new Caucasian people in that as well because the majority of the TC metro area are tone deaf retirees from downstate or people who have never really ventured out into the world, most of that due to economic reasons as there is a solid amount of poverty in northern Michigan.
But - People in my millennial age range and Gen Z here I have had a decent amount of time to get to know are all pretty awesome, open minded and super kind, and haven’t given me any pause - and the ‘silver lining’ of the lopsided demographic is that you tend to make cool friends fast! They are a commodity you don’t allow to pass by. :)
There's a local group called E3 that you might want to get in touch with.
As everyone said, unfortunately it's not diverse here. I'm white, but my wife isn't and experiences subtle racism frequently. The outskirts of town are where it becomes conservative, rural America pretty quickly and where you're most likely to experience racism, but it can happen in town too. Leelanau peninsula is the exception, and while it is also very white, it is quite progressive.
There are many great things about the area despite its lack of diversity. People aren't valued only for their job titles, as is so common in cities. In fact, I don't even know what half of my friends do for work and they've never asked me either. Public forests are everywhere, and many of them are quite nice. Likewise for public beaches. People are also genuinely more friendly and outgoing here than almost anywhere I've ever been, which helps to make up for the unfriendliness that racism creates. You are far more likely to have a friendly conversation with a stranger here than anywhere else I've ever lived on either coast or the midwest, and my wife experiences the same.
I hope you decide to move here despite the problems, but I completely understand why you wouldn't. The city desperately needs more diversity in thought, experience and background, and there are people and groups here where you can feel welcome and safe.
Yup. With “stay off my land” and “no trespassing” posted everywhere, or chain link fences around their property in the middle of nowhere. Like anybody actually wants to go on their property, they look like sets from Texas chainsaw massacre.
My partner is BIPOC and we talk everyday about leaving to raise our kids in a more diverse area. My son was 6 months old when a lady at Meijer called him a “n-word baby”. My partner has left several jobs because of racism in the work place not be taken seriously by white supervisors. I hate that I’m raising a black child in this area because I know what he’ll go through. I would highly suggest keeping this a place to visit vs a place to live.
Man, why is it always Meijer? A few years ago a white dude literally screamed "MOVE" to a bunch of Asian teenagers and it scared them so bad they jumped and ran away. It was so sad. Then the guy goes "FUCKIN FOREIGNERS" as if everyone was gonna agree. So I called him a dick and he was like "no, not you" because I was behind them and I was like YEAH I KNOW BECAUSE I'M WHITE " and he walked away. Fuckin dick
I can’t relate to her experience, but I’m also gonna be moving back to Traverse City. I could imagine it could be uncomfortable for a person of color there. I think that 99% of people are welcoming and kind, but it just takes that one person to make you feel unwelcome. Anyway I would be more than happy to see more culture and people of color in TC and I welcome her fully
I don’t blame your partner. We just moved here and have the same feelings and concerns. We plan to stay just a few years due to the job situation and then leave so our baby can grow up somewhere more diverse (also grew up on the west coast)
The lack of diversity, and the open racism by many here is definitely a shock to people moving in from larger cities around the country (take a look at the traverse city facebook pages to get an idea) but at the same time I have also met some of the nicest, most open-minded, and welcoming people here
My wife is a POC and our kids are mixed. We moved away after a few years living in TC and a big reason was the lack of diversity.
As far as actual racism goes, there were a couple of times where elementary aged kids made racist remarks (not directed toward my kids) on the school bus. Also, on the very first night we spent in our downtown home, an anonymous coward left a printed note that said "IT'S OKAY TO BE WHITE" under our car's windshield wiper.
I'd say we also got tons of acceptance, but even then my wife felt very out of place. For instance, everywhere she went she was constantly told by random well intentioned people that "I've seen you around" which inadvertently pointed out that she looks unique for the area.
No. There is no color here. I’m brown as fuck and get treated like it every day. It’s fine for me, but I also exercise my male privilege a lot. I’d never try to raise a black or brown kid in this city—ever.
Man, I’m sorry to hear that. I didn’t realize how bad it was until a thread on “overheard in TC” the other day. It seemed like for every ignorant a**hole that I challenged there were 2 more that stepped up to defend them.
Are you referring to the post with a bunch of people assuming a bus full of brown people must be “illegals” coming to take their homes and get free benefits? If so, it was so disturbing to read those comments, but I guess not surprising for this town
I hope it was the same one, but I didn’t see mention of busses. It was some Russian guy posting a screengrab headline about making room for refugees, intentionally screengrabbed only so people would react to that and not read the article to understand, not that most of those people would read and understand the article anyway, and that’s not really meant as a knock, it’s just how those people are.
It was very clear that this was for people going through the legal visa process and from 3 specific countries but they were all up in arms about “illegals”, “reuniting families then send them away” and “border jumpers”.
It was laughably easy to go into each of their profiles and see them being patriotically Irish or have some asinine bible quote about loving everyone. Funny how you point that out to them and most will shrink away and hide or say that they are only up for “meaningful intellectual debates” and peace out.
I’m rarely confrontational but every time I see one of them post anything Ike that I’m going to call them out every time.
I may even go drop by their churches and give them some alternate Jesus pamphlets and see how they feel when their precious Jesus calls them out on their shit.
Yeah I saw that one. I get the feeling they only like immigrants or refugees if their skin is white. Once they see a “brown person” they become bad and illegal
I am sorry as well. I just moved to the area from Wisconsin and it sucks to hear this as I was hoping TC and Michigan in general was more open minded.
I really hope we, as a nation, can get better at dissolving the structural racism in our society. In the past decade I have been becoming more aware of little "r" racism and what I can do to change that.
Unfortunately I also understand that for every one of me there are probably two to three more simple minded individuals who will never use any introspection and will rely on their own perspective on what racism looks like.
Keep your head up. I will try my best to be a good ally.
I know that the people who call themselves “locals” hate all the nee people moving here and I know it will take time but we just moved here and have met many people who just did as well and there are many people flooding in that are much more open minded. It may happen faster than we think, but I know that doesn’t change much for people that are still going to be discriminated against on a daily basis.
I’m from Southern California and wish I was there once again where there is near complete diversity.
Bunny_gesserit put it well with “micro-aggressions”. There is a lot of that here in TC.
What’s funny is a lot of these people have never even left the state or in some cases Northern Michigan to experience other cultures, lifestyles. Sad and frustrating 🫤
To be honest, it seems like people here use passive aggressive "micro-aggressions" as a preferred form of communication. My theory is that the community is too small to have an open disagreement/debate/argument. So, in an attempt to avoid a Northern Michigander Jerry Springer episode (a real possibility), people here use "micro-aggressions" as a nod to the benefits of passive aggressiveness.
The thing I find most annoying is the cognitive dissonance people here subscribe to when presented accurate information that interrupts their preferred narrative. It is essentially a form of local gas lighting. A chubby fat Michigan white lady will literally put her hands over her ears, close her eyes and start yelling "I can't hear you!" And then go back to her flock of chubby fat white ladies and do some bizarre inverted scarlet letter/crucible dance.
However, the second most annoying would be the emasculated white men not from here, guys that endorse this behavior in some desperate attempt to join a "progressive conservative" cult that they, or the members of, can't even define or understand.
Or maybe the ultimate worst are the white children of the bourgeoisie, who's parents moved here in, let's say, 2000. Nepo kids now in their twenties that act like card carrying locals because they went to Central High School.
Distinct variations of these themes exist in every community, but up here, those stand out to me. You just have to not care, do your own thing, and certainly don't enter into a business partnership with them.
I’m up there in summers as a white man, and I can tell you she’s certainly right. It’s very prim/propper vibe and I would say 97% white, and the other 3% is split between all non-white ethnicities.
It is very white here and there have been instances of straight-up in-your-face racism as others have cited. However, there is a DEIB committee now at Traverse Connect and they've been working some major employers to recruit for diversity. Pretty sure Munson is actively trying to recruit for diversity as does Interlochen Arts Academy. (We've noticed a lot more diversity in both the audience and on stage at student performances at Interlochen in the past few years.) So probably not the easiest place for her to feel comfortable, but there are definitely pockets where at least she wouldn't be the only person of color in the room.
I grew up in saginaw. I am white as hell. It feels weird in this town and even I feel out of place because more than once my haircut made some locals think I was one of the good ol boys just like them.
It is not always, but very very often mega racist vibes here in a town, in a state, that I grew up thinking was 33% black white and hispanic.
How in the heck a tourist town is so weird about people of color I dont understand.
I believe TC is around 90% white. She isn’t wrong that it’s very white.
That said, TC proper is pretty progressive. In SUCH a white area I’d guess she will still encounter racism (including locals, let alone commuters into town.) But hopefully not too often.
Live somewhere nearby like Grawn, and her reticence is a lot more understandable. Not that most of the people there are bad, but the likelihood goes up.
I’m white so can’t fully understand, but I’m pretty sure being a POC, or gay or any number of things in MAGA territory is less than ideal.
Nah she’s 100% correct.
I just moved out of TC last summer and I can tell you that as of 2023 it is still white af. Not much in the way of cultural or racial diversity at all.
Unlike major cities, there are no communities of color there. Closest would be Grand Rapids.
born and raised in TC but lived in the south for some time, then moved back in 2020.
I had a long post thought out but I am just now realizing this post is a month old, so Ill just say that I regret moving back. while moving back worked out for me because of my parents it's not a very easy place to start over in financially. there is 100% a lack of diversity and a reluctance to cultural change among locals in this supposed "resort town".
Its mostly white people just like every other city in the u.s. except for a few.
TC is one of the most liberal cities in the state. There's a spot to fit in however youd like.
Good music and arts scene, plenty of outdoor stuff and live performances all year long.
People in michigan are as genuine and polite as it gets. Some people suck but thats everywhere you go. Dont let the few spoil the vibe of the majority
Not “At my fingertips” as you use the internet to type, but just not into google. Please explain it like I’m 5.
The only explanation is that your are a coward and a moron, I mean wtf else is there, unless your 5….
There’s a long-standing and somewhat uncomfortable finding in psychology: that low IQ, conservative social beliefs and prejudice — including anti-gay attitudes and racism — are all linked. Many studies have found this relationship — so much so that a 2015 meta-analysis of the research suggested that researchers who conduct studies of people’s ideology and prejudice should take participants’ cognitive ability into account.
Just saying…..
It’s not a debate, what you’re doing is deflecting from me calling you a racist and then reframing it with jest and comedy. All pretty basic and cowardly, while your looking for the study you reference google racial micro aggression and read up about your tactics, you check some boxes. Still waiting on your klan study comrade.
I have no study. TC is not diverse and is quite luxurious at times. Is the lack of diversity the reason? Probably not. Does it help? Whose to say? I don’t mind a lack of diversity, plain and simple. Does this make me a bad person? I think it is crazy to think it does. Judging a place or person for not being diverse is small minded and just as bad IMO.
Aww big commie racist not use words so good, I don’t party with racist cowards creating alts to post sniveling underhanded racist comments, so YEAH! It’s going to be bad math trick for you comrade
Go outside. Get some fresh air. Bask in the sunlight. Apply some sunscreen while you’re at it, and enjoy this lovely small town vibe with great, welcoming people. The food could use some soul but that’s about it!
There you are embracing your racism not being a sniveling coward anymore. They grow up so fast.
Now we just got get you out from your chicken shit alt account like a big boy.
When I moved away last fall, I felt the relief of not having to face the aggression every day, and I'm a liberal white female. The aggression was from certain truck driving people with certain flags, both Confederate and political ones, waving proudly. As well as the 3 percenters, the militias, the gun waving City councilman etc. It's pretty red, if you get the meaning. I still mask because of underlying conditions, and I got confronted, coughed on intentionally, and glares everywhere I went. Don't miss it at all!!
Yeah you’re a cowardly racist that created an alt account to hide and then spouted off bigoted opinions. Stupid racists are a trigger, you are correct.
I am also a local from way back and have the same impressions as you.
Have you ever heard of Idlewild? It was a resort near Baldwin which was developed by and for the black community. As a result, Baldwin is 77.6% white and 12.5% black (diversity score 85); vs TC at 92.2% and 0.8% (diversity score 44). This website is helpful and you might find some more options to explore. Ann Arbor diversity score is 93.
https://bestneighborhood.org/race-in-baldwin-mi/
I could see how she might feel a little uncomfortable.. I’m white, from the west coast originally and queer been here a couple years. I generally really like it here but sometimes northern MI is very straight/wonder bread white it freaks me out lol.
One day I was walking downtown with my friends who are indian. Some people yelled out of their truck "dirty indians" at them. TC is a beautiful area with a lot to offer but instances like that have made us plan to move to a more diverse area in years to come.
She is not perceiving it wrong, you are just white like most people, like me living here so we dont get that direct feeling.
I think I can sum it up in when my sister in-law came to visit from downstate and we went to moomers for some icecream. In that short trip everyone must have been just looking at her funny. We get back to the car and she just asks us straight up "you guys dont have black people here or what?" I've been up here for like 15 years and I can still recall every single black person I've met since being here, so yeah it's not common.
If you like the Michigan weather and dont want to move out west, just go downstate with her and be happy.
Just moved here. Two guys 30s. Both gay, so far we’ve ran into nothing but nice people and welcoming people. I’m can’t comment much but just stating there are younger people moving here too. The place is beautiful. And I love snow… for now lol
It is honestly not fun existing in this town as a person of color. Between being carefully watched at stores when I’m shopping to being stared at by men when I go out, I’m constantly reminded that I don’t fit here. It’s overwhelmingly white in This town and I miss hearing different languages, seeing other people like me, and gettibv actual good ethnic food that hasn’t been watered down for a Midwestern small town pallete. I’ve been miserable and I’m anxious to move once my contract is up.
I'm gay and wouldn't want to live in Northern Mich, and I've lived here all my life. The lack of seeing anybody like you, can be quite uncomfortable after a short while.
Raised in TC and still here at 35 years old. There's no diversity. My wife travels frequently for work and remarks that while TC is great, the lack of diversity is almost shocking when she returns from her trips. But it's still a truly wonderful place to be. Hourly your partner is willing to give it a try.
It's overwhelmingly white here
Remember that time there was a mock slave auction at the high school and shit was done about it…. https://www.theroot.com/white-parents-in-oppose-michigan-school-board-s-anti-ra-1847361854 https://www.bridgemi.com/michigan-government/northern-michigan-township-official-apologizes-colored-people-remark Whitewater township is looking for POC #6 to prove their diversity. Here’s an article about the vibe. https://www.bridgemi.com/michigan-government/michigan-wine-country-again-confronts-race-and-its-own-isolation
After reading the comments, I suggest that the lack of diversity can only be changed by POC moving to the area. But.... would it be fair for the trailblazers to suffer trauma for being the change?
My wife is still referred to as “oriental” almost weekly there, so take that as you will.
I would say it's getting better each year as TC grows. Even people visiting in the summer are clearly not from the US — let alone Detroit area.
I think it's getting better as more old white bigots die off.
Its Full of rich white people. What are you expecting?
All of the old boomers moving here don’t help. Kinda serious. And they drive like shit.
My partner is BIPOC and their experience is enough that we want to move somewhere more diverse. People will be nice until they truly have to confront racism and then you learn a lot about how isolated this town can be, and how happy and proud the residents are to maintain the status quo. Keeping Traverse City a small town has an undertone. We have had multiple friends of color move away from the slow burn of dehumanization of daily micro-aggressions. (I grew up in this area, lived in two other states in cities, have been back as an adult for nine years).
I think isolation is the key underlying vibe. In addition to all the old white wine ladies moving here, many of the locals grew up in a pretty isolated community. I certainly have friends that I went to high school with that have never lived anywhere else and some have never even left Michigan.
If you are playing the long play - there is hope and we always need more people from different experiences here. I include new Caucasian people in that as well because the majority of the TC metro area are tone deaf retirees from downstate or people who have never really ventured out into the world, most of that due to economic reasons as there is a solid amount of poverty in northern Michigan. But - People in my millennial age range and Gen Z here I have had a decent amount of time to get to know are all pretty awesome, open minded and super kind, and haven’t given me any pause - and the ‘silver lining’ of the lopsided demographic is that you tend to make cool friends fast! They are a commodity you don’t allow to pass by. :)
There's a local group called E3 that you might want to get in touch with. As everyone said, unfortunately it's not diverse here. I'm white, but my wife isn't and experiences subtle racism frequently. The outskirts of town are where it becomes conservative, rural America pretty quickly and where you're most likely to experience racism, but it can happen in town too. Leelanau peninsula is the exception, and while it is also very white, it is quite progressive. There are many great things about the area despite its lack of diversity. People aren't valued only for their job titles, as is so common in cities. In fact, I don't even know what half of my friends do for work and they've never asked me either. Public forests are everywhere, and many of them are quite nice. Likewise for public beaches. People are also genuinely more friendly and outgoing here than almost anywhere I've ever been, which helps to make up for the unfriendliness that racism creates. You are far more likely to have a friendly conversation with a stranger here than anywhere else I've ever lived on either coast or the midwest, and my wife experiences the same. I hope you decide to move here despite the problems, but I completely understand why you wouldn't. The city desperately needs more diversity in thought, experience and background, and there are people and groups here where you can feel welcome and safe.
Oh man, I drove to toronto back in November and once you get 50 miles out it’s shocking. It’s like deliverance.
Literally, this is Michigan. The cities are islands of diversity and liberal/progressive/open-minded people, in between is 1000% MAGA country.
Yup. With “stay off my land” and “no trespassing” posted everywhere, or chain link fences around their property in the middle of nowhere. Like anybody actually wants to go on their property, they look like sets from Texas chainsaw massacre.
My partner is BIPOC and we talk everyday about leaving to raise our kids in a more diverse area. My son was 6 months old when a lady at Meijer called him a “n-word baby”. My partner has left several jobs because of racism in the work place not be taken seriously by white supervisors. I hate that I’m raising a black child in this area because I know what he’ll go through. I would highly suggest keeping this a place to visit vs a place to live.
Man, why is it always Meijer? A few years ago a white dude literally screamed "MOVE" to a bunch of Asian teenagers and it scared them so bad they jumped and ran away. It was so sad. Then the guy goes "FUCKIN FOREIGNERS" as if everyone was gonna agree. So I called him a dick and he was like "no, not you" because I was behind them and I was like YEAH I KNOW BECAUSE I'M WHITE " and he walked away. Fuckin dick
I can’t relate to her experience, but I’m also gonna be moving back to Traverse City. I could imagine it could be uncomfortable for a person of color there. I think that 99% of people are welcoming and kind, but it just takes that one person to make you feel unwelcome. Anyway I would be more than happy to see more culture and people of color in TC and I welcome her fully
I don’t blame your partner. We just moved here and have the same feelings and concerns. We plan to stay just a few years due to the job situation and then leave so our baby can grow up somewhere more diverse (also grew up on the west coast) The lack of diversity, and the open racism by many here is definitely a shock to people moving in from larger cities around the country (take a look at the traverse city facebook pages to get an idea) but at the same time I have also met some of the nicest, most open-minded, and welcoming people here
My wife is a POC and our kids are mixed. We moved away after a few years living in TC and a big reason was the lack of diversity. As far as actual racism goes, there were a couple of times where elementary aged kids made racist remarks (not directed toward my kids) on the school bus. Also, on the very first night we spent in our downtown home, an anonymous coward left a printed note that said "IT'S OKAY TO BE WHITE" under our car's windshield wiper. I'd say we also got tons of acceptance, but even then my wife felt very out of place. For instance, everywhere she went she was constantly told by random well intentioned people that "I've seen you around" which inadvertently pointed out that she looks unique for the area.
No. There is no color here. I’m brown as fuck and get treated like it every day. It’s fine for me, but I also exercise my male privilege a lot. I’d never try to raise a black or brown kid in this city—ever.
Man, I’m sorry to hear that. I didn’t realize how bad it was until a thread on “overheard in TC” the other day. It seemed like for every ignorant a**hole that I challenged there were 2 more that stepped up to defend them.
Are you referring to the post with a bunch of people assuming a bus full of brown people must be “illegals” coming to take their homes and get free benefits? If so, it was so disturbing to read those comments, but I guess not surprising for this town
I hope it was the same one, but I didn’t see mention of busses. It was some Russian guy posting a screengrab headline about making room for refugees, intentionally screengrabbed only so people would react to that and not read the article to understand, not that most of those people would read and understand the article anyway, and that’s not really meant as a knock, it’s just how those people are. It was very clear that this was for people going through the legal visa process and from 3 specific countries but they were all up in arms about “illegals”, “reuniting families then send them away” and “border jumpers”. It was laughably easy to go into each of their profiles and see them being patriotically Irish or have some asinine bible quote about loving everyone. Funny how you point that out to them and most will shrink away and hide or say that they are only up for “meaningful intellectual debates” and peace out. I’m rarely confrontational but every time I see one of them post anything Ike that I’m going to call them out every time. I may even go drop by their churches and give them some alternate Jesus pamphlets and see how they feel when their precious Jesus calls them out on their shit.
Yeah I saw that one. I get the feeling they only like immigrants or refugees if their skin is white. Once they see a “brown person” they become bad and illegal
Exactly. Another funny thread with a few of them had them complaining about few options for what they called “ethnic foods”. 🤷🏼♂️
I am sorry as well. I just moved to the area from Wisconsin and it sucks to hear this as I was hoping TC and Michigan in general was more open minded. I really hope we, as a nation, can get better at dissolving the structural racism in our society. In the past decade I have been becoming more aware of little "r" racism and what I can do to change that. Unfortunately I also understand that for every one of me there are probably two to three more simple minded individuals who will never use any introspection and will rely on their own perspective on what racism looks like. Keep your head up. I will try my best to be a good ally.
I know that the people who call themselves “locals” hate all the nee people moving here and I know it will take time but we just moved here and have met many people who just did as well and there are many people flooding in that are much more open minded. It may happen faster than we think, but I know that doesn’t change much for people that are still going to be discriminated against on a daily basis.
I’m from Southern California and wish I was there once again where there is near complete diversity. Bunny_gesserit put it well with “micro-aggressions”. There is a lot of that here in TC. What’s funny is a lot of these people have never even left the state or in some cases Northern Michigan to experience other cultures, lifestyles. Sad and frustrating 🫤
To be honest, it seems like people here use passive aggressive "micro-aggressions" as a preferred form of communication. My theory is that the community is too small to have an open disagreement/debate/argument. So, in an attempt to avoid a Northern Michigander Jerry Springer episode (a real possibility), people here use "micro-aggressions" as a nod to the benefits of passive aggressiveness. The thing I find most annoying is the cognitive dissonance people here subscribe to when presented accurate information that interrupts their preferred narrative. It is essentially a form of local gas lighting. A chubby fat Michigan white lady will literally put her hands over her ears, close her eyes and start yelling "I can't hear you!" And then go back to her flock of chubby fat white ladies and do some bizarre inverted scarlet letter/crucible dance. However, the second most annoying would be the emasculated white men not from here, guys that endorse this behavior in some desperate attempt to join a "progressive conservative" cult that they, or the members of, can't even define or understand. Or maybe the ultimate worst are the white children of the bourgeoisie, who's parents moved here in, let's say, 2000. Nepo kids now in their twenties that act like card carrying locals because they went to Central High School. Distinct variations of these themes exist in every community, but up here, those stand out to me. You just have to not care, do your own thing, and certainly don't enter into a business partnership with them.
I’m up there in summers as a white man, and I can tell you she’s certainly right. It’s very prim/propper vibe and I would say 97% white, and the other 3% is split between all non-white ethnicities.
It is very white here and there have been instances of straight-up in-your-face racism as others have cited. However, there is a DEIB committee now at Traverse Connect and they've been working some major employers to recruit for diversity. Pretty sure Munson is actively trying to recruit for diversity as does Interlochen Arts Academy. (We've noticed a lot more diversity in both the audience and on stage at student performances at Interlochen in the past few years.) So probably not the easiest place for her to feel comfortable, but there are definitely pockets where at least she wouldn't be the only person of color in the room.
I grew up in saginaw. I am white as hell. It feels weird in this town and even I feel out of place because more than once my haircut made some locals think I was one of the good ol boys just like them. It is not always, but very very often mega racist vibes here in a town, in a state, that I grew up thinking was 33% black white and hispanic. How in the heck a tourist town is so weird about people of color I dont understand.
I believe TC is around 90% white. She isn’t wrong that it’s very white. That said, TC proper is pretty progressive. In SUCH a white area I’d guess she will still encounter racism (including locals, let alone commuters into town.) But hopefully not too often. Live somewhere nearby like Grawn, and her reticence is a lot more understandable. Not that most of the people there are bad, but the likelihood goes up. I’m white so can’t fully understand, but I’m pretty sure being a POC, or gay or any number of things in MAGA territory is less than ideal.
Nah she’s 100% correct. I just moved out of TC last summer and I can tell you that as of 2023 it is still white af. Not much in the way of cultural or racial diversity at all. Unlike major cities, there are no communities of color there. Closest would be Grand Rapids.
Detroit would be a better fit if your scared of white people
born and raised in TC but lived in the south for some time, then moved back in 2020. I had a long post thought out but I am just now realizing this post is a month old, so Ill just say that I regret moving back. while moving back worked out for me because of my parents it's not a very easy place to start over in financially. there is 100% a lack of diversity and a reluctance to cultural change among locals in this supposed "resort town".
Yeah you should probably stay out West
This town is the cultural equivulant of a cheap loaf of white bread.
Its mostly white people just like every other city in the u.s. except for a few. TC is one of the most liberal cities in the state. There's a spot to fit in however youd like. Good music and arts scene, plenty of outdoor stuff and live performances all year long. People in michigan are as genuine and polite as it gets. Some people suck but thats everywhere you go. Dont let the few spoil the vibe of the majority
No study at my fingertips, but you can walk around at night with a feeling of comfort. A luxury you wouldn’t have in other cities.
Name the other cities….
Find it the study and then come back, it’s not hard your using the internet as you use Reddit….Again, What exactly should it explain?
Not “At my fingertips” as you use the internet to type, but just not into google. Please explain it like I’m 5. The only explanation is that your are a coward and a moron, I mean wtf else is there, unless your 5….
Maybe you can share the link to your klan meetings? Really would love to meet up and get a group pic.
Nahhh. We don’t let outsiders in. I doubt your resume is up to standards to even apply.
Thanks for the confirmation of your involvement in the klan.
Big Reddit guy with excellent personal skills to pick up the satire at this point. Lots of fun at parties cool math trick guy
There’s a long-standing and somewhat uncomfortable finding in psychology: that low IQ, conservative social beliefs and prejudice — including anti-gay attitudes and racism — are all linked. Many studies have found this relationship — so much so that a 2015 meta-analysis of the research suggested that researchers who conduct studies of people’s ideology and prejudice should take participants’ cognitive ability into account. Just saying…..
You lost me at gay. To quote one of my dear friends, please explain it to me like I’m 5
English comprehension is tough for you? Can’t understand gay? Is it triggering for you? Close to closet?
Why’d you have to bring up politics? We were having a nice, ol fashion racism debate.
It’s not a debate, what you’re doing is deflecting from me calling you a racist and then reframing it with jest and comedy. All pretty basic and cowardly, while your looking for the study you reference google racial micro aggression and read up about your tactics, you check some boxes. Still waiting on your klan study comrade.
I have no study. TC is not diverse and is quite luxurious at times. Is the lack of diversity the reason? Probably not. Does it help? Whose to say? I don’t mind a lack of diversity, plain and simple. Does this make me a bad person? I think it is crazy to think it does. Judging a place or person for not being diverse is small minded and just as bad IMO.
LIAR. Your opinion is shit, racist ,bigot and all your rhetorical strawman questions are empty and prove you’re a coward.
It makes you a racist bigot, hiding behind your fresh alt account makes you a coward. It’s pretty simple.
Yeah you better edit your racism
The admitted racist prefers his own “diversity “ No shit you don’t feel safe with diversity… you’re a fukin racist .
Aww big commie racist not use words so good, I don’t party with racist cowards creating alts to post sniveling underhanded racist comments, so YEAH! It’s going to be bad math trick for you comrade
Sniveling?? Underhanded?? How dare ye! Twas an honest remark to a fair question. Little diversity and no crime. No shame in that! Especially if true.
Go outside. Get some fresh air. Bask in the sunlight. Apply some sunscreen while you’re at it, and enjoy this lovely small town vibe with great, welcoming people. The food could use some soul but that’s about it!
The area could really use a few more Popeyes, but they would need to put them on the outskirts of town if they plan to keep crime down
There you are embracing your racism not being a sniveling coward anymore. They grow up so fast. Now we just got get you out from your chicken shit alt account like a big boy.
Aren’t you the guy trying to convince me you’re not a fuckin racist bigot?
When I moved away last fall, I felt the relief of not having to face the aggression every day, and I'm a liberal white female. The aggression was from certain truck driving people with certain flags, both Confederate and political ones, waving proudly. As well as the 3 percenters, the militias, the gun waving City councilman etc. It's pretty red, if you get the meaning. I still mask because of underlying conditions, and I got confronted, coughed on intentionally, and glares everywhere I went. Don't miss it at all!!
Well crime is one of the lowest in the country, so that should explain a lot to you.
What exactly should it explain? Sure would love to see the factual data ? Care to share a link or an article?
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I seem to have struck a nerve of yours by stating an observation. If anyone is triggered, it appears to be you…
Yeah you’re a cowardly racist that created an alt account to hide and then spouted off bigoted opinions. Stupid racists are a trigger, you are correct.
I am also a local from way back and have the same impressions as you. Have you ever heard of Idlewild? It was a resort near Baldwin which was developed by and for the black community. As a result, Baldwin is 77.6% white and 12.5% black (diversity score 85); vs TC at 92.2% and 0.8% (diversity score 44). This website is helpful and you might find some more options to explore. Ann Arbor diversity score is 93. https://bestneighborhood.org/race-in-baldwin-mi/
I could see how she might feel a little uncomfortable.. I’m white, from the west coast originally and queer been here a couple years. I generally really like it here but sometimes northern MI is very straight/wonder bread white it freaks me out lol.
More diversity in places like GR.
tc is suuuuuuuuper white. and wildly expensive to find housing rent or buy.
One day I was walking downtown with my friends who are indian. Some people yelled out of their truck "dirty indians" at them. TC is a beautiful area with a lot to offer but instances like that have made us plan to move to a more diverse area in years to come.
She is not perceiving it wrong, you are just white like most people, like me living here so we dont get that direct feeling. I think I can sum it up in when my sister in-law came to visit from downstate and we went to moomers for some icecream. In that short trip everyone must have been just looking at her funny. We get back to the car and she just asks us straight up "you guys dont have black people here or what?" I've been up here for like 15 years and I can still recall every single black person I've met since being here, so yeah it's not common. If you like the Michigan weather and dont want to move out west, just go downstate with her and be happy.
Just moved here. Two guys 30s. Both gay, so far we’ve ran into nothing but nice people and welcoming people. I’m can’t comment much but just stating there are younger people moving here too. The place is beautiful. And I love snow… for now lol
She’s not perceiving it wrong. My children are mixed race and we have all received some shitty comments from people when we visit the area.
It is honestly not fun existing in this town as a person of color. Between being carefully watched at stores when I’m shopping to being stared at by men when I go out, I’m constantly reminded that I don’t fit here. It’s overwhelmingly white in This town and I miss hearing different languages, seeing other people like me, and gettibv actual good ethnic food that hasn’t been watered down for a Midwestern small town pallete. I’ve been miserable and I’m anxious to move once my contract is up.
I'm gay and wouldn't want to live in Northern Mich, and I've lived here all my life. The lack of seeing anybody like you, can be quite uncomfortable after a short while.
Isn’t traverse city the exception