Best cities in Florida for an Interracial family?

We're moving from Michigan to Florida next year. In our town, it's mostly whites, however, it's been nothing but great living here. I'm a little anxious about moving to the South with my family. My husband (Vietnamese/German) is from Florida and I (Black) have only visited. Now that we have a daughter, we want her to grow up around a diverse yet SAFE environment with a good school system. Any suggestions? Hex-Seriously! I don't want to move to a manmade island. We're interracial, not aliens! Plus, we're not rich... Rachael-I apologize. I do have a assumption about the South. Just growing up in the North all my life, everyone always talks about "The South" and in not so nice terms. I must say, though, that my family and I did visit Florida last year and didn't have any problems whatsoever. I just want my girl to be in an area where people are less concerned with her racial makeup. That's all.

Public Comments

1. Hawwaii most diverse place I have ever lived good luck from TEXAS
2. I am in MI too! Grand Rapids to be exact. But anyhow, Miami or surrounding areas, such as Fort Lauderdale, is VERY diverse. You shouldn't have a problem there. Good luck - I am so jealous! I would love to move to warmer weather!
3. Miami, Tampa & Orlando are diverse cities.
4. I'm also interracial (I'm Korean and he's black). My boyfriend's mom lives down there around Jacksonville and so does some of his other family members. I don't think it should be much of a problem, but I've never lived in FL.
5. I would move to San Francisco. My experience, most diverse culture ever. I would say Miami area or Orlando area. Your expensive beach areas will be mainly white. However, the attitude in the South is different then up North. It's better accepted down south because frankly people in the upper north (my experience) are uptight, conservative and like you said you were the only black person in the town.
7. Honestly, as long as you live in a more suburban area you should be fine. Florida isn't like the other southern states because we have so many different types of people who come to this state from the Caribbean. You'll find all types down here. Although I do find that the more west and in to the central part of the state, the more racist they can be. But that's every where. If you stay on the East and South East side of the state, you'll be fine. But just be prepared for the sticker shock. It is much much much more expensive to ive down here then you can imagine. Compare houses and insurance before you come. I live in West Palm Beach, which is 3 hrs from Orlando and 2 from Miami, a one bedroom one bath condo can run up to $350,000 and higher! in my neighborhood, and I don't live near the rich TRUST ME!!! Good luck!
8. Jacksonville, Ft. Lauderdale, Palm Beach, Miami and Orlando are nice, diverse places where you can feel comfortable. My parents also vacation in Destiny and love it. They're not a bi-racial couple but they do go there with another white couple and there have never been any issues. I would not recommend Tampa, not for any racial issues but because I have three friends who moved there and promptly moved back because they hated it and couldn't really find decent jobs even with advanced degrees. As a general rule, FL is like the rest of the south, if you stay away from tiny towns that time has forgotten, you'll be just be fine. Also, stay away from the panhandle (aka lower Alabama). Good luck.
9. I know Florida is south of the line, but after you get out of the north Florida/ south Georgia panhandle area it's not really the South. Every other person you meet was born somewhere else. That whole "southern" stereotype doesn't apply here. Most cities in Florida have a fairly high ratio of white vs. minority citizens. There are lots of Cuban and Cuban-American people and the city where I live has a large Korean population for some reason. Anyway, don't stress about not fitting in because of your ethnic backgrounds. There's a lot of diversity here. Worry more about finding a home in an area with good schools. There was a story on the news yesterday about Florida high schools being "dropout factories," so you might want to focus more on finding a neighborhood with an A-rated school for your little girl. Also, it's a little bit annoying when people automatically assume that everyone in the South is either ignorant or racist. It's an unfair stereotype. Just because the occasional racist idiot from MIssissippi manages to do something that gets him on the evening news doesn't mean every white person south of the Mason-Dixon has an opinion about the color of your skin.
10. stay near the Disney area (central Florida ,Orlando, kissimmee) they seem to have multi- cultures life styles that fit most every-one's way of life.....................it is a good idea to avoid the smaller "hick towns" ..........in response to Rachael's comments there in fact are still A LOT of back wood rednecks in Florida that are apposed to your life style......as for me you are welcomed with open arms to my town of Plant City, Fl ...winter strawberry capatil of the world
11. I hope you enjoy it down there, good luck.