Fun while young but ba while trying to start a fam
-
7/4/2021
I've lived in Richmond for almost 5 years and have lots to say about the overall experience. My girlfriend and I have been together for most of it and we are in an interracial relationship. She is first generation African and Im White but more on that dynamic later.
The pros of living in Richmond are undoubtedly the beauty of the architecture and historic nature of homes, the park system, easy access to the James river and the food which is great. We have truly enjoyed the river here as it's clean enough to swim in and the rapids are great especially if you enjoy float trips. There are tons of places to go and enjoy the nature but it can get crowded sometimes if you don't know where to look. We're typically able to find nice places to enjoy the trails and river on a regular basis without a problem.
The cons of living in Richmond are undoubtedly the people. We have come to call this city the 'city that never grows up'. Even people in their late 30s are basically just adult college students who use lots of drugs and have no sense of ambition or self development.
The racial aspect of Richmond is very negative. Now don't get me wrong, we meet great and exceptional people from all walks of life, but that is not to say that there are people who are less than desirable here. There is A LOT of racial tension here. We struggle to even go to the store together without getting nasty looks from what I would call black rednecks. I've been threatened by a man while in Kroger who was an employee, bucked at, people have said we're "disgusting", shook their heads and said "what a shame".
My significant other has been told she is a "wannabe white bitch", Uncle Tom and race traitor. She's been told to "stay with her own kind" by men when they find out she's with a white guy.
There is a strong pressure on her to reject being exceptional and successful. This is a very inhospitable place to people who are persons of color and politically moderate or conservative. We are solidly centrist/conservative millennials who are methodical in our planning for the future and our lives. We do not feel welcomed.
There is a strong sense of clickishness in all communities. We struggled to form relationships at the dog park with a group that met there everyday. The group consisted mostly of white "progressives" who didn't like our dog because we were thinking of keeping him in tact. I also suspect they picked up on the fact that we're centrists who don't conform to their progressive puritanicalism. We have however had very good luck with people who were newcomers to the city.
All in all Richmond is a wonderful place for a young person to find themselves but raise a family? No, don't even think about it. Richmond has this trashy and naive nature to it which I don't see leaving anytime soon. Definitely come visit, see how you like it, but for us, were off to a new place to raise a family no doubt.
Johnathan | Richmond, VA