What's living in the United States like?
January 25, 2022 8:57 AM Subscribe
I would like to apply for a work placement ((to provide legal aid for people on death row)) but my parents REFUSE to let me go because of how dangerous the US is. ((this question is from my friend))
My friend's query in full: ((both of us are Chinese diaspora living in SE Asia, so we look totally Asian))
Hi there, would love some opinions on what it’s like to live in any of these states:
Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Maryland, Missouri, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania (Philadelphia) and Texas.
I realise this is a lot of ground to cover and there’s so much variation within each state itself. I want to apply for a work placement there, and if I get it, I’d be assigned to one of those states for at least 3 months. However, I’m a little nervous about going because I don’t have that many friends based in the US, and the ones I do have don’t live in those states, so I don’t have many anecdotes of what it’s like there.
My main concerns are the lack of gun control, the lack of mask-wearing relative to Asia and potentially being targeted as an East Asian-looking woman, and driving on the wrong side of the road lol. Meanwhile, my parents are convinced that I will get shot, become a hate-crime victim, and will need hospital assistance within 5 minutes of landing, based on what they’ve read in the news. (I know that the news usually only posts the worst stories, which makes things seem more dangerous than they really are) Also, I’d be going to provide legal aid for people on death row, so there’s a higher perceived view of risk in my parents’ eyes.
TL;DR: Any and all information, even anecdotal, on what it’s like to live in those states would be greatly appreciated!
Thank you so much!
My friend's query in full: ((both of us are Chinese diaspora living in SE Asia, so we look totally Asian))
Hi there, would love some opinions on what it’s like to live in any of these states:
Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Maryland, Missouri, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania (Philadelphia) and Texas.
I realise this is a lot of ground to cover and there’s so much variation within each state itself. I want to apply for a work placement there, and if I get it, I’d be assigned to one of those states for at least 3 months. However, I’m a little nervous about going because I don’t have that many friends based in the US, and the ones I do have don’t live in those states, so I don’t have many anecdotes of what it’s like there.
My main concerns are the lack of gun control, the lack of mask-wearing relative to Asia and potentially being targeted as an East Asian-looking woman, and driving on the wrong side of the road lol. Meanwhile, my parents are convinced that I will get shot, become a hate-crime victim, and will need hospital assistance within 5 minutes of landing, based on what they’ve read in the news. (I know that the news usually only posts the worst stories, which makes things seem more dangerous than they really are) Also, I’d be going to provide legal aid for people on death row, so there’s a higher perceived view of risk in my parents’ eyes.
TL;DR: Any and all information, even anecdotal, on what it’s like to live in those states would be greatly appreciated!
Thank you so much!
Californian here: I can't speak to Asian-ness and hate crimes from personal experience. But people are not getting shot in my daily life every single day. This is not a dirt common thing, that people around me get shot. I only ever knew one person who got shot/murdered and that guy was...well, we don't know what was going on there, but he'd been in trouble with the law before. Random murder doesn't happen nearly as much as you'd think from the media. I work in an industry that is highly likely to have shootings and I have not been shot and the worst that's happened was someone brought a knife here like I forget how many years ago. I do not worry about getting shot every single day, or pretty much ever unless I someday actually start hearing gunshots. Which hasn't happened.
I do live in a place that has very good masking, but that is really going to depend on where you end up. "Blue states" are more likely to be masking than "red ones," blue areas are more likely to be masking than red ones. Northern California has a lot of Asian people, as blueberrypuffin says, so I'd highly recommend it as an area to move to.
A lot of your list is red states and I don't think I'd say it's a great idea to move to a lot of them these days, for a lot of reasons. Covid safety is not going well in those states in general, at the very least.
posted by jenfullmoon at 9:12 AM on January 25, 2022 [4 favorites]
I do live in a place that has very good masking, but that is really going to depend on where you end up. "Blue states" are more likely to be masking than "red ones," blue areas are more likely to be masking than red ones. Northern California has a lot of Asian people, as blueberrypuffin says, so I'd highly recommend it as an area to move to.
A lot of your list is red states and I don't think I'd say it's a great idea to move to a lot of them these days, for a lot of reasons. Covid safety is not going well in those states in general, at the very least.
posted by jenfullmoon at 9:12 AM on January 25, 2022 [4 favorites]
There are large populations of Asians living in every one of those places, except maybe Mississippi, Louisiana, and Oklahoma, because those states have relatively small populations and not that many people in general.
California is 15% Asian, Texas 5%, and the raw numbers fall from there, but in most states you could be in a majority Asian city/community if you chose to do so.
I'd would say in general, the US is pretty safe, but your profession puts you in some more dangerous areas in general [prisons generally are not in nicer areas Asians tend to live in/near] and in contact with some more dangerous populations, so IMO it's hard to say for your specific case.
posted by The_Vegetables at 9:17 AM on January 25, 2022 [7 favorites]
California is 15% Asian, Texas 5%, and the raw numbers fall from there, but in most states you could be in a majority Asian city/community if you chose to do so.
I'd would say in general, the US is pretty safe, but your profession puts you in some more dangerous areas in general [prisons generally are not in nicer areas Asians tend to live in/near] and in contact with some more dangerous populations, so IMO it's hard to say for your specific case.
posted by The_Vegetables at 9:17 AM on January 25, 2022 [7 favorites]
Also I don't think California executes prisoners anymore, so unless you are able to work remotely (I would guess not, at least not all the time?) I would think you would not be living and working there without lots of airline flight time.
posted by The_Vegetables at 9:20 AM on January 25, 2022 [6 favorites]
posted by The_Vegetables at 9:20 AM on January 25, 2022 [6 favorites]
I am a queer white nonbinary person (so my experience is not going to be similar) won't live in Louisiana or Texas for concern for my safety and that of my family, and I grew up there and currently have family in both states. I have and do visit once or twice a year and haven't run into to much difficulty honestly, but the fact that if something does happen I won't be supported, my child and her education could be made so much more difficult and honestly the access to healthcare services is to important for me to choose to live there.
I would also look very closely into where exactly the prisons are. Many prisons with death row in the US are in extraordinary rural areas with super small communities where I would feel extremely extremely uncomfortable as someone who is queer, as someone who is liberal, as someone who is a feminist, as someone who believes in public health guidelines. Actually you couldn't pay me to go to Angola. I would not do it. I am someone who works with gangs regularly and has worked with people who have committed serious offences including sex offences and murder and I would absolutely not work there or live there.
posted by AlexiaSky at 9:21 AM on January 25, 2022 [17 favorites]
I would also look very closely into where exactly the prisons are. Many prisons with death row in the US are in extraordinary rural areas with super small communities where I would feel extremely extremely uncomfortable as someone who is queer, as someone who is liberal, as someone who is a feminist, as someone who believes in public health guidelines. Actually you couldn't pay me to go to Angola. I would not do it. I am someone who works with gangs regularly and has worked with people who have committed serious offences including sex offences and murder and I would absolutely not work there or live there.
posted by AlexiaSky at 9:21 AM on January 25, 2022 [17 favorites]
I would not advise any young woman to move to a US state where there is a danger of being unable to access abortion. I would also not advise any non-white person to move to a state where guns are legal to carry either openly or concealed.
That said, if you want to work in legal aid, Georgia is the place to be right now. There is SO MUCH amazing political and legal work being done there by progressives. I know several people who live in Atlanta and they say it's fantastic.
(edit: I deleted a paragraph about living in CA because you want to work with death row inmates. And, like, I know Texas seems like an "obvious" choice when you want to do this work but the idea of anyone like you moving there makes me shudder. Perhaps after a few years in the US, when you've acclimated and can assess your risks more accurately, okay?)
posted by MiraK at 9:24 AM on January 25, 2022 [18 favorites]
That said, if you want to work in legal aid, Georgia is the place to be right now. There is SO MUCH amazing political and legal work being done there by progressives. I know several people who live in Atlanta and they say it's fantastic.
(edit: I deleted a paragraph about living in CA because you want to work with death row inmates. And, like, I know Texas seems like an "obvious" choice when you want to do this work but the idea of anyone like you moving there makes me shudder. Perhaps after a few years in the US, when you've acclimated and can assess your risks more accurately, okay?)
posted by MiraK at 9:24 AM on January 25, 2022 [18 favorites]
I was born in the US and don't look Asian. But, I do work with and formally mentor a number of people who've recently arrived in the US. I spend a fair bit of time trying to convince them that they shouldn't be frightened of the neighbors. It's true that there are a lot more guns and more violence in the US than many places, but it's still incredibly rare. Years of daily walking through a neighborhood that makes the national news as an incredibly dangerous place has been entirely uneventful. (I've only been mugged once in my life, in a really wealthy suburb far away. I wasn't injured.) Sometimes someone asks you for change. Sometimes they let you play with their dog and offer you a snowcone. Traffic accidents are much more dangerous than hanging out in a place guidebooks warn tourists to avoid. (Unless you're a teenager from the neighborhood, in which case it can genuinely be scary.) Hate crimes aren't impossible, but they're pretty rare.
It also might be worth going a little more specific than states. The city of Austin and rural Texas are very different places. You're unlikely to get assaulted in either place, but you might sometimes get made fun of or ignored in the latter. And you'll definitely find people who refuse to mask or get vaccinated. Big cities and towns with large universities are pretty safe in both dimensions and that distinction is probably more important than what state they're in. (And the supermarkets are far better.)
posted by eotvos at 9:24 AM on January 25, 2022 [15 favorites]
It also might be worth going a little more specific than states. The city of Austin and rural Texas are very different places. You're unlikely to get assaulted in either place, but you might sometimes get made fun of or ignored in the latter. And you'll definitely find people who refuse to mask or get vaccinated. Big cities and towns with large universities are pretty safe in both dimensions and that distinction is probably more important than what state they're in. (And the supermarkets are far better.)
posted by eotvos at 9:24 AM on January 25, 2022 [15 favorites]
About gun violence, specifically - yes, it's a huge problem in the US but it is very unevenly distributed. Most gun violence is very concentrated within some communities. For myself, personally, I absolutely do not worry about gun violence at all. Yes there is probably a very small chance I could be impacted by a mass shooting, but it's a much lower risk than the risk of a car crash (I've been in four seriously car crashes).
That said, depending on what kind of legal aid you're providing and how much you're interacting with the communities your clients come from, you might be adjacent to a lot more gun violence than I am.
As for health/mask wearing, in most of the states you mention there will be communities where mask-wearing is basically nonexistent and the health system is... not good.
I can't speak to hate crime against Asians from personal experience. I am a white person living in suburb that's ~20% Asian; in my community there have been some high-profile instances of hateful behavior and hateful speech against Asians, but I haven't heard about any physical violence (in my community - as I'm sure your friend and her parents know there have been several cases that got a lot of attention the past few years, and my Asian and Asian-American friends take the risk seriously).
I think your friend's risk of serious injury is probably pretty low, but her risk of having scary and harassing interactions is probably very high (to some extent depending on where she ends up, but also yeah, if she's going into prisons and interacting with prison/correctional officer populations, that's a tough environment).
posted by mskyle at 9:30 AM on January 25, 2022 [3 favorites]
That said, depending on what kind of legal aid you're providing and how much you're interacting with the communities your clients come from, you might be adjacent to a lot more gun violence than I am.
As for health/mask wearing, in most of the states you mention there will be communities where mask-wearing is basically nonexistent and the health system is... not good.
I can't speak to hate crime against Asians from personal experience. I am a white person living in suburb that's ~20% Asian; in my community there have been some high-profile instances of hateful behavior and hateful speech against Asians, but I haven't heard about any physical violence (in my community - as I'm sure your friend and her parents know there have been several cases that got a lot of attention the past few years, and my Asian and Asian-American friends take the risk seriously).
I think your friend's risk of serious injury is probably pretty low, but her risk of having scary and harassing interactions is probably very high (to some extent depending on where she ends up, but also yeah, if she's going into prisons and interacting with prison/correctional officer populations, that's a tough environment).
posted by mskyle at 9:30 AM on January 25, 2022 [3 favorites]
I'd drop Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Missouri, Mississippi, and Oklahoma off the list of possibilities and then work on figuring out which of the remaining ones are best.
(disclosure: this is based on personally living in Tennessee and Missouri, and having visited the others, with relatives in Atlanta)
posted by aramaic at 9:30 AM on January 25, 2022 [4 favorites]
(disclosure: this is based on personally living in Tennessee and Missouri, and having visited the others, with relatives in Atlanta)
posted by aramaic at 9:30 AM on January 25, 2022 [4 favorites]
I think more significant than what state you're in will be whether you're in a big city or a small town. Even in conservative states, cities tend to be more cosmopolitan. For example, Louisiana is a very conservative state, but New Orleans is a liberal city (with a significant Asian population -- mostly Vietnamese). Georgia has lots of Asian people in the Atlanta area. Florida has big Asian communities in the Miami and Tampa Bay areas. Smaller cities with large universities, as eotvos said, are also usually more cosmopolitan and welcoming.
The biggest difference you may seen between conservative (Republican) and liberal (Democratic) states is on COVID policies. Dem states are much more likely to have mask mandates in public places. Personally, I'm very glad I live in a Dem-controlled state and city where masking is widespread, and showing proof of vaccination is required for entry into many indoor public spaces.
Your individual risk of being a victim of gunplay is very low.
posted by Artifice_Eternity at 9:32 AM on January 25, 2022 [18 favorites]
The biggest difference you may seen between conservative (Republican) and liberal (Democratic) states is on COVID policies. Dem states are much more likely to have mask mandates in public places. Personally, I'm very glad I live in a Dem-controlled state and city where masking is widespread, and showing proof of vaccination is required for entry into many indoor public spaces.
Your individual risk of being a victim of gunplay is very low.
posted by Artifice_Eternity at 9:32 AM on January 25, 2022 [18 favorites]
So, we live in STL. I am white, cisgender, heterosexual, married, female, and ridiculously privileged. I recognize all of that.
STL is one of the blue pockets of Missouri, and mask wearing is maybe 60%. Maaaaaybe. There is a mask mandate. It is not enforced. (I enforce it at the coffee shop where I work, but I get a LOT of pushback and refuse to sell people coffee who refuse to follow my rules.)
Guns are around a lot. One day I walked my dog and ran into a neighbor with a handgun on his hip - while he walked to the sidewalk to get his newspaper.
Outside of STL, mask wearing is maaaaaybe 25%. Gun control is not a thing.
I can't speak to being Asian or being targeted for that. However, we do have a number of international friends (Chinese, Indian, and South African, mostly) because Mr. Meat's employer does a great job attracting international candidates. Many of them have been here for years and are settled.
But if mask-wearing and gun control are important to you, I would not recommend Missouri at all, even if you could pick STL.
posted by Ms Vegetable at 9:54 AM on January 25, 2022 [6 favorites]
STL is one of the blue pockets of Missouri, and mask wearing is maybe 60%. Maaaaaybe. There is a mask mandate. It is not enforced. (I enforce it at the coffee shop where I work, but I get a LOT of pushback and refuse to sell people coffee who refuse to follow my rules.)
Guns are around a lot. One day I walked my dog and ran into a neighbor with a handgun on his hip - while he walked to the sidewalk to get his newspaper.
Outside of STL, mask wearing is maaaaaybe 25%. Gun control is not a thing.
I can't speak to being Asian or being targeted for that. However, we do have a number of international friends (Chinese, Indian, and South African, mostly) because Mr. Meat's employer does a great job attracting international candidates. Many of them have been here for years and are settled.
But if mask-wearing and gun control are important to you, I would not recommend Missouri at all, even if you could pick STL.
posted by Ms Vegetable at 9:54 AM on January 25, 2022 [6 favorites]
Others have already noted some good reasons to potentially drop one or more of those states from your list. Another thing to consider would be the cost of living in those states. I'd wager that California would be the most expensive on the list, while states like Mississippi and Oklahoma would be far less expensive than California for sure.
OP, set your friend up with an account on Metafilter!
posted by emelenjr at 9:59 AM on January 25, 2022 [1 favorite]
OP, set your friend up with an account on Metafilter!
posted by emelenjr at 9:59 AM on January 25, 2022 [1 favorite]
I don't think I, a white woman, can speak to your friend's level of danger from racially targeted aggression or violence anywhere in the US. In most of the country, I'm safe as houses unless I wear my political views on a t-shirt. That experience will be very different for people of color, who experience greater danger from both "random" violence and the police in most areas of the country. All I can say is that in your friend's circumstances, I would not go to Texas, Mississippi, or Louisiana for any amount of money*.
If your friend has to live in one of those states for ONLY three months, before moving on to some other area they have some choice about, they will probably be fine. But they should make sure they are absolutely clear on how long they will have to live in the assigned area, and what the path is for getting into an area they choose for themselves. If there's any danger at all of getting stuck in Texas, Mississippi or Louisiana long-term, I would say it's not worth the risk. (I would say the same to any female-appearing person of any race, actually).
Mask-wearing in the US, even in states dealing with Covid relatively well, is hit-or-miss. For instance, in the Boston area of Massachusetts alone - a very progressive area in a very progressive state - there are towns that are super-compliant with indoor masking and towns that don't bother with it at all. It's going to depend on where your friend ends up. Your friend is less likely to be openly challenged for wearing a mask in a low-compliance area of Massachusetts; but you will encounter those low-compliance areas. Just as an example.
* My knowledge base - I grew up in the southern part of the US, and lived for a decent amount of time in Texas, Mississippi, and Louisiana. There's no amount of money any job could pay me to live/work in those states. I also lived in California for a while, but California is HUGE and I lived in a weird city (Santa Cruz) that doesn't exactly map to the rest of the state in terms of culture.
posted by invincible summer at 9:59 AM on January 25, 2022 [1 favorite]
If your friend has to live in one of those states for ONLY three months, before moving on to some other area they have some choice about, they will probably be fine. But they should make sure they are absolutely clear on how long they will have to live in the assigned area, and what the path is for getting into an area they choose for themselves. If there's any danger at all of getting stuck in Texas, Mississippi or Louisiana long-term, I would say it's not worth the risk. (I would say the same to any female-appearing person of any race, actually).
Mask-wearing in the US, even in states dealing with Covid relatively well, is hit-or-miss. For instance, in the Boston area of Massachusetts alone - a very progressive area in a very progressive state - there are towns that are super-compliant with indoor masking and towns that don't bother with it at all. It's going to depend on where your friend ends up. Your friend is less likely to be openly challenged for wearing a mask in a low-compliance area of Massachusetts; but you will encounter those low-compliance areas. Just as an example.
* My knowledge base - I grew up in the southern part of the US, and lived for a decent amount of time in Texas, Mississippi, and Louisiana. There's no amount of money any job could pay me to live/work in those states. I also lived in California for a while, but California is HUGE and I lived in a weird city (Santa Cruz) that doesn't exactly map to the rest of the state in terms of culture.
posted by invincible summer at 9:59 AM on January 25, 2022 [1 favorite]
Some context on the gun situation here is that coverage of mass shooting events and active shooter events can create a perception that gun violence in the US is mostly random extreme violence perpetrated against strangers. The level of community and national trauma these events cause, and the glee with which people accept this situation in exchange for their right to collect and fetishize guns is a seriously disturbing aspect of everyday life at this point.
But, in context, it's still the case that a majority of gun fatalities are due to suicide, and less than 1% of gun homicides are mass shooter events. Gun homicides overall have been going down for years (I'm not certain whether the Covid uptick is still a net decrease or not). Gun violence is dramatically overrepresented among people who are justice system-impacted (i.e. have a criminal record), and between people who know one another. Domestic violence is implicated in a disturbing number of gun homicides.
None of these things speaks very well of the United States, and they all indicate a very serious public health crisis that disproportionately impacts people who are vulnerable in some way, and intersects with race-motivated hate crime. Still, the context may be useful in your decision making.
Gun violence is lower in states with fewer guns. On your list, California has the fewest guns (proportionally), and from there the next few are Maryland, Florida, Pennsylvania, and Texas. To be clear, all these states have far too many guns, but I think the info might be helpful to you.
You only mention this tangentially and with a LOL, but the car culture here is going to pose a higher day-to-day injury threat to you than the gun culture. I mean this seriously. Gun and vehicle fatalities have sort of converged in recent years, but in the day to day you're more likely to be in a car accident. It's worth thinking about in addition to the gun thing.
One thing I'd think about if I were moving to the U.S. aside from considerations AlexiaSky has already mentioned is the culture of policing here. Any individual is unlikely to experience police violence directly, to be clear, but there's a high chance that at some point you'll experience ineptitude and unkindness and sort of wicked sarcastic mundane cruelty in interactions with the police, even if you're the person who has called for help.
To an earlier comment, it's true that California hasn't executed an inmate since 2006, but we have lots of people on death row who need legal aid.
posted by kensington314 at 10:02 AM on January 25, 2022 [10 favorites]
But, in context, it's still the case that a majority of gun fatalities are due to suicide, and less than 1% of gun homicides are mass shooter events. Gun homicides overall have been going down for years (I'm not certain whether the Covid uptick is still a net decrease or not). Gun violence is dramatically overrepresented among people who are justice system-impacted (i.e. have a criminal record), and between people who know one another. Domestic violence is implicated in a disturbing number of gun homicides.
None of these things speaks very well of the United States, and they all indicate a very serious public health crisis that disproportionately impacts people who are vulnerable in some way, and intersects with race-motivated hate crime. Still, the context may be useful in your decision making.
Gun violence is lower in states with fewer guns. On your list, California has the fewest guns (proportionally), and from there the next few are Maryland, Florida, Pennsylvania, and Texas. To be clear, all these states have far too many guns, but I think the info might be helpful to you.
You only mention this tangentially and with a LOL, but the car culture here is going to pose a higher day-to-day injury threat to you than the gun culture. I mean this seriously. Gun and vehicle fatalities have sort of converged in recent years, but in the day to day you're more likely to be in a car accident. It's worth thinking about in addition to the gun thing.
One thing I'd think about if I were moving to the U.S. aside from considerations AlexiaSky has already mentioned is the culture of policing here. Any individual is unlikely to experience police violence directly, to be clear, but there's a high chance that at some point you'll experience ineptitude and unkindness and sort of wicked sarcastic mundane cruelty in interactions with the police, even if you're the person who has called for help.
To an earlier comment, it's true that California hasn't executed an inmate since 2006, but we have lots of people on death row who need legal aid.
posted by kensington314 at 10:02 AM on January 25, 2022 [10 favorites]
Some other thoughts about mask-wearing:
I have been harassed for wearing a mask at the coffee shop. (I kicked them out.)
I have also been given very intent looks of disgust for wearing a mask in North Dakota (near Theodore Roosevelt National Park).
I was not given intent looks of disgust for wearing a mask in rural Texas (near Big Bend National Park).
posted by Ms Vegetable at 10:23 AM on January 25, 2022 [2 favorites]
I have been harassed for wearing a mask at the coffee shop. (I kicked them out.)
I have also been given very intent looks of disgust for wearing a mask in North Dakota (near Theodore Roosevelt National Park).
I was not given intent looks of disgust for wearing a mask in rural Texas (near Big Bend National Park).
posted by Ms Vegetable at 10:23 AM on January 25, 2022 [2 favorites]
I have a Chinese SIL in Savannah. She has not encountered too much violence, but not zero - a shove or two into a wall, someone shoved a grocery cart into her once - but she does encounter some racism from time to time, from individuals. She still loves it there.
posted by warriorqueen at 10:24 AM on January 25, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by warriorqueen at 10:24 AM on January 25, 2022 [1 favorite]
I'll put this out there: If your friend is brave enough to work with death row inmates (a stressful job that might involve going into some really hellish prisons and learning about the worst of humanity), they're brave enough to handle the Texas suburbs.
I have no idea what your friend's values are culturally--if they're religious, what religion they are if so, if they're interested in dating and who they want to date--and that would determine which areas they might feel more comfortable in.
One note: Masking isn't as strong in the culture and if COVID cases decrease even a bit, people will probably stop wearing masks even in large, liberal arts. If that's a dealbreaker, I'd think twice.
posted by kingdead at 10:29 AM on January 25, 2022 [12 favorites]
I have no idea what your friend's values are culturally--if they're religious, what religion they are if so, if they're interested in dating and who they want to date--and that would determine which areas they might feel more comfortable in.
One note: Masking isn't as strong in the culture and if COVID cases decrease even a bit, people will probably stop wearing masks even in large, liberal arts. If that's a dealbreaker, I'd think twice.
posted by kingdead at 10:29 AM on January 25, 2022 [12 favorites]
I would see where, within those states, you'd actually be residing. Atlanta is a very different from rural, or semi-rural, Georgia.
posted by amtho at 10:40 AM on January 25, 2022 [8 favorites]
posted by amtho at 10:40 AM on January 25, 2022 [8 favorites]
Asian male here. I lived for 7 years in Los Angeles. I never encountered violence or hate crimes. There's little overt racism towards asians in the California big cities, I mean these places are permeated with asian-american culture. I've seen big groups of non-asian people at Korean BBQ and boba tea places. Asian markets are plentiful. Smaller towns are different, but nothing more than some side glances. That will probably characterize most of your experiences: so-called "migroagressions" but nothing really impactful on your life.
I also visited Austin, Texas once (most liberal city in the state). I got shouted some racist remarks by homeless people, but was treated fine otherwise.
Your experience will depend greatly on the micro level - where specifically you live, venues you frequent, people you meet in your occupation. I know what it's like to be an Asian man, but that'll be different for an Asian woman.
posted by mnemonic at 11:01 AM on January 25, 2022 [2 favorites]
I also visited Austin, Texas once (most liberal city in the state). I got shouted some racist remarks by homeless people, but was treated fine otherwise.
Your experience will depend greatly on the micro level - where specifically you live, venues you frequent, people you meet in your occupation. I know what it's like to be an Asian man, but that'll be different for an Asian woman.
posted by mnemonic at 11:01 AM on January 25, 2022 [2 favorites]
If it wasn't clear from the above, it varies so much depending on where you live, who you socializing with, where you are working, and what financial and social resources you have. (I'm not talking just about one state to the other, or one city to the other, or city to suburbs: for example, crime rates can change hugely within short distances. Once, when I moved to a city, a coworker mentioned a good deli in my neighborhood, so I asked my new roommates if they had tried it. They looked at me like I was crazy and said, "We never go over there!" It was literally two blocks away.) But if you are not poor, you will be able to afford to live in a safe neighborhood. Generally, people who are hosting a temporary volunteer or employee will be able to guide you in finding a place that will be comfortable. (And to stereotype, I'd guess that people working in legal aid would be especially helpful.)
posted by Mr.Know-it-some at 11:46 AM on January 25, 2022 [2 favorites]
posted by Mr.Know-it-some at 11:46 AM on January 25, 2022 [2 favorites]
I would not advise any young woman to move to a US state where there is a danger of being unable to access abortion.
Interesting polemic, but the OP willingly moved from China (where abortion is legal) to an unspecified country in SE Asia. Abortion is totally illegal in some of the most populous SE Asian countries (ie Philippines) and there are various levels of restrictions in many other SE Asian countries. So yes I'm personally 100% in favor of preserving Roe v Wade but let's not add on to the panic of the US as exceptional in this way either. And no, you're not just going to be shot in any of these states because you are Asian. Louisiana, by the way, has a large Southeast Asian community as do the other Gulf state areas. Houston has a wonderfully robust Vietnamese community for example.
posted by ojocaliente at 12:13 PM on January 25, 2022 [8 favorites]
Interesting polemic, but the OP willingly moved from China (where abortion is legal) to an unspecified country in SE Asia. Abortion is totally illegal in some of the most populous SE Asian countries (ie Philippines) and there are various levels of restrictions in many other SE Asian countries. So yes I'm personally 100% in favor of preserving Roe v Wade but let's not add on to the panic of the US as exceptional in this way either. And no, you're not just going to be shot in any of these states because you are Asian. Louisiana, by the way, has a large Southeast Asian community as do the other Gulf state areas. Houston has a wonderfully robust Vietnamese community for example.
posted by ojocaliente at 12:13 PM on January 25, 2022 [8 favorites]
I live in Maryland, specifically in Baltimore County. (Though I have lived within the city itself.)
I am mixed race, but look white, and therefore can't comment on experiencing racial harassment.
If I hear racially charged remarks in this region, it's rare and coded, and not about Asians.
Maryland is the most racially diverse state on the Eastern Seaboard, according to the most recent Census.
I'm a gun owner, so I can discuss gun laws and culture here.
Maryland gun laws are pretty strict.
You won't see people wandering around stores with rifles like you might have seen on the news, that's illegal here. High-powered weapons like AR-15s are also illegal.
You need to undergo training and get a permit to own a handgun, and the process to be allowed to carry it on your person is intense.
Self defense laws are also strict, which discourages gun owners from picking fights then opening fire. (In legal terms, we are Castle Doctrine, not Stand Your Ground.)
Owning an illegal firearm or using a gun in the commission of a crime will land you in a world of legal hurt. The firearms used in crimes here tend to come from states with less robust laws, such as Virginia.
I haven't met too many people here who are NRA hotheads about guns. It's more, "I'm into target shooting, or I go hunting with my grandpa, or this is my gun I keep safely stored that's an absolute last resort for self-defense."
As for Covid, we're doing well by US standards. Last I looked 94 percent of adults have gotten at least one shot. Masking is by local rules, which vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction.
My county (Baltimore County) has a mask mandate for the Omicron surge, it expires in a few days. I don't feel hopeful that it will be renewed. I'd say compliance is about 90 percent.
When there is no mandate, maybe half of people mask up. Some businesses will require masks regardless, but people will belligerently refuse.
The areas that have been strongest on Covid requirements are probably Montgomery County, Baltimore City, and Prince Georges County.
posted by champers at 1:12 PM on January 25, 2022 [3 favorites]
I am mixed race, but look white, and therefore can't comment on experiencing racial harassment.
If I hear racially charged remarks in this region, it's rare and coded, and not about Asians.
Maryland is the most racially diverse state on the Eastern Seaboard, according to the most recent Census.
I'm a gun owner, so I can discuss gun laws and culture here.
Maryland gun laws are pretty strict.
You won't see people wandering around stores with rifles like you might have seen on the news, that's illegal here. High-powered weapons like AR-15s are also illegal.
You need to undergo training and get a permit to own a handgun, and the process to be allowed to carry it on your person is intense.
Self defense laws are also strict, which discourages gun owners from picking fights then opening fire. (In legal terms, we are Castle Doctrine, not Stand Your Ground.)
Owning an illegal firearm or using a gun in the commission of a crime will land you in a world of legal hurt. The firearms used in crimes here tend to come from states with less robust laws, such as Virginia.
I haven't met too many people here who are NRA hotheads about guns. It's more, "I'm into target shooting, or I go hunting with my grandpa, or this is my gun I keep safely stored that's an absolute last resort for self-defense."
As for Covid, we're doing well by US standards. Last I looked 94 percent of adults have gotten at least one shot. Masking is by local rules, which vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction.
My county (Baltimore County) has a mask mandate for the Omicron surge, it expires in a few days. I don't feel hopeful that it will be renewed. I'd say compliance is about 90 percent.
When there is no mandate, maybe half of people mask up. Some businesses will require masks regardless, but people will belligerently refuse.
The areas that have been strongest on Covid requirements are probably Montgomery County, Baltimore City, and Prince Georges County.
posted by champers at 1:12 PM on January 25, 2022 [3 favorites]
As for what it's like to live in Maryland, I think it's a hoot.
There's a joke that it isn't a state, it's a cult. I didn't grow up here, but from an outsider perspective it's not far off. People from Maryland can be very into Being From Maryland.
The state flag (which is something else!) is festooned on everything, Old Bay goes on every food, a distinctive accent known as "Bawlmerese" can make you smile.
And not only are the people diverse, the landscape is as well. It's like getting all of the US in one small package - city, small town, suburb, farms, mountains, beaches, and more.
posted by champers at 1:23 PM on January 25, 2022 [3 favorites]
There's a joke that it isn't a state, it's a cult. I didn't grow up here, but from an outsider perspective it's not far off. People from Maryland can be very into Being From Maryland.
The state flag (which is something else!) is festooned on everything, Old Bay goes on every food, a distinctive accent known as "Bawlmerese" can make you smile.
And not only are the people diverse, the landscape is as well. It's like getting all of the US in one small package - city, small town, suburb, farms, mountains, beaches, and more.
posted by champers at 1:23 PM on January 25, 2022 [3 favorites]
I haven't seen this yet - some places in the USA have vaccine mandates. You'll have to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination to eat out in a restaurant, go to a movie, etc. It would be good to see if the vaccines you got in China/SE Asia are compatible vaccine mandate requirements in some plces of the USA.
For example: this is a list of the vaccines accepted by New York City.
posted by spinifex23 at 1:24 PM on January 25, 2022 [3 favorites]
For example: this is a list of the vaccines accepted by New York City.
posted by spinifex23 at 1:24 PM on January 25, 2022 [3 favorites]
The Mississippi Delta (northwest and riverside western Mississippi) has a historic Chinese population in its towns and countryside. There is certainly still anti-Asian racism, but as a white person I can't tell you the daily level. The appearance of an Asian person is at least an everyday occurrence in that part of Mississippi, which may not be the case outside of the major municipal areas in the state, especially the areas close to Alabama. That is a state I would avoid, as it has little to offer, unlike Mississippi, which at least has culture and hospitality.
In the Delta, interpersonal violence tends to be domestic or crime-related and can largely be avoided by avoiding certain areas, which is not to be confused with anti-black racism, although many white people are glad to be racist about it too. I have noticed online that people from outside America have the impression that everybody who so much as goes to the store or school is taking their life into their hands. This isn't the case. The news is the news for a reason.
If your friend were planning to go to Mississippi, I am sure I could find the contact info of a person from the Chinese community who would be glad to talk to her.
posted by Countess Elena at 1:39 PM on January 25, 2022 [2 favorites]
In the Delta, interpersonal violence tends to be domestic or crime-related and can largely be avoided by avoiding certain areas, which is not to be confused with anti-black racism, although many white people are glad to be racist about it too. I have noticed online that people from outside America have the impression that everybody who so much as goes to the store or school is taking their life into their hands. This isn't the case. The news is the news for a reason.
If your friend were planning to go to Mississippi, I am sure I could find the contact info of a person from the Chinese community who would be glad to talk to her.
posted by Countess Elena at 1:39 PM on January 25, 2022 [2 favorites]
Gun safety for the average person in the U.S. is a non-issue. I have lived in NYC, Boston and DC and I have never come in contact with a gun in a threatening way, nor do I know anyone who has. I know that non-U.S. nationals, perhaps especially from places in Asia which are, historically, unbelievably safe, seem to think we're running and ducking from random gunfire on the streets all the time, but that is not the case despite the impression you might get from our (frequently overly violent) movies and attention-getting new media whose mantra is "if it bleeds it leads," which distort safety perceptions even among residents of the country.
The Southern Poverty Law Center is a leading organization on justice issues in the U.S. that works with Death Row cases. The Marshall Project is a news organization that tracks these issues. The Innocence Project works to exonerate prisoners using DNA testing. I would search for contact information on those websites to see if one of these agencies can provide information on volunteer opportunities and whatever other questions your friend may have.
posted by Violet Blue at 2:57 PM on January 25, 2022 [2 favorites]
The Southern Poverty Law Center is a leading organization on justice issues in the U.S. that works with Death Row cases. The Marshall Project is a news organization that tracks these issues. The Innocence Project works to exonerate prisoners using DNA testing. I would search for contact information on those websites to see if one of these agencies can provide information on volunteer opportunities and whatever other questions your friend may have.
posted by Violet Blue at 2:57 PM on January 25, 2022 [2 favorites]
University towns in most of these states will be a friendlier environment, especially any that have law schools with clinics that overlap with your practice area. Champers has it right that there is a lot of diversity in MD, tons of universities and colleges, though masking is consistently better in/near large cities. Ellicott City just had a section dedicated as little Korea, and Montgomery county (DC suburb) seems to represent the world.
With other states, my SIL lives in a Dallas TX suburb, my nephews went to Chinese school on the weekend, and they would head out to Frisco (car required) for the Asian market, so it’s very possible to feel more comfortable/settle in-research a bit.
posted by childofTethys at 2:58 PM on January 25, 2022 [1 favorite]
With other states, my SIL lives in a Dallas TX suburb, my nephews went to Chinese school on the weekend, and they would head out to Frisco (car required) for the Asian market, so it’s very possible to feel more comfortable/settle in-research a bit.
posted by childofTethys at 2:58 PM on January 25, 2022 [1 favorite]
Perhaps I'm off-base in suggesting this, but it's worth thinking about how to manage day-to-day life beyond the bare minimum of not getting shot or encountering violent harassment. For a stay as short as 3mo, it probably makes sense to prioritize places where your daily life will be relatively easy to adapt to right away. In many cases, this means access to good public transit that runs well into the evenings (not just commuter buses/rail), and perhaps also good cycling infrastructure or similar. Even if you have the funds to buy or rent a car on arrival, it's still a bit of a bureaucratic hassle (not to mention driving laws/norms, that you'll need to sell it when you leave, etc). The added bonus is that anywhere that has decent transit will almost definitely be a major metro area that's relatively diverse and progressive by comparison to more rural places.
posted by knucklebones at 3:18 PM on January 25, 2022 [4 favorites]
posted by knucklebones at 3:18 PM on January 25, 2022 [4 favorites]
It would be good to see if the vaccines you got in China/SE Asia are compatible vaccine mandate requirements in some plces of the USA.
That reminds me--it looks like Sinovac is proving not very effective against Omicron, which is all over the place here and will be for some time, so if that happens to be the vaccine your friend got, they may want to look into whether they should get a different booster.
posted by praemunire at 3:20 PM on January 25, 2022
That reminds me--it looks like Sinovac is proving not very effective against Omicron, which is all over the place here and will be for some time, so if that happens to be the vaccine your friend got, they may want to look into whether they should get a different booster.
posted by praemunire at 3:20 PM on January 25, 2022
I know Texas seems like an "obvious" choice when you want to do this work but the idea of anyone like you moving there makes me shudder.
Houston is a diverse city with robust Asian communities and less than two hours from Texas's death row.
OP, the answer to your question depends on the city, not the state.
posted by Mavri at 4:36 PM on January 25, 2022 [6 favorites]
Houston is a diverse city with robust Asian communities and less than two hours from Texas's death row.
OP, the answer to your question depends on the city, not the state.
posted by Mavri at 4:36 PM on January 25, 2022 [6 favorites]
I grew up in Oklahoma. I think Oklahoma's death row facility is in McAlester, which is not a cosmopolitan sort of place. And I would assume the average Oklahoman outside the Tulsa or Oklahoma City areas basically thinks people on death row deserve what's coming to them, so an advocate might be looked on as a curiosity at best, or as a meddling outsider at worst.
There aren't many Asians in Oklahoma in general, even in the big cities. I don't remember any real sort of consistent racism directed at Asians, but I also moved away more than 20 years ago. Now I'd be concerned about anti-Asian hate because Oklahoma is *very* Trumpy, and people's media diet would have included a lot of Trump-world commentary about the supposed origins of SARS-CoV-2. I don't know that I'd expect gun violence to come from that hatred, but people doing stupid things in trucks, or even just shouting and intimidation in public spaces wouldn't surprise me. Combine that with possible antagonism about outsiders trying to influence their justice system, and I feel like Oklahoma could be a very uncomfortable place, despite a veneer of politeness in everyday life.
In a lot of ways Texas is like if you took Oklahoma and turned up the knobs, but Texas is also extremely big and has bigger cities with more diversity than Oklahoma. Austin is a nice place, but I have no idea where the prisons are in relation to it. A placement in Texas would really depend on the city.
And Maryland is largely urbanized, with a huge international population. In Maryland it probably wouldn't be hard at all to find the Chinese diaspora (a look at the H-Mart web site reveals five locations in Maryland, just for an obvious starter). Placement in Maryland would probably present comparatively few cultural barriers, and a population less supportive in general of the death penalty than in the southern states. Maryland would provide easy access to DC and the rest of the eastern seaboard if your friend would have the time and inclination for tourism, but I don't know how the placements work in that regard.
posted by fedward at 5:09 PM on January 25, 2022 [5 favorites]
There aren't many Asians in Oklahoma in general, even in the big cities. I don't remember any real sort of consistent racism directed at Asians, but I also moved away more than 20 years ago. Now I'd be concerned about anti-Asian hate because Oklahoma is *very* Trumpy, and people's media diet would have included a lot of Trump-world commentary about the supposed origins of SARS-CoV-2. I don't know that I'd expect gun violence to come from that hatred, but people doing stupid things in trucks, or even just shouting and intimidation in public spaces wouldn't surprise me. Combine that with possible antagonism about outsiders trying to influence their justice system, and I feel like Oklahoma could be a very uncomfortable place, despite a veneer of politeness in everyday life.
In a lot of ways Texas is like if you took Oklahoma and turned up the knobs, but Texas is also extremely big and has bigger cities with more diversity than Oklahoma. Austin is a nice place, but I have no idea where the prisons are in relation to it. A placement in Texas would really depend on the city.
And Maryland is largely urbanized, with a huge international population. In Maryland it probably wouldn't be hard at all to find the Chinese diaspora (a look at the H-Mart web site reveals five locations in Maryland, just for an obvious starter). Placement in Maryland would probably present comparatively few cultural barriers, and a population less supportive in general of the death penalty than in the southern states. Maryland would provide easy access to DC and the rest of the eastern seaboard if your friend would have the time and inclination for tourism, but I don't know how the placements work in that regard.
posted by fedward at 5:09 PM on January 25, 2022 [5 favorites]
OP, the answer to your question depends on the city, not the state.
Possibly in terms of day-to-day pleasantness of life, but I think who your governor is and what they are doing to help or hinder covid is HUGE these days.
posted by jenfullmoon at 5:35 PM on January 25, 2022 [4 favorites]
Possibly in terms of day-to-day pleasantness of life, but I think who your governor is and what they are doing to help or hinder covid is HUGE these days.
posted by jenfullmoon at 5:35 PM on January 25, 2022 [4 favorites]
Foreigners and immigrants historically have gone to bigger cities as that's where the opportunities are. However, someone like your friend is a foreign guest and would be treated differently from a new, more permanent resident.
Climate is also another consideration; what is his/her tolerance for things like snow, 100 percent humidity and large bugs/reptiles? If you're from SE Asia, I suspect you are likely more familiar with the last two.
Being somewhere warm also makes it easier to have outside gatherings, if you are worried about Covid spread. I figure your friend wants to socialize and meet new people.
Covid and any disease really is an issue in any prison setting, I wonder if they have even started in person visits again. Good luck!!
posted by greatalleycat at 6:18 PM on January 25, 2022 [1 favorite]
Climate is also another consideration; what is his/her tolerance for things like snow, 100 percent humidity and large bugs/reptiles? If you're from SE Asia, I suspect you are likely more familiar with the last two.
Being somewhere warm also makes it easier to have outside gatherings, if you are worried about Covid spread. I figure your friend wants to socialize and meet new people.
Covid and any disease really is an issue in any prison setting, I wonder if they have even started in person visits again. Good luck!!
posted by greatalleycat at 6:18 PM on January 25, 2022 [1 favorite]
who your governor is and what they are doing to help or hinder covid is HUGE these days.
Yes!
As a blue-city/blue-county dweller in a red state (not on your list), I’ll say this extends to any kind of public health policy. Right-wing state legislatures/assemblies and governors are doing everything in their power to make cities and local governments powerless. If you are a person who can get pregnant (many of us), catch a plague (all of us), or who is sensitive to the effects of pollution, getting struck by a car or by a bullet (also all of us), be cautious about red states right now.
posted by armeowda at 9:48 PM on January 25, 2022 [2 favorites]
Yes!
As a blue-city/blue-county dweller in a red state (not on your list), I’ll say this extends to any kind of public health policy. Right-wing state legislatures/assemblies and governors are doing everything in their power to make cities and local governments powerless. If you are a person who can get pregnant (many of us), catch a plague (all of us), or who is sensitive to the effects of pollution, getting struck by a car or by a bullet (also all of us), be cautious about red states right now.
posted by armeowda at 9:48 PM on January 25, 2022 [2 favorites]
I live in east Asia as a white American man and answer Chinese and Chinese-diaspora parents’ questions and concerns about safety, crime and racism in the US quite often, almost always in the context of them sending their kids to study or work there. My answer here is less place advice and more parent advice.
The conversation usually begins as you say it does, where I learn that the news is a primary source of information, and that much of the news they read or watch from the US is from a major outlet like CNN. This is where they tell me the news they see is centred on crime, and there is often mention of mass shootings and hate crimes. We talk about their other sources of information from the US: often it’s a friend or family member in the Chinese diaspora there, and sometimes the inclusion of a university or wealthy suburb where the friend or family member lives.
But the conversation changes when I ask them to think about why they think they’re seeing and hearing those stories. There is often a very uncomfortable moment when I ask them if they or their source have met any Black people before, or if they have travelled around much of the US, specifically if they’ve been somewhere with a large Black population. The answer, invariably, has been no. We talk about why that might be. Sometimes we get to “segregation”. At that point we have to discuss things like how white supremacy works in the media’s creation of their perceptions of crime and policing, because for many of the parents I talk to, policing is something that only happens to you if you “get involved with the wrong people” and simply can be avoided if you don’t do anything wrong.
So. It may be worth involving your parents in the location decision (are they paying for the trip? it’s hard to tell here) and educating them on why it’s important to go somewhere you are needed. If you’re looking at Missouri, you’ll need to have a conversation about the Ferguson uprising in 2015: was it fair that the majority-black population of Ferguson was hunted down for fines by a majority-white police force, for years, because there were financial incentives for them to do so and because of a white-imagined, 400-years-of-racism-informed “inherent criminality” of Black people?
Every place you list has a story like this. Your parents are right: America is dangerous - but it may not be dangerous for the reasons they think it is. You will need to convince them that for many Americans, there is no safe place at all, and that it is for that very reason that you want to make this trip.
Finally, I would advise you to have your parents read this recent article on what “crime” is really like in the US, and how easy it is for millions and millions of Americans to be walking around with warrants out for their arrest or massive and unpayable fines that lead to their incarceration (and the loss of their jobs, homes and even children). I say this because if your parents are from Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei or Indonesia - which I am guessing from the driving-on-the-wrong-side thing - then they may be used to a local justice system which the local press portrays as fair and where the death penalty is presented as a powerful deterrent. It may be deeply ingrained in your parents’ mind that if someone is convicted, they must be guilty, and that if a judge sentences them to death, they must have had to clear some sort of extremely high hurdle to reach that judgement.
If those things weren’t true, though - and they aren’t in the US - wouldn’t they want you to be fighting for the lives of people who have been wrongfully convicted? This, I think, is the root of your parents’ fear: that you will be exposed not to the wrongfully convicted but to actually-guilty and dangerous people. Get them to see that you’d be helping right some serious historical wrongs and they might just come around.
posted by mdonley at 5:30 AM on January 26, 2022 [5 favorites]
The conversation usually begins as you say it does, where I learn that the news is a primary source of information, and that much of the news they read or watch from the US is from a major outlet like CNN. This is where they tell me the news they see is centred on crime, and there is often mention of mass shootings and hate crimes. We talk about their other sources of information from the US: often it’s a friend or family member in the Chinese diaspora there, and sometimes the inclusion of a university or wealthy suburb where the friend or family member lives.
But the conversation changes when I ask them to think about why they think they’re seeing and hearing those stories. There is often a very uncomfortable moment when I ask them if they or their source have met any Black people before, or if they have travelled around much of the US, specifically if they’ve been somewhere with a large Black population. The answer, invariably, has been no. We talk about why that might be. Sometimes we get to “segregation”. At that point we have to discuss things like how white supremacy works in the media’s creation of their perceptions of crime and policing, because for many of the parents I talk to, policing is something that only happens to you if you “get involved with the wrong people” and simply can be avoided if you don’t do anything wrong.
So. It may be worth involving your parents in the location decision (are they paying for the trip? it’s hard to tell here) and educating them on why it’s important to go somewhere you are needed. If you’re looking at Missouri, you’ll need to have a conversation about the Ferguson uprising in 2015: was it fair that the majority-black population of Ferguson was hunted down for fines by a majority-white police force, for years, because there were financial incentives for them to do so and because of a white-imagined, 400-years-of-racism-informed “inherent criminality” of Black people?
Every place you list has a story like this. Your parents are right: America is dangerous - but it may not be dangerous for the reasons they think it is. You will need to convince them that for many Americans, there is no safe place at all, and that it is for that very reason that you want to make this trip.
Finally, I would advise you to have your parents read this recent article on what “crime” is really like in the US, and how easy it is for millions and millions of Americans to be walking around with warrants out for their arrest or massive and unpayable fines that lead to their incarceration (and the loss of their jobs, homes and even children). I say this because if your parents are from Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei or Indonesia - which I am guessing from the driving-on-the-wrong-side thing - then they may be used to a local justice system which the local press portrays as fair and where the death penalty is presented as a powerful deterrent. It may be deeply ingrained in your parents’ mind that if someone is convicted, they must be guilty, and that if a judge sentences them to death, they must have had to clear some sort of extremely high hurdle to reach that judgement.
If those things weren’t true, though - and they aren’t in the US - wouldn’t they want you to be fighting for the lives of people who have been wrongfully convicted? This, I think, is the root of your parents’ fear: that you will be exposed not to the wrongfully convicted but to actually-guilty and dangerous people. Get them to see that you’d be helping right some serious historical wrongs and they might just come around.
posted by mdonley at 5:30 AM on January 26, 2022 [5 favorites]
Arizona - guns, no masks
California - not as many guns, yes masks
Florida - guns, no masks
Georgia - guns, no masks
Louisiana - lots of guns, no masks (except Mardi Gras)
Maryland - some guns, some masks
Missouri - guns, no masks
Mississippi - guns, no masks and they'll look at you funny if you wear one
Oklahoma - lots of guns, no masks and they'll look at you funny if you wear one
Pennsylvania (Philadelphia) - not as many, yes masks
Texas - definitely guns, no masks
In all of the states above, less guns in cities, more masks in cities.
But there really is not a lot of random gun violence in the US; its accidents and intentional violence. Assuming you don't arm yourself, live with someone with a gun you will likely be safe from that sort of violence.
On the other hand, there really is a lot of casual racism in the United States. It will be less overt in cities.
posted by RajahKing at 10:15 AM on January 26, 2022 [4 favorites]
California - not as many guns, yes masks
Florida - guns, no masks
Georgia - guns, no masks
Louisiana - lots of guns, no masks (except Mardi Gras)
Maryland - some guns, some masks
Missouri - guns, no masks
Mississippi - guns, no masks and they'll look at you funny if you wear one
Oklahoma - lots of guns, no masks and they'll look at you funny if you wear one
Pennsylvania (Philadelphia) - not as many, yes masks
Texas - definitely guns, no masks
In all of the states above, less guns in cities, more masks in cities.
But there really is not a lot of random gun violence in the US; its accidents and intentional violence. Assuming you don't arm yourself, live with someone with a gun you will likely be safe from that sort of violence.
On the other hand, there really is a lot of casual racism in the United States. It will be less overt in cities.
posted by RajahKing at 10:15 AM on January 26, 2022 [4 favorites]
Mississippi - guns, no masks and they'll look at you funny if you wear one
Anecdotally, I wore masks when I was there for over a year and I did not get any trouble for it, even when I was stopping at a gas station in East Fuckoff where no one else was doing it. I think that if someone wanted to start trouble with a minoritized person such as the question asker, a mask might be an excuse but would not be necessary; there would be trouble anyway.
(Even more anecdotally, many more black people seemed to wear masks than white people, but I could not swear to it.)
posted by Countess Elena at 12:16 PM on January 26, 2022 [1 favorite]
Anecdotally, I wore masks when I was there for over a year and I did not get any trouble for it, even when I was stopping at a gas station in East Fuckoff where no one else was doing it. I think that if someone wanted to start trouble with a minoritized person such as the question asker, a mask might be an excuse but would not be necessary; there would be trouble anyway.
(Even more anecdotally, many more black people seemed to wear masks than white people, but I could not swear to it.)
posted by Countess Elena at 12:16 PM on January 26, 2022 [1 favorite]
While I'm not sufficiently familiar with the rest of Louisiana, I would strongly caution against living in New Orleans because of random gun violence.
posted by asimplemouse at 12:30 AM on January 27, 2022
posted by asimplemouse at 12:30 AM on January 27, 2022
On the other hand, I'd strongly advise in favor of living in New Orleans because it's one of the culturally richest places in the US.
posted by knucklebones at 3:56 AM on January 27, 2022 [4 favorites]
posted by knucklebones at 3:56 AM on January 27, 2022 [4 favorites]
Where your friend is concerned about a lack of mask wearing, I'd add this: I live in the northeast, not in any of the states your friend lists, and have been something close to pleased with my state's handling of the pandemic. But even in the better areas of the country, compliance is somewhat likely to be alarming, especially if it's far superior where the friend is now, or wherever the friend is used to. Even in a 'good' area, you'll find some businesses/restaurants/etc. pulling down their signs requesting/requiring masking the minute they get the ok at the state or CDC level, and even when masking is still 'required,' you'll come across two or three non-compliant customers and potentially even more non-compliant employees during any five-minute grocery-shopping trip. And that's not to mention people 'wearing' masks in an ineffective way.
posted by troywestfield at 9:03 AM on January 27, 2022 [3 favorites]
posted by troywestfield at 9:03 AM on January 27, 2022 [3 favorites]
I work in criminal defense. Your friend is likely in the most Covid-related danger in prisons, anywhere in the US, than on the streets. A majority of prison guards are not vaccinated, and Covid has ripped through incarcerated populations with almost no mitigation measures in place.
That said, I think they should come. We need people to do this work, and if you're able and feel called to help, please do. Your colleagues and many of your clients will be among the most meaningful relationships you'll ever have the pleasure of forming. The work is so hard, but so, so rewarding and needed. Please don't let scary headlines (or scared parents) prevent you from pursuing this work if it's what you feel passionate about.
(And feel free to DM me if you want to chat!)
posted by decathecting at 5:18 PM on January 27, 2022 [2 favorites]
That said, I think they should come. We need people to do this work, and if you're able and feel called to help, please do. Your colleagues and many of your clients will be among the most meaningful relationships you'll ever have the pleasure of forming. The work is so hard, but so, so rewarding and needed. Please don't let scary headlines (or scared parents) prevent you from pursuing this work if it's what you feel passionate about.
(And feel free to DM me if you want to chat!)
posted by decathecting at 5:18 PM on January 27, 2022 [2 favorites]
As a point about New Orleans. New Orleans is between 2 and 3 hour commute one way to Angola, not accounting for traffic (Google put it at 2 hours 11 minutes to 2 hours 40 minutes depending on route) Bad traffic could easily push that upwards of 3 hours one way and wouldn't really be feasible for a commute. Baton rouge is better because it is closer (and does have a college immigrant community) less hurricane risk because it is further inland, and the commute is likely between 1 and 2 hours. I've known people who worked at the prison to live in Zachary which is a little north of BR and that puts the commute at about an hour. As I wrote before, personally I'd never live there, but it's some concrete things to consider if you were looking into LA more.
posted by AlexiaSky at 9:49 PM on January 28, 2022 [2 favorites]
posted by AlexiaSky at 9:49 PM on January 28, 2022 [2 favorites]
Good article on mask wearing in a lot of these states.
posted by jenfullmoon at 8:37 AM on January 29, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by jenfullmoon at 8:37 AM on January 29, 2022 [1 favorite]
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I can't speak to other places you've listed. I am guessing the states with larger metropolitan cities will be also where you'd want to target. I'd honestly share some of the same concerns as your friend for some of the locations listed.
posted by blueberrypuffin at 9:07 AM on January 25, 2022 [8 favorites]