In light of a discussion that started on this blog a few posts ago, I would like to ask any folks who live in Maine who are either non-white or who hail from working class or even more humbler roots to consider doing a guest post here at Black Girl in Maine.
One of the reasons I started this blog last year was because as I like to joke it was cheaper than therapy but also I was interested in connecting with others….in the past year, I regularly get emails from folks particularly people of color who are either contemplating a move to Maine or folks who recently moved here who are in a daze…
Maine has this amazing reputation outside of New England of being a place of lighthouses, lobsters and leisure. Yet those of us who make are home know there is so much more to our state, but at the same time its a place where there can be a lot of ugliness if you are not white or poor. I will say that the first 2.5 years here were the hardest in my life, the only reason I stayed is because my position back in Chicago had been filled and I had no place to go back to, otherwise we would have left most likely.
Anyway I know there are a few folks who lurk here on a regular basis and I would encourage you to share your stories about Maine. Oddly enough BGIM started off as a predominiantly Black blog but it seems my demographics are shifting and because of that I think there is great potential fo a dialogue that can be beneficial for all.
New essay “The Gates Affair:Why We Care” yours to publish
Dear readers and webmasters,
Author Daniel Bruno Sanz has written an essay about Gatesgate. We encourage its publication and distribution.
Regards,
Navas S.
“The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.”
– 4th Amendment to the The Constitution of the United States of America
One thing you’ll be getting yourself into is a place with very few options health insurance-wise. That has been one of the most startling things her. Because of some stuff that Maine did to regulate the health insurance industry and gaurantee eligibility for all residents, most health insurers fled the state, leaving Blue Cross/Blue Shield with a near-monopoly on the private insurance market and resulting in VERY expensive insurance policies compared to other states in New England.
I have been reading your blogs and they are very enlightening. My family is planning to take a trip up there and if we like it, we will plan to relocate. Reading about the lack of hair care products and places to get your do done has been a great heads up. I have always wanted to go there and hopefully will find it welcoming. Coming from California (bay area girl born and raised) to the not so subtle South (Texas). I have had some interesting experiences. My husband and I are working class people and have an awesome who is on the honor roll with three other daughters in college. So, tell me, what am I getting myself into?
@Lynn#2, its true not all Black kids have strict master sgts for Dads though mine most certainly fit that criteria. LOL I am almost 40 and still apologize if I use a swear word in front of my Dad. My own grandfather used to pop us on the hand if we had elbows on the table during mealtime….funny is I grew up thinking most kids had parents/grandparents like this, I was surprised to learn this was not true at all.
I like how you described Maine, it sums up what I currently feel about Maine. I have neighbors who I imagine are probably opposite of me in everyway yet we can still have a respectful and decent relationship.
Staring doesn’t bother me most of the time and this town is small enough that most locals who are in the downtown area probably recognize me on sight.
Oh, sorry, here’s the afterthought. I’m a self-employed housecleaner so I hope I qualify as a working class Mainer. I also lived in a third-floor walk-up on Main St in your “small city” for three years recently, so I might be one of the people who’s stared at you. Sorry again – it’s a reflex and hard to help. Is there an expression we have when we try to stifle it?
I think it may be confusing at first for black people who move here from away and take a a while to realize that yes we do tend to be reserved here but a lot of it is directed at the “awayness” of you, not necessarily the blackness of you. (I’m not claiming there is no prejudice here; this is something different I’m trying to describe.) Maine and northern New England is a different culture from the rest of the country, something that people from away (there’s that phrase again, you’ll hear it a lot!) often don’t realize at first. It’s kind of subtle. Wasn’t only fairly recently that you mentioned that people here tend to “leave you alone and not bother you if you don’t bother them”? Or something like that, forgive me if I’m not quoting correctly. We have a long tradition of live and let live, as well as respecting the rights of other people to have absolutely wacko ideas and talk about them at length at town meeting. Or perhaps in the case of Rory Holland, at the modern equivalent, Biddeford City Council meetings. I have to say also that I’m from Aroostook County, where there were a fair number of black airmen and their families stationed at Loring AFB. Many have settled in that area. I grew up thinking that all black kids had strict master sgts for dads and consequently exquisite manners. Boy was I surprised when I moved to Boston!
If you see that woman again, tell her Blended Beauty Salon in Westbrook can hook her up. I got my hair cut their recently and they seemed pretty knowledgable…also there are plenty of salons in Boston that can take care of relaxed hair. At the every least she should just cut it off and rock a low fro rather than unkempt hair…one of the reasons I went natural was because I was moving here and wanted to not end up like that woman.
I did find one black hair stylist in Hampden, but she is not licensed. Right now, I’m planning on going to Lewiston for my hair care. I was told that Sallys stocks black products, and to my surprise I found a large area of ethnic products which is good. The good news is that I have a friend back home in NC, who is a real good hair stylist. I’ve been telling her for sometime that this area is in desperate need of a black hair salon, and she could make lots of money if she relocated her business here. She was very skeptical but I told her that there is a market here for ethnic hair, and she would be filling in a big gap. So, she moving up here next spring. Her hubby is a barber, and they are planning a dual barber shop /beauty salon. You know, I was talking to this black woman at the mall last weekend, and she has not had her hair relaxed or washed in almost 22 months!! Her hair was stink,twisted and falling out. She told me she had last went to a white salon, and they almost ruined her hair. I told her to to go Lewiston, Boston, or New York and get hair done before she loses all her hair!!
I am really enjoying reading your blog. My husband, son and I are black and we just moved to
Bangor, Maine about 6 months ago from Winston Salem, North Carolina. It’s a been big culture shock, leaving a diverse city to an area that is 95 percent white. I spent a good deal of time over the past several months trying to find stores that sell black hair products, as well black beauticians. The people here are very friendly, but somewhat reserved. We haven’t faced any overt or subtle racism yet, but we do get our share of stares, which is to be expected. I was surprised to see as much black people in this part of Maine as I did. From what I’ve been told most blacks are in Portland or Lewiston but we have met a great
deal here, some from Texas, Michigan, New Jersey. Despite the culture shock, we really like it here It’s clean, safe and the schools are good but Maine winters are a different story!
Lynn, yeah the stares definitely. I have actually spent a fair amount of time north of Bangor and like you found most folks to be pretty friendly. Out of curiosity, have you found any Black beauticians up there? I know down here in Southern Maine there are realy only two known shops and 1 barber…so I am curious to know if there is anything up that way.
Hi im so new to maine and i live in sanford but is really close to portland n i would really love my hair done pls tell me the salons who do hair im dying for a weave email me mashiko89@gmail.com im waiting on a reply
Where is a barber? I am traveling from Presque Isle to look for a haircut today…HELP!!!
There is Cordell’s on Portland, you can google to get the number. Dang, you got a long trip for a cut but considering I used to go to Boston when I first moved here, I know how it is.
I can be a guest blogger. I won’t be as fight-the-power. I won;t blog during pms week. I tend to be more user friendly.