The South (how much, gated, living in)

[redwine]

I have notice after I moved to the south that white people here are more open about their feelings towards black people. I am not talking about some uneducated red neck either just your average white person. It is not directly racist comments but you can definitely read between the lines. I have also notices that black people have similar opinions about whites. I know that the south has a history of segregation and slavery. Even though this was many years ago the feelings on both ends still exist. Do you think it will ever change or is this just The South.

[backdrifter]

I'm not really qualified to discuss this whole issue, but I have to say I hope the South will change that part of its culture. Politicking aside, I was shocked when I saw exit polling in West Virginia during the democratic primary this year that showed a double digit (don't remember exact percent) percentage of people who didn't vote for Obama because he was black. And THAT is just the number of people who would ADMIT this to a complete STRANGER. I can't comprehend that!

[STLCardsBlues1989]

It's possible northerners feel the same way, they just won't say it.

I'm not saying it's right to say things like that, but it's not right to think them either.

[backdrifter]

Originally Posted by STLCardsBlues1989

It's possible northerners feel the same way, they just won't say it.

I'm not saying it's right to say things like that, but it's not right to think them either.

So it's been said. To clarify my perspective... Obviously there are racist people everywhere in the world, even here. It's just that you don't really run into quite that sort of thing as a Westerner. I'd say the Northwest is arguably the most integrated region in the country, even if it is majority white. While race is still an issue in the North, and still even more of an issue in the South, I'd say it's a non-issue, in comparison, out West. I understand the historical reasons for why this is, and what contemporary issues have propagated the ill relations between the races, but I still don't understand why it hasn't changed. This is 2008, not 1808, or 1958 for that matter.

[dre71]

Those same poll numbers showed blacks saying the same thing.

[shamrockrover]

Originally Posted by backdrifter

So it's been said. To clarify my perspective... Obviously there are racist people everywhere in the world, even here. It's just that you don't really run into quite that sort of thing as a Westerner. I'd say the Northwest is arguably the most integrated region in the country, even if it is majority white. While race is still an issue in the North, and still even more of an issue in the South, I'd say it's a non-issue, in comparison, out West. I understand the historical reasons for why this is, and what contemporary issues have propagated the ill relations between the races, but I still don't understand why it hasn't changed. This is 2008, not 1808, or 1958 for that matter.

Plus the fact that out there, there aren't as many black people with the "let me stick my foot out in the middle of the sidewalk and dare someone to accidently step on it" attitude, either. I grew up in Mississippi, and I got treated just as poorly for being a white kid by black kids as black kids got the vice versa. It's just how it is.

[Scraper Enthusiast]

Originally Posted by backdrifter

So it's been said. To clarify my perspective... Obviously there are racist people everywhere in the world, even here. It's just that you don't really run into quite that sort of thing as a Westerner. I'd say the Northwest is arguably the most integrated region in the country, even if it is majority white. While race is still an issue in the North, and still even more of an issue in the South, I'd say it's a non-issue, in comparison, out West. I understand the historical reasons for why this is, and what contemporary issues have propagated the ill relations between the races, but I still don't understand why it hasn't changed. This is 2008, not 1808, or 1958 for that matter.

Let me explain something, for this is not a hard thing to understand.

People who live in less diverse areas are generally more accepting of diversity. On the other hand, people who are surrounded by a large percentage of people unlike themselves are generally less accepting. Why is this?

It's because people who live in less diverse areas can afford to act like everyone is the same, as they're rather ignorant of the differences that come along with living in a diverse area. Distance breeds tolerance which breeds acceptance. Look around the world. The most tolerant places are generally the most homogeneous places. However, the places with the most conflict are generally places that are more diverse.

[cpg35223]

Originally Posted by redwine

I have notice after I moved to the south that white people here are more open about their feelings towards black people. I am not talking about some uneducated red neck either just your average white person. It is not directly racist comments but you can definitely read between the lines. I have also notices that black people have similar opinions about whites. I know that the south has a history of segregation and slavery. Even though this was many years ago the feelings on both ends still exist. Do you think it will ever change or is this just The South.

Sorry. I moved to Alabama from Chicago. Before that, I lived in San Diego, Baltimore, and Cleveland. The first thing I noticed upon moving here was not endemic racism, but how much more tolerant everybody seemed to be. Now, mind you, I moved to Birmingham as opposed to some backwater (Montgomery, Alabama, is a good example). But I hear more racial epithets around my uncle's dinner table last Thanksgiving than I've heard in 16 years of living here. Oh, and if you want ugly racist incidents, Bensonhurst in New York and Boston and LA seem to be the hotbeds of it nowadays.

There's just none of the combativeness you find elsewhere, and I really have the impression that Southerners, white and black, have really worked hard at putting the past behind them. Oh, sure, there are a few mossbacks here and there, and it's certainly not Eden. But I've seen a lot worse racial climates elsewhere.

What's more, I think Scraper pointed out something important. If you move from an area where it might be 3-5% minorities, it's very easy to have a positive climate. When it's a 45%-55% ratio, it's much more difficult. That being said, the city where I live has managed to pull it off with a fair degree of grace, with improvements on a yearly basis. So I'm pretty optimistic.

[Stormcrow73]

cpg and Scraper have both hit the nail on the head IMO. I also think that while people in the south may be a bit more open about their feelings, be it sometimes not so positive, it gives the opportunity to open dialog between races and for us to realize that we also have a lot in common and that's vitally important. I think the south is leading the way forward to a more coherent racial climate. In places where you can't talk about differences, you'll never talk about commonalities either and there will always be some underlying tension that can never be dissipated. For instance, where I currently work I commonly hear dialog concerning some of the "perceived stereotypes" between the races taking place in mixed company and it's all become a very good natured give and take. I think that demonstrates a good level of comfort and trust between people. It's this type of discourse that defuses people's individual negative feelings and shows us that we are all human and deserve to be treated with respect and dignity.

[CatManDoo]

Originally Posted by Scraper Enthusiast

Let me explain something, for this is not a hard thing to understand.

People who live in less diverse areas are generally more accepting of diversity. On the other hand, people who are surrounded by a large percentage of people unlike themselves are generally less accepting. Why is this?

It's because people who live in less diverse areas can afford to act like everyone is the same, as they're rather ignorant of the differences that come along with living in a diverse area. Distance breeds tolerance which breeds acceptance. Look around the world. The most tolerant places are generally the most homogeneous places. However, the places with the most conflict are generally places that are more diverse.

We have a winner. Well said.

% white (2006 data):

Maine 96.7
Vermont 96.7
New Hampshire 95.8
Rhode Island 88.7
Massachusetts 86.5
Connecticut 84.6

Mississippi 60.9
Louisiana 65.4
Georgia 65.8
South Carolina 68.5
Alabama 71.2