Interracial family thinking of moving to Hays, KS

[Samantha S]

Originally Posted by j_k_k

"In the South, they don't care how close I get, long as I don't get too big. In the North, they don't care how big I get, long as I don't get too close."

I've heard that saying as well, I was going to post that! "The difference between Northern and Southern racism"

Kansas is definitely a Northern state and the above holds true.

Thanks ckhthankgod for the links, very interesting reading material! But even the first link on the History of Nicodemus confirms the racism that drove the history of that town. The railroad decision was a direct result of the "don't let them get too close" mentality.

As I've said, Kansas is my home and will always be "home" to me. But not every aspect and piece of history is something to be proud of.

[j_k_k]

Originally Posted by Samantha S

As I've said, Kansas is my home and will always be "home" to me. But not every aspect and piece of history is something to be proud of.

Precisely my sentiments. In fact, I think it's most important to revisit those pieces of history we are not fond of. My own current city (Kennewick, WA) was once a 'sundown town.' The local historical museum refuses to acknowledge this, and is doing its very best to pretend that never happened. Which is why some of us won't let it rest. Selective historical presentation happens everywhere; heck, Dixie has made a cultural rallying point of it.

But when you go looking for the things you aren't proud of, you also find things to be very proud of. How many Kansans know that one of the proudest Civil War moments was the stand of the 1st Kansas Colored Infantry at Honey Springs? They rammed it down the throats of the Texan cavalry, thus proving (as if this were necessary) that it doesn't matter what color Kansans are, we can always whip Texans. It's a great story, and one I might never have found had I not gone looking for stuff on more infamous Kansas units like Jennison's.

[catwoman66]

Originally Posted by j_k_k

Plus, there's the vegan factor. In my experience a good percentage of vegans are as much into announcing that they are vegan and making a political cause of it as they are into actually just choosing a particular diet. Maybe there are some other vegans in Hays who will think it's cool, but most people in most places in Kansas are going to treat vegan announcements/pronouncements with disdain, indifference being rather a tolerant perspective by comparison. Kansas produces, eats and enjoys beef.

Thanks for showing them what vegans will face in Kansas BTW, I do not feel I should, nor am I willing to "hide" my veganism to anyone. If the gang at work is frying up burgers and I sit down to a meatless meal each time, an explanation is in order. That would be called getting to know others around you. Do you feel the need to "announce" that you have or do not have children when you get to know someone? Humn...sounds like normal socialization doesn't it?

It is no different talking about veganism. Usually, someone asks me about veganism; sometimes it is out of freindly curiosity and other times it is out of anger, because they feel threatened. I won't go into the implications of that.

I don't ever try to force my views on anyone, but I have a right to be different from you. I know it is shock to you.

Note to the original author of the question that started this thread; switch the word 'vegan' for interracial marriage in the comment above and you get the idea of the narrow mindedness I was speaking of. I'm not at all saying that writer would say such a thing, obvisously he did not and would not; I am referring to the LACK OF ABILITY TO ACCEPT DIFFERENCES IN OTHERS that is so prevelant in the cultural arena of the Midwest. You wont find it everywhere in Kansas, but I have been out on the West Coast also and I don't know if any of the other commentators have been there. The culture is very different. It would not be a shock so much to someone from anywhere in the world other than the West Coast. I don't know what it is like to experience racisim and I imagine that it is present to some extent everywhere, as is ignorance.

[j_k_k]

Originally Posted by catwoman66

I don't ever try to force my views on anyone, but I have a right to be different from you. I know it is shock to you.

It doesn't shock me at all. I don't care what you do, or how you might be different from me. You don't care what I think of it. We're all good. The only time I will tell you what I think about it is if you decide to make a big deal of it, thus putting it all up in my face. If you do not do that, it never comes up. Eat what you want. I'm indifferent to that part.

But when you say snotty things like that last part, you remind me why I avoid vegans whenever possible, because in my experience a lot of vegans aren't content just to hew to their peculiar dietary habit; they feel the need to make sure the world knows it, and to imply that they are somehow more virtuous because of it. And when you imply that I'm part of the problem, even when I'm actively trying to help a vegan person see what she'll be up against (this is called 'doing a good deed'), you further reinforce it. Thus, thanks for providing an active demonstration of the type of vegan that makes non-vegans dislike them--especially in Kansas.

[Modron]

Kansas is not "liberal" by any stretch of the imagination regarding race or lifestyle. I find any suggestion to the contrary perplexing, and more than a little misleading. On the surface people tend to be very polite, and even friendly. Scratch the surface on politics, religion, race, sexuality (this is one really repressed state), lawn care ... and you have a whole other problem on your hands. And, it's not just that you find people who get their noses out of joint everywhere; it's a Kansas thing. I've lived in Kansas all my life with the exception of four years when I was in elementary school, Kansas has changed in the past 20 years. We're going backward rather than forward on a lot of issues.

[TinaMcG]

Originally Posted by Modron

Kansas is not "liberal" by any stretch of the imagination regarding race or lifestyle. I find any suggestion to the contrary perplexing, and more than a little misleading. On the surface people tend to be very polite, and even friendly. Scratch the surface on politics, religion, race, sexuality (this is one really repressed state), lawn care ... and you have a whole other problem on your hands. And, it's not just that you find people who get their noses out of joint everywhere; it's a Kansas thing. I've lived in Kansas all my life with the exception of four years when I was in elementary school, Kansas has changed in the past 20 years. We're going backward rather than forward on a lot of issues.

LOL....lawn care? Enlighten us, please!

[Modron]

I have a buffalograss lawn. Wrong shade of green. It's supposed to be environmentally responsible, though weed control is much more difficult than I expected it would be. -And, telling the neighbors you consider fescue to be a weed is a verrrry bad idea

Originally Posted by TinaMcG

LOL....lawn care? Enlighten us, please!

[AnywhereElse]

I am originally from Michigan. The underground railroad actually ended a few miles from our town. The school system was 1/3 black and the area was rural. I was shocked when I came to Kansas. I have lived from Wilson in the west to Manhattan in the east and now am in southeast Kansas and lived in several other states, including southern states. My husband is from Kansas. Know that "AnywhereElse" was chosen because I am Kansas now. I would keep looking and I have a list of reasons that I won't go into but if it matters, please feel free to request it by personal message.

[Sweating in Florida]

Originally Posted by vegan-ish

Hi,
I have experienced racial prejudice in the past and present and I realize that sometimes it is unavoidable. However, we do not wish to move to an area where it is the norm rather than the exception. Any thoughts and ideas on this would be appreciated. Also are there any places in the midwest where this would be less of a problem?
Thank you

What don't you like about the west coast?
We are in a similar situation and are moving back to the west coast in a couple of months when the kids are out of school. Washington state is our destination and we appreciate that they celebrate diversity on the most part. In Florida we have a lot of people that move here from the midwest and they are not generaly open minded or diversified overall. Some that I have seen still think the confederate battle flag is a fashion statement (the "Dukes of Hazard" or cracker wanabies) and are ignorant to its meaning in time and to the fact that this particular style flag was created during a war that included those who disputed good will to all human kind. (Look at the stories in the Sarasota newspapers or in Tampa.com) It is true that racism is not always avoidable and it can go both ways anywhere. I would choose a state that is run by a diversified government and are not afraid of differences.