Okay... how's the racism? (Lexington, Louisville: house, work, hospital)

[Homeschool Pied Piper]

OK, Fred, you want candid. In Northern Kentucky there isn't really any overt racism. There just are very few black people. What I can tell is that the white people in this area treat blacks like anyone else. I attend the only integrated church in my town. It is very small. My pastor is black and I love him dearly. He was invited to give the message for Easter Sunrise Service at a prominent all white church here in town.
I've lived here for only three years. My background is teaching in inner city schools and it was a major culture shock coming here. I felt I'd stepped into a parallel universe. All one color.
The people here are respectful. I believe there must have been a major migration of black families to Cincinnatti at some point in this area's history. There aren't a great many job opportunities that pay as well as a big city around here.
My husband's family is selling a beautiful piece of farm land with a newly renovated home on it. I'm terrible with numbers. If interested, write to me and I'll give you the particulars. It's like a piece of heaven...peaceful, serene.
Now, Fred, you know different races talk among themselves. What they would say at the dinner table with family is not the same they'll say in public. The people in this area are set in their ways. All newcomers are scrutinized but treated with respect. Now, when they get home, I'm sure it's a different story. Racism is born of fear of the unknown. If you don't grow up among people who are of a different race, unless you're taught a strong acceptance of diversity, there will be fear...and there will be racism.
You will not be treated unkindly, but there will always be a distance. I'm white and from the Carolinas and I still am an enigma to my neighbors. :-)

[CountryGal05]

Hey y'all,
I am from Indiana, I work in an office with a bunch of people. All kinds, spanish, blacks, gays, whites all kinds. Well I am white.
So anyways, my supervisor is a black male. He is a lot older than I am, so I thought this would be a good job and I would enjoy it (esp. with getting a 2.00 raise) But when I first got here all he did was say hi, didnt even look me in my eyes when he talked to me. I think that is rude, when people look away while you are talking to them. But I kinda looked past it. Didnt take it into notice. Well he has picked on me while i have been here for 8months. Just stupid stuff. Like I said before he wont talk to me. But the other girls in the office are black as well, he will talk to them all day long. Laugh and joke. Well I was trying to tell some of my friends about it, they said i was just over reacting. Well a few days ago a new guy started. He is black as they get. Like from Africa or Jamaica. Not sure which one but I looked over at him I think a couple days ago and my supervisor was over there with him for 3hours showing him how the system works and what to do. Well he didnt do that with me when i first started. He ignored me. he still does. but yea there is rasicm EVERYWHERE! Ever since working here I have become a little myself. Just because the people i work with and how they have a chip on their shoulder. I dont like peole like that. It wasn't my fault! So dont take it out on me. But Being put in a position like that also made me rasist myself!...

[TDE]

Originally Posted by W-KY

Imperial Klans of America International Headquarters

Imperial Klans of America
PO Box 177
Dawson Springs, KY. 42408. USA

IKA 24 HOUR HOTLINE 270-422-4763

(Give them a call and tell them to go away!)

---------------------

First, let me tell you all, the KKK calls itself a "Christian" organization. It is not!!! They are a bunch of backward loosers just like the Skin Heads and the rest. Nothing they do or say represents the teachings of Jesus Christ!

As far as racism in KY, yep it exists everywhere. Some places it's not as bad as others, but it's there. Some small towns don't even allow blacks to live there. They might move in but they won't stay. Of course nothing is said out in the open but things happen. I am 42 years old but I recall when I was in grade school, a black family had moved into the town and the kids were attending the school with no problem. The word was, one night a cross was burnt in their front yard. Needless to say, the kids didn't even come back to school to get there things. Like everyone I know, I was raised to be what most people would call racist. It was more like the races MUST be kept seperate and everyone KNOW their place and not get out of it.

Okay, that was small town and a long time ago and I am sure that some of the big city folks will say that racism is not a problem in your city. If you're white, let me take you to certain places in Louisville and drop you off. You better leave a Will with somebody first. I didn't think that racism would be as much a problem in the "big city" as in the rural areas either. Wrong! A while back this "Louisville-based" website had good examples of Louisville racism. ::Welcome to the KHS!::
The racism goes both ways. I couldn't believe how out in the open the racism was a couple of years ago. Maybe, just maybe it is different now on this website. It does look much better, has more of a variety of visitors.

Today, I do see racism but it is definitely going both ways. The new "thug culture" of the young blacks is only making things much worse. Really now, do they look like they might steal your car or even stab you if you crossed them? No doubt! But, they are not the only problem. Young whites are the same. I wouldn't trust them to any greater extent than I would a young black person of the same age. I started to say that "I don't know where their parents are or what they are doing!" But, we know good and well where most are. Some of these kids come from parents who don't care but most from single moms who haven't or can't do anything with them. Most have no father figure in their lives. THAT is the problem whether they are black or white!

I'm sure that some will say that I am racist but I don't think so. I am white but the man I am engaged to marry is black.

Good post, I definently agree it goes both ways.

[RangerDuke08]

I have lived all over the country and Kentucky is a very hospitable state. California has the highest number of hate crimes for a fact, I know the South gets a bad rep but they are from Northerners who love to spread the bad rep. I have known people to be more hospitable South of the Ohio river than north of, although Louisville would fall somewhere in between. The only reason people may feel unwelcome and this goes for any region of the globe is that people from the Big states tend to bring their big equity, big ego, big politics along and if there's a reason your leaving your state, you should probably leave that social baggage behind, as the saying goes "when in Rome" and when in the South, you feel the hospitality but you also earn the respect you give.

[jcm1986]

I've never heard of major examples of racism in Kentucky. I see blacks and whites frequently in public shopping, dining out, dating, etc. As well as whites, blacks, asians, and hispanics intermingling.

There is some modern overt racism in southeastern Ky. (the Corbin, Barbourville, Somerset) area, from what I've heard, but that is confined to the races voluntarily separating themselves at sporting events and not somebody of one race declining another service in a business b/c of their skin color. Again, just from what I've heard...

[budha3]

Originally Posted by veganwriter

I live in California and it's past time to pack up and ship on outta here. You're all aware of all the problems ... a few more perhaps that's newer.

I'm in my early 50's and I want at least five to ten acres of land. I'm shocked at how lovely some of the homes in KY are.

I've worked as a counselor/case manager as well as a tech writer. I'm currently taking a few biotech classes at the local jr. college and hopefully I'll be able to land a gig as a medical writer/documentation specialist.

I'm dreaming of The Country. Perhaps an hour or 45 mins away from a urban center... the smaller the better. I've lived most of my life in cities and I'm REALLY sick of them. The area I was raised in ... well, all of our parents were from the South. I like the values.

So how's the racial issues in Kentucky? Bowling Green looks REALLY good. (Both in terms of affordable land and the way that people tend to get along together.)

I've looked into demographics, and there seems to be a relatively low number of blacks in the entire state(?) and most seem to live in the major urban centers. Questions:

1.) Comments on the culture of race in Kentucky ... esp. in and around Bowling Green.

2.) Are there any nice rural areas where you might seem more black farmers or country people?

3.) Is it even necessary to look for such areas? (smile)

PLEASE be as candid as possible. Holding nothing back is the most kindest thing you can do.

fred-

On the subjects of blacks, David Duke stated, “What we really want to do is to be left alone.” We don’t want blacks around. We’re not asking, you know. We don’t want to have them, you know, for our culture. We simply want our own country and our own society. That’s in no way exploitive at all. We want our own
society, our own nation.” In December 2002, Duke pleaded guilty to charges of cheating on his taxes and mail fraud for gambling away contributions made by his White supporters. All white do not think this way however, because their people like Joshua Packwood: This weekend he'll be the first white valedictorian to graduate from the historically black, all male Morehouse College in the school's 141-year history.

Morehouse, in Atlanta, Georgia, is one the nation's most prestigious universities of its kind. For more than a century, the school has prided itself on personifying the dream of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., one of the school's most notable alums, by producing "Morehouse Men" - intelligent and successful black leaders.

"Because I'm one of the only white students, it's easy to call me 'the white boy,' I'm naturally going to stand out," says Packwood.

But Packwood, 22, doesn't stand out solely because he is white or has maintained a 4.0 grade point average. For those who don't know him, what is surprising is that a Rhodes Scholar finalist turned down a full scholarship to Columbia University to attend the all-black men's university.

This came naturally to Packwood, who attended a predominantly black high school.

"A large majority of my friends, like all my girlfriends have been minorities," says Packwood. "So it was very, it was kind of strange that I always kind of gravitated to the black community

[kat750]

Originally Posted by CountryGal05

I dont like peole like that. It wasn't my fault! So dont take it out on me. But Being put in a position like that also made me rasist myself!...

Please dont get not liking a arrogant jerk confused with racism. Your fine and your obviously not a racist. No one likes an ******* and those guys are just using the race card....weak.

[martylonleela]

Don't do it !!!!i am form LOS ANGELES CA DON'T LET THE NICE HOMES FOOL YOU THEY are still stuck back in time as far as racism police,school, sytem the people etc... thry do not want any diversity here and that why it will never grow and the people still have that old southern mentality when it comes to the wrong doings of police etc.... they just turn and walk away

[martylonleela]

thank you so much where in california will it be allowed to have a kkk rally and evryone know about it ???? Alot fo people from Kentucky will twll you anything do not believe it i really don't think it is a big deal to them but me being born and raised in a different type of society it is not acceptable true there is racism everywhere but this place has very blatant racism issues!!!!

[mdawg]

where are you living in kentucky where the racism is honestly that bad? it may be a different society then in LA but that doesnt make it wrong or bad, i could say that LA has a bad society that I would never want to be a part of.....but im not because its just different, not bad. The only times racism is an issue anymore is because people are being ignorant.