Okay... how's the racism? (Lexington, Hopkinsville: organic, live, restaurants)

[RoadRunner72]

I'm from the west coast, and within the first three months of living in Louisville, I quickly apprehended the city would not be my permanent home. It definately seems behind on the times with race relations. I had a few friends who lived in the West End, but once I left the area, rarely did I see the presence of minorties in subdivision communities or as employees in the office/business that I visited. While visiting a few establishments in East Louisville and I can observe a "what are YOU doing here?" expression. Economic racism is definately prevelant in my opionion. I 'm so glad I moved!

[missymomof3]

Originally Posted by RoadRunner72

I'm from the west coast, and within the first three months of living in Louisville, I quickly apprehended the city would not be my permanent home. It definately seems behind on the times with race relations. I had a few friends who lived in the West End, but once I left the area, rarely did I see the presence of minorties in subdivision communities or as employees in the office/business that I visited. While visiting a few establishments in East Louisville and I can observe a "what are YOU doing here?" expression. Economic racism is definately prevelant in my opionion. I 'm so glad I moved!

I live in a suburb and we have plenty of black and hispanic families here with not one single problem.

[ben_evreware]

Originally Posted by hairmetal4ever

Somewhere in between Cincinnati, OH and Lexington might be good. Fleming or Bath county perhaps, both rural but close enough to urban areas to go there if you need to.



I'm going to say something that might get me flamed but hear me out.

In most of these areas, if you're black, and act like Bill Cosby, or Wayne Brady, or James Earl Jones, you'll be fine. If you act like 50 Cent, or Tupac, you'll have trouble in a mostly white neighborhood.

Just an observation.

LOL I know this thread is old, but I stumbled upon it while doing some research on Kentucky for a friend. City-data is priceless for getting a feel that goes beyond "COLD", "IMPERSONAL" govt stats when you need info on a particular place.
Anyway, I thought the above quote was hilarious! "Act like Bill Cosby...Wayne Brady?" Heck I'm white and I have more soul than both of those guys! I don't think anyone should suggest to another human HOW HE OR SHE SHOULD BEHAVE...especially if you are hung up on some entertainment icon as a way for another person to behave. I say be yourself and follow the basic human tenets of compassion, honesty, integrity, caring, wisdom, strength. You'll be fine and safe when you take on those qualities.
As states in the union go, KY has its share of hateful. racist white folks, but as long as you hold your head high, respect yourself, "behave like you're nobody's fool" then haters will leave you alone and the kind people will come your way.
Personally I try to stamp out racism where ever I find it. There's no place for it in this world. In fact I normally drop the white label because in truth I'm actually pink...I can't tan so my neck turns red in the summer...so I guess I 'm a redneck.
I have good friends in KY and TN they are hardworking people and don't give in to such nonsense as racist behavior.
I recommend rural areas and smaller towns as bigger cities in KY have higher costs of living, thus the rich yuppies can only afford the best the cities have to offer. The rest of the populations of these urban areas are struggling just to get by and they are usually the victims of crime more so than us "frightened" jittery white folks.
For any African American reading this, I say check out KY and have no fear about visiting or living there.
Someone mentioned a cross-burning (or cross lighting as the kkk likes to call em) in KY. Well, yes, the hate groups are in KY but everyone if they are true to being a human should force these hate groups out of their communities by never tolerating hate, intimidation, abuse of any other human.
In short, KY is like any other state and if you find yourself running here or there trying to avoid racists, you'll always be on the run. This land is your land just as much as it is mine, so live where your heart and finances allow!
Finally I hope other whites realize that blacks are not and cannot be racists. They are simply reacting to racism. The racism comes from us. Yes, us as we started this mess. I am not giving an excuse for hate, but consider this, how many of us white folks have to seriously contemplate whether someone is going to harm our kids, burn crosses on our lawn, shoot us, arrest us for driving, follow us around stores, deny us a livelihood,etc etc, solely based on our African ancestry...aka dark skin. Get the picture....

[citybilly]

ben-evreware- I agree with most of what you are trying to say. You did say "I don't think anyone should suggest to another human HOW HE OR SHE SHOULD BEHAVE..." and then you do exactly that... "behave like you're nobody's fool" then haters will leave you alone and the kind people will come your way." are you trippin'?
Also, I don't think whites need to be self-deprecating in order to convince people they aren't racist. And lastly, do you really believe that black people can not be racist? Again, are you trippin'?

[AZtoWhere]

Originally Posted by citybilly

ben-evreware- I agree with most of what you are trying to say. You did say "I don't think anyone should suggest to another human HOW HE OR SHE SHOULD BEHAVE..." and then you do exactly that... "behave like you're nobody's fool" then haters will leave you alone and the kind people will come your way." are you trippin'?
Also, I don't think whites need to be self-deprecating in order to convince people they aren't racist. And lastly, do you really believe that black people can not be racist? Again, are you trippin'?

Wow! Exactly! I'm so tired of Whites apologizing for being white and convinced that Latinos and Blacks couldn't possibly be racists. There are racists of every color, everywhere - you just don't have to be one.

[Patches1966]

Totally agree with the Northern part of Kentucky. I am a native and have been gone for over 20 years. When I go home to visit, it's like stepping back in time. People there are very close knit. Tradition and sticking together are very strong. In years past our schools would try to bring in African American children from other areas to play sports at our schools. That NEVER HAPPENED and I don't foresee any big changes. It's exactly what one of the people above said, "They may accept you to your face, but what they say at the dinner table is two separate things." You would be so miserable trying to force yourself in and to be excepted that it would just steal your dreams of the country. Northern Kentucky, in my opinion is much more relaxed and you'll tend to see more bi-racial families.

[Spotted1]

I've lived my entire life in Eastern Kentucky, with the exception of my college years in Central Kentucky, and not once have I ever experienced or seen racism, never heard a racist comment uttered, never seen somebody targeted because of their skin tone.. Ever. Everybody just nods or smiles and says "howdy" or "how ya doin, sir/ma'am" regardless of skintone. To be honest.. I don't get why there seems to be such a stigma on Kentucky to be racist. Southern hospitality doesn't go out the window because the person passing by is dark complected.

[Jamie40829]

I agree spotted, I live here in Harlan County and honestly I have never saw any racisim. I saw more when I lived in Michigan to be honest about it.

[censusdata]

I have been spending more time in the neighborhood where I grew up in SW Lexington and am really surprised how many Black families live here now. In the late 1990s I only knew of one Black woman and a couple bi racial couples. Today there are several dozen Black families through the neighborhood, especially on a couple of streets with lots of duplexs. There still is really no crime to speak of, so I view it as a mutually good thing for everyone.

As for seeing racist attitudes, every single extremely racist person I know is from Ohio, especially Cincinnati. There are a couple of Buckeyes that lived near my house in Lexington who used the N word more than someone speaking at a KKK rally. There are also some cousins of mine (they moved from Ohio to Winchester) who grounded their son for a month because he dated a Black girl

[BCMCcarthy]

I live in southeast Louisiana and am moving to Providence, Ky. The reverse racism here is as bad as white on black racism. I am hoping to get away from so much racism, since I abhor any kind of racism. The preachers in black churches here are as bad as Rev. Jerimiah Wright. I got this from black people. Then there are my Native American relatives who have been pushed to the ends of the ever dwindling Louisiana coastline. I am also French and Irish, what a combination