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It's funny how blacks were held down in a more obvious way in the South and for a longer period of time, and yet white Southerners are much more comfortable living amongst and interacting with blacks in general than white Northerners, who have historically fled to the suburbs when blacks move into their neighborhoods, hence the reason why most large cities in the North are like a black core with a big, white ring around it. Racism is apparent in both the North and the South, just in different ways.
I agree with this post, it accurately describes how racism presents itself differently between the midwestern part of the north and south. As far as the northeast goes I am not sure, they claim to be a bit more enlightened. Maybe in some of the biggest cities out there they are, but I am sure even there you will find alot of racism. In fact I believe all people are racist in some ways. It is a flaw bred into us, and it is at the root of most of the wars and conflicts of history. Racism is like anger, we all have it and always will. However we can learn to manage and controll it, reducing its destructive effects. No person or group of people can claim to not be racist at all.
"I don't see your typical Nebraskan or Wyoming running into a minority with the tiny nonwhite population and sparse population density. It's hard to have tension with someone you don't encounter"
This is what I wanted to point out to the poster who was saying it's more prevalent in rural areas than urban. I don't agree with that at all and this is exactly why. Maybe in the south but not in other areas.
Nebraska: 2000 (total population) W 93.53% B 4.48% Density 23/sq. mi
Wyoming: 2000 (total population) W 96.19% B 1.01% Density 5.4/sq. mi
Delaware: 2000 (total population) W 77.65% B 20.28% Density 442/sq. mi
I don't see your typical Nebraskan or Wyoming running into a minority with the tiny nonwhite population and sparse population density. It's hard to have tension with someone you don't encounter
To be fair to NE, most of the people live in the corridor from Omaha to Lincoln. So, they aren't living at 23 PPL/sq. mile across the entire state.
It's funny how blacks were held down in a more obvious way in the South and for a longer period of time, and yet white Southerners are much more comfortable living amongst and interacting with blacks in general than white Northerners, who have historically fled to the suburbs when blacks move into their neighborhoods, hence the reason why most large cities in the North are like a black core with a big, white ring around it. Racism is apparent in both the North and the South, just in different ways.
When I read this part of the sentence I immediately thought of Nashville. Even my much smaller city near Nashville also has this same trait. I guess there's just no denying it: Lots of people are still racist, even if they don't know it. I'm probably unintentionally racist myself and don't realize it.
I've never lived up North or, for that matter, anywhere but the South so I wouldn't know what racism up there is like. But here there are still plenty of racists, they're just not nearly as dangerous as they were, say, 60 years ago. I have several coworkers, one especially, who are quite racist and actually proud of it. But they would never make a racist comment toward a non-white in that person's presence, and they would certainly never harm someone just because he/she wasn't white. Basically they're just all talk, luckily. But with people like that, it's not just other races they hate. They hate anyone who's not like them in all other ways, too. That would include:
Liberals
Non-protestant Christians
Anyone of any non-Christian religion
Atheists, agnostics, anyone who isn't religious in some way
Homosexuals
People who don't want children
People who don't own a car/people who bicycle or walk for utility
People who approve of public transit
People who think evolution isn't utterly ridiculous
Anyone from any part of the world besides the Southern United States
I could probably go on for pages. In other words, unless you're a generic, white, conservative, protestant living in a bland suburb in the South, these people won't approve of you. And in the whole world, the people who fit that criteria make up an incredibly small number, so personally I just ignore them most of the time because, well, who even wants the approval of people like that?
I've lived in the South most of my life with the exception of living on the East and West coasts for several years. New England is by far the most racist place I have ever experienced. Interesting that it was also supposedly the most "educated" and "progressive."
I think people often mistake cultural preferences for racism. It can be fine line between the two.
What if you simply prefer to live around people who generally share your values, interests and lifestyle? If you avoid certain neighborhoods or communities because you don't relate much to the folks living there, then does that make you a racist? If it does, then I guess the majority of the human species is racist.
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