Okay... how's the racism? (Lexington, Bowling Green: buy, vs, safe)

[KYINVENTOR]

Ahhh... Columbia Kentucky - where my roots go back to the early 1800s. I was born here during WWII when honor and integrity meant something. After military, 20 years in California and 16 in Florida and several more living in great places, it seemed a good time to return to my farm and "country" settings where our nearest neighbor was a mile away. Great idea, but I made the mistake of locating within the Columbia city limits instead of in a farm setting. Racism ? Of course. Crime concealed ? Graft ? Payoffs ? Yup to all. This is the town Paul Harvey once featured on his radio show as the "easiest place in America to buy drugs".

ON the other hand, if you are a multi-millionaire and can kiss enough butt to get accepted by those who run city government, or if you live outside of the city limits, the surrounding countryside can be very pleasant. But if NOT wealthy or a part of the "good old boy" circle - if just a good person and successful white collar worker or less - you MUST be prepared to live with constant selective enforcement of ALL laws and ordinances, zoning and property rights, and NEVER EVER oppose any good old boys or their relatives or friends on any issue where city government is expected to apply the law equally to ALL citizens. This "city" has always been corrupt, that's the only way they know, and the way it always will be. For example: Shoplift at Wal-Mart (the only place to buy anything within 20 miles) and go to jail (no, I didn't). On the other side, if you get to be city employee or elected official with access to city or county checkbooks you can feel free to divert $48,000.00 to construction of a new home for yourself and not worry too much about getting caught, even if you were caught doing the same embezzlement thing in another City job in the past. But if one of the few who cares does find out and complains about it don't worry much there either - all the good old boys will do is ask you to make token monthly payments on the 48K and try to not get caught next time.... while you CONTINUE in the same elected job with the same exact access to taxpayer funds.

So... is discrimination a problem within the city limits of Columbia ?? It most certainly is regardless of skin color or ancestry. Too late I discovered this is the way the city has always been... this is their way of life. This is where little frogs in this tiny pond look much bigger than they would anywhere else. There is NO industry here and likely never will be. Even Wal-Mart temporarily pulled out of building a larger store because of mistreatment by the good old boys who are accustomed to shoving everybody around. They don't have a clue what the real world is like.... and like in the scary hillbilly movies - they don't care. This town has grown from 2200 in 1950 to 3800 (per the city limits sign) today because kids grow up and most can't wait to leave - like I did. The smart ones never come back except to visit on holidays. This is where most of the population - including the majority of "professionals" - stay because they would never make it in the real world... or tried it and failed.

If you are black OR choose to live outside of city limits and have no school-age children. should be no problem. Property is cheap because it's hard to sell. The surrounding countryside DOES have great weather - pieces of all seasons but none severe. Just plan to enjoy the country and to not depend on having much of anything to do or available in town... or to join local "society". But you CAN expect a church on every corner stuffed with people who think showing up in church every week makes up for playing "I can **** you over and over again and you can't do anything about it" with their customers and neighbors.

Good luck !!

[toy.tiger]

Originally Posted by Buidhe’anMhanach

Hmmm. Here in the rural town of Marion, [which is located about halfway between Paducah and Madisonville] racism is alive and well!

The “local” gathers at “McDonalds“, “The Coffee Shop”, “Main Street Café” and such places, for coffee and to spread random rumors, negative opinions, and slurs toward Blacks, Mexicans, Jews, and -- well, just about any sect of the populace that does not fall in line with the Ultra Conservative - Evangelical views.

The local newspaper, The Crittenden Press, has a “regular” columnist -- the Reverend Lucy Tedrick [though, no person has a hint as to where she attended any type of schooling to be a minister] who continuously spews forth hatred of any “thing” or any “one” that possesses even an almost progressive thought.

Via Reverend Tedrick’s weekly "Religious Views" contributions, she conscientiously reminds the The Crittenden Press readers of the fact that President Obama is [in all actuality] either a Socialist, Communist, non-American, Muslim, a Satanic False Prophet, or ... he is a combination of any [if not all] mentioned.

Reverend Tedrick’s regular, typical rant concerns the concept that anything resembling Liberal automatically enmeshes abortion, prostitutes, drugs, and [reverend Tedrick's favorite idée fixe] the promotion of homosexuality, and lesbianism. A few months back, the good reverend Tedrick (note: intended sarcasm) finally must have had enough with her false act of being Politically Correct for in her column she came right out and used the slanderous term Qu**rs in one of her religious rants. The fact that she did so was not as much unbelievable as is the fact that the editor of The Crittenden Press, Mr. Chris Evans, recognized and accepted that the use of the pejoratively term, “Q*eer“, was suitable, and therefore, fit to be printed in his newspaper.

The very fact that there was not a single mentioning [never mind a criticism, complaint, objection] from any of Marion’s citizens, Advertisers within the paper, Church Organization, or Community Social Club, Civic Organization, Law Enforcement Agency, or Political Organization -- provides the proof that all forms of racisms and prejudices are completely Acceptable -- If not Expected -- here, in Marion, Crittenden County, Kentucky.

In fairness, I did hear from one man that his wife had written a letter to Mr. Chris Evans in objection to his newspaper’s printing the Reverend Tedrick’s article in general and more specially to the hatefulness’ intent of the usage of “Q*eers” in Reverend Tedrick’s printed article. The letter of objection sent to Mr. Chris Evans was never printed in his Letters to the Editor section of his newspaper. I commend this woman … a Methodist Church attendee, a wife, a mother, and a grandmother for her attempt to make a written complaint … owing that any person in Marion, in Crittenden County, to have the nerve to make a stand against intolerance and injustice is admirable, indeed.

Lucky Tedrick is actually taken seriously … Now, that would be just too funny if it wasn’t so damn pathetic!

[kentuckydad95]

Can't this freaking thread die already!!!

[Sundance]

Yes KY is RACIST!!! Don't move here or who knows what may happen. Somebody might look at you the wrong way.

Stay out of KY....

[Bert Higginbotham]

Originally Posted by KB-Architect

The Bowling Green area is no worse than the rest of KY regarding racism I believe. I used to live in Hardin county and actually think it was worse there. My high school was full of a lot of racial tension.

To be honest, I can't think of an area where there are predominantly black farmers. There really is not any need to really look for them though, most (not quite all) are accepting.

There is no shortage of land. I personally would look toward Alvaton, Plano, and Smiths Grove area for a home with some acreage. Until Natcher is expanded though, Alvaton and Plano will require driving on the INSANELY congested Scottsville RD to get into Bowling Green.

Racism in Smiths Grove exists, but as Mayor of the town of Smiths Grove I am proud of the black and white communities in Smiths Grove. Our city commission has three white commissioners and one black.

Smiths Grove's predominantly black Baptist church burned in January 2009. All of the community jumped in to help raise funds and gave the church a place to meet in other facilities until the new church was completed. In less than a year the church was rebuilt. Our integrated community participates in our government and cultural affairs and the interaction between the races is pleasant and totally natural. I don't want to toot Smiths Grove's horn, but racism is about the least concern that I have as Mayor.

What most city folks don't understand is that in a little town like Smiths Grove most families have known each other for decades. The white and black families have very similar experiences and because of the similarities in background tend to bring them together instead of creating tension.

[captaincatfish]

Originally Posted by lugse

Yes there is some racism, the main problem people have is how most of the black people walk around acting like thugs and think they own the place. But if you act like a normal person you are a lot less likely to have problems.

One...you really should stop feeding into stereotypes and cliches, and realize that most 'normal' black folk in Kentucky and anywhere else in this country, don't act at all like what you portrayed...you have no idea how many of us (blacks) cringe and shake our heads every time we see a crime committed and the perp happens to be black...we're not running around openly embracing people's stupid behavior or lifestyle choices...nooooot hardly

Two...you may or may not be interacting with the wrong kind of black folk...I've said it here a million times, and I'll say it the million and first---we want the same things our white neighbors do...good schools, amenities, and clean safe neighborhoods, where our children can grow and play happily, and we can live our lives in peace...those folk you claim are acting like thugs and thinking they own the place? Those aren't the kind of folk I or a lot of other blacks want to associate with or be associated with...

I'm sorry if your experiences have been, up to this point, mostly negative, but know that the vast majority of us act like we have good sense and home training, despite the constant parade of human stereotypes the media seems intent on force-feeding the genral public...

[captaincatfish]

Originally Posted by lugse

Way more black people act the way I described than you say. It's like they think thats the way they're supposed to act, I don't know if they get it from BET, the music they listen to or what. I already know all black people don't act like that so you don't have to tell me, I've known black people that don't but I've seen WAY more that do, thats just the way it is. But every city I've lived in or been to that has black people its pretty much the same but the big cities are the worst. In small towns it isn't as bad except the ones that move in from a bigger city.

And that's something I should have touched on in my last post too...you hear so much about the negative behavior and dumb stuff, you never get to learn about the folks who are living their lives in quiet dignity, never rocking the boat...

I truly wish there was some way that more positivity could be brought to the front in the black community, so that the day would come when neither you nor I would have to put up with all that nonsense...and just for the record, I'm not nor have I ever been the biggest fan of BET...for lack of a better term, they seem to elevate some of the stereotypical stuff, and they could do so much better if they didn't...

[The Dissenter]

Originally Posted by captaincatfish

One...you really should stop feeding into stereotypes and cliches, and realize that most 'normal' black folk in Kentucky and anywhere else in this country, don't act at all like what you portrayed...you have no idea how many of us (blacks) cringe and shake our heads every time we see a crime committed and the perp happens to be black...we're not running around openly embracing people's stupid behavior or lifestyle choices...nooooot hardly

Two...you may or may not be interacting with the wrong kind of black folk...I've said it here a million times, and I'll say it the million and first---we want the same things our white neighbors do...good schools, amenities, and clean safe neighborhoods, where our children can grow and play happily, and we can live our lives in peace...those folk you claim are acting like thugs and thinking they own the place? Those aren't the kind of folk I or a lot of other blacks want to associate with or be associated with...

I'm sorry if your experiences have been, up to this point, mostly negative, but know that the vast majority of us act like we have good sense and home training, despite the constant parade of human stereotypes the media seems intent on force-feeding the genral public...

As a black guy currently living in Kentucky, I can vouch that the only thing I want to do is live somewhere I have peace. I live in a neighborhood in Vine Grove that has a number of black people living in nice, newish homes and most are pretty decent folks who carry themselves like regular folks. While I hate driving 40+ miles to Louisville for work and most other things, I like living where I don't have to worry about gunshots and having my car busted into.

Trust me I'm the first guy who does not want to live around black folks who are into the BET (I call Bad Excuse for Television) thug hood culture and blasting loud music and dealing/doing drugs.

Way more black people act the way I described than you say. It's like they think thats the way they're supposed to act, I don't know if they get it from BET, the music they listen to or what. I already know all black people don't act like that so you don't have to tell me, I've known black people that don't but I've seen WAY more that do, thats just the way it is. But every city I've lived in or been to that has black people its pretty much the same but the big cities are the worst. In small towns it isn't as bad except the ones that move in from a bigger city.

I don't know what big cities you've been to but Virginia Beach/Chesapeake/Norfolk, VA are nice-sized cities where most of the blacks are solid middle class folks who just want to live in peace.

[Amt073]

I currently live in Florence but go to school in Cincinnati so I have to go over a bridge all the time and traffic can be a mess especially during rush hour, they drive crazy in KY!...there is a lot of confederate flags on vehicles, Florence is the suburbs but there are a few spots that make you wonder. Some people that I have talked to that are black have been called racial slurs. I have noticed "certain types" staring at me, I just stare back..there a lot of black men with white women so there's a lot of bi-racial kids around. My son had a racist incident at school but I didn't want to draw too much attention to it per his request. It seems to be mostly the older white people that may stare. For the most part the people are respectful...I stay to myself and will eventually move out of Florence. If you have a decent salary, it's a good place to live since there seems to be all kinds of shopping and dining around(I especially love Famous Dave's) and decent schools for kids. You don't hear about a lot of craziness in Florence.We also have a race track(for horses) off the highway. If you want to live in a decent apartment look to pay at least 700-800 for a lot of places and that is even for some 1 bedrooms! There a few with cheaper rent but you know how that goes (not a lot of square footage, kitchen entirely too small, coin laundry, no private entrance, people slamming doors.)

[GoneCrazy]

Micah Girl it is so true,an if you are in a small county YES it is still there vegan writer you want a location I will give you one Paintsville,Hazard want me to keep going?