[68vette]

There are pockets of diversity in Vermont, but it is one of the whitest state in the country. Just look at the census information. This is a news quote about this very topic:

According to the Census Bureau, Maine, Vermont and New Hampshire all have mostly white populations — in fact, at least 96 percent of the population of each state is white.

According to John Tucker of the Peace and Justice Center in Burlington, Vt., African-Americans find it hard to live in the states. Tucker said the small number of people with the same background combined with a lack of job opportunities and cultural offerings keep minority populations away.

Breaking the Color Barrier

Tucker, an African-American himself, said being black in Vermont today is like being Jackie Robinson when he broke baseball's color barrier.

"They are evaluated differently," he said. "They're put under great pressure and that certainly happened to Jackie Robinson for the first two years after his entry into baseball."

He said blacks who move to New England are pioneers, much like the baseball great.

"Some of the most courageous people in America are these small black communities that exist in rural outposts, who are trying to pave the way for growing diversity," he said.

One theory for the lack of diversity in the region: northern New England didn't have the same kinds of industries that drew African-American workers from the South in the 1930s and 1940s.

The 10 Whitest States

In all, 10 states are more than 90 percent white, including the three northern New England states, West Virginia, Iowa, Wyoming, Idaho, Montana, Kentucky and North Dakota.

Maine tops the nation with 96.9 percent of its population described as white, while 96.7 percent of Vermont and 96 percent of New Hampshire are white, according to the census. All three were at least 98 percent white in the 1990 census.

Hawaii, Mississippi, Louisiana, Maryland and Georgia had the smallest percentage of whites, according to the census.

[Sherylcatmom]

Exactly. And that's a far cry from "the only diversity you will see is the different flavors in the Ben&Jerry's Ice Cream Shops."

Originally Posted by 68vette

There are pockets of diversity in Vermont, but it is one of the whitest state in the country.

[68vette]

Originally Posted by Sherylcatmom

Exactly. And that's a far cry from "the only diversity you will see is the different flavors in the Ben&Jerry's Ice Cream Shops."

I agree with you, but Vermont is almost the least diverse state in the country. Despite what is conveyed on these forums and in our communities, Vermont is not as accepting as we portray it to be. The census numbers speak for that as well as what Mr. Tucker has to say as an African-American.