I only imagine what's happening in places like Alabama.
Now you've hit a sore spot. I'm Southern (and white) and well aware of the racism of all stripes here in the South. It was venal and horrible in past generations, and it's only slightly less so now. It still exists. But when I hear people make comments that it's worse in the South than in the North or the West, I have to disagree. There is every bit as much racism in Illinois or New York or California as there is in Alabama, you just don't hear it or see it until the racists feel threatened. Even then, it's couched in code, and practiced in the secrecy of the voting booth. In Alabama and other Deep South places, people are so proud of their ignorance, they'll look you in the eye and proclaim it. They even wave a cute little flag to let you know. And while such crap makes me sick, at least you know where and who the enemy is.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2008-11-04 01:34 pm (UTC)Now you've hit a sore spot. I'm Southern (and white) and well aware of the racism of all stripes here in the South. It was venal and horrible in past generations, and it's only slightly less so now. It still exists. But when I hear people make comments that it's worse in the South than in the North or the West, I have to disagree. There is every bit as much racism in Illinois or New York or California as there is in Alabama, you just don't hear it or see it until the racists feel threatened. Even then, it's couched in code, and practiced in the secrecy of the voting booth. In Alabama and other Deep South places, people are so proud of their ignorance, they'll look you in the eye and proclaim it. They even wave a cute little flag to let you know. And while such crap makes me sick, at least you know where and who the enemy is.