Is it Just Me or Has Anyone else Noticed

[TNT.sixpack]

https://www.yahoo.com/news/couple-accused-racist-attack-connecticut-164002771.html

That there seems to be WAY more incidences of racism up north? I mean we've gotten our fair share of bad publicity on the issue, but damn. Seems like every time I see a link to an article about a race-based attack, it's from up north. While we have our problems down here and we certainly have room for improvement, for the most part we get along. But those northerners have some serious hate in them and they don't mind displaying it. It just looks like we've come much further down here with this issue than they have.

 

[PBRME]

I was shocked at the causal racism experienced during my limited time working in Philly. It doesn’t fly down here. At least not anywhere I go.

 

[horshack.sixpack]

Thankfully, in Mississippi, with the highest percentage black population in the nation, I think that to a large extent we've always gotten along fine. If you haven't spent your whole life in a diverse environment, natural fear of the unknown can be bad news. If that plays out in a racial way it points to some inherent prejudice.

 

[horshack.sixpack]

I've seen similar in my travels. Sometimes it comes along with a backslapping attitude, like me being a white dude from MS should be a safe place to vent racist BS. Kinda pisses me off when it happens.

 

[TheStateUofMS]

I hate to say it, but the only time I ever hear the word of all words, it's when I come back and visit MS. It's very uncomfortable.

ETA: One thing I notice is there's a lot of fake hate crimes. Burning and graffiti on churches (MS and others), the Albany Univ students claiming to be attacked on a bus (bus video footage showed the opposite), the person who was running for a commissioner position in Oregon wrote a fake racist letter to himself and just got busted, Jussie Smollet...there's a long list of fake hate crimes. When they're exposed, they don't get the coverage though. When there's a "suspected" hate crime, it's carried by every major newsoutlet parroting the one speculative report as if it's fact.

America, and every other country on Earth, has some racism and there will always be racism, but I do not think Americans at large are remotely close to be racist. It's a tiny subset of the population and often it's the ones who act the most self righteous, which is a lot of liberals like that ***** in NYC Central Park calling the cops on the Dr who was watching birds and asked the ***** to put her dog on a leash.

 

[horshack.sixpack]

Where? I'm not around anybody who uses it or thinks in those terms. Perhaps being Jackson metro vs rural area makes a difference?

ETA: I'm literally shocked that you have folks that just normally use it. They only time I hear it is when I'm around black men. Then it is katy bar the door, particularly young black men.

 

[patdog]

Strange. I never hear that word in Mississippi. But apparently, among some celebrities, it's use is pretty common.

 

[TheStateUofMS]

Jackson metro and rural. Whenever I visit MS, I can count on hearing it once or twice. I wouldn't say these people are white supremacist though. I would just say it's ignorance.

ETA: If you want a specific location I heard it in the Palisades when I was in MS for Thanksgiving. Older person in their 90s.

 

[Crucifictorious]

I don't hear it much anymore because I have moved on from these folks in my life but growing up twenty years ago in South Mississippi I heard it all the time from the men at my family deer camp. These guys from all over Mississippi and Louisiana were obsessed with Black people and "what they were doing to society" and every other word out of their mouths was the n-word. It boggled my mind for men who supposedly cared so little for Black people that that was all they EVER talked about.

So yes, while there are plenty of racists up North (looking at you Boston), Mississippi still has plenty to answer for.

 

[mstateglfr]

Racism, prejudice, and stereotypes are everywhere. Those are not unique to the South and it is absurd for anyone to think they are.
Back in college 15-20 years ago, my social groups said everything offensive and demeaning about every group there was. Its shocking to think of it now, actually. But in the moment, I continually excused the behavior for a few reasons, none being actually good in retrospect.

Blacks, Jews, Gays, Muslims, Asians, Atheists, Latinos, etc etc are all groups that are subject to different treatment due to ignorance. This **** isnt a geographic issue- its everywhere. And trying to argue that its worse elsewhere than in your area is participating in a cripple fight. <-- oh look, there is another group that is treated poorly by some.

 

[Bulldog Bruce]

I grew up and lived in NY for the first 20 years of my life. I have posted about the racial issues I saw all during those years. IT was always there just under the table. In the south it was just out in the open. MLK said in 1966 during the Chicago marches:

“I think the people from Mississippi ought to come to Chicago to learn how to hate,” King said afterward.

The media centers just liked to keep the focus on the south as the land of racism.

 

[Dawgg]

Strange. I never hear that word in Mississippi. But apparently, among some celebrities, it's use is pretty common.

In North Mississippi, Tippah especially, I’ve found it uncomfortably commonplace among white people. As in, casually at the gas station as if they were referring to a man driving a blue truck. “You know? That ____ boy that lives right before the turn to Tiplersville.”

A woman in the parking lot of the Corinth Wal-Mart told my aunt (my uncle is black and my 2 cousins are biracial) that she “should be ashamed of having those _____ babies.”

I don’t know what it was like growing up near Jackson, but growing up in rural North Mississippi, what I’ve witnessed was pretty 17ing egregious.

 

[johnson86-1]

Strange. I never hear that word in Mississippi. But apparently, among some celebrities, it's use is pretty common.

It's all about your social group I think. I never hear it from white people. Probably the only time I have heard it in person in the last decade, I was ended up talking to a friends neighbors that were sitting outside while I was waiting for her, and it was like it was like the f'bomb for them. Lots more ways to use it than you would think and just casual usage. Some of it was pretty hateful, and some of it was like it was just an everyday adjective. And they didn't know me from adam, and apparently it didn't occur to any of them to tamp it down around strangers, so I guess they go around using it pretty regularly.

 

[horshack.sixpack]

I don't think that anyone was claiming that it was OK in any location, or justifying it in any way.

 

[mstateglfr]

I don't think that anyone was claiming that it was OK in any location, or justifying it in any way.

Yeah, I rambled and the point was lost.

- Its everywhere, it isnt just in the South. I say this so the Southerners who feel its unfair they live in an area known for racism can rest assured it exists elsewhere.
- Arguing over if its worse in one place or another, when it existing in any amount is bad, is a pointless discussion to me.

 

[mstateglfr]

I grew up and lived in NY for the first 20 years of my life. I have posted about the racial issues I saw all during those years. IT was always there just under the table. In the south it was just out in the open. MLK said in 1966 during the Chicago marches:

“I think the people from Mississippi ought to come to Chicago to learn how to hate,” King said afterward.

The media centers just liked to keep the focus on the south as the land of racism.

There is passive racism through housing restrictions, job and hiring restrictions, education limitations, etc etc. And there is violent racism on top of the passive racism which is why the south is infamous when it comes to race relations. The passive racism was everywhere, but one area became known for physical violent racism.

 

[DesotoCountyDawg]

It’s still used... Mostly by the older generation in their 70s and 80s is where I hear it and it’s used like a common word and not directed in anger. Just a descriptive word for a black person.

 

[TheStateUofMS]

^^^This is pretty much my experience.

 

[TheStateUofMS]

^^^The one thing we've agreed upon especially what you said about your college buds.

 

[Mjoelner]

From a black friend/former co-worker who was born in Starkville but moved to Gary, IN then to Los Angeles: Its a LOT worse in those two places than in Mississippi. Of course his timeline is 70's and 80's in Gary and LA and back in Starkville since the 90's. He was a certified rivet-popper for Northrup who was subbing out the work on 747 fuselages in LA. He said there were klan members all over Northrup out there that actively talked about it and advertised it at work. He left south central when he was at a party and heard gunfire while he was in the bathroom at the house then went out to find everybody on the front porch had been shot during a driveby.

Another black friend/former co-worker who is now a professor at State used to live in south central (85 - 95 timeline). He said the klan would drop off leaflets in south central saying "Thank you for killing yourselves. It makes our job easier." It was not like a lot of the self-inflicted hate crimes you hear about now either. He witnessed white folks doing it so pretty sure it was the klan. He said he would gather the flyers, take them to church and get up in front of people and yell at them "They're right!!! Why can't you see this!!!"

 

[kired]

You know where my kids have heard it? Not me, not my family, not my closest friends - but black kids on ball teams. It's kind of hard to explain to young kids why their black teammates are apparently free to go around saying this forbidden word to each other. A word that I've told them to absolutely never say, no matter who you're around, what the situation - it's a terrible word you will never use.

But your black friends and their parents / coaches are free to say it and joke around.

Maybe an unpopular opinion - but if we want the word to go away, EVERYONE has to quit using it. It's one of those things that never really bothered me until I had to try & explain to my kids why some of their friends can say it.

/rantover

 

[IBleedMaroonDawg]

I was shocked at the causal racism experienced during my limited time working in Philly. It doesn’t fly down here. At least not anywhere I go.

I have to say I agree. In all my travels, Pennsylvania was the most blatantly racist state I have visited. The guys I was around asked me if everyone in MS was in the KKK or had outhouses. Then the next day used every racial slang I had ever heard of for anyone that does not have white skin.

Chicago, St. Louis, and Ohio were bad but nothing like the Quaker state.

Hawaii was the least, but of course whites were the minority. Natives almost were to the amount of Japanese. They love them some Hawaii.

 

[Leeshouldveflanked]

Strange. I never hear that word in Mississippi. But apparently, among some celebrities, it's use is pretty common.

I hear a lot more Blacks say the Nword than Whites...but I have been to Minnesota probably 10 times during my life for work... there is a lot of racism and I guess what you would call reverse Racism up there...

 

[maroonmadman]

Growing up in the 60’s and 70’s (graduated h.s. 1975) it was common, especially prior to integration, to hear the n word used even by my teachers. After integration I still remember hearing it used often and even in the presence of blacks. After desegregation use began to taper off. I still hear it used on occasion even today but usually after they look around and make sure there are no black folks around.

Someone said not long ago that the area between Pittsburgh and Philadelphia is basically Alabama. That is a true statement. I have old service buddies from up there and they would make the most ardent rebel flag waving rednecks proud.

Watched an old debate between William F Buckley and James Baldwin the other day. This debate happened in 1965. It’s amazing how the same issues discussed then are still plaguing society today.

 

[ChinaDogSunflower]

Same experience. I've heard it maybe twice since I moved out of MS. But every time I go back, it pops up. Even on phone calls to those who still live there. It truly is shocking to hear it used earnestly anymore, every time.

Another poster said how I've felt the last 5 years or so: White people thinking it's okay to share their prejudice because I'm also white (Pat-on-the-back prejudice) and it is infuriating, it makes me cringe so hard.

It's not a gang of white adults chasing black kids off the playground. It's polite, back room prejudice.

I've oversimplified the root cause to ignorance and general misguidance growing up, not knowing any better or caring to

 

[horshack.sixpack]

Person in their 90's makes more sense. I can remember one of my grandmothers struggling to keep up with the current acceptable term because language was changing faster that she could adapt. Not a hateful bone in her body, she just really never knew what to say. She did however, find it important to designate the "kind" of person that she was speaking of, so that's bad. That kind of highlights how sad it is that we had unacceptable names/labels to begin with...