Maybe racists keep in on the down low around me, but I live in the South and never hear anything racist. And as a middle-aged white guy, and somewhat of a redneck, I’d expect them to think I’m safe to rant to.
When I moved here 20-years ago, I experienced racism from black people like never before, weirded me out. Can’t remember that last time I felt that. We’ve all changed.
Counter anecdote though! Traveling Mississippi last year with my Filipino wife was distinctly uncomfortable for the first time. Can’t put my finger on it, can’t describe a single incident, but I felt we were shunned for the first time. Those people were formerly outgoing and hospitable. Not now.
brucethemoose@lemmy.world 15 hours ago
Oh that’s it. There’s the veneer of Southern Hospitality (and a lot of it is legitimate) but folks keep the nastiness behind the curtain. Like, I have family that looks back on their aunts and uncles and had no idea they were racist until they thought a lot about some incidents, or caught something weird.
It went both ways, 100%…. Reconstruction failed. There’s a lot of resentment.
shalafi@lemmy.world 13 hours ago
Much of what my anecdote was about, the veneer has slipped. And yes, much of it is legitimate. Much seemed to come from, “I’m not the racist my parents were!” But it was weird and borderline scary seeing that veneer peel off that last trip.