People often ask me if I found more racism in the south having moved here from Michigan. My answer is that there is not more racism, just more overt racism. In Michigan it's something whispered in circles that will tolerate it. Down here it's a bumper sticker. I prefer the bumper sticker, good to know who your enemies are and where they are. The first time I was ever in the south, I was at a wedding in Chattanooga. I was downtown and an elderly woman stopped and asked me what time it was. She heard that I was a northerner from my voice and started telling me all about how wonderful Chattanooga was. She pointed out areas I should go to that were particularly beautiful. Then she pointed out the area that I should avoid because "there are too many niggers". I could not believe it. I had never experienced anything so jarring in my life. I must have turned pale white in shock. I simply backed away and exited the conversation. That sort of thing just doesn't happen in Michigan. However, in Michigan they would use coded words like "thug" or "gangsters" or even "crime" to mean "blacks." I prefer the lack of "code." I like my evil men to be overt in their idiocy.
Got to disagree with you here. I much prefer a world where racists at least know that they should be ashamed of holding those views (until, via code words, they realise that others hold similar views). I think it's a step in the right direction, when racists have to be closeted. Sets a better example for the young ones. TMBG put it well.
First of all, thank you very much for the walk down memory lane. Haven't listened to TMBG in far too long. What a great song. In regards to kids, I'd much rather know who is and isn't racist overtly so that the closet racists have as little interaction with my children as possible, preferably none EVER. If racism is unannounced and beneath the surface it can spread more easily and cannot be confronted head on.
You can't shelter your kids forever, they will meet racists out in the world. It's a still matter of knowing your (more subtle) enemy. But I see your point exactly.
A child's mind is a fragile thing and if I can prevent it from encountering hate and ignorance, I will. There will be plenty of time left in their life when such things will not be able to be kept at bay. For now, I'm on duty and I'm going to do my best.You can't shelter your kids forever, they will meet racists out in the world
Re-exploring this thread via the BestOf2014 list. I don't think that anyone would ever suggest I was "sheltering" my children by not allowing them to, for example, spend the night at a friends house whose parents are overtly racist. That's just good parenting in my opinion. If they're 10 years old and I'm actively trying to prohibit them from knowing that racism exists, then sure that's sheltering.