I was reared in a racially segregated society and did not begin to think for myself about American racial issues until I was about 18 years of age. I came of age in the Southern U.S. during the civil rights movement era (60s-70s) and experienced an awakening of sorts over the following years starting during a short stint in the US Navy where I met several young African American men from our community and had a chance to deal with them on a personal basis. I would guess that my views on race problems(cause and effect) in America are somewhat different in the aggregate from what most people expect but they are mine.
I do bristle when someone singles out the Southern US to negatively highlight racial issues. Prejudice in America does not have regional boundaries and to claim otherwise is sheer hypocrisy.
I do not deny that many in the South remain prejudiced against men and women of color, some violently so, but the reasons vary and are more complicated than one might expect. I can swear there ain't no heaven but I pray there ain't no hell. _ Blood Sweat & Tears
A lot of people talk about the "Pennsyltucky" part of Pennsylvania. Guess what? Obama's pulling almost even there, which never happens for Dems.
Further, many of the presumed most-racist places are some of the places that have been the first to elect black officials. Louisiana delivered our first two black senators. (Granted, that was prior to the Great Migration and wouldn't likely happen in modern-day Louisiana.) Virginia, our first elected black governor. Massachusetts -- home of Boston, allegedly the most racist city in the North -- elected the second black governor.
And Obama is, of course, winning Virginia, Florida and North Carolina. He may well come very close -- might even win for all we know now -- in Georgia, which may elect the third black governor (if Shirley Franklin runs to succeed Sonny Perdue).
It's not that the stereotypes are completely wrong. There's a lot of racism in the South. But the portrayal of the racially-backwards South vs the harmonious rest is ridiculous. WHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!
Actually, despite growing up in a racially segregated society, I find I have more in common, culturally, with African Americans and usually have an easier time forming friendships with them than with most white non-Southerners. Hundreds of years of sharing the same culture comes through despite the circumstances. I can swear there ain't no heaven but I pray there ain't no hell. _ Blood Sweat & Tears
Question: Would Obama publicly going back into Georgia help or damage Martin against Chambliss? I.e would it polarise the senate race more and force a greater Martin/Obama identification which would damage Martin - even if it might help Obama in Georgia? Vote McCain for war without gain
However, I want to respond to the comment about Southerners hating Northerners. I don't see a lot of what I would call hate for white Northerners in the South, but I suspect there are some who "have no use" for Northerners. Despite changes over the past 50 years, a cultural divide continues between the South and other parts of the U.S. Sometimes I wonder if it's not becoming more pronounced. My wife recalls overhearing a conversation between two Northerners as their commercial plane was about to land in a Southern State (and I've heard similar remarks so I wasn't surprized). One looking down and out the window stated "...they are different from us you know." The other responded "..yes, they even smell different."
Now, during the civil rights movement there were many Northerners who came South to support the African American movement in one way or the other (e.g., accompanying freedom riders). They were resented by many Southerners who considered them to be interfering hypocrites, though their intentions may have been good. A few were murdered for their trouble. I can swear there ain't no heaven but I pray there ain't no hell. _ Blood Sweat & Tears
Mostly it's a lack of experience that causes it, whether we talk about division by race or region. WHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!
