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Seems a lot of people don't understand why white Southerners are so confused by racism. I'll give you a breakdown as someone born, raised, and still living in the South. I present you with a thread:
1) When you live in the birthplace of the KKK, it's easy to confuse racism with the overt, burn crosses, move to the back of the bus, brand of racism. You got no problem with black folks living in town (as long as it's on their side).
2) Most even become friendly with minorities when they meet them. They're the "good ones". It's those others that are the "bad ones". This mindset is almost universal in the rural South. This is why you hear "But I have a black friend!" so often.
3) There is usually a high number of poor white people in these areas. They've been lead to believe that they are direct competition with minorities for the same piece of the pie. There is an acceptance that the rich deserve their piece and they need to fight for the scraps.
4) Pride is a major killer. They would rather suffer indefinitely than be a "victim". Therefore they expect black people to sit and suffer too. It's not seen as demanding equality, it's seen as being a "victim" (which is dumb, because of course they are).
5) The last major factor is that rural whites are terrified of big cities. Terrified. Since there are usually higher minority populations in big cities, they become the "boogieman". This is why they travel less and stay isolated (unless it's to Pensacola, FL).
6) No excuse for any of this ignorance, especially in a world this connected. Just hope to give some insight that might help as you encounter these mindsets. Wish I could tell you how to flip them, but I've got no answers for that.
