difference between black and white in the south.....
By Joey322
@Joey322 (272)
United States
March 7, 2007 1:23pm CST
i was raised in the Northern US. where i come from i had many black (african american) friends and schoolmates. there never seemed a seperation. we were all just "people" and friends.
we just moved and have lived in the REAL south for a little over a year.
i have noticed that black people,not all, but MOST, seem to seperate themselves from white people. i try to carry on conversations and joke and laugh in an effort to build a friendship, but i feel like i am kept at a distance. no one is really rude, just not very welcoming.
sometimes i feel like it's me, but i was talking about this at work and a woman that's been living here much, much longer than myself, also from the north, said that it's just how it is down here. apparently, the black community is just so close together or something.
anyone from the south...can you help me understand please and help me maybe relate to the southern black people better? at home everyone is just "people", but down here i can FEEL the racial divide down here and makes me sad.
any thoughts???
1 person likes this
3 responses
@lpetges (3036)
• United States
18 Mar 07
i come from the northern states myself, and visit the south frequently, and i do notice a difference. it kind of shocked me at first.. because here, i get so mad at everyone complaining about people being prejudiced.. because i don't think we are-until we go south..then i can see that there is somewhat of a problem still. i wonder why in this day and age why it matters so much about the color you are, or your nationality.. we are all human for petes sake!
1 person likes this
@djaboo32 (45)
• United States
8 Mar 07
JOEY322- this is deep deep in the weeds and souls of the south- Blacks have been mistreated for so long in that area- and have been faced with so many injustices- they have learned to become really communal and trusting of one another only. Especially with the social injustices still not so far in the distant past- Lynchings were more common down south, not to mention drownings and beatings- Many whites got away with these murders and some of the family members of the victims have passed along certain behaviors and may even still be around to remind those of the younger generation. Blacks used move north to escape the injustices- so they developed a different mind set than southern blacks. This is not to say they are bitter but more cautious--they are very kind to those who they invite into their leves. Understand that this behavior is not that of dislike or disapproval, but is based in fear --Remember the country's history- the civil War- the south lost-- and did not take their loss lightly- they resisted for years and black down south still remember. Civil Rights movement began down south-remember- So just keep that in mind--the fear is deep, but not unbreakable- keep showing them kind gestures and you will eventually get to understand them and relate better.
1 person likes this
@emeraldisle (13139)
• United States
7 Mar 07
Not sure where in the south you moved too but I will agree in some areas this does happen a lot. I'm not sure why but there is a lot of racial tension from both sides. In many ways some of the South is still a good 20 to 40 years behind the times in releations between those of different races. I'm not saying all areas but in some I have seen it. I know where I live there is a lot of prejudice against those who are non-white and because of it those that are non-white have a tendency to stick together and keep out of the way of whites. I can't say I blame them in that regard. Sometimes discreation is the better part of valor after all. Why go where you aren't welcome type thing. Some of it's just built up over the years to where each group stays in their own area and sticks with themselves. I think it's a shame. I've been in areas where people are just people and it's a lot better in my opinion.
