I really am uncomfortable typing those three letters side by side up there – because who knows who will end up reading this by just googling “KKK southeast Georgia?”
I’m not in any way affiliated with “The Klan” – nor am I knowingly aware of anyone who is either. But, a few interesting things have happened lately to remind me, in very strange ways, that I’m living in the South. A south that still has a hint of “Old South” in it. A south that is… well…
I think I’m just gonna have to tell you about it:
Story #1. Apparently the KKK is still(!) around. I’ve heard reports from NUMEROUS sources (including a few interesting news articles) that a meeting was recently held in a location not-too-far from here. And the meeting addressed issues that are on the forefront of political chatter, including immigration, separation of church & state, and sex offenders. Random. I didn’t realize they were concerned with such a variety of issues. And, I don’t know if that’s comforting or alarming. If it weren’t for all these news reports, I would’ve gone on assuming – like most everyone else – the Ku Klux Klan had been dismantled.
Story #2. I recently spoke to an African American gentleman who was old enough to be my dad. It surprised me that he kept referring to me as “ma’am” because I know I look like I’m 18. Granted, he may have just been polite. Again, I repeat, he may have just been polite… At first glance, that would be the logical assumption. But, pairing his “yes ma’ams” with no eye-contact at all, felt rather “Old South” to me and I didn’t like it… I wouldn’t have even picked up on the “no eye contact” thing, except for the fact that everybody makes eye contact with EVERYBODY down here, especially when in conversation. This is quite the contrast from Boston, where nobody looks at anybody UNLESS they’re talking. There was a time when this “yes ma’am sans eye-contact” was the right way to address southern white women. Even the young women. I’m not necessarily sure that was the dynamic between us. But the experience, if only for what it reminded me, kinda made me sad.
So yeah, welcome home, Mandy.
I’m sure drew gives you lots of ‘yeah’ and ‘ uh-huh’ without making eye contact while he watches TV or reads a magazine.
Funny, I had to call Boston last week to try to get some student records and of the 5 ladies I spoke with, all were bona fide a holes for no reason at all. They seemed offended that I would call them to ask for records.
As for Drew, I’ve learned how to get his attention. In numerous ways!
The gentleman is quite probably the victim of growing up in the forties and fifties in the Old South, when to even SPEAK to a young white lady of your age would be a beating offense. He grew up in a time when white men LOOKED for excuses to beat up black men. Talking to their daughter or sister would be a perfect one. Looking her in the eye would be insulting beyond belief.
The sad part is not that he can’t escape that upbringing. The sad part is that it happened. Those were REAL hate crimes. And not only was it swept under the rug and overlooked, it was actually encouraged. Not just by the KKK, but by a lot of just “normal” men and women.
Yep…. I completely agree. And the tones in my hometown are still there. I grew up with no eye-contact rules in school. Of course, the rules were unspoken, and nobody would even probably remember it now. But I do. I do remember it – because I hated it so much… I wanted to have friends from every circle. I tried. And I had a few. It was worth the risk.
Hey Mandy! I followed a link from Alece here, and I like your stuff
I just had to comment— I went to college in southeastern Ohio, and the KKK is definitely alive there. I’ve heard accounts of black students not going in certain areas outside of campus, and even my husband and a friend (both white) were confronted by locals while they were on a bike ride: “Yer in the wrong parts, boyyy”, the man said. There were (what looked like) dead cats hanging from trees near the road that this encounter happened on. It’s eye-opening to see that the KKK has continued through time.
Hey Aubree!!! Thank you for commenting – and from wandering over from Alece’s place. I do love that girl.
Glad you’re here.
I can’t even comment on this. I mean, I can…. but it makes me ill even reading the post and the comments.
I unfortunately come from a family where the oldest generation still living are quite racist. It’s difficult to be around that. There is no reasoning with that mentality.
BWANNNNNNN
Hiiiii
Mandy,
Unfortunately they still exists, and not just down south. They’ve held rally’s in CT VT, Upstate NY etc..
The fact is, the world a lot smaller which is great because we can share Love easier.. it also means people can share their messages of hate easier too.
Ive been to California, was born in Alabama, spent a little time in Tennessee, and have lived most of my life in CT. unfortunately the place where Ive seen the most racism is in the northeast. Of course that’s just my experience, other peoples may differ.
Northeast, eh? Yeah… There’s a bit of it there, too… I saw that quickly while we lived in Boston. But the separation seems almost palpable at times, down south.
That makes me so sad.
I have spent a handful of years in Shreveport…and experienced the same thing. I love that you are talking about it. I believe through exposing the truth and dealing with it straight on that we might be able to finally end it.
I want my son to know that there are different cultures and colors…and they all are beautiful.
This topic makes me think of a song I sing to my precious baby, and a song that was sung to me.
Jesus Loves the little children
All the children of the world.
Red and yellow, Black and White,
They are precious in his sight.
Jesus loves the children of the world.
My grandma sang me that song growing up.
And thanks for saying you’re glad I’m writing about it – because I really hesitated. Like REALLY hesitated. Like, had this in my drafts for a few weeks…
I remember when I lived in Burlington, NC for a short while as a teenager, when my mom and I lived with my aunt and uncle. My uncle, who I absolutely loved, had some coworkers over for a cookout and I remember him (the coworker) telling me about how necessary it was for the klan to come into existence, because they had to protect the white women. I still remember being utterly dumbfounded. I had grown up in NYC, so what I was hearing was completely bizarre to me. But for this middle aged white guy this was a completely normal part of his heritage. Now mind you, this took place in the late 70′s, so it is a while back when attitudes hadn’t changed that much from the ‘old days’. But it’s sad to see that it infected everyone involved on both sides of the issue, black and white. We have come a long way, but we still have a long way to go.
John Brandkamp from GCTS?
btw, I know a LOT of white women who we all need to be protected from! They definitely don’t need any protection…
Yep, I’m a student at GCTS now. Just started last fall. And you’re right, there’s plenty of white women who don’t need protecting. I dated a few!
haha! Look out for them. There are LOTS on that seminary campus.
Having grown up in Pittsburgh PA, spending my elementary years in one of the first “desegregated” schools – they actually bussed us white kids to the black neighborhood to go to school – the thought of there being any difference between the races was absurd to me. My best friends were all different races; black, puerto rican, middle eastern, jewish, you name it. Imagine my shock when shortly after moving to NW GA (in 1996) my husband and I are driving down the road and what do we see, but in a large field off the side of the road is a klan rally. Full garb, probably 50 people, maybe more. No burning crosses, but the outfits were enough. I really thought we were past all that, but apparently not. Just the thought of it still makes me sick to my stomach.
I wish I could say it’s changed in the 14 years that we’ve been here, but sadly it hasn’t. And from what I read in the comments, it’s no longer just a “southern” thing.
Holy cow
Well first, being black… and living in an island with a majority population of black people, I’ve never experienced racism outright like that – and I hope I never have to.
That being said, I find it saddening, angering, frustrating and many other emotions that people like those in the KKK exist… I understand being proud of your race, but …. supremacy of any kind is sickening.
I’d think of more to say… but … all I know is … I’d still visit you if I could, Mandy lol I’ll just wear a thicker skin out there.
so sad…love ya girl, stepping up the prayers for you and your community…
we’re not in boston anymore, toto…
this. breaks. my heart.
cant even fathom it.
i just deleted 2 responses to this post. neither felt adequate.
*sigh*
I grew up racist America, in the 1940′s and 50′s. Even in Connecticut the vast majority of white people, including my family, accepted that “colored people” were inferior.
I went to an integrated school, but there was no inter-racial dating. If I brought an afro-american girl home my father would have had a heart attack.
Even in the 60′s I went on a road trip with some friends. We stopped at a motel and one friend, who was black, asked if it was alright if he shared the room with us.
Music did have a very positive effect. Rock & Roll really did help spur a revolution. For the first time blacks and whites danced together. My father was right, this did lead to interracial dating. Except what he considered was the end of the world, was actually a new beginning.
I think racism is more about power than race. The song that tells that story best is Bob Dylan’s “Only A Pawn In Their Game”.
“A South politician preaches to the poor white man
“You got more than blacks, don’t complain
You’re better than them, you been born with white skin” they explain
And the Negro’s name
Is used it is plain
For the politician’s gain
As he rises to fame
And the poor white remains
On the caboose of the train
But it ain’t him to blame
He’s only a pawn in their game.”
Unfortunately, I wish I could say racism was dead and buried. It is anything but.
I don’t know about anyone *else*… but I think that the PROPER and RESPECTFUL way to address people is, “sir” and “ma’am”.
I got told by a co-worker that it makes me sound subservient when I say that to people, and that it makes them feel old.
I told her that I didn’t care if that’s what people thought. It was *proper*, and I did it out of respect, and nothing more.
My boss asked me a question in the middle of a conference meeting… full room… I responded, “Yes, sir.”. He told me to stop calling him sir. I replied, “I can call you ma’am, if you like.”
Everyone was laughing at that point, and he got the point.
Call me silly, but I think if you insist on putting that other person in a place of respect… it makes our society just that much better.
Imagine how different our society would be if *everyone* thought that way… and acted accordingly!
You’re from Boston? I love stumbling upon blogs and realizing they’re from Boston. I’m from near Boston, and my school is about 30 minutes north. I basically flipped out yesterday when I found out Jonathan Acuff (stuffchristianslike.net) was raised in Ipswich, MA.