Score one more racism point for the South

I am a Southerner, whether I like it or not.

I was born in the South, raised in the South, attend school in the South and will probably stay in the South for a while.

Despite my frequent gripes about the narrow-minded bigots and unintelligent rednecks I occasionally encounter, I really think it is an amazing place to live. It feels like home.

But living inside the South and looking at it from the outside are two very different things.

INSIDE: warm, friendly, down-to-earth and helpful.

OUTSIDE: bigoted, unintelligent, dirty and backwards.

Anytime I encounter someone outside of the South, the conversation usually begins as follows:

Them: "Oh wow, what a cute accent you have. You're not from around here are you?"

Me: "No, I'm from Tennessee."

*At this point, there is usually a reference to Nashville (and country music), Jack Daniels or Orange.*

Me: "Yes, I live outside of Nashville; No, I don't like country music; No, I've never been to the distillery; No, I don't go to UTK or watch their football games."

And this is usually where the conversation comes to a screeching halt - due to the fact that I am not, what they consider, a "Southerner."

I don't want to sound hypocritical, so I should probably denote that not all non-Southerners think like this. There are probably about as many non-Southerners who think we are dirty mouth-breathers as there are Southerners who think Northerners are uppity carpetbaggers.

Regardless, assumptions run amok through both cultures. So when something like what happened in High Point, North Carolina (see story below) makes the news, it comes as no shock that another point is scored in favor of the Southern stereotype.

First and foremost, any racial slurs or gestures are absolutely unacceptable in any manner and in any part of the country. However, because this happened in a southern state, the implications of the message are far more severe.

It's bad enough that we're looked at as having a foundation of racism thanks to slavery and resistance to the Civil Rights Movement (in various areas of the South). But times are changing, attitudes are improving, and the people who originally held degrading and oppressive thoughts are steadily dying out, leaving behind a generation of more accepting and open-minded individuals - with the exception of a few.

Honestly, I don't think that the South has any more racists-minded residents than any other region in our country. Once again, the stereotype just lends itself to the assumption that we do. I've definitely run into a few people who assume we all run around barefooted and sleep with a shotgun under our pillow.

If anything, one of the most predominate qualities of the Southern culture is the concept of respect and honor.

I just wish that people, like the two teens from High Point, had enough respect for the honor and dignity of our region.

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2 charged after Klan-like hoods found outside school

By J. Brian Ewing, Staff Writer (News and Record)

HIGH POINT - Two teens were charged with hanging four Klan-like hoods around the campus of High Point Central this morning.

David Lee Hughes, 16, and Mitchell James Dawkins, 16, were both charged with placing an exhibit with the intention of intimidating and misdemeanor larceny.

Police Capt. Tony Hamrick said the hoods are made of white vinyl and had holes cut in them. They were actually traffic cones turned inside out. The cones had recently been stolen, and other traffic cones were found in a vehicle near the school, according to a news release.

Three of the hoods were hung near the bus parking lot at the school, and the fourth was hung from the school's flagpole.

The hoods were found about 5:30 a.m. today by a school custodian.

No nooses were found, Hamrick said, despite earlier reports from school system officials stating there were.

Hamrick said there have been no recent race-related issues at the school that he is aware of. The incident does not represent the atmosphere at the school, he said.

"This is an irresponsible prank we take seriously," he said.

Two officers will remain on the campus for the remainder of the school day.

Hughes and Dawkins, who are both white, were released to the custody of their parents.

ORIGINAL STORY:

http://www.news-record.com/content/2008/12/15/article/2_in_custody_after_klan_like_hoods_found_outside_school