Thoughts on Racism & Geography
A few weeks ago, I was chatting with a friend about geographical identity. I assert that my primary cultural language is that of a woman of color from the Southeast. I feel most comfortable among that group, and that tends to be my homeplace speak, and everything else is variables of code shifting. Although, I have lived in both the Southeast and the Midwest for most of my life, I know where home is, and I know the bias and misconceptions that most people without color north of Kentucky seems to have about “Southerners.” I want to address this a bit because I think that using the Southeast as the proverbial redheaded stepchild of the country is disconcerting and is based upon stereotypes that allow any person without color not affiliated with the area to puff up in pride that they are somehow supah spechual unique individuals who don’t have a racist bone in their body because they live in Kenosha, Wisconsin.
Yes, there is racism in the Southeast.
