Two years ago, Braxton says he was the only volunteer firefighter in his department to respond to a tree fire near a Black person’s home in the town of 275 people. As Braxton, 57, actively worked to put out the fire, he says, one of his white colleagues tried to take the keys to his fire truck to keep him from using it.
I was going to say “I am shocked, shocked! Well, not that shocked.” until I read this. Jesus Christ, I’m legitimately shocked.
Guess I live too far north. I thought living in a rural area meant I got the ‘privilege’ of seeing some terrible modern racism, but I guess I’m not even seeing the big leagues out here.
Aside from maybe Haiti, Mississippi is by far the most dangerous place in the western hemisphere to be a black person. Don’t look into it unless you want your whole week ruined.
I’m still not shocked. Saddened, absolutely heartbroken this is still where we are, but not shocked at all.
I travelled through Alabama in the mid-80s as a girl so white I’m nearly translucent and the xenophobia was so thick, I could have served it on plates.
I was told by my local companion to not open my mouth because my accent would be a problem, even though I’m white as driven snow, and when I forgot and uttered a sentence at a chicken restaurant, he literally had to talk them out of ‘giving me a lesson’.
I can’t imagine being black in places where even the wrong kind of white is a problem. No wonder they fuck their cousins. They’re so xenophobic, anyone outside their kin is bad, and other colours are demonic.
I really hoped things had improved there in several decades, esp with the internet, but maybe not. :(
e: this happened in a very rural town, with no national stores or anything. It was near my friend’s home, and I’m not suggesting the whole state was like that. It was a very rural place. Still, it left a massive impression and I can’t help but associate it with what I see now in much of the US south.
Anyone thinking murderous racism is a thing of the past is dead wrong.
I was going to say “I am shocked, shocked! Well, not that shocked.” until I read this. Jesus Christ, I’m legitimately shocked.
Why? This is genuinely pretty fucking tame for Mississippi.
Guess I live too far north. I thought living in a rural area meant I got the ‘privilege’ of seeing some terrible modern racism, but I guess I’m not even seeing the big leagues out here.
Aside from maybe Haiti, Mississippi is by far the most dangerous place in the western hemisphere to be a black person. Don’t look into it unless you want your whole week ruined.
Someone needs to sue the shit out of that town and give the money to Braxton and the African Americans there.
I’m still not shocked. Saddened, absolutely heartbroken this is still where we are, but not shocked at all.
I travelled through Alabama in the mid-80s as a girl so white I’m nearly translucent and the xenophobia was so thick, I could have served it on plates.
I was told by my local companion to not open my mouth because my accent would be a problem, even though I’m white as driven snow, and when I forgot and uttered a sentence at a chicken restaurant, he literally had to talk them out of ‘giving me a lesson’.
I can’t imagine being black in places where even the wrong kind of white is a problem. No wonder they fuck their cousins. They’re so xenophobic, anyone outside their kin is bad, and other colours are demonic.
Sad but not surprising.
e: Alabama, not Mississippi
Jesus Christ.
I really hoped things had improved there in several decades, esp with the internet, but maybe not. :(
e: this happened in a very rural town, with no national stores or anything. It was near my friend’s home, and I’m not suggesting the whole state was like that. It was a very rural place. Still, it left a massive impression and I can’t help but associate it with what I see now in much of the US south.
Anyone thinking murderous racism is a thing of the past is dead wrong.