Russian 'Propaganda Machine' Selects Kansas City As Its Second Radio Broadcast Site.

[WyattKansas]

43. I was in a labor union there that drew country boys to KC, which is how I recognized it.

It was odd being in a union where race was not a matter, yet they kept their strong racist views when not around black people.
I also recognized how things get passed down from generation to generation, because the labor union was also big with offspring following their fathers and grandfathers etc. But even some in the city had an extreme hatred of black people for reasons I didn't understand. I was on a job on Prospect Avenue and was told that I needed to watch my back better around 'those people' because they would jump me. I blew it off and just thought the guy saying that crap were idiot, because I always look at everyone the same and never used race as a qualifier. I was never bothered by anyone regarding race in KC even though I did look like a 'cracker.' I would also hear stories from them that got passed down and about how the planners of KC purposely set up racial corridors back years ago. The KS-MO border war was much like terrorism today, with only a few military battles.

I grew up about fifty miles south of Topeka and the surrounding area I was in growing up was settled by people from Northern States trying to block slavery, which then got expanded as the State filled up with European immigrants. Now, I did have grandparents, father, and uncles using the "n" word, but they knew to never ever let black people hear it (yes, I know it wasn't right, but it was a different time) and nobody hated black people. When blacks did come around, which was rarely, my entire family to my great grandpa was very nice and treated them just like anyone else. Even when we went to larger towns and cities, the family was expected to be respectful of everyone. Years later when I moved to the KC metro while in the labor union, I kept hearing co-workers always using race as a motive to scream whatever they wanted at and about them and they hadn't progressed as I had with knowing it was just wrong. I was shocked, because I grew up in a small white rural community and although we seen stereotyping on tv, everyone still treated everyone with respect and was kind. Yet, now I seen white people doing the opposite of that. Which got me thinking and it occurred to me, because I have always been fascinated with history, that some white people from the KC area were on the opposite side of the Civil War and were not raised the same as me, especially with how they regard Sir names. I have always said there is a distinct difference in white people between the two states, which is now peppered with crossovers the closer you get to the border due to time.

I have told people that and they have laughed at me, but if they every have to go work there or spend time there, they always come back to apologize to me for calling me crazy. And yes, you just have to stop when you drive by and smell the BBQ.