General Discussion

ewagner

(18,967 posts)

107. I was raised in Sanford in the 50's and 60's

Tue Jul 16, 2013, 03:12 PM

Jul 2013

and yes, I was as racist as every one of my family and friends during that era.....

Things started to change in the early 60s...among some...not all the residents...I truly think that progress was made in the late sixties and up until I left there in 74....

I still have family there and honestly don't know where they stand now because I haven't been in touch with them for years.. I have facebook contact with some of my high school and college friends and while they claim to be color-blind, open-minded, constitution-loving "Mericans" (how's that for a dog-whistle), I think there is an element of what I have to call "righteous racism" in their comments and positions on this case.

Why "righteous racism"? Because they feel that all the stereotypes justify a righteous indignation that minorities of all stripes are not committed to their version of American Values... and, therefore worthy of our "proper" scorn, neglect and derision.

Up north, where I have lived since 74...has a pretty good strain of racism in it...usually targeted toward native Americans in the far north and Blacks and Latinos in in the southern, more urbanized sections of the state...It wasn't always like that...things changed dramatically in the early '80s...as a good friend of mine told me then, Reagan "taught us how to be comfortable with our prejudices."

In short, I think race relations have been "back-sliding" since the 80s and the south is just slightly worse than the north...and...Sanford is "about average" .

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I live in the Sanford, Florida area.... [View all] trumad Jul 2013 OP

Sorry To Hear The Indignities That Must Be Endured Daily cantbeserious Jul 2013 #1

Hugs of support sent your way... OneGrassRoot Jul 2013 #2

I've become immune and pretty resilient to it all. trumad Jul 2013 #4

That describes 'em to a T Dyedinthewoolliberal Jul 2013 #46

Thank you for your courage. nt kelliekat44 Jul 2013 #57

Feeling your pain lark Jul 2013 #78

So you got to see the couple of weeks when they shut up about Iraq,... Spitfire of ATJ Jul 2013 #106

Describes my republican neighbors marlakay Jul 2013 #167

I will be handmade34 Jul 2013 #3

Boycott? Bluenorthwest Jul 2013 #53

oh, I know how this works handmade34 Jul 2013 #89

Good people, huh? Zoeisright Jul 2013 #134

as far as Rubio DonCoquixote Jul 2013 #152

Just FYI, my decision to boycott Florida Crunchy Frog Jul 2013 #73

sad to casually dismiss handmade34 Jul 2013 #93

There are good people in Florida Crunchy Frog Jul 2013 #125

Same here Not Me Jul 2013 #5

I wonder if B37, and the others, decided to find the town, not guilty. JoePhilly Jul 2013 #6

This is a seriously profound idea. I wish you would fashion an OP out of this and HardTimes99 Jul 2013 #24

+1 Very insightful. n/t 2theleft Jul 2013 #43

Please forgive my ignorance... GreedIsGood Jul 2013 #159

"no text" TahitiNut Jul 2013 #163

Thanks.. GreedIsGood Jul 2013 #166

Yes, that's how racism works. Us against them. nt valerief Jul 2013 #49

I believe you are correct. Grey Jul 2013 #64

It occurred to me when I'd ask people this question ... JoePhilly Jul 2013 #68

Well, don't ya know... PsychGrad Jul 2013 #96

+1 Blue_Tires Jul 2013 #124

I wish I could rec your reply Lifelong Protester Jul 2013 #94

Exactly. JoePhilly Jul 2013 #115

Well said, Joe! I suspect they don't even see their view as racist. nt Enthusiast Jul 2013 #160

You have to hope that some people will lower their defenses long enough JoePhilly Jul 2013 #162

It's sad you'll be leaving Trumad. Baitball Blogger Jul 2013 #7

It's important that you posted this. People need to disabuse themselves of the notion ancianita Jul 2013 #8

I grew up in Augusta and have in-laws there. BellaKos Jul 2013 #11

I truly appreciate your situation, because this culture leaves a liberal with no choice ancianita Jul 2013 #66

Authoritarians Anywhere LarryNM Jul 2013 #157

ancianita, thanx so much for your understanding BellaKos Jul 2013 #158

I live in Orlando Mojorabbit Jul 2013 #67

Thanks for adding the missing perspective...How hard it must be... hlthe2b Jul 2013 #9

Right. There still are two Floridas. Hopefully Grayson and Dems can still keep it blue. ancianita Jul 2013 #69

Yep. I predicted that an unbiased jury was impossible there. onehandle Jul 2013 #10

one BIG shining light breathe peace Jul 2013 #12

Alan Grayson will not fight against good ole boys. Baitball Blogger Jul 2013 #80

Alan Grayson is a fighter. druidity33 Jul 2013 #131

Well for one thing, I sent information to him that involved a community issue and Baitball Blogger Jul 2013 #132

I lived in Oviedo Ichingcarpenter Jul 2013 #13

I know - I am surrounded here in the coastal area TBF Jul 2013 #14

I know how you feel. I moved here in the south because of my in-laws who were southernyankeebelle Jul 2013 #15

Maryland seems to be an oasis of Sanity. n/t ReasonableToo Jul 2013 #86

It is. We moved there when my dad got retired from the military. There is so much southernyankeebelle Jul 2013 #118

I'm in the same position. In Richmond, VA, for 20 years, came here for Mr Nay's job, and Nay Jul 2013 #116

Richmond is lovely to visit. But it's alot like the area I live in rural Tn. Have you driven southernyankeebelle Jul 2013 #119

Yes, I have. It's lovely, like most of VA. I used to live in Chattanooga, and TN is Nay Jul 2013 #121

Yep I agree. The good thing is am retired and I don't have to listen to them thank god. southernyankeebelle Jul 2013 #123

I retired last year and I find it much more tolerable as well, since I can basically pick and Nay Jul 2013 #126

Tolerable is the right word. I am very much a home body person. If I never had to go southernyankeebelle Jul 2013 #127

I'm sorry. nt raccoon Jul 2013 #16

It's not just the South formercia Jul 2013 #17

Southern Maine is now very blue overall. The Klan was a pretty short-lived thing as there was a RBInMaine Jul 2013 #32

Agreed formercia Jul 2013 #38

So, what you're confirming for us is that Trayvon never had a chance. Liberal_Stalwart71 Jul 2013 #18

Yep---I sincerely believe that. trumad Jul 2013 #26

Yep! You and I both know that. :( Liberal_Stalwart71 Jul 2013 #77

...and the Prosecution knew this n/t leftstreet Jul 2013 #90

My in-laws live in Oviede...I can attest to everything you said. Atman Jul 2013 #19

I never know what to do on FB PsychGrad Jul 2013 #100

Life is short. Who needs toxic folks entering their lives every day via Facebook or whatever? LuckyLib Jul 2013 #112

Yeah - it's ridiculous... PsychGrad Jul 2013 #117

I'm about an hour south of you I think coeur_de_lion Jul 2013 #20

I have difficulty wrapping my arms around the TP who profess to be anit-abortion and thinks it is Thinkingabout Jul 2013 #21

Here are a couple of photos I took on Main St in Sanford, last year Mira Jul 2013 #22

I haven't seen that building trumad Jul 2013 #29

Never got to downtown - I was going through on the main drag. Mira Jul 2013 #33

My sister and BIL live in Deland, so I think you nailed it. sinkingfeeling Jul 2013 #23

Don't get me started on Deland. trumad Jul 2013 #30

My uncle and cousins live in DeLand too. That's north of Sanford so muntrv Jul 2013 #56

DeLand's not all that bad. Tommy_Carcetti Jul 2013 #88

It's a very expensive private university town. Stetson's students are 82.5% caucasian and sinkingfeeling Jul 2013 #91

But the student body isn't all that racist. Tommy_Carcetti Jul 2013 #97

There's a whole neighborhood of Tea Partiers next to my sister. sinkingfeeling Jul 2013 #98

It's not to be confused with San Francisco. Tommy_Carcetti Jul 2013 #99

I enjoy the Quilt shop. sinkingfeeling Jul 2013 #101

Don't forget the Old Spanish Sugar Mill at DeLeon Springs State Park. Tommy_Carcetti Jul 2013 #102

It's make your own pancakes. sinkingfeeling Jul 2013 #113

Indeed they are !!! rppper Jul 2013 #136

Thank for the insight nt MrScorpio Jul 2013 #25

K&R stonecutter357 Jul 2013 #27

Ah, yes. The county we have to thank for gutting the VRA (along with the SCOTUS, of course). stranger81 Jul 2013 #81

The county we have to thank for gutting the VRA stonecutter357 Jul 2013 #83

I am very sorry that you and your mother don't get along Bluzmann57 Jul 2013 #28

You're so lucky, it's only a few minute drive to The Holyland Experience NightWatcher Jul 2013 #31

My Brother services the Holy Land telephone and Data system trumad Jul 2013 #34

They couldn't have found ONE black juror? femmocrat Jul 2013 #35

I'd like to know the stats on reporting for jury duty by race Patiod Jul 2013 #61

another repercussion handmade34 Jul 2013 #70

Thanks for the heads up. WCLinolVir Jul 2013 #36

KKK just went underground a bit, I think. Lars39 Jul 2013 #40

If you buy along the coastal areas, you'll not be exposed to Southern casual racists. ancianita Jul 2013 #104

You need to be interviewed by the major networks bigdarryl Jul 2013 #37

^^^ Agreed. n/t K Gardner Jul 2013 #54

My friend DainBramaged Jul 2013 #39

We took a vacation in Sarasota last year and loved it.. thought about buying something.. mountain grammy Jul 2013 #41

I feel your pain brotha - I live in Ron Paul's home district kalli007 Jul 2013 #42

Seminole County is not deep-red Tea Pary country. President Obama actually won there Freddie Stubbs Jul 2013 #44

Actually, Rmoney won Seminole County O-Town Blue Jul 2013 #47

I stand corrected Freddie Stubbs Jul 2013 #50

Seminole County is shading purple. O-Town Blue Jul 2013 #133

You mention your three children. They are the future and it is them who can change this jwirr Jul 2013 #45

Dear Trumad abelenkpe Jul 2013 #48

Parts of California are not any better. hunter Jul 2013 #60

Very true unfortunately abelenkpe Jul 2013 #65

Lived in San Fran in the eighties--- I miss it. trumad Jul 2013 #84

simi valley, for example noiretextatique Jul 2013 #76

Central Coast of California leans liberal, environmentally aware. Piedras Jul 2013 #143

thanks for the correction noiretextatique Jul 2013 #165

Thanks for this trumad BobbyBoring Jul 2013 #51

This message was self-deleted by its author darkangel218 Jul 2013 #52

You are like a lot mstinamotorcity2 Jul 2013 #55

Did anyone attempt to change the venue? apples and oranges Jul 2013 #58

Only the defense can bring a change of venue motion. And I'm sure the defense totodeinhere Jul 2013 #62

I see... That doesn't sound fair apples and oranges Jul 2013 #63

Much in our criminal justice system is not fair. n/t totodeinhere Jul 2013 #103

It's not just Florida or the South. I live in Washtenaw County, MI, 40 miles east of Detroit. muntrv Jul 2013 #59

It used to be you couldn't fight city hall olddots Jul 2013 #71

thanks, trumad arely staircase Jul 2013 #72

funny that she called zimmerman george noiretextatique Jul 2013 #74

I'm seriously considering taking UGA mrs_p Jul 2013 #75

Athens is a tiny blue island in that deep red sea KamaAina Jul 2013 #82

true - and it is good to experience new things... mrs_p Jul 2013 #87

Athens is a wonderful & diverse blue place! Do come & visit! CottonBear Jul 2013 #111

I'll be there in September mrs_p Jul 2013 #122

PNW racism is a lot like our rain eridani Jul 2013 #148

very true mrs_p Jul 2013 #156

All the lawyers I know are saying... zentrum Jul 2013 #79

Conservatism is a terminal illness for the US Doctor_J Jul 2013 #85

"...and once he's out...so am I." WilliamPitt Jul 2013 #92

I have a friend from college that actually lives in Sanford... PsychGrad Jul 2013 #95

Get the toxicity out of your life. zeeland Jul 2013 #108

Yeah - I figured. PsychGrad Jul 2013 #109

That will be soon. trumad Jul 2013 #110

Well you are welcome to join us in Puglover Jul 2013 #144

yeah that was my take on where this trial was going and why. Warren Stupidity Jul 2013 #105

I was raised in Sanford in the 50's and 60's ewagner Jul 2013 #107

Are your kids getting out, too, or are they staying around Sanford? I'd love to get out of Nay Jul 2013 #114

Oh no---they are out as soon as they can afford it on their own. trumad Jul 2013 #130

I feel your pain, Trumad. I've been here forever steve2470 Jul 2013 #120

Living here in Jacksonville countryken Jul 2013 #128

Normally, I'd want the black population to get the hell out of there. SleeplessinSoCal Jul 2013 #129

Hang in there trumad Auggie Jul 2013 #135

Come to California when you are free! Taverner Jul 2013 #137

In was a but surprised they didn't get a pool from glowing Jul 2013 #138

That juror sounded like one of the bigoted women from "The Help." JDPriestly Jul 2013 #139

Get the @#$% out! LOL Scurrilous Jul 2013 #140

Sanford sounds a lot like Oklahoma Joey Liberal Jul 2013 #141

Being very sick of the northern winters, I'm planning to move to a warmer clime Sheldon Cooper Jul 2013 #142

You might consider Costa Rica, I am. avebury Jul 2013 #146

Thank you for the advice and I hope it works out for you. Sheldon Cooper Jul 2013 #147

I feel your pain Pretzel_Warrior Jul 2013 #145

Isn't that the same area in Central FL where I saw the big Dubya sign, "Our Leader"? in 2005? leveymg Jul 2013 #149

that sign was about 15 miles west of Oviedo nt steve2470 Jul 2013 #151

Bless your heart, trumad.. Cha Jul 2013 #150

Rec #180 here for trumad's OP and trumad, too David Zephyr Jul 2013 #153

I used to know someone from Sanford back when I was a grad student Lydia Leftcoast Jul 2013 #154

we live where we live. no need to explain it Liberal_in_LA Jul 2013 #155

I wouldn't even travel into Florida if Jesus was there and i was a Leper nolabels Jul 2013 #161

considered moving to Oviedo / Geneva once quaker bill Jul 2013 #164