Racism in Wisconsin

As we discuss the racist rant on Folkbum’s site, I reflect on my experience with racism…

I’m a child of Texans, but I spent my adolescence in Riyadh.  As a white Christian in an Arab Muslim nation, I generally felt accepted as long as we kept to our own kind, so to speak.  There were certainly places for foreigners and places where we didn’t belong.  But generally, we spent a lot of time in the homes of Muslim Arab families playing with other kids and I never felt unwelcome.  My deep impression is of welcoming, gracious people, but then again, I was always conscious that I was the visitor in their culture. 

In Texas from age 12-26 or so, it was fairly racially integrated.  Horribly racist jokes and nicknames abounded - from all sides - but people of all races were just a part of everyday life.  Blacks, Hispanics, Asians, etc. were my friends, bosses, employees, colleagues, customers, acquaintances, etc.  I admit that the language could be rough from time to time to those of a more sensitive ear, but most people of all races I knew in Texas identified themselves first as Texans, second as Americans, and somewhere down the line as their particular race.  

Since moving to Wisconsin, I think it’s the most racially segregated and stunted area in which I’ve lived since Riyadh.  People are geographically and culturally segregated by race to an alarming extent.  It’s disturbing.  I understand that it’s much worse in other places, but it’s certainly not great here. 

I know… I’m a white guy, so I’m not allowed to opine on these things… but it’s my observation…