Is Racism Alive And Well In The Lone Star State?

Racism exists everywhere in individuals. It always has been so. It always will be so. However, in no place in the United States is it legally sanctioned including Texas. No law-abiding citizen is allowed to act on their prejudicial attitudes.

Is there a greater incidence of prejudiced thinking in Texas than in other places? I don't know (and I don't believe anyone who claims they do).

I was born and raised in the South, sired by the most racist person I ever knew. Truth be told, he was indiscriminate in his discrimination. He hated everybody except white Lutherans of German extraction. (Although he was of German extraction, he always claimed that he was.) I believe that he hated Catholics most of all, but that didn't prevent him from venting his spleen on blacks. And, no, he wasn't a southerner by birth. He was born and raised in Pennsylvania which, at one time, was the home of the KKK. Thus, I recognize racism when I see it.

As I have traveled and lived in many states, I have found racism everywhere. It flourished in Hawaii (where I lived for five years) where the people loved to brag that racism didn't exist (it's just that on one group represented a majority there and, as a consequence, couldn't express their racial bias except in personal ways). It is rampant in Southern California where I live today.

I have only visited Texas briefly (maybe a week at a time on business) and didn't see any more overt racism practiced there than other places. Indeed, far less than others (such as Pennsylvania).

Now don't go jumping me you Pennsylvanians. I'm sure that there are other places just as bad or worse. I simply can't bear witness to them. My experience is limited, probably just as limited as those who want to anoint Texas as the capitol of racism.

Look racism exists and always will but to shine a spot light on the select few that choose to be racisit doesn't solve anything.

Unfortunately racism still exists in every state. An issue that wint just go away from lack of attention. Lest not forget that racism isn't a one color issue either.

Racism exists within all races toward those that are different or at least perceived to be different or of lessor status. Racism in not bread into an individual, it is taught. Discussion, education and positive experiences is how we eventually abolish racism. It will take years and maybe even more than some of use have available. Just pass on the good fight to the next Generation (Education).

Nah, dragging a black man behind a truck happens everywhere and having a governor with a ranch called "Ni@&$rhead Ranch is common.......

I'm certain there is no more racism in Texas than any other state. It seems to me the more progressive states have more trouble with racial issues than states like Texas.

Yes. And it has always been that way.

Yes I am afraid Texas is deeply racist. It has been for along time. Texans take great pride in the Great State. They should take a good look at themselves, from who they elect for state offices
to the composition of the patrons of a bar. Texas is a big state but I'm not to sure I'd call it Great.

Back in the 60's, me and my brother-in-law went to Lake Sam Rayburn, in East Texas. We went to a fish camp that rented boats. When we asked the owner about renting a boat, he went outside and,looking directly at the boats, said, boats? I don't see no boats. We laughed, thinking he was joking. He wasn't. My mom and dad had a place near there and I knew thief friend that lived there. We went to her house and she let us use her Bass boat. We went back to the fishing camp and launched the boat, while the redneck SOB was watching. He had a look wondering where we got the boat. He called the sheriff. The sheriff came out all ready to bust us. He asked where we got the boat, and I told him where we got it. He called the owner and she verified our story. We went fishing for the rest of the day. We took the boat back to the owner and left to go home. On the way out of Lufkin, Texas, we stopped to get gas. The same sheriff came over to U.S. And asked where we were going. He had on a pair of those " a Cool Hand Luke" sunglasses and a toothpick in his mouth. He asked where we were from. We told him, and he told us to git, and get gas at the next town. When we asked him what we had done, he told us he didn't like Vietnam veterans with long hair and for us to get our asses out of his town. Our hair wasn't real long, but too long for this redneck. My point after this boring story, is that there are many ways to show racism. This was one of them in the 60's. The black folks in Lufkin, at that time, we're not being discriminated against. It was the long haired, hippy looking, drug smoking, Vietnam vets. What does my story illustrate? It illustrates that it doesn't matter what race you are, if you don't look or act like someone thinks you're supposed to, you can be racially profiled.

Racism is alive and well everywhere. It's nothing new. And with all the social media out there now blowing it all up in our faces, it's just talked baout more. It is no more a bigger issue than it was in the 80s. Or 90s. It's just more open with the internet and social media being at the forefront of everything that is dramatic.