Where The 'N' Word Lives Part 1

Where The 'N' Word Lives 

Disclaimer: I am not racist not prejudice in any way. I believe all people are just that: people. No matter skin color, background, creed, or sexual orientation all people should be given the same opportunity and not discriminated against. This series is an account of living in small town America and the people I have come into contact with that fit the report of the series. Full words, slang and terms will be used from those I will quote during the series.

Life in Small Town America

I grew up in a small town near Clermont, Florida. My town never had may minorities living there while I was growing up, but the outlining area always had a few until I was older during our population boom. It was said to me that our town had people who didn't like blacks or hispanics. I never really witnessed much of this but did pick up on some idle chat of negativity toward other 'races' on occasion. I even discovered the field near our home was home to Clan meetings. When I expressed my concern saying "That's scary!" our family friend said, "Why? You're not black." I was probably 12-14 years of age then. 

Going to school we never really had people who expressed hate toward others until high school. The Clermont area bused us to Groveland at the time, an area where there was a mix of Mexicans, Puerto Ricans, blacks and rednecks. Heavy on the rednecks. Most fights in school were the Mexicans and Puerto Ricans. Occasionally you would have the rednecks going after the others. Mostly though it was the hispanics who fought each other. I think it was just that common knowledge with us that these two groups never got along. Just down the road to Mascot and Stucky was primarily redneck territory and farms, mud holes and forest, dotted with Mexican families. I don't think we ever thought about it at all really.

Fast forward to today. This area I currently live is totally different in mentality. Roughly 45 minutes north of the Clermont area there is a mix of all types. North of Mount Dora even. While there are some blacks and Mexicans you rarely see them. Rednecks in their big mudding trucks don hunting gear, camo and have an odd mix of rap or country blasting through their stereos. Whenever you see blacks or Mexicans it's seldom in the stores here. In one area there is a sort of ghetto- a place you know is bad to go in the middle of this town. Stories of parking there and within seconds your stereo goes missing or guns pointed on you are told. It's an all black community in this part. Mexicans around this area aren't all legalized citizens. Just down the street from me are a couple Mexican families with 9 children each in a single wide, sell food stamps the beg for food after spending whatever they did have on junk for the week. They are known to steal SSN cards and sell them to other Mexicans to apply for benefits that many Americans this day need. These people also encourage their children to steal the other childrens' toys from the yards with no repercussion.

Generally Speaking

The words 'nigger' and 'spick' are thrown around often when talking about these other nationalities, even if they aren't speaking of those living near them. The generalities of where blacks work is known, and a lot of the Mexicans have stereotypical jobs as well. Not that you don't see any of these nationalities doing anything else- it's like it's assumed that is where they will be seen if they do work.

It's almost as bad as my assuming everyone with a rebel flag is a racist. While a symbol for the South Confederacy who did own slaves, almost everyone I have met with this flag flying thinks the roots meant to also be prejudice.

It seems like it's all just Southern Right Wing Conservatives- if your not white and/or straight you aren't right nor are you natural, and many be damned if you aren't Christian. Yet not everyone follows Christian doctrine in this area despite saying they are. That another time.

The ideas and words are used so much around these parts it's almost like everyday words such as 'and' and 'the'. It still makes me uncomfortable, but I know it's not just here.



Part Two: Next time we will pick up on some other areas where race and inequality seem to rear their heads as well as even discussing the hot topic debate in the news with the Zimmerman trial.