<p>REGARDING THE MASON DIXON LINE…</p>
<p>I was born in New York, and moved to Alabama when I was 8 years old. Graduated from Auburn University, and then left Alabama for the Navy. Was there racism in Alabama? Yes, but I eventually learned that it was no worse than anywhere else in the country.</p>
<p>I have lived extensively in both Seattle, and in Ohio, and worked with people of all backgrounds.</p>
<p>There is far more “racial tension” in Ohio than anywhere else I have ever lived, including Alabama. I found it shocking (and still do). To repeat, having grown up in Alabama, I found racism in Ohio to be shocking.</p>
<p>For years, Boston had a reputation for being extremely racist. I have had numerous people tell me that Boston is the most racist city that they have ever been in. But even that might be changing… or at least I hope so.</p>
<p>I think you get the picture. Racial tension is not, in any way, limited to the South. In fact, my perception is that the South has made more racial progress than the rest of the country; probably because their problems were initially more obvious. However, the region seems to have learned more about race relations precisely because they could not afford to be smug. Undoubtedly the South still has racial problems, but I have seen no indication that it is any worse than the rest of the country.</p>
<p>In short, racial tensions now have nothing to do with the region in question. Los Angeles has racial problems, Texas has racial problems, Boston has racial problems, and boy does Ohio have racial problems.</p>