Racism really an issue in TN? (Memphis, Knoxville: 2014, home, neighborhood)

[ThatguyinAK]

I recently left Alaska and have been traveling through the US for the past 8 months. Whenever I mentioned to folks about possibly relocating to Tennessee, I’m told that I need to be careful where I choose due to race issues. This is come from both whites and minorities and include the larger cities. I’ve only been to Memphis and didn’t see any of that but was only there for a few days doing tourist stuff. Obviously I don’t want to believe this. I know not every State is perfect (obviously). So how are the race relations in TN? Where would a minority feel more included or what area should one avoid? I’ll be visiting myself later this spring.

[grampaTom]

I've lived near Maryville for the past 5 plus years and I just don't see a problem with overt racism it around here.
My suspicion is that it would more of an issue in the Memphis area and I base that on things I heard while living in Arkansas from people who had moved away from Memphis and its suburbs.

There will be some biased people anywhere/everywhere of course. That's just human nature.

[Serious Conversation]

I guess it depends on who you ask.

The recent "pushing out" of ETSU basketball coach Jason Shay in Johnson City was ostensibly due to powerful community leaders not liking Shay kneeling with his players. If you were to ask his players, I'm sure they feel the issues are racial.

I rarely see it in day to day life, but I'm white and fairly affluent. I probably have a different perspective than the small % of minorities in this area.

[JMT]

Originally Posted by ThatguyinAK

I recently left Alaska and have been traveling through the US for the past 8 months. Whenever I mentioned to folks about possibly relocating to Tennessee, I’m told that I need to be careful where I choose due to race issues. This is come from both whites and minorities and include the larger cities. I’ve only been to Memphis and didn’t see any of that but was only there for a few days doing tourist stuff. Obviously I don’t want to believe this. I know not every State is perfect (obviously). So how are the race relations in TN? Where would a minority feel more included or what area should one avoid? I’ll be visiting myself later this spring.

A bi-racial family from Pennsylvania moved to my neck of the woods near Cookeville about a year ago. The husband is AA, the wife is white. They have said over and over that this is, by far, the least racist place they have ever lived in. The husband, in particular, said people seem to go out of their way to be friendly and welcoming, even complimenting them on having such beautiful kids as they take walks around the neighborhood. Since it's still fashionable to stereotype Southerners, they were warned before moving here that they wouldn't be welcomed, that the kids wouldn't have any friends, that the dad would be shunned, etc. It's been the complete opposite.

Likewise, a bi-racial family in my church in Cookeville has said similar things. The dad is Nigerian, the mom is lily white. They've experienced zero racism here, and the kids are thriving.

This doesn't mean that racism doesn't exist, but in much (most?) of Tennessee it's such a non issue, it's almost insulting to hear people bring it up. If you want to play it safe, stick to the larger towns and college towns.

[2mares]

Originally Posted by ThatguyinAK

I recently left Alaska and have been traveling through the US for the past 8 months. Whenever I mentioned to folks about possibly relocating to Tennessee, I’m told that I need to be careful where I choose due to race issues. This is come from both whites and minorities and include the larger cities. I’ve only been to Memphis and didn’t see any of that but was only there for a few days doing tourist stuff. Obviously I don’t want to believe this. I know not every State is perfect (obviously). So how are the race relations in TN? Where would a minority feel more included or what area should one avoid? I’ll be visiting myself later this spring.

What particular race issues? Were these people from Tennessee?

[BrianGC]

I'm black and lived in a very rural part of TN for 3 years (2014-2017) - Lawrence County (94% white last time I looked up the stats). I never had issues with race, and there was actually a fair amount of interracial couples and children, considering the limited amount of minorities.

People were very friendly, but it was tough making actual friends unless you have kids and/or go to church; however, that seems to be less of an issue in the actual cities of TN. I didn't feel like race was the problem, though.

[ThatguyinAK]

Originally Posted by 2mares

What particular race issues? Were these people from Tennessee?

Some were and some weren’t. It was the “I’d be careful moving there” speech. I know it’s a loaded question and not trying to offend people in or from TN. It was just that these 8 people in different locations, not knowing each other all said the same thing. One was an Asian restaurant owner who was my age and he warned me about Gatlinburg. One was a retired cop from another state telling me the police(no specific town mentioned) were part of the problem. I suspect it’s the how the south has always been or seemed less welcoming to minorities. I’ve spent a portion of my life in VA and TX.
I suspect it’s more of a class issue rather than a race issue. More affluent areas in the lower 48 tend to be “less” racist at least on the surface.
As mentioned I plan to visit more of the state later this spring other than Memphis.

[VinceTheExplorer]

Folks in southern Virginia (Tazwell area and surrounding) are a special breed if you get my drift, and are near the TN / VA state line.

I have seen similar “types” in the areas surrounding Johnson City like Bristol, Kingsport, Norton, Greenville and even here in Erwin, but TBH gets much more prevalent as you head north into Virginia.

My job is home based but I also have a company vehicle and some weeks put a 1000 miles on it while traveling throughout the region.

Will say that the area surrounding Greenville, TN seems to a lot of those that you may be describing, but southern VA is on a completely different level than most areas here in Eastern Tennessee. Hope that helps.

[jabogitlu]

I am 32 years old and grew up in a very rural part of Northeast Tennessee. Racism is real, pervasive, and rampant in places like that. I'm talking Newport, Camp Creek, Del Rio kinds of places.

If you're living in urban or suburban Nashville or Chattanooga or Knoxville, it may be that you don't experience any more racism than in any other part of the country. (I'm white, so it's hard for me to contextualize, as I don't have those lived experiences...)

What I can say is that the population in a state like Tennessee is less educated about what institutional racism looks like, which has been cast into deep relief recently by the events at ETSU as mentioned previously in this thread.

[2mares]

Originally Posted by ThatguyinAK

Some were and some weren’t. It was the “I’d be careful moving there” speech. I know it’s a loaded question and not trying to offend people in or from TN. It was just that these 8 people in different locations, not knowing each other all said the same thing. One was an Asian restaurant owner who was my age and he warned me about Gatlinburg. One was a retired cop from another state telling me the police(no specific town mentioned) were part of the problem. I suspect it’s the how the south has always been or seemed less welcoming to minorities. I’ve spent a portion of my life in VA and TX.
I suspect it’s more of a class issue rather than a race issue. More affluent areas in the lower 48 tend to be “less” racist at least on the surface.
As mentioned I plan to visit more of the state later this spring other than Memphis.

What specific race issues did they warn against.
Im not offended. We get this kind of question all the time but I have yet to know what kind of issues people are having with race and/or sexual orientation that they not experienced in any other part of the country or that they have overwhelming had in Tennessee.
I have been in TN for over 40 years. I live in a very rural town but went to school and worked most of my life in Cookeville, a college town. I have seen the area become much more diverse over the years but I have never seen or even read of any racial issues. Even in unincorporated Mayland there are Indians, Asians, Blacks and interracial couples and no racial issues.

This is why I am curious as to examples of racism people have experienced in Tennessee.
Gatlinburg is a tourist town so you will have people from all over there. I cant imagine locals who livelyhood depends of tourism money are going to display overt racism. My brother is also a policeman. I have heard lots of stories but never anything related to racism.