Southern racism is rude, prevelent and hard to ignore. Even amongst friends it maybe hard to let down your guard. Took the kids to visit Dad's hometown in South Carolina. I too could tell tales. And no, I wouldn't raise my kids there.

Northern racism is also strong. It comes from friends who find they are not quite as liberal as they thought. From the best friend since kindergarden whose parents now don't want you to visit because dating wouldn't be okay. From being in a group of friends and seeing your white friend pocket a small item but having the shop keeper search only you because he knows it's gone,but the other kid just walks away. Unexpected intermittent reinforcement by the well intentioned is very powerful. Folks you love hurt much more than those who refuse to know you. And it comes in all colors.

For me this is not an issue solved in the national arena, that is only rhetoric. It's one best addressed by each of us day to day. We are all responsible. It would be nice if instead of one upmanship we could simply each find a cornor to help clean up. It's a murky moral high ground at best.