The Personal Side of Bias, Prejudice, and Oppression

The small town in Missouri, in which my family still resides, is surrounded by smaller towns, still stuck in a time where prejudice was the norm, surprising with a military base so close by. Just maybe 20 miles down the road, is a town filled with modern day KKK members. While I was living in Missouri, a co-worker and her husband, new to the area, purchased a house in the KKK town prior to arriving to the base, not knowing the social beliefs. My co-worker is Caucasian and her husband black, immediately went to view their house prior to signing the final papers. Needless to say, my co-worker did not receive a friendly welcome, and while most contracts have an out  the upon viewing, when purchased site unseen, there is no out if the town doesn’t like you.

The treatment diminished equity, as they spent over four years living in a town that did not welcome them, would not accept them, and made their life difficult. Their children did not have friends in their neighborhood, and as a family, they were outcasts. It saddened me greatly, to see them feel like lepers. The prejudice is so strong in such towns, and runs deep into the veins of the people, change would need to come from the majority of the town’s people for there to be an opportunity for greater equity. The base did start to become involved with the town, collaborating with them to support and participate in joint events, as means to bridge the gap and spread awareness, and things in a small way did get easier. Perhaps my co-worker and her family sparked what will eventually change the ideas of the town.