Reply #21: Heart breaking question for those of you who live in the South [View All]

[Frances]

Are you open and honest about your views on politics with your relatives? with your friends?

I was born and raised in Alabama. I had never been north of Atlanta or west of New Orleans until I was 26 years old. I left during the Civil Rights Movement. As far as I know, not one of my MANY relatives supported that movement. In fact, many of my relatives are still angry because I came out against segregation after the Selma march. A couple of years ago, my mother told my niece that the Selma march happened because a lot of black people caused a "fuss."

I have a friend here in California who is also from a large family in Alabama. All of his relatives in Alabama were for Bush in the last election. I am pretty sure the same is true for me. The reason I'm not sure is that I no longer talk politics with my Southern relatives. They have made it clear that I don't "fit in" with the Southern way of thinking.