How bad is racism in Tennessee?

First, short story... I am in an interracial relationship. The last time me and my wife were there (Middle Tennessee area) visiting friends we were walking across the parking lot at a shopping center when a car passing us comes to a complete stop and the driver leans out the window smiling ear to ear and says "where'd you find that n*gger at?" and busts out laughing... passenger yells over something unintelligible about "the jungle". I began to say something not so nice in defense when the driver taps some sort of pistol on the steering wheel and tells me 'I'd mind my business if I knew what was good for me'. I've experienced what I thought to be racism throughout my life but nothing that even comes close to this experience. We live in Ohio. I was just wondering if anybody could give me any insight as to how common these ehh types of people or bold/insane behavior are in the region? I know the area has a reputation for racism but this?!?...

Tennessee has nothing to do with it. Racism exists everywhere. It's really a shame that the Southern States get such a bad reputation regarding racism when it exists everywhere on the map. It's truly unfortunate that you had such a horrible experience but don't hold it against the people of Tennessee.

It's about the same everywhere you go. There are intolerant people both north and south of the Mason Dixon Borderline

OH, WOW! I live in Middle Tennessee. Please don't judge us on those ignorant "people". I hated to use that word. I am not part of an interracial relationship but my sister was for a long time and I never heard her say anything about any problems. Of course some people gave them stares but that's it. Not saying that's good but compared to the situation you were in ... Anyway, I think you had a horrible experience but I wouldn't let that stop you from visiting again.

The racism here is no different from the racism anywhere else. Yeah you just experienced one of the arrogant, I'M STILL RACIST AND WHO CARES, type of people, but truth be told its the same everywhere down south. I have lived here my whole life and I have never been called any kind of racial slur ( to my knowledge). TN tends to get more publicity on racism, because this is where the KKK started, but its no different.

My ex is from there and we visited a few times and its bad especially down in the holler and yes i did learn where the holler is its over yonder . I'm so happy to be out of that family and would never move there . Just down rite hillbillies . I only have a high school education but they all called me college boy. Just goes to show you there mentality there

My guess is that racism in Tennessee is as bad as it is anywhere. Racism (like ignorance) knows no boundaries. The comforting thing I have found in my experiences is that in the southern states of the U.S. it is usually more overt. So at least you know who hates you. I find that much better than the covert manner when you think you know who's with you, only to find out later that you were wrong.

The important thing is to love and protect those that matter to you. There is always an "-ism" lurking around the corner to derail you. You and the rest of us need to be strong enough to make those that practice hate the "uncomfortable minority". I have also found that ignoring such idiots is a very powerful tool. The worst thing one can do to a person is to act as if they don't exist. Of course...sometimes a man has to do what a man has to do. It's a balancing act. One just has to learn to use the appropriate tools/behavior for the situation.

I wish you and yours the very best.

p.s. Just for the record I have experienced the same ignorance in Ohio. It was an exception, but it happened never-the-less.

Racism is bad everywhere. By you being in the south it is very much more overt than up north, but still as bad none the less. Not everyone is like this, but you do find a more "boldness" with racist acts in the south. I lived in Los Angeles, and now in Texas (yhea I know) and I can tell, the racism is very different here. I still see confederate flags, and have heard whites use the n word on several occasions. When in L.A. it was still racist but in a more hidden way. So just ignore them to the best of your ability, but depending on the person, you may have to do what you have to do. (sad but true)!

Those kind of people are not going anywhere, and neither should you!

I live in Tennessee and I am so tired of people stereotyping Tennesseans. Don't judge one area because of someone that is ignorant. It's like when something big happens in Tennessee the news goes and finds the most country sounding ignorant person they can find and then Tennessee comes off looking like a bunch of Hicks.