Originally posted by clouds R²:
I have known a few rednecky-type whites who were indeed prejudiced. But fortunately their numbers & these attitudes seem to have diminished over the passage of decades.
[steps up upon soapbox]
regarding bigotry in general (not just race-related):
i like to think that we're the first generation in the history of mankind to grow up under the social assumption that bigotry is just morally wrong ... i mean, sure, there are still plenty of flat-out bigots, but they know that society as a whole doesn't accept their views as "correct" ... ours is the first generation in the entire history of mankind to have that "enlightened" base of social mores
that said, i would venture to say that the vast majority of people still view those "different" from them (whether it be sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, whatever) with subconcious or (less often now) blatant prejudice
so while i walk around with that first thought all the time, i'm constantly reminded that even though it isn't "socially acceptable" to be a bigot, we still a long way to go
[alights from soapbox]