... not terribly racist, at this point. It was VERY racist, when I was growing up.

... everyone to channel their inner redneck...

And Pekin isn't on the list? A former "sundown town" with a high school mascot of the "Pekin Chinks" (with a little guy pulling a rickshaw).

http://www.movoto.com/blog/top-ten/most-boring-places-in-illinois/

1. Village of New Lenox
2. City of Rolling Meadows
3. Calumet City
4. Village of Lake in the Hills
5. Village of Huntley
6. Village of Bolingbrook (tie)
6. Village of Hanover Park (tie)
8. Village of Oswego
9. Village of Vernon Hills
10. Village of Streamwood

And a black friend of mine moved south from Mattoon to Effingham when he got a new job. He quit the job and came back three months later. He claimed that there is a "line" just above Neoga that black people should never cross. There was an online map of racist tweets posted a while back that showed a super hot spot centered on Neoga. I also remember the many "sundown towns" in my area when there were actually signs posted warning black folk to "not let the sun set on you in this town". Some local churches still preach of the "mud people" and "the Mark of Cain" (dark skin).

Oddly enough, since Illinois was a Union state, there are tons of rebel Confederate flags flying around my area. In my high school American history class, we were taught that the Civil War had nothing to do with slavery, but was an act of Northern oppression against southern states.

I know redneck does not mean racist, but you don't have to scratch most rednecks very deep to get a racist comment. It is how they were raised and taught.

When was this rally?

There were many 'sundown towns' here in southern Illinois, but that policy ceased to exists in the '50s, in practical terms. The par about the churches may be true, because small churches cover southern IL like scattered grapeshot.

IL was a Union state, of course, but there was a sharp division of loyalties south of the National Road.

I would have answered "not very" except the other day on my way to the grocery store we passed a pickup truck with two giant confederate flags waving from the back. I'm amazed and what's worse afraid to openly display my dismay now that concealed carry means odds are good the bigot is armed.


ETA - How appropriate my 666th post is about Wheaton....LMAO

Yeah we are a mecca for Confederate flags up here in Antioch.

I had my truck towed about a month ago. Was having a perfectly nice conversation with the tow guy and he just want off on "Mexicans taking our jobs". I couldn't understand most of what he was saying...just glad he left.

It's brutal up here.