Racism is a complex and persistent problem that affects many aspects of society, such as health, education, justice, and economy. While racism can be found in every state and city in the US, some places have a more notorious history and reputation of racial discrimination and violence than others. In this article, we will explore which city in North Carolina has been named the most racist city in the state, based on various sources and indicators.
The History of Racism in North Carolina
North Carolina, like many other southern states, has a long and dark history of racism, dating back to the colonial era, when slavery was legal and widespread. The state was one of the original members of the Confederate States of America, which fought to preserve slavery and secede from the Union during the Civil War.
After the war, North Carolina enacted many laws and policies that enforced racial segregation and denied civil rights to African Americans, such as the Jim Crow laws, the literacy tests, and the poll taxes. The state also witnessed many incidents of racial violence and terrorism, such as the Wilmington Massacre of 1898, the Greensboro Massacre of 1979, and the Charlotte Uprising of 2016.
The Current State of Racism in North Carolina
Despite the progress made by the civil rights movement and the federal legislation, racism still persists in North Carolina today, in both overt and covert forms. According to the Southern Poverty Law Center, North Carolina has 31 active hate groups, ranging from white supremacists, neo-Nazis, anti-Muslims, anti-LGBTQs, and black separatists.
According to the FBI, North Carolina reported 166 hate crimes in 2019, of which 57.2% were motivated by race, ethnicity, or ancestry. According to the Statistical Atlas, North Carolina has a diversity score of 71 out of 100, which means it is more diverse than other US states, but it also has significant racial and ethnic disparities in various indicators, such as income, education, health, and incarceration.
The Most Racist City in North Carolina
Based on the available data and sources, the most racist city in North Carolina is Atkinson, a small town in Pender County, with a population of about 300 people. Atkinson has been named the most racist city in the state by RoadSnacks, a website that analyzes various aspects of US cities and states, such as crime, education, economy, and culture.
RoadSnacks used two statistical tests to measure the level of racism in North Carolina cities: the first test was based on the number and location of historic KKK organizations, and the second test was based on the percentage of white population and the percentage of Trump voters in the 2016 presidential election.
According to RoadSnacks, Atkinson scored the highest in both tests, indicating that it has the most historic and current racism in the state. Atkinson had 0.0031 KKK organizations per capita, which was the highest in the state, and it also had 89.7% white population and 76.9% Trump voters, which were among the highest in the state.
The Conclusion
Racism is a serious and pervasive issue that affects many people and communities in North Carolina. While racism can be found in every city and town in the state, some places have a more prominent and problematic history and reputation of racial discrimination and violence than others.
Based on various sources and indicators, the most racist city in North Carolina is Atkinson, a small town in Pender County, that has the highest number of historic KKK organizations and the highest percentage of white population and Trump voters in the state.
Atkinson represents the legacy and the reality of racism in North Carolina, and it also challenges the state and the nation to confront and address the root causes and the consequences of racism in our society.