TOTALLY GEEKED!

Members Login
Username 
 
Password 
    Remember Me  
totallygeeked -> totallygeeked general -> how to respond when a hate group tries to set up shop near your home
Post Info TOPIC: how to respond when a hate group tries to set up shop near your home
ed11563


Guru

Status: Offline
Posts: 9186
Date:
how to respond when a hate group tries to set up shop near your home
Permalink  
 

 

Upworthy

 

These 11 images show just how to respond when a hate group tries to set up shop near your home.

Even though some think of the KKK as a secret, underground organization, they're not. Especially not in the Ozarks.

Residents of the region are speaking up. In amazing ways.

What would you do if the KKK decided not just to put its headquarters near your house, but start a youth camp to train young people "to be a voice of racial redemption"?

This happened in July 2015 in Harrison, Arkansas.

PM-22c2823f720ca0cc5c9a292638aa8225.png

You might be a little annoyed, right?

When Rachel Luster, a librarian, community organizer, and arts and community advocate in the Ozark region, saw this headline on Raw Story, it got real: "Klan camp: KKK developing 'a mighty army' of white nationalists at five day training in July."

A lifetime Ozarker, she was more than annoyed. She was ready to act.

"I had this visceral reaction and I didn't know what I was going to do, but as a human being and as an Ozarker, I had to do something about this."
— Rachel Luster

She spoke with members of community organizations across the South, including Black Lives Matter activists who were protesting Klan rallies in Charleston, South Carolina in the wake of the removal of the Confederate flag.

The #NotMyOzarks campaign was born.

That's Rachel up there with her adorable family!

It's a pretty typical hashtag campaign, using the hashtags #NotMyOzarks and #RuralNotRacist to spread their message of love.

Looking at all the images, you see a picture of rural America that you just don't see elsewhere.

 

I spoke at length with Rachel on the phone, and she had some important things to say about the culture of silence among rural folks when it comes to race, as well as the need to break that chain.

"We grow up and we're taught ... it's not polite to talk about race or politics or anything like that, and it's also not polite to judge somebody by what color they are or 'who their momma is.'"
— Rachel Luster

n-a37f504b7114d6aaac2119e986fee8a5.jpg

A heartwarming quote from "To Kill a Mockingbird," drawn on a piece of paper in the shape of Arkansas. Image via Not My Ozarks Facebook.

Rachel continued:

"We don't really talk about things. But for me in particular ... I just feel like the only way it can get better is if we open [ourselves] up to this conversation — even if it's uncomfortable, even if it is awkward."

 

Cool Missouri farmer guy, keeping it real. MO LOVE.

Thanks to the power of the Internet, people in the Ozarks are pushing back against racism.

The #NotMyOzarks campaign has over 2,000 Facebook Likes, and the number of participants is growing.

Communities that were once living in isolation to come together to stand in solidarity. That makes me happy.

 

If you want to join them in their message of love, take a photo of your family and post it using the hashtag #RuralNotRacist and #NotMyOzarks. Or just follow them on Facebook. In the few days I've known about this group, they've gotten hundreds of new Likes.

It's beautiful to watch love surmount hate.

About:

I first heard about this story on a blog called The Daily Yonder, which is the best title for a blog that covers rural goings-on. H/t to the Facebook page The Art of the Rural! And you can follow Rachel Luster on Twitter at @NotMyOzarks.

Here's info from The Daily Yonder on all the groups coming together behind the #NotMyOzarks #NotMyRural #RuralNotRacist campaign:

"You may follow the campaign at #NotmyOzarks, via our Twitter , Instagram and Facebook accounts or join the Facebook event page. The coalition launching the campaign includes the following organizations: SURJ: Showing Up for Racial Justice (Nashville), SONG: Southerners on New Ground, McElroy House: Organization for Cultural Resources, Little Rock Collective Liberation, Fayetteville Free Zone, Russellville for Justice, Omni Center for Peace, Justice, and Ecology, and Occupy the Ozarks along with individuals representing their families and communities."

Topics:
  • Diversity and Equality
  • Humanity and Culture
Published:
Jul 28, 2015

Want More Good Stuff?

Subscribe to our YouTube channel to stay tuned to the most meaningful videos on the web.

 
 

 

UP logo

© Cloud Tiger Media.
All rights reserved.

Upworthy draws attention to stories that matter.

Sensational and substantial. Entertaining and enlightening. That's what you can expect here: no empty calories. Just a steady stream of the most irresistibly shareable stuff you can click on without feeling bad about yourself afterwards. Read more.

About

Join Us

Legalese

 

 

 

border_3.gifspacer.gifborder_3.gif
spacer.gifspacer.gifspacer.gif
spacer.gif spacer.gif
border_3.gif
spacer.gifspacer.gif
spacer.gif

 

 

 



__________________

The Principle of Least Interest: He who cares least about a relationship, controls it.

Always misinterpret when you can.
FNW


Guru

Status: Offline
Posts: 18703
Date:
Permalink  
 

When I lived in WV, I was approached by a Clansman came door to door trying to recruit. I told him my employer prohibited me from joining outside organizations. He was okay with that, and left me alone. No way I'm going to make myself a target for this group, no matter how atrocious I feel they are..

__________________

#it's5o'clocksomewhere
weltschmerz


Guru

Status: Offline
Posts: 4882
Date:
Permalink  
 

I have an issue with the Jehovah's Witnesses coming to my house to recruit me and handing out The Watchtower.. Do I go to their house and hand out blank pamphlets?

__________________
Lawyerlady


On the bright side...... Christmas is coming! (Mod)

Status: Offline
Posts: 27192
Date:
Permalink  
 

Your atheist non-beliefs don't teach you that it is your duty to convert others. Of course - most atheists attempt to do so anyway, even without a God-given command to do so.

__________________

LawyerLady

 

I can explain it to you, but I can't understand it for you. 
Lawyerlady


On the bright side...... Christmas is coming! (Mod)

Status: Offline
Posts: 27192
Date:
Permalink  
 

FNW wrote:

When I lived in WV, I was approached by a Clansman came door to door trying to recruit. I told him my employer prohibited me from joining outside organizations. He was okay with that, and left me alone. No way I'm going to make myself a target for this group, no matter how atrocious I feel they are..

 Wow, really?  To your door?  That's bold.



__________________

LawyerLady

 

I can explain it to you, but I can't understand it for you. 
lilyofcourse


My spirit animal is a pink flamingo.

Status: Offline
Posts: 38325
Date:
Permalink  
 

Never had a hate group do anything near me.

Well....

I won't go there.

I've had all kinds of witnesses come to the house. We talk if I feel like it. If not, I tell them no and close the door.


The only ones that get on my nerves are the two brothers on the back side trying to sell me popcorn. Those boys don't know when to stop. With their little uniforms and freshly washed faces smiling up at me. It's popcorn. And not even good popcorn. But we buy it. It's like they have some jedi mind trick thing happening. They will full on Obi Wan you in no time.


__________________

A flock of flirting flamingos is pure, passionate, pink pandemonium-a frenetic flamingle-mangle-a discordant discotheque of delirious dancing, flamboyant feathers, and flamingo lingo.

Charley Harper
Lexxy


My dog name is Sasha, too!

Status: Offline
Posts: 6679
Date:
Permalink  
 

weltschmerz wrote:

I have an issue with the Jehovah's Witnesses coming to my house to recruit me and handing out The Watchtower.. Do I go to their house and hand out blank pamphlets?

 I don't answer my door if I'm not expecting anyone.  Nobody who knows me would drop by unannounced.



__________________
Ohfour


Hooker

Status: Offline
Posts: 12666
Date:
Permalink  
 

A Jehovah's Witnesses knocked on my door yesterday, so I answered it and asked if he wanted to come in he said, "Yeah, okay."
I said I'm just making a cup of tea do you want one? He said, "Yeah, sure."
I said I've just made some toast do you want a slice? He said, "Yeah, why not."
I then he sat down and I asked him, "So what now?" He said, "I don't know I've never got this far before!"

__________________

America guarantees equal opportunity, not equal outcome...
lilyofcourse


My spirit animal is a pink flamingo.

Status: Offline
Posts: 38325
Date:
Permalink  
 

That's funny.



__________________

A flock of flirting flamingos is pure, passionate, pink pandemonium-a frenetic flamingle-mangle-a discordant discotheque of delirious dancing, flamboyant feathers, and flamingo lingo.

Charley Harper
Lexxy


My dog name is Sasha, too!

Status: Offline
Posts: 6679
Date:
Permalink  
 

Ha!!

My grandmother was old & lonely & she used to invite them into my mom's house all the time when she was living there. My mom didn't know. She had a fit when one of her neighbors told her.

__________________
ed11563


Guru

Status: Offline
Posts: 9186
Date:
Permalink  
 

Lawyerlady wrote:
FNW wrote:

When I lived in WV, I was approached by a Clansman came door to door trying to recruit. I told him my employer prohibited me from joining outside organizations. He was okay with that, and left me alone. No way I'm going to make myself a target for this group, no matter how atrocious I feel they are..

 Wow, really?  To your door?  That's bold.

There were a lot of houses that didn't have phones. In 1965, state-of-the-art was a party line ... with 5 parties. No dialing, pick up the receiver and click for the Operator. 

In a lot of places, dropping by was the only way to make contact.

 

 



__________________

The Principle of Least Interest: He who cares least about a relationship, controls it.

Always misinterpret when you can.
ed11563


Guru

Status: Offline
Posts: 9186
Date:
Permalink  
 

Lawyerlady wrote:

Your atheist non-beliefs don't teach you that it is your duty to convert others. Of course - most atheists attempt to do so anyway, even without a God-given command to do so.

Shucks, I've never tried to convert anyone. What am I missing? cry



__________________

The Principle of Least Interest: He who cares least about a relationship, controls it.

Always misinterpret when you can.
FNW


Guru

Status: Offline
Posts: 18703
Date:
Permalink  
 

ed11563 wrote:
Lawyerlady wrote:
FNW wrote:

When I lived in WV, I was approached by a Clansman came door to door trying to recruit. I told him my employer prohibited me from joining outside organizations. He was okay with that, and left me alone. No way I'm going to make myself a target for this group, no matter how atrocious I feel they are..

 Wow, really?  To your door?  That's bold.

There were a lot of houses that didn't have phones. In 1965, state-of-the-art was a party line ... with 5 parties. No dialing, pick up the receiver and click for the Operator. 

In a lot of places, dropping by was the only way to make contact.

 

 

 Ahem.  I was not old enough to reach the doorknob in 1965.  This occurred in 1997 or 1998.  I don't answer the door if I do not know who is knocking, but my boyfriend at the time did.



__________________

#it's5o'clocksomewhere
FNW


Guru

Status: Offline
Posts: 18703
Date:
Permalink  
 

And when I first moved there, I noticed young people used to "meet up" at the old movie theater parking lot. I thought it was just a hangout, but a black friend of mine tipped me off that it was a klans meeting.

__________________

#it's5o'clocksomewhere
Page 1 of 1  sorted by
Quick Reply

Please log in to post quick replies.
totallygeeked -> totallygeeked general -> how to respond when a hate group tries to set up shop near your home


Create your own FREE Forum
Report Abuse 		Powered by ActiveBoard