The Personal Side of Bias, Prejudice, and Oppression

My husband and I moved to a pretty rural area about five years ago from New Jersey.  Growing up, I hadn't experienced much prejudice or racism and knew after researching where we were moving to that that could change.  Several weeks after moving here and meeting my neighbors, the gentleman from across the road came over to my husband.  He was in his late eighties at the time and had lived in the area his whole life.  While making small talk with my husband, he made the comment, "Beaver Falls is as dirty as the N****** that live there."  My husband, who is white, takes offense much more to racist comments than I do and proceeded to remind the gentleman that I was black and to get off of his property.  A few hours later, our neighbor left a peace offering on our door step, fresh green tomatoes from his garden.  After this experience, I became extremely uncomfortable living in our town.  I wondered and still do how people perceive me, whether or not they feel as though I am capable of working and owning a home in our area, and just all around discouraged.  This being such a small town, I could see the lack of social progress that has been made.  In order for the opportunity of greater equity to increase, personal views and biases would have to be changed, whether from positive experiences with me or change from within the person.  Also, the surrounding towns and cities, governors and mayors, must work together to bring better awareness of the plight of the residents.  General attitudes and beliefs need to be changed and that will only come when greater cultural awareness is brought to the area.