Folks want me to move to Tennessee

"Satoshi "Zipang" Katsura" (sundowne36)
11/07/2013 at 15:49 • Filed to: Question

Got a call from a family member wanting me to relocate East - now, mind you, I've been reading a bit about US history and I thought the KKK and the confederacy was a huge thing back in the southeast...?

... Or is it safe there for a Vietnamese bloke?

She said I may have access to a 2010 Toyota (Camry, maybe.)

DISCUSSION (17)

Crocket Bernet > Satoshi "Zipang" Katsura
11/07/2013 at 15:54

You should be alright in the South, it's not like the KKK is out riding through towns on horseback with lassos hanging everyone who isn't white. The south is like everywhere else in the US, just with a funny accent.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > Satoshi "Zipang" Katsura
11/07/2013 at 15:55

The largest modern KKK chapters are in locations such as Indiana and Idaho, FWIW. One of my best friends is half-viet/half-Chinese who grew up in Birmingham. One of the Blue Collar Comedy related guys is a half-Korean who grew up in TN.

If you were to see any blatant racism, it'd be far more likely vs. black people than anyone Asian.

Mr. Ontop, No Strokes, No Smokes...Goes Fast. > Satoshi "Zipang" Katsura
11/07/2013 at 15:55

Much like every other place, you'll find good people and bad ones. You'll be fine. It's been a while since I was there, so you may have a little trouble finding decent pho, but that may have changed since I was there.

ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) > Satoshi "Zipang" Katsura
11/07/2013 at 15:57

Depends where, really.

I would expect the larger cities to be quite diverse. Out in BFN (bum-fuck nowhere), no idea.

Takuro Spirit > Satoshi "Zipang" Katsura
11/07/2013 at 15:58

There's racists everywhere. They're just a little more.... open about it.

I've been wanting to move down there for years. Just need a push....

f86sabre > Satoshi "Zipang" Katsura
11/07/2013 at 15:59

I grew up in Seattle and live in Atlanta. America is pretty much America at this point. Good folks and bad. If you are going to be living in the middle of nowhere someone might ask where you are from, but if you are in any kind of urban environment then you don't have much to worry about...beyond the normal crime that happens everywhere.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht
11/07/2013 at 16:00

I should also note, active racism (i.e. torches and pitchforks, if you will) is pretty much nonexistent in the US anywhere anymore. It depends on whether you prefer people who drawl the N word or act like black people are filthy in some way on the metro - choice of more passive racisms.

04sneaky - Boxers. Blowers. Bikes. And bitches. > Satoshi "Zipang" Katsura
11/07/2013 at 16:00

I lived in Tennessee until I was 17. It was glorious. Little to no snow (been different lately I hear). Gorgeous roads make daily commutes seem like ease compared to the rest of the US, and the culture and comfort of the whole state has to be it's best trait.

If I could move back and not lose anything regarding salary I definitely would. I've been across most of the US and Tennessee and Colorado have to be the two places I'd like to really end up living.

Bob Loblaw Made Me Make a Phoney Phone Call to Edward Rooney > Satoshi "Zipang" Katsura
11/07/2013 at 16:02

For whatever reason, Asians like the South and the South likes Asians.

getchapopcorn > Satoshi "Zipang" Katsura
11/07/2013 at 16:03

The only thing we 'hate' down here are yankees, doesn't matter if they're white, black, yellow, green, purple, or invisible. If you like porches, sittin' a spell, saying hello to anyone that comes w/in 3-4 feet of you, smiling, and don't drive like an ass hat then you'll be fine.

Textured Soy Protein > Satoshi "Zipang" Katsura
11/07/2013 at 16:03

What part of Tennessee? I would live in Memphis just for the food. But I'm Jewish so for the most part I can pass as a regular southern whitefolk.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > getchapopcorn
11/07/2013 at 16:05

Werd. It's the perceived yankee attitude that pisses off the hoi polloi, not so much who it's attached to.

MtrRider Just Wants Doritos > Satoshi "Zipang" Katsura
11/07/2013 at 16:06

I wouldn't worry too much about the Klan. It's 2013, not 1950. Lynch mobs went out of style years ago.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > MtrRider Just Wants Doritos
11/07/2013 at 16:11

The US is also on its third version of the Klan, thereabouts. They keep having to take it in for warranty repair or something.

There do exist so-called neoConfederates, but their axe to grind is isolationism on the Ron Paul/ Pat Buchanan spectrum and grumbling toward Washington - racial context varies from insane to no real racial context whatsoever.

TheBaron2112 > Satoshi "Zipang" Katsura
11/07/2013 at 16:18

I live in Nashville. Apart from the odd comment here and there towards Mexicans and blacks, real cross-burning, minority-lynching is dead and gone.

But if you live in a big city like Nashville, then you're pretty safe.

Come on down. If Nashville or Knoxville or Chattanooga is where you land, you're golden and you'll learn to love the state. Memphis will make you hate life, people, government, and rivers.

ttyymmnn > Satoshi "Zipang" Katsura
11/07/2013 at 16:31

There is a big difference between Nashville and Crossville. I wouldn't worry too much about the KKK, there are assholes like that everywhere. But you might feel more comfortable in a larger city.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > Satoshi "Zipang" Katsura
11/07/2013 at 22:55

If you like great roads and views to please anybody, come on down. If not stay where you are. Racism is not a problem down here anymore than it is anywhere else. In fact the most recent racist news came out of New York. Just stay away from the most southeastern state and you'll be fine.