Hey Indie. Thank you very much for this blog. Mississippi is a beautiful state. This blog helps tell the world that just cause the address is southern doesn't mean it's racist. There are alot folks who are just tired of the assumption. Groups that promote racial harmony are alive and kickin. And folks who just live their lives of kindness never get the press that one bigot would get.

Canadian Gal. I'm so sorry for your experiences in New Orleans of all places. I've lived in the South all my life. That would be a long time. I'm not blind and have seen just how mean spirited SOME folks can be. But I've never seen overt racism like you mention here. Never. Who was saying these things? People on the street? Tourist on the ship? Folks in the hotels? How terrible. But If you didn't socialize that much I can see why you would have missed the good folks. New Orleans is a very interesting and diverse city. They depend on tourism for much of the economy. You should have complained and I guarantee that would have ended it. I hope that you'll come back South and give us another chance much like Sen. Russ Feingold did for Alabama. The citizens of Greenville,Alabama, who are just the nicest folks, heard that Sen. Feingold had an assumption of the South and Alabama. They invited him to come and visit, just like I'm doing to you, and he did. Needless to say, his opinion changed. The world likes to hold on to the image of the racist South. It makes dramatic movies and gets folks all riled up. But come back and really see us. Not everyone is like that.
We're pretty nice and pretty regular folks.
Heck, I'll put a plug in for my state. We have cruise ships leaving Mobile too. Why don't you take your next cruise out of Mobile,Alabama. You should find the experience quite nice I hope. Let me know when you do. And if you don't have a good time or see this blatant racism? You let me know.

Indie, thank you very much for this diary. From the looks of it, maybe the best 50 state strategy is for us all post diaries like this. To get past the preconcieved notions from the media and see the real US.

Hugs from an exPat Mississippian and a Southern neighbor.
12 dogs.