To what extent is prejudice a problem in your current environment? If you think it is a problem, wha

To what extent is prejudice a problem in your current environment? If you think it is a problem, what are some of the subtle—or even blatant—ways that prejudice is expressed? What are the most common forms of prejudice in your social or work environment (e.g., racism, sexism, ageism, basic intolerance for different points of view, etc.)?If you feel you are living or working in an environment without blatant or subtle prejudice to what do you attribute this bias-free environment? Have you ever suddenly realized that you were acting or feeling prejudiced toward another person or group? Were you surprised to discover this about yourself? Form some comments or opinions and share them with your classmates. As always, you are encouraged to be honest but respectful in sharing your thoughts and experiences.

Forum post #1

When I first moved from northern IL to SC I encountered what I would call prejudice. Even today, I experience, see, and feel this same kind of prejudice toward people, who like me, have moved from the North to SC to live.

Specifically, when I came to SC an older uncle of my husbands came to our house quite frequently to visit. He never ever called me by my name, but instead always called me, or referred to me as the “Damn Yankee”. I was truly greatly offended by the use of this name for me. If it had been a one time occurrence, then I probably would have laughed it off, but it was a constant name or reference he used for me for years. It made me feel as though I did not belong, that I was not wanted, and that I was out of place. He did not use this phrase just at my house, but at any family gathering or church event, as we attended the same church.

I am now curious as to the origins of the phrase Damn Yankee, so I did a quick web search.

I was surprised to learn that the term Yankee, which is a much nicer word or phrase than Damn Yankee, has a long derisive history in the United States. Since even before the Revolutionary War the term was used by the British to refer to the American colonists. So, in fact, if we had been living in the days preceding the Revolutionary War, then all of us as colonists would have been referred to as Yankees, even those of us who might have lived in the Carolinas. It is used today to refer to anyone from the US. (Hirsch, Kett, Trefill, 2002). Internationally, we all are considered Yankees. Today, that term has lost much (but not all) of its bad conotations it seems. However, the term Damn Yankee or Damnyankee, has a bit of a different history. During the Civil War times, the term Damn Yankee referred to Northerners. The confederates meant it to be derogatory. In fact, there was an old joke where a Southern says “I was 21 years old before I learned that ‘damn and ‘Yankee were separate words”. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yankee.

Understanding the history of the term “Damn Yankee” makes me realize that, indeed, there was a bit of prejudice intended in the name calling toward me by my husbands uncle. In fact, even now, I hear comments from natives of SC declaring that if any of the Yankees down here dont like what is happening, they can just go back from where they came. In the political situation here in SC, the state has been traditionally RED for a number of years, but with the influx of Northern retirees, the political climate is beginning to change, and I see and hear comments by natives about the Northerners invading and taking over their state.

In all fairness to my husbands old uncle, he often talked about how he felt about the attitudes that he perceived that Northerns had toward Southerners. He mentioned a number of times that he felt as though those Damnyankees thought Southerners were just stupid hillbillies. I guess he felt so put down by Northerners, that he needed a little revenge, so he found me as an easy scapegoat for his rage.