It's the rural Midwest, everyone should already know it really hates outsiders and is incredibly racist and sexist. This is not new, that's why a lot of the young people who go into professional jobs generally leave unless the town is close to a major city.
... okay... Disagree completely and not my experience at all.
Aren't you from Iowa City? University towns are not what people mean by "rural Midwest."
I don't think he's saying that? As a minority and out-of-towner, I've never encountered any racism in the rural Midwest. (I think places like Park Rapids, MN count as rural enough...) Standard caveats included, including that obviously racists exist, nor have I been literally everywhere nor talked to everyone. I've encountered more racism in New England, upstate NY, and big cities.
