How real is the rascism ?

[csgray]

I think it is hard to piece out what is racism, and what is the natural unwillingness to embrace new residents that happens in all communities where part of the population has generations deep roots (especially rural communities), and where there is a constant influx of new people, many of whom leave within a year or two. When kids who move here from the mainland, and their parents, are given the cold shoulder when they try to join soccer teams or cheer leading squads, is it because they are "haoles" or is it because the other families all grew up together and already have all the friends they want or need? I grew up in a small rural town where there was virtually no racial, ethnic, or religious diversity, but newcomers were considered outsiders until they had been there at least 25 years. Hawaii seems to be similar in terms of how hard it can be to get to know people and be accepted by the "locals" when you move here. The fact that most newcomers are white, and most long term residents aren't, makes it easy to see this as racism, if that is your frame of reference.

Carol