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Why Were There No Black People in My Town When I Was a Kid?
I’d see them in neighboring towns, sometimes at sporting events, or when we traveled to the closest city. But in my tiny hometown? None. Not one.
Why Weren’t There Any Black People in My Town When I Was a Kid?
Growing up in small-town Ohio, there was something I never thought to question as a kid—but looking back, it’s impossible to ignore. There were no black people in my town. Not a single Black family. It wasn’t like they didn’t exist in the area. I’d see them in nearby towns, at sporting events, or on trips to the closest city. But in my little hometown? Nothing.
When you’re young, you don’t always notice what’s missing. But absence can say just as much as presence. And now I understand—it wasn’t random. It wasn’t just some demographic fluke. It was intentional, the result of unspoken barriers that kept certain people out and made sure they stayed out.
The Unwritten Rules of Small-Town Life
Racism in places like mine wasn’t the kind that made headlines. There were no burning crosses or segregation signs. Instead, it was quieter—woven into the everyday fabric of life. People…
