Despite the obvious history of racism in the northeast cities, this region still is not associated with racism. It's probably because the region has offered so much more, making the racism is the working class neighborhoods a side story. The south has certainly offered things besides racism, too, but the racism has historically been so rampant and so profound, both in politics and among the culture in general, that it's just the first thing a lot people think when the subject of the south comes up. That's why I laughed when Faithful said "non-racist southerners". It's sad that it still has to be distinguished. Southern politics, from the southern strategy to even modern day Trumpism, hasn't helped. Trump used this racist history of the south to secure southern swing states like NC and FLA.