Racist language causing concern in Nebraska

KEARNEY, Neb. (KGHI) - For a state that prides itself in its friendliness, minorities told NTV they didn't find it so welcoming last week.

This, after a man placed a sign saying "make America white again" in his yard.

And then there was a Custer County supervisor using racist language in his call to fight immigration, both legal and illegal.

These incidents show a Nebraska that is divided, not just on how it approaches the issues, but the language they use as well.

"Doesn't take me long to drive around there, whether they're illegal or not I don't like what I see," said Custer County Supervisor Dough Stunkel when referring to the diverse community of Lexington.

Those comments from an elected officials sparked controversy, while just a day later an Ord man, taking it one step further with a racist sign.

A national Scott Rasmussen survey says the majority of voters – 53 % – believe race relations in America are getting worse.

The experts NTV spoke with say it might have to do with how our country processes controversial issues in 2019.

Civil liberties professor Jonathan Marshfield from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln says the United States has built its democracy at a local level, and that 2019's political landscape of national politics dominating the conversation could be leading to the divisiveness we see in our country.

"We often cabin politics based on what we see happening at the national level. That's distinctly un–American. The whole theory of local democracy is not that i'll respond with a tweet or a letter, i'm gonna go to that town hall and see that guy who says that thing. That can't happen. I can't go see the president. He is too far away and he would never see me, but I could go to that town hall meeting and have that interaction," said Marshfield.

Now, experts say, statements made here at home, follow common themes found in our national discourse on race and immigration.

Speaking to Dr. Kittie Grace, chair of the Communications Department for Hastings College, she said this language is specifically chosen to pressure folks to take sides on the issue.

"The specific language is chosen, as someone who studies rhetoric, the power of words, those terms or statements are chosen so they can create a particular sensibility in someone. Either a sense of patriotism and i will follow, or this is divisive this is wrong," said Marshfield.

Grace says the issue isn't just the language, but who is using the language as well.

"The individuals who are representing us have more credence. They were voted in so they do have a larger sense of legitimacy than other constituents or community members in any community," said Grace.

While we aren't nearing a crisis point yet, those NTV spoke with say the alarm bells should be ringing when we hear racist language.

"I think that hateful speech and racist speech are inappropriate it, they push us to a dark place and take away from all of the great things we as society share and bind us together," said Marshfield.

"We are at a point right now were we have been saying for a long time it's, just language it's just words, we are definitely in the language mobilizes people moment in our time," said Grace.

All of the experts we spoke with highlighted how important face–to–face dialogue can be in removing the divisive nature of conversations on race and immigration, and believe that more discussion in person and within local governments on these issues can help bring us together to find solutions that will hopefully not divide the country.