Anonymous
Post 06/25/2023 13:23     Subject: Re:James Madison town
It was only a couple of years ago that the giant Confederate flag next to I-95 in Stafford County came down, so I don't know why people think that's confined to the I-81 corridor.

My very liberal DC went to JMU, had lots of nonwhite friends, and I never heard stories of them having issues living in Harrisonburg (and my DC would've told us).
Anonymous
Post 06/25/2023 11:36     Subject: James Madison town
Anonymous wrote:I think any of the schools that are rural in distance anywhere you will find the same type of flags driving through to get to them especially in the south. I was worried about that as well being mixed going to a diff school in VA but the campus is a different setting then the small town brains pulling up in the truck with their lame bumper decals at their local Kroger.


We are a Brown family that does a lot of road trips. Anytime you travel 10-20 miles outside a big city/large suburbs, you run across these artifacts - VA, MD, Pennsylvania, NJ, NY, Ohio, Michigan - you get the drift. Every time we stop to eat along those routes, we see all kinds of people - Black, White, Asian coexisting. Most people are friendly and tend to leave you alone. Personally, I'd be more afraid to drive around, say, downtown DC or Baltimore, at midnight vs. doing so through small town West Virginia with trump posters at every home.
Anonymous
Post 06/25/2023 07:55     Subject: Re:James Madison town
OP, there are also a lot of pro Trump and f*ck Biden signs and flags, but as PPs noted, those are mostly in the surrounding areas.


My neighbor has these and I live in Falls Church City.

My DS just graduated from JMU and agree with others that Harrisonburg is not some deep south racist enclave, although it likely has more working class people and lower SES than some DCUMers can tolerate.
Anonymous
Post 06/25/2023 05:10     Subject: James Madison town
I think any of the schools that are rural in distance anywhere you will find the same type of flags driving through to get to them especially in the south. I was worried about that as well being mixed going to a diff school in VA but the campus is a different setting then the small town brains pulling up in the truck with their lame bumper decals at their local Kroger.
Anonymous
Post 06/25/2023 01:43     Subject: Re:James Madison town
I’m a Hokie and have seen that confederate flag on 81 for the past 20 years.
Yes, there's huge confederate flag on 81 - I think the flag pole is unusually high so it would be hard to miss. OP, there are also a lot of pro Trump and f*ck Biden signs and flags, but as PPs noted, those are mostly in the surrounding areas. If possible, plan a trip to JMU in the fall to get a better sense of the town, especially when students are on campus.
Anonymous
Post 06/24/2023 22:58     Subject: James Madison town
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:FWIW, the town votes overwhelming blue. https://www.vpap.org/localities/harrisonburg-city-va/election-results-list/?election=10135


I know plenty of bigots that are democrats and republicans that are open minded so can people please stop assuming blue=accepting and red=bigot? It’s the same as any other stereotype of anyone and amounts to your own bias.

OP - I had the same concern regarding our background as a minority and when I looked up details about the school found no concerning issue. They have lots of groups on campus to provide support for many students of many backgrounds and it might help for your nerves to look one up and even call and ask about it. Even if your kid doesn’t join the group, knowing they’re there can help them. Good luck!

Calm down. It was just an observation.
Anonymous
Post 06/24/2023 22:25     Subject: James Madison town
JMU is in a great town. Your use of rednecks is disgusting. It’s in the Shenandoah Valley.
Anonymous
Post 06/24/2023 22:22     Subject: James Madison town
Anonymous wrote:FWIW, the town votes overwhelming blue. https://www.vpap.org/localities/harrisonburg-city-va/election-results-list/?election=10135


I know plenty of bigots that are democrats and republicans that are open minded so can people please stop assuming blue=accepting and red=bigot? It’s the same as any other stereotype of anyone and amounts to your own bias.

OP - I had the same concern regarding our background as a minority and when I looked up details about the school found no concerning issue. They have lots of groups on campus to provide support for many students of many backgrounds and it might help for your nerves to look one up and even call and ask about it. Even if your kid doesn’t join the group, knowing they’re there can help them. Good luck!
Anonymous
Post 06/24/2023 21:54     Subject: James Madison town
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:We are visiting JMU with our daughter in a few weeks. The scenery of Appalachian Virginia looks gorgeous but worried a bit about how rural it is. Is there a lot of “rednecks” in the town and is it an accepting place? Kid is biracial and was a bit turned off by the Confederate flags as we were heading into Blacksburg to tour Tech


First of all, the town is called Harrisonburg. Secondly, you've posted before about "Confederate flags heading into Blacksburg" and I think you're trolling. I have two kids - one at JMU and one at VT - and have never seen anything like that in or around Harrisonburg or Blacksburg. I have, however, seen confederate flags in upstate NY. I really think you're generalizing here, not to mention being pretty offensive with your use of the work "redneck."

As for the scenery, yes the Shenandoah Valley around Harrisonburg and the Blue Ridge mtns. of Blacksburg are absolutely beautiful, especially in spring and fall.


I’m a Hokie and have seen that confederate flag on 81 for the past 20 years. I did NOT see anything like that in Blacksburg ever.
Anonymous
Post 06/24/2023 21:15     Subject: James Madison town
Anonymous wrote:Confederate is history of the south

The confederacy lasted all of five years. It’s the white supremacy that’s enduring.
Anonymous
Post 06/24/2023 20:58     Subject: James Madison town
*word
Anonymous
Post 06/24/2023 20:58     Subject: James Madison town
Anonymous wrote:We are visiting JMU with our daughter in a few weeks. The scenery of Appalachian Virginia looks gorgeous but worried a bit about how rural it is. Is there a lot of “rednecks” in the town and is it an accepting place? Kid is biracial and was a bit turned off by the Confederate flags as we were heading into Blacksburg to tour Tech


First of all, the town is called Harrisonburg. Secondly, you've posted before about "Confederate flags heading into Blacksburg" and I think you're trolling. I have two kids - one at JMU and one at VT - and have never seen anything like that in or around Harrisonburg or Blacksburg. I have, however, seen confederate flags in upstate NY. I really think you're generalizing here, not to mention being pretty offensive with your use of the work "redneck."

As for the scenery, yes the Shenandoah Valley around Harrisonburg and the Blue Ridge mtns. of Blacksburg are absolutely beautiful, especially in spring and fall.
Anonymous
Post 06/24/2023 20:54     Subject: Re:James Madison town
Anonymous wrote:Alumna here - there is basically no interaction with “the townies.” But if your kid, unlike the vast majority of NOVA kids, is a shoe in for UVA, by all means eliminate Tech and JMU from the running!


NP. Was this sarcasm? A lot of students FAR prefer both VT and JMU over UVA.
Anonymous
Post 06/24/2023 14:15     Subject: James Madison town
FWIW, the town votes overwhelming blue. https://www.vpap.org/localities/harrisonburg-city-va/election-results-list/?election=10135
Anonymous
Post 06/24/2023 14:14     Subject: Re:James Madison town
If it bothers you go there and start the change.