I had a friend who happened to be black who grew up on a farm in Tennessee. He had told me how some of the neighboring farmers were up front with how they felt about blacks, but they would still do business with you, trade favors, and help you out when you needed it. He learned that people up North were much worse because they kept their feelings hidden, yet would shut you out when it came to interactions and opportunity.
The old phrase used to be that the Southerner would say “You may come closer but you may not rise higher”, and the Northerner would say “You may rise higher but you may not come closer”. Ugly, but with some truth to it.
The author’s snide comment in passing though reminds me of why I am happier living next to Southern blacks than smug Yankees.