I've found that here in Louisiana people tend to be less racist overall, while those who are don't hide it. There are the guys who get drunk and throw slurs around, and worse, but I've also never seen as many interracial couples anywhere else. The openness makes it easier to know who your friends and enemies are.

I agree with not feeling ashamed about the sins of your ancestors, but I also don't believe in blaming others for their ancestors' sins. One branch of my family owned a plantation in Haiti. Then the revolution came, and that branch came to an abrupt end. While I'm extremely bothered that the revolutionaries killed the children as well, I'm not going to blame their descendants.