I can’t speak to the schools but I live in Proctor just outside Rutland and in the three years I’ve been here I’ve noticed a definite uptick in the number of POCs, particularly black folk. So I think it’s getting more diverse, but compared to Michigan, that’s not saying much.

I’m white, so I can’t speak to the experience of black folks here either but I can say that while I’ve run into a lot of unfamiliarity with people of color (and resulting ignorance) I haven’t heard much in the way of disrespect or contempt.

You will, however, see too many “Trump 2024” signs and a pretty hefty sprinkling of confederate flags. So it’s a pretty mixed bag.