I'm the daughter of a man who did not feel it was safe to move back to Talladega Alabama with his white wife and two bi-racial children after distinguished military service as a US Army Captain and Green Beret -
In 1978.
It really did NOT come from the media. It started when I was 3 years old and living in Weisbaden, West Germany. A guy was running for President in 1976. His name was Ronald Reagan. He related to a group of Mississippi Voters the story of this welfare queen . . . from the 'South Side of Chicago'. South Side of Chicago in 1976 AND now is code word for 'black people'. It came from ONE side and ONLY ONE SIDE that did it - the Republicans. They've told this lie over and over and over and over again.
It's the 'reality' that many white Americans know - REGARDLESS of their region. They believe it. And they are the power structure in the South. You have pockets of liberalism and inclusion - but Atlanta and Austin aren't enough to make the change.
There are moves to disenfranchise minorities going on in the south. I wait and hold my breath that the SCOTUS is not going to send ALL of us to the back of bus. But if they let the 'South' have their way - that's what is going to happen . .. to all of us. Check out what went down in Philadelphia this past Presidential Election. It's like a 1956 time warp.
There is also a move from ONE side - NOT the media - to undo what the Civil Rights Era DID. And that was to assert the authority of the Federal Government. And their efforts are already working - have you seen who my Governor is lately? And what he stands for? And who voted for him? It's a very Everyone For Themselves State of Mind in NJ lately.
Point blank - I'm supporting someone other than Booker in our Primary as a matter of principle. No doubt - he (Booker) will win the General Election. I will be canvassing and making calls for both he and Barbara Buono (Gov Race - solid progressive - knows first hand poverty and working ones way up from it). If I knock on the door and show your map in Camden, Newark, Jersey City, the Oranges, Atlantic City - I will get the door slammed in my face.
It won't work to get Booker elected to the US Senate - and I need to be able to sneak Buono info in on that canvassing.

It won't resonate to a poor black single mother living in Jersey City. It simply won't.
You know how you are on a plane - and the flight crew is giving safety information. And they tell you about the oxygen masks?
Put yours on your face first and then help others. Well -I'm doing AOK in this economy. Seriously. So I first have to turn to the people in the seat next to me and help them get their oxygen masks on. Then I can move up the front of the plane and help those folks.
I truly believe poverty has to be addressed in the WEALTHIEST states in order to provide a roadmap for the poorer states. We have the means to help those down the road from us and in the 'shadows' of wealth. We can do it WITHOUT needing ANY help from members of the House or Senate from the South that might for instance -
Want to attach rules around school lunch programs and backpack programs (food for the weekend) about gender roles being taught in the classroom. Or prayer taught in the classroom. Or limiting abortion rights for teachers in public schools while making rules that they must be fired if they have a child out of wedlock.
We can do it here without the onus of the Moral Majority and Christian Coalition. And until the South realizes that Christie and Scott Brown aside - we are rejecting anything to do with God and Morality in the public sector in our neck of the woods -it's going to be very hard to come to agreement.
I'm not saying what you have posted is a pipe dream. I just don't think it can happen Right Now - at this minute. It's just not going to happen. I supported Edwards in 2008 because he actually said the word Loud and Proud: Poverty. But without a champion for it Nationally - I can't wait for that . . . I've got hungry people coming to the Bound Brook NJ Food Bank this Saturday and I've got to worry about my neighbors first. I'm sorry.