Reply #33: My experiences with Vidor

[Gruenemann]

I lived in Louisiana for four years and would drive through Vidor frequently on my way to visit family in Texas. That part of Interstate 10, east of Houston, is creepy. Thick woods line the road, and there are three kinds of buildings visible: holy roller churches, liquor stores, and trailer dealers. A friend I had in college who grew up in the area told me Vidor was considered the pits, even by East Texas standards. He told me someone once added to the highway sign "Interstate 10" the graffito "Vidor 0." Many years later the town's racist nature was revealed.

I always hoped I wouldn't break down there. Of course I did, on Thanksgiving Day no less. Being white I was able to get help, but I got the hell out of there as fast as I could.

Recently I had a student who had lived briefly in Vidor. She had moved in from out of state and didn't know how racist the place was. Not being a racist herself, she began to socialize with her black neighbors. Well, the locals noticed and a large group of them came to her door and threatened to do her harm if she didn't stop hanging out with her neighbors.

Vidor is hell on earth.