Paradoxically there's far less overt and blatant racism in the Southern states than other parts of the country. I'll never say there's none to be found, but it's nowhere near what you're apparently being told/taught. I say this as someone that's lived here all my life and has been to most other...
I agree wholeheartedly on your main LI points. I just sorta detached myself from seeing her as anything more than a live in fuck buddy due to her behavior, and I find most of the others that are introduced to be more interesting anyway.