Serving my mission in a racist area. #lds #mormon #exmormon #ldsmissionary

Serving My Mission in a Racist Area: The Unforgettable Experience

Serving as a missionary in the small town of Barnesville, Georgia was an experience drenched not just in humidity, but in the stark realities of a past that hung like a shadow over its present. As pressing in as the summer heat, racial tensions marked my mission with instances that were impossible to ignore. Being yelled at with racial slurs and experiencing stark reminders of a bygone era were just a few of the challenges faced. In 2013, an unlikely relic from the mid-20th century, Barnesville made it unmistakably clear how the echoes of slavery still resounded deeply in its cultural corridors.

A Racial Time Capsule in the South

To outsiders, Barnesville might seem like any other Southern town with charming streets and quaint storefronts. However, its history is far from simple. Originally a slave town, Barnesville was once a key location for slave auctions, a dark legacy still honored in small but shocking ways. As recently as 2013, businesses would close on Wednesdays until the afternoon to commemorate the days of active slave trade, a tradition unnervingly reminiscent of a deeply troubled past. This historical context provides insight into the racially charged environment that missionaries like me encountered.

The cultural climate was such that reminders of this history were omnipresent. Residents wielded this past like a badge of identity. As if clinging to a twisted comfort, they would casually reference the town’s infamous auctions, maintaining a clear, albeit troubling, link to their historical roots. Our mission, therefore, thrust us into engaging with a community where the past continuously informed the present.

Facing the Ugly Reality Head-On