I had a reverse case of what you encountered. I went from the suburbs of MPLS to a rural college in a town of 4K and 5K during school. I was the first black person many of the students met.

It was them not having any knowledge of black folk that caused me to stumble until I understood and gamed the system.

Excellent article, one concern. How does your assesment pertain to black farmers in rural parts of the deep south or Native Americans also located in what one my consider rural areas?

I think we need to be specific: you were talking about white rural communities and we most label them as such.