>One root of the problem in Vermont is that so many people have so very little interaction with BIPOC

As a lifelong vermonter this is a huge part of the problem. The result is well intended people being overtly racist without realizing what they are doing. It's like they see BIPOC and HAVE to act different to prove how not racist they are. And in the end they are basically just being racist.

For instance my grandmother is a pretty open minded person, would never intentionally be overtly racist, loves her BIPOC neighbors, but every time she meets someone with a skin tone slightly darker than hers she just HAS to ask "where are you from!?" - and when they so "oh, Michigan!" she goes "but, like originally?" and understandably people are like "uhhh I mean my ancestors were brought here as slaves, so...."

So i see a lot of that. Racism wrapped in kindness and ignorance.