Be Careful of the Klan County What a Quiet Warning in 1995 Taught Me About Awareness and Survival

In The Know with Tony Reeves · Oct 7, 2025 · 7m

In 1995, I arrived in Jacksonville, North Carolina — a young, proud Black naval officer reporting for duty at Camp Lejeune. Like anyone new to a duty station, I was trying to find my way — where to live, where to eat, and how to adjust. But within weeks, I received a warning I’ll never forget. A senior non-commissioned officer pulled me aside and said: “If you’re driving, make sure you drive the speed limit through that county.” At first, I thought he was talking about speed traps — until he told me that less than ten years earlier, that same county had a billboard that read: “Home of the Ku…