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

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 Klux Klan.”

That warning changed how I saw everything. It wasn’t about fear — it was about awareness. Even though the signs came down, the attitudes hadn’t always disappeared.

In this episode, I share how that experience shaped my understanding of race, safety, and survival in America — and why it still matters today.

This story also marks the first reference to my upcoming book, Traveling While Black Gen X, a reflection on what it meant for my generation — post–Jim Crow, pre-smartphone — to navigate freedom and fear on the same road.

🎧 Listen now to hear how one warning became a lifelong reminder that awareness is not fear — it’s protection.

Call to Action

If this episode resonates with you: ✅ Follow and share this podcast with someone who values real stories and honest reflections. 💬 Join the conversation by leaving a comment or message on my socials. 📚 Learn more about my upcoming book, Traveling While Black Gen X, and how these experiences shaped its creation.

🏷️ Hashtags / Tags

#BeCarefulOfTheKlanCounty #TravelingWhileBlackGenX #DrivingWhileBlack #BlackGenX #TheAnthonyReevesExperience #AmericanHistory #BlackExperience #TonyReeves #AwarenessNotFear #Storytime #RealTalkPodcast

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/in-the-know-with-tony-reeves--5596987/support.