re: Coach fired over watermelon, ape-like celebrations

To answer your question(s) of 'what does south carolina' have to do with it? Teachers and coaches in EVERY state in the Deep South have to be far more aware of these old stereotypes. The Deep South is assumed guilty when it comes to race - may not be fair but that's the the way it is and there are plenty of racists around to keep that stereotype of the Deep South gaining traction (doesn't matter if Ohio and Michigan are the largest bases of support for groups like the Klan and FWIW they are). This is the burden of history and the way the deep south has been portrayed in modern times - reality has nothing to do with it - and it won't change for a while.

And of course, other regions have worse issues but again we carry the stereotype and the burden of history. As the saying goes, "Life isn't fair."