why is it hard to fit in a domintly white area (small town) if you live your life your own way?

If you're a free-thinker and not inclined to hide it, you either have to have a very thick skin, or you won't be comfortable in a small, tightly-knit community...no matter what country you're in or what continent you're on.

People in small towns or communities tend to be more deeply vested in the social network of that place...the people they work with, the people they go to church with, the people they grew up with, the people who are part of the same status structure that they themselves are part of.  As a result, their thinking is much more tightly constrained by their desire to fit in and remain accepted (and by their fear of where they'd be if they were to be outcast or ostracized from that society).  So they are wary of anything and anyone that is thought to be a challenge to "the way we've always done things" or "the right & proper way of doing things".

This isn't a white people thing, btw.  If you go to predominantly black communities, or predominantly Spanish-speaking, or predominantly Asian, you'll see exactly the same thing.  It has to do with the size of the community (fairly small) and the length of time the community has been in existence, and isn't related to the color of the people, or the community's location (as in urban or rural).

I personally go my own way and make no attempt to explain it to those around me who try hard to be just like everyone else.  But it's easy for me because I don't need their approval or acceptance.  If they're close-minded or think I'm scandalous or a fool, that's fine with me.  I don't need them to be a certain way for me to respect and accept them as people.

Dominantly? 

Predominantly? 

Closed-minded? 

You're white, but you have long hair?? 

Oh, I'm lost!

Because they are simply chained to *their* lifestyle.

maybe cause your lifestyle is different