Poc Debating my stay in maine

So I came up to Maine to chill for a while and get some breathing room from how over reliant my family had become on me. The plan was basically to catch my breath, save some money, and eventually figure out whether I wanted to go back out.

My experience here has been mixed. I’ve experienced some bigotry/racism, and if it matters for living here, I have dreadlocks and have absolutely no intention of cutting them.

I don’t really feel like running down every racist comment or microaggression I witnessed while working at Wendy’s but i will give a few later. My friend keeps telling me that I started off in a bad bubble/work environment and that I should experience more of Maine before deciding whether the state itself just isn’t for me.

Probably the stupidest comment I got was after I clocked out and went outside into the snow wearing a skullcap/beanie. I was literally just protecting the roots of my hair because I’d retwisted it myself. Someone told me, “Take that shit off, you ain’t no gangsta.”
Apparently wearing a beanie in a Maine winter seems to be me performing as some tough gangster. Next up a old guy calling coworkers negro’s my friend would tell me the racisit stories this guy had so stay away from him. Now after seeing my work ethic and seeing im basically the best person there the comments died alot, the old guy basically gives me one of the good ones praise from time to time. The manager wants me to train new people but i kinda dont feel like it cause i dont intend on staying and theres to much ego. And apparently some guy felt the need to talk about how me and his black neighbor restored his faith in humanity i can go on. I dont feel like leaving this job and having to spend months proving myself as compotent with work ethic most cant keep up with.

Some extra context for why I’m even here:

I originally came up with the idea that my friend would eventually become my roommate and we’d move out together. I’d heard his stories about living with his mother’s boyfriend, who I’d describe as extremely hypermasculine and narcissistic. He’d apparently threaten to crack my friend’s skull over small things, get in his face, scream at him over equally pointless stuff, etc. I figured we could both save money and eventually get our own place.

The problem is that it’s been about two years now, and I’m the only one who actually saved anything.

I’ve managed to save over $10k, so now I’m at the point where I have to think about what I want to do next instead of waiting indefinitely for the original plan to happen.

If I stay in Maine, I’d probably look for better paying work and start car shopping with Maine winters/snow in mind. But I’m also wondering whether this is the point where I should just take the money I’ve saved and start somewhere else.

For people who have lived around Maine for a while especially Black people or other minorities do you think my friend has a point? Is it worth experiencing more of Maine outside of my current work/social bubble before deciding whether I want to leave?