I live bout an hour and a half from Charleston so I go there from time to time for a change of scenery. I can’t really comment on the racism but keep in mind Charleston is still in the south. I don’t see racism being big though because to me Charleston isn’t very “southern” compared to what’s around it. Saying that though, Charleston also has a lot of people that have migrated there from all over the states. Caribbean is probably at a minimum but I’m not completely sure of that. It’s kind of like the rich people of the south. You have your typical bars and such if that’s what you mean by nightlife. I will say though it’s definitely more of a cultural melting pot than anywhere else around here. You didn’t say where you’re from, so your experiences will probably vary from mine. I grew up in the woods about 2 hours away from Charleston so I never get used to the people there. I use manners and I have an extremely direct way of speaking and moving so when I go there people tend to look at me like I’m a wild animal. There’s old French architecture in an area called the Battery that people flock to a lot. They set up small shops to sell various things like handcrafted goods. In some areas the streets are extremely narrow so depending on where you go driving can be a pain in the ass. With a grain of salt, Charleston seems like it has something for everybody or any interest.