Atlanta, Grow Up!! (apartment complex, living in, dangerous)

[alinka72]

I am hispanic and was born in Brazil, South America. Hispanics in the U.S. do not consider me hispanic, so, go figure. I lived in NYC most of my life and married an Atlantan (my husband is black) after being in the U.S. for over 15 years. We have been in Atlanta since Feb/08.

I quite frankly find the 'racial issue' country wide quite tiring; as where I was raised it was not an issue. I find a need to label and Americans confuse race with ethnicity and even nationality. In any event, I see in Atlanta there are more blacks than most capitals of the country as it was mentioned in other posts.

I noticed some of them have the aggressive, chip on the shoulder attitude, some dress the part (thugs) some do not, some may be well intentioned despite the attitude however, they get discriminated anyway. Bottom line, it is all a matter of perception. There are a lot of decent, hard working, well mannered and educated blacks as well in Atlanta and all my experiences with blacks were positive.

What makes me sad, especially, with the older generation, is the need to emphasize the past. It is need to victimize the fact that blacks were brought out to America as slaves and that is the only thing they are good for, so they have no chance at being educated. And when they defy the so-called odds they are ridiculed for having an education and not being 'black enough' i.e. Barack Obama.

Some blacks place themselves in this predicament and are setting themselves up for failure. Blacks everywhere else in the world do not even know they are blacks. There is no sub-culture. We do not have to go far, black Canadians, for example; are completely different. Blacks in other countries have their martial arts, their culture, religion and everyone shares them regardless of ethnical background or 'race'.

Back to the subject matter. I sense some intimidation and reluctance from whites towards blacks and I see blacks still have the inferiority complex that shows in the 'no one can talk about us' attitude.

[Merin]

Originally Posted by alinka72

Some blacks place themselves in this predicament and are setting themselves up for failure. Blacks everywhere else in the world do not even know they are blacks. There is no sub-culture. We do not have to go far, black Canadians, for example; are completely different. Blacks in other countries have their martial arts, their culture, religion and everyone shares them regardless of ethnical background or 'race'.

I agreed with most of your post but I disagree with the part you quote. I have family in Brazil , and travel to Europe frequently. Blacks certainly know they are Black in other parts of the world, Brazil included.

[aries4118]

Originally Posted by Merin

I agreed with most of your post but I disagree with the part you quote. I have family in Brazil , and travel to Europe frequently. Blacks certainly know they are Black in other parts of the world, Brazil included.

Yes, they do. Thanks for speaking up, Merin...I was too tired to respond. I posted on this exact subject a few days ago (I think you did as well)...I forgot which thread it was on (could someone dig it up?).

Plus, I lived in Brazil for several years...I was know what's up (and it's definitely not a good "black" situation).

[Merin]

Originally Posted by aries4118

Yes, they do. Thanks for speaking up, Merin...I was too tired to respond. I posted on this exact subject a few days ago (I think you did as well)...I forgot which thread it was on (could someone dig it up?).

Plus, I lived in Brazil for several years...I was know what's up (and it's definitely not a good "black" situation).

AMEN. It was a huge deal when Benedita da Silva was elected to congress.

[txstate]

Thats why Im down with H-town, a melting pot of cultures and its the 4th largest city about be 3rd.

[alinka72]

Cant even compare the racial tension in the U.S. from what happens in Brazil. I dont think I made myself clear when I stated blacks dont know they are blacks. It is not an issue. If it became an issue that was thanks to globalization and North American negative influence. Blacks in Brazil are much more in touch with their identity, hence capoeira, camdomble and umbanda.

[aries4118]

Originally Posted by alinka72

Cant even compare the racial tension in the U.S. from what happens in Brazil. I dont think I made myself clear when I stated blacks dont know they are blacks. It is not an issue. If it became an issue that was thanks to globalization and North American negative influence. Blacks in Brazil are much more in touch with their identity, hence capoeira, camdomble and umbanda.

Blacks were covertly put in their place in Brazil.

Blacks in the U.S. are in touch with their identity/heritage too...and it has been rockin' the world for over a century (jazz, rock n roll, hip-hop). It's just not all cute, folkloric, and non-threatening.

Blacks in Brazil have no power. Salvador is over 80% black/brown...and has never had a black/brown mayor.

Man...were is my post from a few days ago....

[aries4118]

Originally Posted by alinka72

Cant even compare the racial tension in the U.S. from what happens in Brazil. I dont think I made myself clear when I stated blacks dont know they are blacks. It is not an issue. If it became an issue that was thanks to globalization and North American negative influence. Blacks in Brazil are much more in touch with their identity, hence capoeira, camdomble and umbanda.

Here it is...

Moreover, I lived for several years in a Latin American country that is mistakenly called a "racial paradise" by those who are uninformed. This Latin American country effectively achieved white societal superiority and black/brown societal inferiority without de-jure segregation, etc. It's unfortunate considering the true racial state of the country. The black/brown people are "in (and know) their place."

The benefit of the U.S. having de jure segregation for so long after slavery (unlike this Latin American country) is that it was a catalyst (or wall) that galvanized the civil rights movement...overall, leading to a better American society and consciousness (and black consciousness).

There are a few benefits to this Latin American country's way...they "mixed" more. There was/is a lot of mixing in the U.S (see my other ancestry post), but not to the extent of this country. However, this Latin American country has effectively become a pigmentocracy...with the notion that it is better to try and "whiten the descendant line" and marry up (lighter partner). Therefore, unmixed minorities (Africans) are totally marginalized. (Note: the "whiten the line" phenomenon is not as bad as it once was, but it is still a major part of the national consciousness.)

[+]

[SAI126]

Originally Posted by LahdeeDahdee

Can't get any more racist than Howard Beach and Bensonhurst, that's for sure!

A neighborhood that could produce Rich Aurilia, Scott Baio, Abe Burrows (author of Guys and Dolls), Vincent D' Onofrio, Vic Damone, Harvey Fierstein, John Franco, Elliot Gould, Philip Habib, Buddy Hackett, The Three Stooges, Gabe Kaplan, Larry King, Sandy Koufax, Robert Merrill, Carl Sagan, and Marisa Tomei, just to name a few must be a terrible place with a terrible history. That would be Bensonhurst Brooklyn, one of NYC's most storied neighborhoods. If you've been there recently you'll notice how diverse it's become for such a racist community. There has always been racial tension in the larger American cities. Long time stable neighborhoods like Bensonhurst and Howard Beach lie close to areas that have undergone social and cultural upheaval, and sometimes there are clashes that result in unfortunate and inexcusable violence. So let's just trash them in order to feel good and expiate our guilt for the sins of the past. That would be such a good substitute for rational thought.

[aries4118]

Originally Posted by alinka72

Cant even compare the racial tension in the U.S. from what happens in Brazil. I dont think I made myself clear when I stated blacks dont know they are blacks. It is not an issue. If it became an issue that was thanks to globalization and North American negative influence. Blacks in Brazil are much more in touch with their identity, hence capoeira, camdomble and umbanda.

More (from Atlantasfinest)...



The segregation in the US spurred Colleges & Universities, Lending Institutions, Neighborhoods, Media, Hospitals, Fraternities and other insitutions that were started by Blacks during segregation that effectively was the beginning of the Black Middle Class that carries on today. In those latin countries they didn't have a chance start these type of institutions because of the type of segregation they had. In Latin countries that's why the people of African-Descent don't have the pride in themselves as Blacks do here for the most part.