Is It ANY Wonder Why Atlanta Is So DANGEROUS? (move, racist)

[bizchick86]

Hahaha. This is the same ish I hear time and time again. It's actually quite amazing how predictable this response is. The bottom line is this. Most blacks don't have issues with pointing out our problems. As you quoted, Jesse Jackson does, Al Sharpton does, and tune into any Black radio station, blog, or newspaper. Hell, practically every Black social group delves into our issues and dealing with our crime.

The problem is not you pointing out a problem in the black community. It is the hypocrisy that exists among whites of pointing out black people's problems before pointing out their own. I've heard about our issues, talked about them length, dedicated two years to a Master's in Social work to deal with them, worked with "at risk" kids and their parents to address these issues...now let's have an honest talk about yours.

The problem is, most folks don't want, especially white folks, to talk about white pathologies because it makes them uncomfortable. The problem is you take a "microcosm" (according to your own words) of black people and equate that to "black culture."

The fact is, most people don't know about the pathologies of white folks because they are not given the media blitz given our issues. Why is that a problem you say. Well, since our "microcosmic" issues are blown out of proportion into representing "black culture"people justify discriminatory behavior in the workplace, in lending, in policing, in health care, in education and in everything else that affects our well-being. When people take a "microcosmic" issue into representing "black culture," an esteemed Black professor of the best university in the world is assumed to be a robber, an old black woman can get beat up by cops, and little kids who just want to enjoy a swim get kicked out of a swim club house for "changing the complexion" of the pool. And imagine these are just a sampling of the incidents that have been given media attention in just the last THREE months. Imagine what goes unreported on a daily basis in our community over the course of the year.

Unfortunately, the consequences of those "microcosmic" issues affect Black people as a whole. These consequences (assuming black people are criminal becuase a fraction of blacks are criminal) are more far reaching
than that rare instance of crime.

So what you can do is take your "concern" for the black community and shove it. Or if you really care, work with a social organization that works on reducing crime or educating black folks instead of preaching to us. Otherwise your concern comes off as disingenious and discriminatory.

[Rockmama]

Bizchick is one of the smartest people on this forum.

[Britishintown]

Originally Posted by Rockmama

Bizchick is one of the smartest people on this forum.

Pity she doesn't use it then, I'm a half breed.

[Merin]

Originally Posted by rockmama

bizchick is one of the smartest people on this forum.

this

[bizchick86]

Originally Posted by Shizzles

@ Bizchick86

I do agree w/ your fustration of people talking about things they know nothing about, but turning around and saying "Whitey"s evil" only keeps the hate alive. The fault lies with the media and social establishment that has decided it's more profitable to cast Blacks in the light of criminals and thugs than as entrepenures, artisians, parents and leaders. All of us fighting each other is exactly what the elites want you to do, and we're all falling for it.

I never said "whitey's evil." I don't use that kind of languauge. I use objective fact and reason. As I noted, I'm referring to history and events. With that, people can look at this issue in context and reframe how they think about black people. Just as when I address our issues as Black people, it doesn't equate to "we're evil." It's simply to state that we have ish to work on.

As I also noted, folks can all go the wrong path without proper resources. That includes people being ignorant and racist because of their environment and lack of access to education on black people. I fail to beleive anyone is inherently anything.

I order for us to address things honestly, we have to be honest first, and stay away from hyperbole. Interpreting what I'm saying as "whitey is evil" is hyperbolic and keeps folks from really thinking about the facts of the matter.

I am well aware about our need to have cross-racial alliances in order to change the elite establishment. Blacks have attempted to do that for years with a variety of races in a variety of social movements (civil rights, the various Chicano/Black/Asian Power movements of the late 60s/70s, communism, socialism, and the feminist movement among others). Some people can let go of their stereotypes enough to work together, unfortunately many cannot and use the exact same type of thinking Britishtown does that has little basis in reality. That is why in just about all of these movements, blacks were somewhat forced to create their own factions because of discrimination even amid those "liberal" social organizations.

Through my experience, in order to genuinely have cross-racial alliances, you have to be aware of the true nature of race and racism and make people aware of what keeps THEM from embracing cross-racial alliances by pointing out their attitudes. When that's done, they are more prone to work together. I had a similar conversation with a very conservative white woman (as I've had with many) who went from talking about lazy black single mommas to talkin about how she doesn't see race and wants all women to work together to solve justice issues. I pointed out her own use of stereotypes and how that would probably inhibit her from working cross racially. She realized how her thinking does indeed affect her action, as it affects many people who have been conditioned to think negatively about blacks.

I'm all down for honest conversation, so let's be real about it and upgrade our thinking from stereotypes to reality.

[Britishintown]

Originally Posted by bizchick86

The problem is you take a "microcosm" (according to your own words) of black people and equate that to "black culture."

You are so clever that you don't even read other peoples posts before quoting them.

Originally Posted by bizchick86

So what you can do is take your "concern" for the black community and shove it. Or if you really care, work with a social organization that works on reducing crime or educating black folks instead of preaching to us. Otherwise your concern comes off as disingenious and discriminatory.

You can be as rude as you want, while denying everything you know is true, sad for you. You have no idea how much or little I do for any community, small minded that you are.

[bizchick86]

Originally Posted by Rockmama

Bizchick is one of the smartest people on this forum.

'Preciate it mama. That's what that good edumacation can do for you even raised by a single mother and all.

[Shizzles]

Originally Posted by bizchick86

I never said "whitey's evil." I don't use that kind of languauge. I use objective fact and reason. As I noted, I'm referring to history and events. With that, people can look at this issue in context and reframe how they think about black people. Just as when I address our issues as Black people, it doesn't equate to "we're evil." It's simply to state that we have ish to work on.

Duly noted. Just be advised that just as Black people get emotionally defensive when white people talk about "those inner-city people", White people tend to be emotionally sensitive as always being cast as the villian in historical contexts.

As I also noted, folks can all go the wrong path without proper resources. That includes people being ignorant and racist because of their environment and lack of access to education on black people. I fail to beleive anyone is inherently anything. I order for us to address things honestly, we have to be honest first, and stay away from hyperbole. Interpreting what I'm saying as "whitey is evil" is hyperbolic and keeps folks from really thinking about the facts of the matter.

Agreed.

I am well aware about our need to have cross-racial alliances in order to change the elite establishment. Blacks have attempted to do that for years with a variety of races in a variety of social movements (civil rights, the various Chicano/Black/Asian Power movements of the late 60s/70s, communism, socialism, and the feminist movement among others). Some people can let go of their stereotypes enough to work together, unfortunately many cannot and use the exact same type of thinking Britishtown does that has little basis in reality. That is why in just about all of these movements, blacks were somewhat forced to create their own factions because of discrimination even amid those "liberal" social organizations.

But again, the people within the power structures have their own ideas. Painting black people as thugs and victims helps the establishment play both sides. It helps the more reactionary elements in our society go to the masses and say "See that dark dude over there? Fear him". It also helps the dubiously liberal elite try to tell black youth that they are victims and unable to achieve, keeping them angry, hateful and self-destructive.

We as a nation need to shut off the television and actually look around us and see things for what they are. The problem is that's a difficult proposition for a country built on fear, paranoia, anti-intellectualism and base platatudes. It's much easier for joe/jamal six-pack to eat up BS about each other.

Through my experience, in order to genuinely have cross-racial alliances, you have to be aware of the true nature of race and racism and make people aware of what keeps THEM from embracing cross-racial alliances by pointing out their attitudes. When that's done, they are more prone to work together. I had a similar conversation with a very conservative white woman (as I've had with many) who went from talking about lazy black single mommas to talkin about how she doesn't see race and wants all women to work together to solve justice issues. I pointed out her own use of stereotypes and how that would probably inhibit her from working cross racially. She realized how her thinking does indeed affect her action, as it affects many people who have been conditioned to think negatively about blacks.

Most white americans are in their own way victims of such ignorance, as their lives are spent living in fear of that ever darker "other", who's always out to get them. It's most liberating to actually meet real people and realize you've been lied to, as I did.

As far as your assertion that white people never have their dirty laundry aired out as much as minorites, I don't agree w/ that statement. Maybe not in terms of pathologies, per say, but it's very chic to always talk about how anything Western/European is "Evil, Oppressive, Wrong, Genocidal, Destructive". It's PC to always cast whites as the villians in any situation. Movies like "The Last King of Scotland" made serious waves when they had the guall to anaylze Black African politics with an African as the antagonist.

I'm all down for honest conversation, so let's be real about it and upgrade our thinking from stereotypes to reality.

Truth.

[vsmoove]

Originally Posted by Britishintown

You can be as rude as you want, while denying everything you know is true, sad for you. You have no idea how much or little I do for any community, small minded that you are.

I assume you are smart enough to notice the hypocrisy in your own statements...

[vsmoove]

Originally Posted by bizchick86

I never said "whitey's evil." I don't use that kind of languauge. I use objective fact and reason. As I noted, I'm referring to history and events. With that, people can look at this issue in context and reframe how they think about black people. Just as when I address our issues as Black people, it doesn't equate to "we're evil." It's simply to state that we have ish to work on.

As I also noted, folks can all go the wrong path without proper resources. That includes people being ignorant and racist because of their environment and lack of access to education on black people. I fail to beleive anyone is inherently anything.

I order for us to address things honestly, we have to be honest first, and stay away from hyperbole. Interpreting what I'm saying as "whitey is evil" is hyperbolic and keeps folks from really thinking about the facts of the matter.

I am well aware about our need to have cross-racial alliances in order to change the elite establishment. Blacks have attempted to do that for years with a variety of races in a variety of social movements (civil rights, the various Chicano/Black/Asian Power movements of the late 60s/70s, communism, socialism, and the feminist movement among others). Some people can let go of their stereotypes enough to work together, unfortunately many cannot and use the exact same type of thinking Britishtown does that has little basis in reality. That is why in just about all of these movements, blacks were somewhat forced to create their own factions because of discrimination even amid those "liberal" social organizations.

Through my experience, in order to genuinely have cross-racial alliances, you have to be aware of the true nature of race and racism and make people aware of what keeps THEM from embracing cross-racial alliances by pointing out their attitudes. When that's done, they are more prone to work together. I had a similar conversation with a very conservative white woman (as I've had with many) who went from talking about lazy black single mommas to talkin about how she doesn't see race and wants all women to work together to solve justice issues. I pointed out her own use of stereotypes and how that would probably inhibit her from working cross racially. She realized how her thinking does indeed affect her action, as it affects many people who have been conditioned to think negatively about blacks.

I'm all down for honest conversation, so let's be real about it and upgrade our thinking from stereotypes to reality.

I agree 100%. It's easy to point fingers than to look at one's complicity in the perpertuation of the status quo... this goes across the board.