Race in NE Columbia - hitting to close to home (Jackson: appointed, high school)

[Akhenaton06]

Originally Posted by ocsanders

Are you kidding me? Chapel Hill/Durham/RTP area is one of the most progressive areas in the country. UBER-Liberal.

Not accounting for the knuckleheads that you'll find no matter where you go.

Durham is a hotbed of racial tension. And political affiliation often has very little to do with on-the-ground issues like what's being discussed here.

[Sassy8722]

Wow, this thread is full of some of the most racist comments I have ever heard. I don't see why you would be uncomfortable just because black teens are out at night. Have they ever shot at you? Tried to sell you drugs? Robbed you? I know this is what you are expecting, has it happened?

Then again, I went to Lower Richland High School, and I am white, so I was the minority there. You should not look at people as being black or white, that makes no difference at all.

I don't go to that area often, and when I do it is mainly to go to the Village at Sandhills, and honestly, the only people I run across there are white ladies who act very snobby, do not say hi to anyone and do not smile. I can see them acting like this about "black people". Again, I do not go there often so I am not assuming that is all that you will find there, it is just very sad is all. I am used to Southern Hospitality, people who wave, say hi as they pass, but in some areas I don't see that, just uptightness (I know it's not a word) and racism.

[Seattleite61]

I just came from spending 12 days in the NE Columbia area. I frequented the Village at Sandhills and many neighborhoods in the NE both during the day and at night. I did not witness ANY type of behavior that would constitute racism or snobishness. People were nothing but polite and friendly, everywhere I went. Of course, being married to a black man and having biracial children, I do not carry racist ideas nor am I intimidated by anyone because of the color of their skin.

It's really a shame that people can be so narrow minded and ignorant that posts like this are created and certain responses are posted.

Come on, people, remember the Golden Rule - treat others as you would like to be treated! We are all humans. Maybe we don't look the same on the outside, but we are all one people. I really wish people would stop focusing on race, and, taking words from Dr MLK, judge folks on the content of their character.

[Peachstate01]

To the OP here,who I don't believe is a "troller"on here.Racism is everywhere you go,no matter how nice or how ghetto the neighborhood maybe.It sounds to me like you might have thought it wasn't suppose to happen in a nice well-to-do neighborhood in Columbia,but you got a little shock back into reality.
I am a new comer to Columbia,been here just about three months now,and I can tell you,I've met some very nice blace(african american)people here,and have seen quite a few with an attitude.However,I already expected that before I came.
the truth is,and I know this by experience,There are some neighborhoods you would absolutely be ran out of because you are white,while those same people would be able to come in your neighborhood,live there and even "take it over"
So be thankful you can afford to live in what seems for the most part to be a decent area in Columbuia.

[Sassy8722]

And I am sure some black people feel the same way about some of the "white" neighborhoods. Neighborhoods shouldn't be classified by race, it is very sad that they are and that some people expect that, just because they live in a certain neighborhood, they should not have to see black people. So sad.

[davey123]

One of the previous post mentioned that this thread contained some of the most racist comments s/he has ever heard. While I have heard much more racist comments in my lifetime, I would agree that racism is implicit in the original posting, as well as some of the other posts in this thread.

When this thread first opened, I made it a point to visit the Village of Sandhills (VOS) at various times. At this point, I can say that I have been there many, many times (on various days and at various times). Because of the OP's position, I went to VOS remaining cognizant of the racial composition of the people that I saw. Of the many times that I went there, I always saw a much larger proportion of White people compared to Black people. Moreover, I never saw a large congregation of Black teens loitering.

I am happy to report that my visits to VOS have been pleasant. I have never felt unsafe (and I have been there even past 10pm). Again, because of this thread, I went there being cognizant of the racial composition of the people at VOS. I just did not see what the OP saw. But wait, I do not think that the OP was describing what he saw; he was describing what he perceived. Racism can shape and shadow one's perceptions. It appears that the title of this thread should have been "Racism in NE Columbia -- hitting to [sic] close to home."

It seems to me that the critical question that should be asked is: What percentage of Black people have to be present for some people to perceive the situation as unsafe and threatening? Is it 20%? 30%? 50%? I do not know the answer to this question. Yet, I do know that this plays a role in shaping some people's perceptions about the safety of certain places. A famous person once said that when we define a situation as real, then it is real in its consequences. I have no doubt that the original poster started this thread because he "defined the situation" to be less safe due to what he perceived as a larger presence of Black people around him. In my opinion, I also think that his perceptions were shadowed by racism.

I have always been taught that the best way to critically challenge racism is to "name it." I think that I am the second person in this thread to openly do this. Doing this took time away from my very busy day. Nevertheless, it feels well worth it!

[oriondarkwood]

Slight off topic, but speaking of discrimination. Any had any issues with being given the cold shoulder or excluded from a general conversion because you are a civilian? Just curious

[Woodlands]

Originally Posted by oriondarkwood

Slight off topic, but speaking of discrimination. Any had any issues with being given the cold shoulder or excluded from a general conversion because you are a civilian? Just curious

I take it you mean in the company of military personnel? Never had it happen...

I did however go to a superbowl party with a friend of mine in law enforcement.. I was the only one not in law enforcement of the dozen or so folks there. To make matters worse, they were talking shop about raids and knuckleheads' skulls that they cracked, elected officials, the chief etc and to top it all off there was half time "entertainment" coming by... When they found out I wasnt in law enforcement...the party stopped as if I was trying to sell crack at a police convention... my friend was asked on the sly several times if I was "cool" and after about another hour or so of being casually interogated (of course they would be good at this) and cold shouldered everything was ok..but I have to admit I felt odd.

[oriondarkwood]

Originally Posted by Woodlands

I take it you mean in the company of military personnel? Never had it happen...

I did however go to a superbowl party with a friend of mine in law enforcement.. I was the only one not in law enforcement of the dozen or so folks there. To make matters worse, they were talking shop about raids and knuckleheads' skulls that they cracked, elected officials, the chief etc and to top it all off there was half time "entertainment" coming by... When they found out I wasnt in law enforcement...the party stopped as if I was trying to sell crack at a police convention... my friend was asked on the sly several times if I was "cool" and after about another hour or so of being casually interogated (of course they would be good at this) and cold shouldered everything was ok..but I have to admit I felt odd.

Woodland, pretty much something like that. I and members of my family have been cold shouldered at times because of that fact. I think the worse was one time my wife sat and listened to a group of military and there spouses (we live close to Ft. Jackson) talk about how civvies did not understand their life and how because civvies do not put there life on the line we are beneath their respect.

On the other hand I had military people go out of there way to make us feel included go figure.

[Peachstate01]

Originally Posted by Sassy8722

And I am sure some black people feel the same way about some of the "white" neighborhoods. Neighborhoods shouldn't be classified by race, it is very sad that they are and that some people expect that, just because they live in a certain neighborhood, they should not have to see black people. So sad.

Mam/sir,whoever you are.I did't mean any harm in my earlier post,but as someone who was brought up in the projects,I seen first hand blacks take it over within a period of a few years.Thing is,they already had all the other housing projects filled and mine was the only place left for low income white people.
So,I do know exactly what I'm talking about,and no,the reverse could never happen without the NAACP getting involed.