Hi there,
I've been reading on City Data for a considerable period of time, and since i am making another life experience in a new town (L.A) i thought i'll ask for some advise.
I know some of you know about racial tensions in the city of L.A, mainly between Latinos and Blacks.
I’m Caribbean Hispanic with a mixture of Caucasian, Indian, and Black. The reason why I post is because some people may perceive me to be African-American since anything non-Mexican brown in their mind is black. Sometimes I have people coming up to me speaking spanish, so it really depends on the individual. In NYC, a number of people thought of me as puerto-rican.
My complexion is really not that much different from the average "mestizo" but you can tell that I'm not. And apparently, esp. "Surenos" have no respect whatsoever for those outside their "group".
Since i came to L.A i've experienced strong animosity from esp. the mexican community on several occasions, so far rather from the uneducated ones doing manual labor and other menial jobs (McDonalds, Subway etc.), but also from "Mexican-Americans" a little higher up on the economic ladder. My financial situation does not allow me to "buy myself out" and move in an upscale neigborhood.
My current housing situation is rather temporary; I’m on the Westside of L.A (Hollywood/ Vermont area). Without commenting on that any further, i couldn't afford to have my own place in the neighborhood. And unless i find a roomate with whom i'd share an apt. in a decent area, i guess i'mma have to look at parts of the city that resemble warzones.
The facts speak for themselves: Interviews with the Sheriffs in Florence-Firestone reveal that at one point the "Florencia 13" gang had a greenlight on all blacks (civilians & gangbangers) during evening and night hours (meaning you get shot if they see you outside).
Repeated racial murder and harassment in the so-called multi-ethnic neighborhood of Highland Park (Northeast L.A) have also been pointed out. It seems that the entire eastside of L.A is currently undesirable for those brown (me) that, according to people's perceptions, do not look like the average latin american and some would then simply proceed and label me "black" and state i'm a marked man.
Read here (
3 gang members charged in Canoga Park killing - Los Angeles Times) about the latest incident that took place in Canoga Park (SFV Area).
The way some people look and talk to me speaks for itself and i'm fed up w/ people who have issues with themselves (self-hatred) and who want to take it out on me. Every Realist knows that there are quite some mestizos who are obsessed with the idea of being white.
I've experienced people telling me that they strongly hope for a light-skinned baby, dying their hair entirely blond (even facial hair), wanting to marry a white man/ woman (motivation: skin color), hating anything non-white (incl. their own darker-skinned people) and generally pretending like, from the eye of the average American, there's no difference between them and European-Americans. That is until issues like "Illegal immigration" come up and all of sudden you hear "Brown Pride", "Those gringos can go back to Boston", "You are Racists!" etc. Quite pathetic IMO. If you take pride in who you are, you are always proud of being "brown" or whatever your background is, not when people tear your illusion apart (Just because the U.S Census Bureau gives you the option to check “white” doesn’t mean you’re seen or accepted as such in society - Ask Middle Easterners in this country). Again: I'm postin about self-hating ones, not the whole group.
I'm a firm believer in the right to bear arms (2nd Amendment).
I would not hesitate to eliminate those that would go so far to pull a home invasion and commit crimes out of hate (assault, even murder) to express their dislike towards me. (That’s what happened to Anthony Prudhomme, 21 yrd old, mixed-race, in Highland Park -
SPLCenter.org: L.A. Blackout)
So yes, i feel i need to get armed in order to ensure that there will be at least some protection against those who like to attack in numbers and have nothing better to do than to commit crimes against "others". Do those forum members who live or have lived in those kind of areas where there is noticeable racial tension agree or feel i exaggerate?
Yes I support guns for self-defense, but NO, never got a gun b/c i was eager to intimidate, hurt or kill ppl.
BTW: Sry for long post, but nothing short of it could express how i look at the situation now and how negatively it affects my life. I came here for educational reasons and because in California there are more opportunites in the business i want to launch a career in than back East.
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Will i need to get armed? (Hate Crimes all over L.A County)
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