anti-semitism?

[momgonenutzinmem]

I have lived in various parts of the country...Memphis s not anti-semitic...here, it is a clearly defined line of the HAVES and the HAVE-NOTS....East Memphis is the majority of the old-thinking southern Memphians live....South memphis is where the minority groups and lots of crime takes place....There are a lot of people from all over he country who get transferred here...but they are primarily living in Germantown and Collierville.
Frankly, the racism here is worse than anywhere I have ever lived.....the east memphis group do not care for people who are from anywhere else, and there is a lot of racial tension (much like the 1960's everywhere else) between that group and the black population.......
And if people don't think it's happening, then they either don't have kids in the schools, they prefer to pretend it's not happening, or they talk about it amongst themselves but on the surface, they use that southern hospitality bit, that everything is just wonderful! And btw, I've lived in the south a lot of my life....and other cities are not like this one!

[emp6t]

Originally Posted by Pearlbob

There is a lot of racial tension in Memphis, but overall on a day to day basis, no one cares. I think the lower class of Memphis is probably where you'll find the most racisim. Middle to upper class is just too educated to think that way. I'm sure that applies to just about anywhere, not only Memphis.

Pearlbob, I agree with you that there are a lot of cool, progressive people in Midtown (thank God for them!), but unfortunately there is still a lot of racism in Memphis. And it is not only towards African Americans, it is also against Hispanics, and Asians as well. And wealthy does not entail educated or non-racist--I would not bunch them up together.

There cannot be racial tension without racism.

[Pearlbob]

well, it's the lower class that are overtly racist and get in your face about it. The upper class have, obviously, too much class for that. Not to say the rich can't be racist, but they aren't going to call you racist words to your face in a grocery store, for example.

[emp6t]

I would not call that "class" by any means.

Grocery store-type confrontations are the least of our problems. The big problem is actually at the decision making levels, behind close doors where few have access--not me, not you either, even if you are white.

I do agree with you that education would be key, and I see a lot of people working towards that positive goal. Personally, I plan to hang out with these sorts of people, no matter their color or creed. One just cannot waste energy with small mindedness, small town mentalities.

Forums like this are good venues to discuss these matters--kudos to the organizers!

[Pearlbob]

I have found too many people who cry "racism" when in reality they are the ones to blame for their own problems (ahem...willie...) After years of living here, it's just gotten really tired.

[strumpeace]

well, it's the lower class that are overtly racist and get in your face about it. The upper class have, obviously, too much class for that. Not to say the rich can't be racist, but they aren't going to call you racist words to your face in a grocery store, for example.

It's actually the wealthy in Memphis--yes, including in your Central Gardens neighborhood--who are responsible for the institutional racism that is the basis for so many of our City's problems. Poor whites here are few and far between and have little power. Our City's power elite consists of a select group of wealthy white businessmen and families. I can name them -- but I won't.

[Pearlbob]

We'll have to disagree with this one. Memphis has a long history of blaming everything on race. Just work hard, better yourself, and you'll get ahead in life. It's that simple. People all over the rest of the country seem to manage it okay. In Memphis it's too easy to cry racism and get away with it.

[strumpeace]

We'll have to disagree with this one. Memphis has a long history of blaming everything on race. Just work hard, better yourself, and you'll get ahead in life. It's that simple. People all over the rest of the country seem to manage it okay. In Memphis it's too easy to cry racism and get away with it.

Memphis isn't like other cities. Memphis has a decidedly African-American majority population. Yet, the power structure is dominated by whites. African-Americans have no economic power whatsoever in this city.

It's not as simple as you think. Until you've walked a mile in another's shoes--or at least taken time to listen to those who are on the outside looking in--then you really don't know what you're talking about.

And perhaps that 'long history' you speak of has some basis -- Ummm...let's see...slavery, servanthood, Jim Crow, segregated schools, white flight, re-segregated schools, redirection of city funds to newer and whiter areas...Shall we go on? It took hundreds of years for those things to evolve -- Yet, people are supposed to just 'get over it' in a matter of a few years.

I'd be interested in what other historic events you deny.

[Pearlbob]

Who's denying slavery?! My gosh. I can't have a conversation with someone like this, I'm sorry.

The OP was asking about jewish people. The topic needs to get back on that, or end.

[strumpeace]

Then stop your endless remarks denying that racism exists in Memphis.