diversity? Racism? (Phoenix, Mesa, Gilbert: jobs, company, suburbs)

[MotleyCrew]

My husband and I lived in Hawaii in the 70's and experienced racism. We were shocked when my husband applied for a job with a large firm and was met at the door by the owner who happened to be Japanese. He took one look at my husband, who was very qualified, and said that they did not hire white people. Ouch. I had a part time job at the International Market Place and the local native girls would wait for me to get off of work to jump me at the bus stop. I started to jog home and took the back street. Thank goodness I was skinny and could run faster than they could. Do we hate Hawaiians? or Japanese? Nope. Life is a journey.

[GirlinAZ]

Originally Posted by Elmonellie

It must make for a long day thinking "THEY" are out to get you.

As far as racism goes in the Phx area, it exists as everywhere. On the whole, I'd say Phx is pretty accepting and a welcoming place to live.

Well, next time you are chased by someone carrying a gun-you can act so smugly.

Oh, and as you state----"I'd say......"
This is opinion. This is an opinion forum. Therefore if I say the exact opposite of you-it is still correct-as it is my opinion.
God I hate know it alls.

[GirlinAZ]

Originally Posted by londonbarcelona

To me, I don't see any discrimination around here.

Are you white?

[GirlinAZ]

Originally Posted by lukeache

I truly believe that White supremacists and other human garbage hate groups from Idaho and the Pacific NW did not choose Phoenix randomly. It is obvious that they choose a place where they are going to find like minded people. I don't think such groups would have chosen a place like Albuquerque, New Mexico. Their BS simply would not fly there

Do you really think they come from the NW? I would think there were from the South.

[GirlinAZ]

Originally Posted by MotleyCrew

My husband and I lived in Hawaii in the 70's and experienced racism. We were shocked when my husband applied for a job with a large firm and was met at the door by the owner who happened to be Japanese. He took one look at my husband, who was very qualified, and said that they did not hire white people. Ouch. I had a part time job at the International Market Place and the local native girls would wait for me to get off of work to jump me at the bus stop. I started to jog home and took the back street. Thank goodness I was skinny and could run faster than they could. Do we hate Hawaiians? or Japanese? Nope. Life is a journey.

Sounds like reverse racism here. Nice that you could realize that it is what it is and that not everyone of any group is a representative of that group. (And that you are safe now!)

[lukeache]

Originally Posted by NanawaleJulie

Do you really think they come from the NW? I would think there were from the South.

The White supremacists in Phoenix are mostly Aryan Nation. They are not Southerners and have nothing to do with the KKK. Their group was/is based in Northern Idaho (Couer d' Alene area)

[ArizonaBear]

People complain about racism---------what about the 'La Raza' variety? Some of the dark skinned Latinos of Aztec, etc. heritage do not care for 'White' people be them 'Anglo' or Hispanic'.

Racism is not just a 'white' thing.

[Elmonellie]

Originally Posted by NanawaleJulie

Well, next time you are chased by someone carrying a gun-you can act so smugly.

Oh, and as you state----"I'd say......"
This is opinion. This is an opinion forum. Therefore if I say the exact opposite of you-it is still correct-as it is my opinion.
God I hate know it alls.

Are people chasing you with guns?

I understand this is an opinion forum.

Why do you call me a know it all? I just said that it must make for a long day to think a large group that you can't really identify are after you. Doesn't it?

[Arizona Annie]

Originally Posted by ZaVaZ

No matter where you go there will be Racism. Thats the way it is. But I'm thinking were talking more along the lines of "Will the amount Racism be enough to cause a hate crime"? What is a "Hate Crime"? thats the real question.

I'm white and about 2 months ago I Shaved my head down to the skin, I do that once in a while. about 3 days after I shaved my head my wife, son and I went to fry's marketplace. There in the frozen food isle I was approached from behind by 3 black males. They got my attention my saying. "Punk Ass White boy!" I ignored them and continued to look at the foods. Again "Fu*kin Punk ass cracker!" I looked and one of them cocked his arm back and took a swing. I moved as he was swing causing him to miss. His miss threw him off balance which gave me the opportunity to push him to the ground and tell my Wife to grab my son to run and get help. I screamed to the others telling them to "Bring it!" hoping that that would scare them into not fighting with them seeing that i was not scared to fight 3 big black guys.

Then security ran in and tackled me (ME!) with the 3 black men kicking me while the security guard was on top of me. The security guard was telling the them to stop. but they didn't. So others got on them and we were all contained till the police got there. They let the 3 guys go and continued to hold me. While contained the 3 black males kept telling them that I started it and wanted this to be a hate crime. 3 police were there 2 black and 1 white. 1 black cop told me that I was going to be charged with a hate crime the other 2 cops questioned all the witnesses including my wife. once they saw my wife and son they new that there was no way that I could have started it. because my wife is Mexican. I later showed them my cell phone which contained Pictures of a fishing trip I took with my friends. My friends of 4 African-Americans, 3 Mexicans and 3 other white guys with all of there families.

After they let me go and went after the 3 black males and just charged them with aggravated assault. I asked "why not the hate crime?" they told me that they can't pin a black person with a hate crime, thats impossible. They then later told me to shop at another place and to avoid this Fry's if at all possible.

So where ever you go there will be Racism. I have only experienced it this one time since I moved here. It was a bad encounter but since then I've grown my hair. I love this place and only hear of it when on the news. I truly believe that the Mexican community is a lot nicer than the Mexican communities in San Diego, LA and in Austin. where I've lived in the years.

Racism is social ignorance that the truly lost hold.

That is terrible! It never ceases to amaze me when people can look the other way and even blame the victim when he or she is white, but they jump all over racism if it is directed at someone of color. Racism is senseless, ignorant behavior no matter who it is directed at. We should be just as outraged if a white person is a victim of racism. The officers saying it is impossible to "pin a black man with a hate crime" is unbelievable! I certainly hope it's not true. If it is, it needs to be changed.

[Arizona Annie]

Originally Posted by ArizonaBear

People complain about racism---------what about the 'La Raza' variety? Some of the dark skinned Latinos of Aztec, etc. heritage do not care for 'White' people be them 'Anglo' or Hispanic'.

Racism is not just a 'white' thing.

Absolutely! I was thinking about that as well. Like I said before, I don't think we have any more of a problem than any other large city. The problems we do have primarily seem to be from certain groups who do not care for (hate) white people. There are certain places in Arizona where you can really feel it if you are white. I have noticed some people seem to flaunt their membership in "La Raza" by posting stickers on their vehicles. I take those stickers as a warning to steer clear of it's inhabitants.

I can understand where NanawaleJulie is coming from when she said....

Originally Posted by NanawaleJulie

.... I am "white" and I feel slightly unsafe here....

I don't know if she is referring to the issues we have with that particular group or not, but I can relate to the sentiment. There have been times when I have been genuinely concerned for my safety, but I truly believe this is the exception rather than the rule. For the most part, I think this is a very accepting and welcoming city to all cultures and heritages. I just try to be aware of where I am and avoid the places I have found to be unfriendly. For an example...Desert Sky Mall in the West Valley.