Pittsuburgh racist to who? (Pittsburgh, Youngstown: houses, university, bus)

[pirate_lafitte]

Originally Posted by MissShona

Actually, a good number of young professional people I know in Pittsburgh have no hang-ups dating outside of their race. I myself am not "ghetto", and I date outside of my race (although this is mainly due to religious reasons). In fact, I find that the more educated the people, the less they are against interracial dating/marriage. That is, unless they have some personal insecurity issues!

Also, when it comes to families, you may be surprised. My boyfriend is White (an Ashkenazi Jew) and is one of 3 boys (he's in the middle). His older brother married a Black woman and his parents don't like here at all. But she also works at a bartender and he works in the entertainment industry. I don't know them well, but I know there is a lot of instability in their lives. Also she is not Jewish. When I first found out about this, I was a little worried that his family was racist. But it turns out they like me just fine -- even though I'm Black. I'm Jewish, college educated, and more motivated by family life and maintaining good relationships. So you see, their dislike had little, if anything to do with race, and more to do with positive vs. negative personalities.

Sometimes religion can help, and in some cases, religion can be used in a bad way. I am not a native of PGH, in fact, I live further South, near Atlanta. You were saying that Pgh had a decent amount of people with no hangups about interracial dating. I can at least say this, it differs in many places. I am a Black male who would date outside of his ethnicity(actually, I have never really dated in my life, but race isn't a big hangup for me). I remember a girl telling me that interracial dating was wrong on religious grounds. I talked to a pastor and I was told the opposite, that it ISN'T wrong. I found the statement that the girl told me quite disturbing. As disturbing as I found it, I was given a partial idea why most students in my high school would not date interracially. To me it was no big deal. I just wanted an intellectual, nice person to talk to and to date. Race was not a big deal. Personally, I was glad to get out of high school and to move onto college. Even in college, some people have hangups about interracial dating, either because such persons aren't attracted to anyone outside of their race, or their parents would be upset. It is kind of sad to think about it.

As for Pittsburgh, I had a talk with a friend who was from there. She told me that Pittsburgh was more divided on ethnic lines when she was younger and that now that is not as much the case today. I don't know for sure, but it would be interesting to know how the young of Pittsburgh interact.

[west lawn kid]

Originally Posted by chicknpotpie

I just mean like, if an asian person walks into a bar or restaurant, do people stare and mumble?

yes cuz yo don't see that many asiansin pittsburgh. its like when a wite guy wales into a black bar in detroit

[MarqueseGilmore]

Originally Posted by pirate_lafitte

Ghetto is an Italian word. It means "section". Makes sense because in Venice,Italy, the Jews were forced to live in a "ghetto" of town away from everyone. Ghettoes were used long before the holocaust, before Hitler was even a born.

Exactly.....proved the point I was trying to make.

[Copanut]

Originally Posted by chicknpotpie

I just mean like, if an asian person walks into a bar or restaurant, do people stare and mumble?

Only if you were wearing a flower pot on your head or a Raven's jersey.

[Sierra275]

Originally Posted by chicknpotpie

When people talk about Pittsburgh and rampant racism, do they mostly mean whites and blacks, or are asians included too?

I would get a better class of friends if, I could find like minded and economically similar ones. But, whites I know act like they have black friends but, the small gettogethers that I have been to I have been the only tan face in the place. Also, I have had my experiences that is why I left.

First, I had a bus driver make a comment of how he didn't like African-Americans when I took the 11D to the Westview Plaza. My attitude is if, you don't like minorities then don't take a job that deals with the public, like driving a bus. Also, I have heard and seen for myself Asian-American students from CMU being victims of racism by white and some black bus drivers in the east neighborhoods. And, since I was one of two African-American females in my high school class of 105, I couldn't go to a Christmas party of one of my now former friends since the people she worked with a medium law firm don't have any African-American associates or partners. They hardly have any associates in their DC office and they have two in their Atlanta office.

I saw a Filipino worker at the Giant Eagle get discriminated against for being gay and I had so many experiences of white people being afraid to put money in my hand after giving me my change that I wanted to touch them back and tell them it comes off. And, see the look of horror when they realize a black person has touched them. And, yes I have spoken out and other times I'm like this place is ignorant and I really need to get out of this town because these folks don't even know that using a noose on a African-American professor is a racist connontation. And, also how would you like being told to go to a historical black college/university when you have worked at predominately white ones since you were undergraduate which was at that wonderful and wild school south of the Mason-Dixon called WVU. And, when it comes to who does Pittsburgh discriminate against let me put it to you this way. I was in a master's program at the University of Pittsburgh in 1999 and graduated in 2000. One of my asian classmates changed to another program and another went back to school and got a bachelors in business administration. I had a job at Pitt but, was not allowed to make the money I wanted at another school. But, since they had the monoply on the semester at sea program for someone in my field then I had to work at Pitt. Another classmate who is from Sri Lanka is now working in the non-profit sector because when he tried to give input to my degree program about adding a course that would benefit students in the near future they wouldn't listen. I took the stupid pay cut then found another colleague wanted to get paid the same amount I got when I took my stupid job at Pitt and his boss got it for him but, when I tried to complain I was told I was difficult.

If, someone doesn't shake your hand when you are congratulate them on a promontion and you know that you are not the type of person who doesn't wash their hands when leaving the restroom then they are racist. He was a grad student whom I had worked with and I wanted to show my joy for his job oppportunity. But, instead I got so sick of that crap I started applying for jobs and leaving but, I should have said I got knocked up and then left then they would have thought that I had fallen into the single motherhood stereotype of black women. Also, I had a couple make monkey noises at me while I was leaving work one evening and I also had to endure a preteen on a school bus while on campus in the middle of the day yell out to me " the more you know the less I know!!" Well he isn't learning anything since I have a bachelors and a masters.

Also, when I worked at the same unit but, in a different department as a grad student in 2000 one person of Asian-American descent left while another person of color of Native American descent also left. The Lee the native american had her funding cut so she couldn't network when she was suppose to to get tenure. And, Dede the Chinese-American woman husband got a job in CA and they left. Also, I'm sure she got tired of being treated like an FOB. (For those of you who are minority slang illiterate FOB means fresh off the boat which is what is recent immigrants either legal or otherwise are referred to when they first get here and are unsure of the English language.)

I will say this WVU trained me better to deal with the racist gestures and attitudes of the city of Pittsburgh. Because I can understand why all of my Pittsburgh classmates except for one left and moved down South. And, that one who doesn't even know who I am only came back because he was a Steeler. And, he got paid enough to keep racism at bay. But, I a working woman at Pitt didn't. Oh and another why would someone need to tell you they wanted someone esle for your position when that other person didn't even apply. Because of his racist past. My colleagues were some of the phoniest at Pitt and when I need time off for a parent's death they actually tried to follow me to see if, I had made my parent's death up. My parent died in another state and we didn't want to put the obit in the paper until we returned so our respected homes wouldn't get broken into.

Some of us do do that but, I didn't but, I will use a pregnancy to get away from you sorry ass people. And, like that one post stated I was living paycheck to paycheck at Pitt and I was a faculty member while people I know with the same degree at other schools and at Pitt could afford a house. Here is a question does anyone know how much faculty members make at Pitt. Well if, it is a 9 month contract and you have a master's degree then it isn't $30,000 it is less. If, you have a PhD it is $40000. Which why so many people there have to work two jobs just to survive. I have a friend in Cleveland Heights who makes about $40,000 she has a master's and she can afford a nice house in another good school system surburb and her bank isn't broke.

You know a city is bad when a white person who lives in another city which is close to a major metropolitan city like NYC and DC who knows you tells you that a UPMC report states that racism and oppression in Pittsburgh are so bad that she is worried about your health and wants you to leave because she thinks the same thing will happen to you.

And, why is it that Pittsburgh is one of the few cities where whites will act like they were discriminated against. Because they think their skin tone affords them privilege.

I applied to 8 temp agencies and my attitude was fine but, know one would give me a damn job. When I first graduated I got a job right on the spot even though I had on jeans and a tee shirt. I returned for my interview in a suit and blouse but, in Pittsburgh it totally different.

Okay, why is it that my classmates and I all have to warn other African-Americans not to take Route 51 to Century III Mall. Because of the Klan or should I say the racist members of certain police departments who shall remain nameless that patrol that area.

I was told ignorance is bliss no stupidity and racism isn't. And, the racial slur database can help a lot of minorities with the racist attitude of pittsburgh.

Later,
Sierra275

[Sierra275]

Afterthought:

Ever had a problem flying out of Pittsburgh International Airport since 9/11 if, you have a dark tan. Well, I did and I got sick of it. 90% of the time I flew out of PIA I had a problem and I can understand why my friend said I needed to leave. Flying while black is why I left and I have no love loss for your city. And, if I get the crap of you all are not racist why is it you cannot get a black mayor, black supertinendent of schools or black fire chief in Pittsburgh. Yet towns like Youngstown, Cleveland, Toledo, Columbus, and DC can. And, get this Youngstown had a Puerto Rican Fire Chief for almost two decades and now they have a black one. And, don't give me that it isn't racist because I know more college educated blacks leaving because you all are so racist if, someone were to tell you you would start crying because your feelings were hurt when the truth does just that it hurts. You all can't even put positive images in the stupid library and one of my grad student worker was surprise when she heard my conversation and I made a funny comment of something not being in Spanish. When I spoke a different language she said that is not Spanish that is Italian. And, the thing is a third person of my conversation knew just that but, the fourth person the intruder did not. I guess having a master's degree meant that I didn't know the difference between languages of the Romance linguistics area. So, I am out forever.

Sierra275

[Agbor]

This flying while black is a new one for me...I have flown while black 7 or 8 times after 9/11
and haven't had a problem...I did notice once they pulled 3 Indian guys to the side an made
them sit down at security....

I think the problem in Pittsburgh and Western Pennsylvania is that it is a working class area and most of the blacks and whites are working class people...That said, both groups are not used to large
numbers of middle-class blacks like in D.C. or Philly...where there is a large number to alter common
stereotypes...there you have DIFFERENT CLASSES of black people..the poor and the executive you see
on the streets...

And another thing..people in Western Penna. area are very cliquish and fragmented socially, so I think
based on the above this leads to stereotyping all blacks as ghetto...and a lot of jobs are nepotism which seems to be a big part of the culture here..

Now..I also think that the black people in this region haven't gotten it together like blacks in other cities
due to the framented mentality here to learn how to leverage power to change things they may not like..so they get frustrated and sit back and complain and walk around with a chip on their shoulder...

For example, Cleveland has had 2 black mayors why hasn't Pittsburgh?...am comparing 2 similiar sized
cities..well the blacks in Cleveland learned how to work power and leverage an got together to elect
someone who they felt would represent their interest...

When people make statements "Pittsburgh=racist"...specify what exactly is racist,are you saying every
single person in Pittsburgh is racist? and what exactly is "racist" it means different things to different
people...

This is what I think...Pittsburgh is basically a conservative and close-minded culture and cliquish culture
in general...this reflects in close minded don't change attitudes including racial ones...It is not like D.C. or New York where all different types of people are coming and going all the time, thus new ideas and
assumptions challenged...

The cliquish culture here may promote some to engage in racial stereotyping if they don't know anyone
outside of their race...and on the black side..it has prevented blacks from unifying to re balance the
power equation to challenge things they don't like so some sit back and complain and have chips on
their shoulder..

I like Pittsburgh and I think the people in general are friendly and endearing even though they can be
can be conservative and closed-minded...which can have good and bad points...

Now as far as racism in Pittsburgh..I would say the bottom line is some people here just aren't used to
the new class patterns and immigration patterns that the rest of the country has been dealing with as
this area has been overlooked..so the stereotype on what they see..without knowing..

[Agbor]

I mean they stereotype on what they see without knowing

[Katiana]

Originally Posted by highway29south

Sorry, but I beg to differ. We live west of the city and my kids go to school with maybe a handful of African-American kids. There are no other races represented in any neighborhood near me except white and some indian. My husband grew up in Brentwood where there were only whites and very much discrimination. Maybe some neighborhoods are mixed in the city but most, especially the suburbs, are segregated. Contrast that to Southern Virginia, where I grew up and went to school with 50% white, 50% black in a middle class neighborhood.

Originally Posted by ckhthankgod

Something I notice about Pittsburgh is that it's public city high schools are pretty mixed with the exception of Westinghouse. I find that to be rare in many major cities in the Northeast to find almost all of the public city HS's to be legitimately mixed, regardless of if the school is predominately White or Black.

Even many of the suburban and small city and town schools are pretty mixed too. That seems to be the case in the Eastern suburbs or the industrial towns in the area.

The high school where the kids in my old neighborhood go (Blackhawk) is 98% white! This is in "suburban" Beaver Falls.

[raynist]

Originally Posted by Sierra275

Afterthought:

Ever had a problem flying out of Pittsburgh International Airport since 9/11 if, you have a dark tan. Well, I did and I got sick of it. 90% of the time I flew out of PIA I had a problem and I can understand why my friend said I needed to leave. Flying while black is why I left and I have no love loss for your city. And, if I get the crap of you all are not racist why is it you cannot get a black mayor, black supertinendent of schools or black fire chief in Pittsburgh. Yet towns like Youngstown, Cleveland, Toledo, Columbus, and DC can. And, get this Youngstown had a Puerto Rican Fire Chief for almost two decades and now they have a black one. And, don't give me that it isn't racist because I know more college educated blacks leaving because you all are so racist if, someone were to tell you you would start crying because your feelings were hurt when the truth does just that it hurts. You all can't even put positive images in the stupid library and one of my grad student worker was surprise when she heard my conversation and I made a funny comment of something not being in Spanish. When I spoke a different language she said that is not Spanish that is Italian. And, the thing is a third person of my conversation knew just that but, the fourth person the intruder did not. I guess having a master's degree meant that I didn't know the difference between languages of the Romance linguistics area. So, I am out forever.

Sierra275

We have or had a black chief of police, we also have a beloved black coach of the Steelers. I also think Obama won allegheny county, is that racist?

You have serious, serious issues.

While I don't doubt you have experienced racism, I think some of this has to have been brought on upon yourself. The comment about people not wanting to touch your hand is assinine. I hate touching peoples hands I don't know (and some I do know!). You have no idea if they just sneezed in their hand or picked their nose...