I'm Black and was born in Seattle. Why was I? (Everett: living, rated)

[gorilazgomossad]

Add that in with the multitude of blacks who buy in to the collectivism idea of "blackness," and you have the Northeast US.

This is so true. This is why I feel that "black" is an American culture, not a description. Its one thing to say "I have brown skin/caramel skin/black skin" than to say "I"M" black.

Saying "I'm black" to me indicates that there is some identity that goes beyond just looks. I have international friends from africa and I never thought of them as "black". I think of them as "african".

I definitely think there is richness to black culture, and negatives as well. The deep complexity of black culture(s) are interesting and I hope to continue to educate myself on this issue as I grow older, meet more people, and learn of peoples firsthand experiences with race.

[gorilazgomossad]

Originally Posted by pirate_lafitte

Personally, I don't think Seattle could be any worse than other parts of the country. Me and my family used to live there and we never had any problems. Much of the trouble happened in parts of rural Georgia. The difference I see is that Seattle doesn't have the same narrative as say, Louisiana or Georgia. Personally, the issue of racism is something that exists all over the nation, it has just manifested itself in many ways across the nation. This is a nationwide problem.
I have been to a few festivals and concerts in metro Atlanta. I am usually one of the few minorities there.

Have you been to Chicago?

[pirate_lafitte]

Originally Posted by gorilazgomossad

Have you been to Chicago?

My father used to live near Chicago(Milwaukee specifically) and has family there. I am aware there are many racial issues there. With that said, I see the same problem all over the USA, just in different ways.

[gorilazgomossad]

Originally Posted by pirate_lafitte

. You did mention something about women. The South has a particularly bad history about dealing with black men who date outside of their race. If a black male even looked at a white female, he could be mob-murdered, aka lynched. I actually have a few close friends who are white females. One night I was talking with one of my friends. I was in the car with her and we were going out to eat. The fact that I was a black man hanging out with two white females was lingering in the back of my mind. I mentioned to one of my friends that if it was 50 years ago I could have been lynched for hanging around her. She agreed .

The things that still pervade during our times are shocking. I used to assume, oh well, the Civil Rights movement happened, so we're all equal, la-dee-da.

I had to educate myself on the discrimination against blacks in terms of housing in the 70s (so disgusting and appaling) when I got to college, since my high school education did not prepare me for the reality of the world. I didnt know the truth about poverty on Native AMerican reservations until college either, its sad how ignorant this country keeps it kids, and how indoctrinated we are in our segregation. I remember thinking my town was normal, until I was walking one day near my house in my hometown on break from college. I noticed some black residents in one of the houses/and the yard. I did a doubletake and was disgusted with myself for being so jarred out of reality to notice it. It made me realize that prior to that I had never seen a black resident in my area of town and I had never thought twice about it. It makes me sad that this was not made apparent to me by my teachers in my youth. When I hear from friends the hardships they went through, I am often shocked.

One of my moms friends was denied use of a bathroom after paying for gas at a southern gas station in her youth (the 50s i think) because she wasnt white.

One of my friends- a man born in the 80s mind you- was told by his high school girlfriend that he better get out of sight before her dad spotted her with a black man. This was in ny, and the girl was either hispanic or white. I was shocked - I couldn't believe that sort of behavior happened "in this day and age".

[gorilazgomossad]

Originally Posted by pirate_lafitte

My father used to live near Chicago(Milwaukee specifically) and has family there. I am aware there are many racial issues there. With that said, I see the same problem all over the USA, just in different ways.

Your dad would definitely know better than me, then since he lived there-but I was told there are many wealthy black families in Chicago. There is an interesting book called "Our kind of people" - I visited Chicago and felt much less racial tension than IN philly, ny or dc area - however I did not live there ever plus I'm hispanic/white so thats only my perspective. I was told that blacks have more opportunities in Chicago and Boston than other places - maybe you would like it. Again, honky here so dont judge me for my ignorance.

I just realized that "There are no children here" by kotlowitz is also set in Chicago- but I thought it had changed? Now I'm just confused and determined to read up more and learn more.

Anyhow I just thought you might consider it and possibly like living there?

[gorilazgomossad]

Originally Posted by cafeaulait1

It's really a shame because many of us Aftican Americans who were born in the south and who were fortunate enough to move to northern cities for better job and an advancement in education are really talked about when we return to our native birthplace. I've been told by my own cousins in the south that I am "too proper". What is too proper? I just advanced my education and learned to speak good english. Now it's almost as if I'm an outsider. I'm a true believer of when in Rome do as the Romans do.

That is so sad that this happened to you. I have heard a lot of the debates about putting ebonics* in schools and why should we force blacks to use "standard english" if they dont already and so on. I used to feel that no one should be judged by how they talk, but ...then I got a job. And to get that job, I had to work in unpaid internships first to build up a resume, dress in uncomfortable, unflattering clothes and shoes, and pretend to like people I cant stand. I had to tell interviewers that I loved their company so much even when I was just desperate for *any* job in my field. I had to BS and talk the talk of Corporate America. so what is my point?

The point is - in a coporate environment - EVERYONE has to change the way they speak and censor themselves. I say "Yes Sir" and "Yes Maam" in offices to all of my superiors, because its polite and it keeps them at a certain distance from me, a certain professional bubble of space. if you told me in High School I would ever say these uptight proper things I would have laughed my head off at you. So, yes, props to the poster who says when in Rome, speak Roman. Honestly, its really not a race issue, its applied to everyone. Feel free to challenge this idea in an intellectual way - bullies will be ignored, aggressors, violators of character and angry ignoramus comments will be brushed aside. Race is a touchy issue. I get that. I will quote Stan from South Park "Hey token I get it - I dont get it".

I will never understand what it is to be black in america. But I'm interested in knowing and learning. I'm educating myself.

*No, I dont think all black people speak ebonics. I dont think all black people anything. Just referring to debates brought into the world around late 90s/early 2000s by other people. That would be sterotyping. Duh. .

[garfield206]

Originally Posted by gorilazgomossad

Saying "I'm black" to me indicates that there is some identity that goes beyond just looks. I have international friends from africa and I never thought of them as "black". I think of them as "african".

thats because black people and african immigrants are different. they have different neighborhoods, gangs, churches, social groups and schools.

[pirate_lafitte]

Originally Posted by garfield206

thats because black people and african immigrants are different. they have different neighborhoods, gangs, churches, social groups and schools.

Black Americans and Black Africans have different narratives. Black Africans immigrate to America for a better life. Black Americans are here because their ancestors were brought here as slaves. Their cultures are also different. I just wanted to add that in.

[pirate_lafitte]

Originally Posted by gorilazgomossad

Your dad would definitely know better than me, then since he lived there-but I was told there are many wealthy black families in Chicago. There is an interesting book called "Our kind of people" - I visited Chicago and felt much less racial tension than IN philly, ny or dc area - however I did not live there ever plus I'm hispanic/white so thats only my perspective. I was told that blacks have more opportunities in Chicago and Boston than other places - maybe you would like it. Again, honky here so dont judge me for my ignorance.

I just realized that "There are no children here" by kotlowitz is also set in Chicago- but I thought it had changed? Now I'm just confused and determined to read up more and learn more.

Anyhow I just thought you might consider it and possibly like living there?

It did happen in Chicago. "Hardball" also took place in Chicago.

There might be some opportunities in Chicago. My father told me he would rather live in Chicago than where he currently resides in metro Atlanta.

[pirate_lafitte]

Originally Posted by gorilazgomossad

The things that still pervade during our times are shocking. I used to assume, oh well, the Civil Rights movement happened, so we're all equal, la-dee-da.

I had to educate myself on the discrimination against blacks in terms of housing in the 70s (so disgusting and appaling) when I got to college, since my high school education did not prepare me for the reality of the world. I didnt know the truth about poverty on Native AMerican reservations until college either, its sad how ignorant this country keeps it kids, and how indoctrinated we are in our segregation. I remember thinking my town was normal, until I was walking one day near my house in my hometown on break from college. I noticed some black residents in one of the houses/and the yard. I did a doubletake and was disgusted with myself for being so jarred out of reality to notice it. It made me realize that prior to that I had never seen a black resident in my area of town and I had never thought twice about it. It makes me sad that this was not made apparent to me by my teachers in my youth. When I hear from friends the hardships they went through, I am often shocked.

One of my moms friends was denied use of a bathroom after paying for gas at a southern gas station in her youth (the 50s i think) because she wasnt white.

One of my friends- a man born in the 80s mind you- was told by his high school girlfriend that he better get out of sight before her dad spotted her with a black man. This was in ny, and the girl was either hispanic or white. I was shocked - I couldn't believe that sort of behavior happened "in this day and age".

All of this means racial prejudice and bigotry are not in the past, just talked about less.
When I lived in Everett,WA, my mother told me the only issue she remembered was seeing a skinhead. Other than that, my family didn't have any problems living there. Most of the issues my own family had occurred in Georgia for some reason. I think it may have been that we were out in the exurbs, rather than the city, but it could have been anywhere.