Can someone tell me what this article is trying to say? (Seattle: violent crime, neighborhoods)

[RunTheDistance476]

Minority youth more often in Wash. courts than whites | KING5.com Seattle

I don't get it, is it talking about the troubling issues facing urban, low-income minorities or trying to say that the court system is Seattle is letting white criminals free and holding minorities more accountable?

[CarawayDJ]

It sounds much more ominous than a title that would be more accurate such as "Youth living in disadvantaged socioeconomic environments more often in Wash Courts than those from higher socioeconomic environments."

I think back to one of the places I lived in NH growing up. It was whiter than white bread. It was economically depressed. Lots of crime. All of it white. This is all a matter of socioeconomic status. Racists and bigots will try to attribute race as the reason for the socioeconomic problems. White apologists will put all of the blame on white people. In reality it's just a tough problem to solve, and not limited to minorities. Show me a simple answer and I'll show you a Nobel Prize.

[RunTheDistance476]

So...what do you think it is trying to say? A lot of minorities are arrested or that the court system is racist.

On the contrary to what you said, I grew up in a mostly black/hispanic neighborhood and I can honestly say...nearly everyone was involved in some type of crime, however, the violent crimes were much more lopsided to a group. Culture, along with socioeconomic status, along with intelligence, along with family structure all play a major role of how we grow up. For example, a black family with a mother, father, and child that are poor can be law-abiding fine citizens. Families where a father figure (of good character) is missing, well...just drive down Martin Luther King Jr. way and find out.

Another issue occurs when you live in a "white" city like Seattle, but approx. 40-60% of your violent crime is committed by only 8% of the population, when clearly there just as many poor whites/Asians. I think that is what causes people to be racist. But again, I think it is a cultural thing, I think it is a jealously/racist thing.

You rarely hear black on white or black on Asian "hate" crimes, but I think they are motives way more often than people think.

[CarawayDJ]

I assume they want to imply that the judicial system is racist. Frankly, there is some evidence to support that to an extent. Minorities can receive longer/harsher sentences. But the root of the problem is socioeconomic status. Why that is that way is complex with no easy solutions. Culture is tied closely to socioeconomic status. I'm not sure intelligence has much to do with it. I hope you aren't implying some races are more intelligent than others. I know quite a few intelligent losers in life. A smart person growing up in bad conditions has no guarantee of success.

Father absence is a big factor, and one that is especially problematic in the black community. Father absence decimates black community in U.S. | Reuters

Then again, I'm white and pretty much grew up without a father. I call my mother on Father's Day. In general though, not having both parents isn't a good thing.

A lot of people try to take a complex problem like this and deduce it down to one or two factors. We haven't solved this for good reason, it's not easy to solve. Breaking the cycle is hard. Breaking out of a bad environment is hard.

I see you like talking about the easy topics lol. You can't talk about these issues on a public forum without it turning into a flame war. It can't be done. Too many people have it all figured out. You will have the racists who sneakily imply it's all because of race, and the white apologists who imply it's all because of us white people. I see a laundry list of factors.

[RunTheDistance476]

I wasn't implying "race intelligence" or one race over the other, I mean't intelligence for each individual person. Yes, I like talking about strong topics, life is fun that way.

Although, if the article is stating that the court system is racist, clearly it hasn't been watching what is going on in Seattle. A group of "minority" teens beat a man to death and all of them basically get away with it (one goes on to kill another person).

I don't think all minority issues are created equal. I think that Native Americans and African Americans have much more to dig themselves out of (not necessarily because of whites, but because of their current cultures).

Black culture is kind of the "be an NBA/NFL all star or be a 'gangsta' because that is what is cool". Native Americans are struggling with the "camps" and messed up foundations they now live in. I think both need very, very strong leaders/public idols to help their youth overcome the cycle they are currently in.

But, past that, blacks have an even more difficult time dealing with letting go of the past and moving forward. You hear comments such as "white women", "talking white", and "acting white"...but for those who don't know...most people of all colors/races/ethnicites act/talk "white".

[CarawayDJ]

Originally Posted by wlw2009

I wasn't implying "race intelligence" or one race over the other, I mean't intelligence for each individual person. Yes, I like talking about strong topics, life is fun that way.

Although, if the article is stating that the court system is racist, clearly it hasn't been watching what is going on in Seattle. A group of "minority" teens beat a man to death and all of them basically get away with it (one goes on to kill another person).

I don't think all minority issues are created equal. I think that Native Americans and African Americans have much more to dig themselves out of (not necessarily because of whites, but because of their current cultures).

Black culture is kind of the "be an NBA/NFL all star or be a 'gangsta' because that is what is cool". Native Americans are struggling with the "camps" and messed up foundations they now live in. I think both need very, very strong leaders/public idols to help their youth overcome the cycle they are currently in.

But, past that, blacks have an even more difficult time dealing with letting go of the past and moving forward. You hear comments such as "white women", "talking white", and "acting white"...but for those who don't know...most people of all colors/races/ethnicites act/talk "white".

I think letting go is easier said than done. Knowing myself, I'm pretty sure that if I were black I would be the 2nd coming of Al Sharpton. I disagree with your characterization of black culture. You are describing a subset of it. The "gangsta" subculture has even penetrated many white communities now. I have a nephew that got caught up in it in school. America just needs more time. Things improve each and every year. Society is like a glacier, and societal problems get solved at a glacial pace. Everyone jumps up and down on the glacier trying to get it to move faster but it still moves at its own pace.

[Hemlock140]

That article is not trying to say either, just stating facts. Actually, stating the obvious. Most of the youth crime is gang related. How often do you hear of a white gang?

[CarawayDJ]

Originally Posted by Hemlock140

That article is not trying to say either, just stating facts. Actually, stating the obvious. Most of the youth crime is gang related. How often do you hear of a white gang?

I guess it all depends on how you define gang. When white people unite in crime they call it organized crime. Mafia? Some bike gangs? White supremacists? What race is the russian mafia?

BUT, as you point out the key word is "youth". I agree that I don't hear much about white youth gangs. I think the reason for that still relates to socioeconomic status and one other ingredient favorable to gang activity, a dense urban area. Socioeconomically disadvantaged minorities tend to occupy the urban areas. If I could travel back in time I'd do so and visit some of the dangerous white neighborhoods of Boston before it was gentrified. I'd have to ask them if they shot people independently or as part of a gang. Same results.

[Beenhere4ever]

I think it is distortion to call the system "racist". It discrimnates uniformly against economic castes. With a huge income, you can almost always plea bargain. If you must depend on pro bono defense, I'd say your chances are the worst. Don't think poor whites, Asians, or Hispanics get any favors. We have a crimeridden society, so real fairness is almost not an option. We value "freedom" so much, we are crippled in any attempt to reform this. Those that make tons of money breaking the law may never even be indicted (as in the case of the fraudulent bankers). Heck, top mobsters have been taken down for tax evasion (sure, they're gonna file accurate returns!). I don't quite get how anyone is still surprised about this.

[Freebird2007]

Official translation : "As the media, it is our sworn duty to flame the fires of controversy and cause bias. Just because minority kids happen to get into more trouble in bad areas, it is really the white mans fault for locking them up (even though they were guilty)"