Racism is alive and prospering in Bartlesville (date, town)

[Goodpasture]

Originally Posted by Xotik

.....I wish someone would say something racist to my face!

You talk good for a white person.........

[Howest2008]

Originally Posted by gypsy2

Thank you for this distasteful and less discussed subject. FYI: I too am white. Will be traveling cross country from east coast to west coast early spring '09. Planning extensive visit to Tulsa to view places and events related to; architecture, museums, American Indian culture, etc. Cultural diversity is a high priority to me. Will avoid Bartlesville like the plague.

I'm the guy that gave you some information on Tulsa Mountain Peaks and Summits.....you don't have to avoid Bartlesville , and this word of advice is coming from a Afro-American born in Oklahoma , but who has lived in California for about 30 years , whom also has traveled to forgein
Countries and has visited 40 of the 50 United States of America. I also have lived in these States..Texas...Mississippi...Georgia.....Florida. ..
Massachcutte ...Hawaii....Alaska...Virginia (which is your home State) and I have EXPERIENCED RACISM everywhere that I HAVE BEEN..even..In.. California They have SKINHEADS and NAZI'S in the ALPHA WORLD CLASS
CITIES OF LOS ANGELES and SAN FRANCISCO CALIFORNIA Believe It Or Not..I Have been to Richmond VA and the Hampton Roads Tidewater Area
Of Virginia and there's rasism there also and I can go as far as to say that there's even racism in CHOCOLATE CITY (you know) Washington D.C....
Please over look any mis spelled words City-Data Doesn't Have Spell Check.......Howest2008

[Howest2008]

Originally Posted by Profjra

In September 2008 I and my family moved to Bartlesville, a small town 40 miles north of Tulsa from Boulder CO and shortly discovered that racism is alive and prospering here. I had heard of the Tulsa race riots in the 20s but I thought this is the 21st century surely that attitude is gone. Myt family is white but after years in the cities of America we are atuned to the plight of people of color, and often recieve our own share of hatred as Jews. But I was amazed when I stopped at a local gas station and asked if they had a pay phone so I could call my wife... the clerk told me "Im sorry honey this is east bartlesville we dont need pay phones here.. they are all on the west side of town with the '******s'" I was flabbergasted... for a minute I wondered if I was in Mississippi instead of Oklahoma. I noticed a few days later as I was driving across the town that the east side had baptist and lutheran and methodist churches and the west side had an AME church... I guess in this part of the world their really are two sides to the railroad tracks.

I didn't want to dismiss your observations of racism , especially with you being jewish..... (but) you know just as well as me..with me being AA
that we just push right straight on through racism every day of ours lifes. I promised myself that I wasn't going to allow racism to stop me from getting "Mine" by totally avoiding certain area of this great country , and racist will do that to "People" that are sensitive....and
of course you can imagine what's going to happen to that area of the country is going to get more and more racist because of the lack of progressive people like yourself.
I have been to Denver many time..I have 2nd and 3rd Cousins in the city of Denver and Boulder is in the Denver Metro Area which is more Progressive than the Tulsa or Oklahoma City Metro Area....all that I ask you to do is stay and make Tulsa Metro A Better Place To Live.....
You think that you ran into racism just wait until I tell you some of my Oklahoma Racism Stories...time permitting on another day...no time today.

[DogLover99]

Since you claim racism is running rampant in 'this part of the world' you've been slapped with tons of racist/bigoted/ignorant/redneck actions.

Since it's been a whole six weeks since you've been in Oklahoma, SURELY you've seen more indications that Bartlesville/Oklahoma is not 'atuned to the plight of people of color.'

Or perhaps you were a little high-handed in your blanket statement? Or you've thought about it and realized that stupidity is everywhere.

I'd also like to ask if you have experienced anything good in your six weeks or has it all been a distasteful foray into ignorance and bigotry?

[mrkool]

Originally Posted by gypsy2

Thank you for this distasteful and less discussed subject. FYI: I too am white. Will be traveling cross country from east coast to west coast early spring '09. Planning extensive visit to Tulsa to view places and events related to; architecture, museums, American Indian culture, etc. Cultural diversity is a high priority to me. Will avoid Bartlesville like the plague.

Yes.. you definitely want to plan your trip and your route (avoiding Bartlesville) based on one post by one easily-offended person here on city-data forums. You obviously don't think or research things for yourself.

[mrkool]

Originally Posted by Profjra

In September 2008 I and my family moved to Bartlesville, a small town 40 miles north of Tulsa from Boulder CO and shortly discovered that racism is alive and prospering here. I had heard of the Tulsa race riots in the 20s but I thought this is the 21st century surely that attitude is gone. Myt family is white but after years in the cities of America we are atuned to the plight of people of color, and often recieve our own share of hatred as Jews. But I was amazed when I stopped at a local gas station and asked if they had a pay phone so I could call my wife... the clerk told me "Im sorry honey this is east bartlesville we dont need pay phones here.. they are all on the west side of town with the '******s'" I was flabbergasted... for a minute I wondered if I was in Mississippi instead of Oklahoma. I noticed a few days later as I was driving across the town that the east side had baptist and lutheran and methodist churches and the west side had an AME church... I guess in this part of the world their really are two sides to the railroad tracks.

So let me get this straight... you encountered one person who used the *n* word. And you also observed possibly that the black side of town is on one side of the tracks, and the white side is on the other. So these two small incidents have you all up in arms, and condemning Bartlesville as a very racist place?? I can hardly believe how you are over-reacting, and so easily-offended. Yeah, you shoulda stayed in Boulder, that's for sure. A very politically-correct, liberal town, where you'll never be offended.
By the way... it doesn't sound like you're very well-travelled, or aware of the conditions in many other parts of the country.
Racism by minorities against whites is a very common, and often violent occurrence in many of our "diverse", larger metro areas. Violent crime by minorities against whites is 100 times more common than the other way around. Just check out FBI/Department of Justice crime stats about inter-racial crimes. Assaults and violent crime against whites... now THAT is racism. Someone using the *n* word, and a town with blacks living on a different side of the tracks is nothing to get worked up about.

[mrkool]

Originally Posted by Howest2008

You think that you ran into racism just wait until I tell you some of my Oklahoma Racism Stories...time permitting on another day...no time today.

I can't wait to hear them. And then I'll tell you all the stories of my white friends, relatives, neighbors, and co-workers who have been assaulted, robbed, raped, etc., by minorities.

[LBurry]

Originally Posted by Profjra

In September 2008 I and my family moved to Bartlesville, a small town 40 miles north of Tulsa from Boulder CO and shortly discovered that racism is alive and prospering here. I had heard of the Tulsa race riots in the 20s but I thought this is the 21st century surely that attitude is gone. Myt family is white but after years in the cities of America we are atuned to the plight of people of color, and often recieve our own share of hatred as Jews. But I was amazed when I stopped at a local gas station and asked if they had a pay phone so I could call my wife... the clerk told me "Im sorry honey this is east bartlesville we dont need pay phones here.. they are all on the west side of town with the '******s'" I was flabbergasted... for a minute I wondered if I was in Mississippi instead of Oklahoma. I noticed a few days later as I was driving across the town that the east side had baptist and lutheran and methodist churches and the west side had an AME church... I guess in this part of the world their really are two sides to the railroad tracks.

Since I live in Bartlesville, I feel compelled to respond. And my comments generally echo what others have said here on the topic. The OP is unfair to assess an entire community from the words of one individual. I'll also challenge the OP to find ANY community in the United States that is 100% free of racism.

Bartlesville is not a perfect community but it's a great place to live. The majority of the citizens here are genuinely friendly. Our community has a large population of professionals so our education level is far above the average within Oklahoma. See the demographics at the following web site:

Bartlesville (city) QuickFacts from the US Census Bureau

Like another poster said, the uneducated tend to lash out at others with ugliness. But that doesn't mean we're all like that. Yes, we have a poor community near the railroad tracks but in almost every town in America, the properties near the tracks have less value and attract those who live at or near the poverty level. If the OP would look, the area (on the west side) near the tracks has residents of many ethic backgrounds.

If the OP will stay around and not pre-judge everyone, I think he'll find happiness here. So many have. I just couldn't sit by and not comment because Bartlesville has so much going for it. Yes, we have a few ugly folks who are bigotted.... the same as any American community... but the bigots are grossly outnumbered by good citizens.

[okpondlady]

I have to comment here. I took my Girl Scout Troop to a Pow Wow at a College in Muskogee last month. I had 9 caucasian young ladies and 4 adults with me. I am blond. We were stared at, people moved our things where we had left them to reserve our seats (as a large group I thought that to be acceptable) We were continually moved into a smaller and smaller space (to make more space for people's seats). The adults were standing, the girls were sitting on the floor. I asked in advance before we placed the girls there (it looked like a walk way) and the Director of the Pow Wow told me it was fine. Then we were told by no less than 3 other people we needed to move. Ok so they moved. Everytime, we needed to move, they were in the way. Ummm not really, they just didn't want us there. We were ATTEMPTING to educate ourselves and our children. Well I do know better, Native American people are some of the most prejudiced people I know. And I know alot personally.
I took the girls 2 at a time around to the craft booths. First so we wouldn't be in the way, second so I could keep them rounded up (no touching only looking.) I did find a couple of people that were very nice to explain things like stickball and bead work. Of course, 6-10 year olds ask alot of WHY? HOW? ect. They asked one lady what a Kachina Doll was. I knew what it was but I wanted to see what she would say. "Just a doll that Indians use in ceremonies, It's an Indian Thang." Geez can you be any more descriptive? I was raised since I was a young teen going to my stepfather's Muscogee Church so I know some of the traditions, but it has been a long time.
I have always had multi-racial friends, much to the dismay of my family (even though my stepfather is Creek). Being from a small Oklahoma town it is very prominent. And yes, I have been rebuffed by "other than" white people. It has always been a real thing with keeping your place. Everyone. Not just white people saying everyone else has to, I mean there are very few people that will mix racially. You can't have racially mixed churches. It just gets crazy I think. I never understood how it is supposed to happen. I think my parents tried to teach it to me, I have always been to stupid to figure out racism though.

[Howest2008]

Originally Posted by mrkool

I can't wait to hear them. And then I'll tell you all the stories of my white friends, relatives, neighbors, and co-workers who have been assaulted, robbed, raped, etc., by minorities.

I'm too busy at the moment...But Hey You Crack Me Up..Blacks Specialize In Black On Black Crime (AND) Not Black On White Crime..good try , but you get no cigar...Oh and by the way (Correct Me If I'm Wrong) wasn't Barack Obama targeted for Assassination By Two White Nazi Just Recently...(laughing almost falling out of my CHAIR).....