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Old 08-02-2009, 04:32 PM
 
Location: Quapaw Quarter, Little Rock
837 posts, read 2,240,880 times
Reputation: 376

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Last edited by linicx; 08-04-2009 at 02:05 PM.. Reason: Personal attack

 
Old 08-02-2009, 04:59 PM
 
9,803 posts, read 16,114,994 times
Reputation: 8265
Quote:
Originally Posted by North Pulaski Player View Post
Ok, I'll try to answer the question without sounding like a smart(hole). It's 2009 now and Arkansas(especially a college town like Jonesboro) does not have any more race-relations issues than anywhere else in this country, including California. Granted, the state does not have as many latinos as California but in the South, African-Americans are the largest minority group (Arkansas is 17% African-American), so the state is fairly diverse. As I mentioned above, Jonesboro is home of Arkansas State University which is the second largest university SYSTEM in the state and approximately 1/5 of Jonesboro residents are students of the main campus of Arkansas State University and as you may know, the younger generations tend to be much more open-minded. Memphis will be about 45 minutes to your southeast and Little Rock will be about 2 hours to your southwest, which are both very diverse cities in their own right. What I'm trying to say is that you'll be fine - it's not the 1960's anymore and all the hypocrites from that era are severely outnumbered these days. And I'm African-American if that helps you out any......

-" so the state is fairly diverse"---

Diversity,in itself, is not an indicator of racism ( or absence of racism)

Some cities that are 50/50 will have more racism than places 90/10.

Last edited by linicx; 08-04-2009 at 02:07 PM.. Reason: Rude remark
 
Old 08-02-2009, 05:54 PM
 
157 posts, read 515,799 times
Reputation: 85
On a side note, the 5 people I know from Jonesboro were generally pretty smart, open-minded people. One of them was Indian, and his parents taught at ASU.

Last edited by linicx; 08-04-2009 at 02:11 PM..
 
Old 08-02-2009, 09:29 PM
 
570 posts, read 1,576,750 times
Reputation: 510
Edit

Last edited by linicx; 08-04-2009 at 02:12 PM.. Reason: Rude
 
Old 08-02-2009, 09:44 PM
 
Location: Fort Smith, Arkansas
1,466 posts, read 4,341,509 times
Reputation: 1070
Quote:
Originally Posted by spitfire.girl View Post
Yes, racism is alive and well in Arkansas. I lived in the country halfway between Pine Bluff and Little Rock and as a liberal thinking educated east coast woman of color, I was surprised. Despite buying land we left after 2 years. The big thing about AR is that you get what you pay for- the COL is cheap, taxes are cheap, but it translate in the culture.
Well, it probably had something to do where you lived in Arkansas. The Pine Bluff area is about 50 years behind when it comes to race relations. The blacks hate whites and the whites hate blacks; both for no reason other than color. I have never seen anything quite like it in the last 20 years.
 
Old 08-02-2009, 09:57 PM
 
246 posts, read 420,320 times
Reputation: 643
Well said Dr. one of the biggest reason race relations have not progressed further than they are now is because we have this sort of white vs everyone else flavor to any discussion of racism. Some of the most blatent racism I've ever observed in right here in SoCal between the Latin/Hispanic community and the African American community, most Asian groups don't like Latinos or Blacks either and segregate into their own or predominately white communities. In fact, for all of CA's so called diversity, most ethnicities tend to locate together via self segregation because they *shhhhh* prefer their own culture, language, norms and community to that of others. I know, this is an unspeakable truth, but most in SoCal know this as it is one of the most segregated metro regions in the country.

Since the only people who really embrace and "celebrate diversity" are idealistic white people. The ball moves forward much slower because outright bigotry against white people by any "minority", and blatent racism amongst "minority groups" towards each other is tolerated. When people are so puffed up by identity politics, it becomes hard to keep an open mind about other groups when you are so busy being filled with so much "pride".

The south has its problems, but being overly concerned about "whites" being bigoted will set you up for a lifetime of tolerated bigotry from anyone who isn't "white". I think that for the most part most people just want to live their lives, be happy, make friends, and make the world a better place. Then again, maybe I'm the idealist.
 
Old 08-03-2009, 01:35 AM
 
Location: Little Rock / Fayetteville
29 posts, read 59,365 times
Reputation: 26
I think that what you will find here is predominantly the same as what you would find anywhere else in the country. I personally don't think that there is much "racism" in today's world. What most people call racism, I consider to be more of an issue of culture/class.

I was at my uncle's tailgate last year before a Razorback game. (I am a student there.) I overheard one of my uncle's friends talking about D.J. Williams, one of the players on the team who had just walked by and talked with us for a few minutes. My uncle's friend said that he would hire D.J. any day of the week and went on to explain how respectful and well-spoken D.J. was. He even commented on the fact that he doesn't wear his shorts around his knees and is clean shaven. He didn't mention that he was black once in the entire conversation. A few minutes later another player (I won't mention his name) who was also black swaggered by with his hand down this girls shorts and blinged out as he could be. As he walked by he called the girl a B*tch. The same guy who loved D.J. just went off. Said that he hated people like that. Now, I would not call him a racist. I would call him, well, I don't know. A culturist?

Racism, by its definition, is considering one race to be better than another based solely upon skin color. Note that there is nothing to do with any action on anyones part. Therefore, if I were to say all blacks like watermelon and fried chicken(I've never understood why that is a bad thing, both are awesome), it is not racism. It is using a stereotype. It would fall under the line of prejudice. Good? No. However, everyone has prejudices. It is pretty much impossible not to. Heck, most people on this board do not like suburbanites. I personally do not like the culture that is associated with suburbia as much as I do a more urban culture, but I would never call myself a better person because someone else lives in a way that is different from my own. However, I have heard such scathing remarks about suburbs on this board, I would have though there was a war going on between the sides. And that is a small example. What about politics? "I hate Republicans, they all like war!" "I hate Democrats, they all want socialism!" ect. These are just as prejudice as saying that "I don't like blacks, they all break the law."

Anyway, what is my point in saying all of this? The reason that racism is brought up so often, is because it is easy to see. I can't look at someone and tell you whether they live in a downtown loft, or a cookie cutter house on a cul-de-sac. Unless you are sporting a button or something, it is not likely that I would be able to tell whether you voted for Obama or McCain. Is someone who judges based on skin color worse than someone who judges based on political affiliation or lifestyle? I personally don't think so. Prejudice is the real problem, and like armpits, everybody has more than one, and they stink. (Sorry, that was cheesy, but you get my point)

To the OP. What you will find in Arkansas, as with any state, is a unique culture. Not everyone here likes it, but many do. As long as you don't try to cram your own culture down anyone's throat, you will be fine. Don't change your beliefs, but try out some of ours as well. If you are willing to compromise, even the slightest bit, you will make a lot of friends, really quickly. All people want to see, is that you are willing to try. If you are not, then people won't like you no matter your skin color.
 
Old 08-03-2009, 10:09 AM
 
Location: Chicago, IL
8,998 posts, read 14,740,870 times
Reputation: 3545
off topic

Last edited by linicx; 08-04-2009 at 02:18 PM..
 
Old 08-03-2009, 03:41 PM
 
570 posts, read 1,576,750 times
Reputation: 510
Why would someone want to move here if they are so afraid of racial problems? I have ask this before and no one can answer it or will not answer the question.

Come-on people lets give it a try. I know there is a good answer.

Last edited by linicx; 08-04-2009 at 02:26 PM..
 
Old 08-03-2009, 03:52 PM
 
Location: south Missouri
437 posts, read 1,066,931 times
Reputation: 318
Other than that, in answer to your question, if everyone stayed with "their own kind", there would be no one but Native Americans here in the US and even in Arkansas.

People have every right to move somewhere new for various reasons - economic, cultural, whatever.

I have been to Watts and to East LA; I found both to have some positive points and my race was never an issue. Never.

However, in Arkansas, my religion is an issue, my ethnic background is an issue, and that is just for starters.

Arkansas is the only place where I can say that I have seen hooded Klansmen marching and picketing in broad daylight at the city auditorium in Rogers in the late 1970's.

I think that alone would answer - and explain - the original poster's questions about racial prejudice.

Last edited by linicx; 08-04-2009 at 02:23 PM..
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