I hate that Baltimoreans of other races lump all...

[bowian]

Originally Posted by KodeBlue

More blacks are criminals.... I'm gonna say it.

Good for you. Now...

More than whom? Based on what statistics besides "proportions"?

Besides, is that point the subject of this thread?

[MsBlueCrab2U]

Originally Posted by ddiva

young African-Americans from Baltimore into one category. I'm a 26 year old Baltimorean and I just get frustrated that people of other races who happen to live in the city are so darn prejudgmental. I would love to make friends with people of other cultures. From my experience, it seems like it's a crime to go to an establishment (such as a bar) that is not predominately Black. I mean hello, this isn't the 1960s!

Though I have a love/hate relationship with Baltimore, it's leaning more towards hate because of the city's racial tensions.

I agree. Especially with the bar/nightlife scene. The more comfortable establishments are majority non-black, and black people get stares when they come. Just go to Fells Point and feel the tension, its the same even if you are dressed the same as everyone else. And the "black" establishments tend to have owners who don't have proper security or a suitable dress code.

[MsBlueCrab2U]

Originally Posted by GunsMass

Isn't Baltimore 63.7% black? Aren't a large amount of our politicians and police officers black?

I don't see how you could possibly complain about this in Baltimore today.

That says nothing about the entertainment and "trendy" neighborhoods that attempt to exclude black people or make them feel uncomfortable. The more exclusive and talked about communities are less accepting of the 63% black population.

[MsBlueCrab2U]

Originally Posted by Infinite_heights77

Baltimore is just an ignorant town..plain and simple!!!

How? Or are you just describing the people in your environment? Or are you quoting this froom someone else?

[MsBlueCrab2U]

Originally Posted by Tiger Beer

BALTIMORE always seems to have a theme of 'racial tensions' from the forum. Is it really worse than other cities?

I don't notice the theme being discussed much on DC...and I don't think so much in NY/NJ either...although it probably exist to some degree to some extent?

Or is Baltimore just a place that just has more of it, than other places, for some unknown reasons?

Oh it exists, especially in DC & NY. In those cities, while people might say it's more "diverse" due to statistics, the intermingling amongst different ethnic groups is rare. I really think the media here perpetuates the stereotypes. Never have I ever seen so many sensationalized racially disproportionate news stories than on the Baltimore news networks. And the same crimes that happen here, they happen in other places too, but I doubt their news networks spend 3/4 of the 30min local news shhow talking about crimes comitted by black people.

You put it in that perspective, and of course the non-black people think black people are violent and vicious. The white people here are just as guilty as the black people when if comes to stereotypes.

[B.K.]

I don't know who is or is not more guilty of racism/racial stereotyping in Baltimore City, blacks or whites. I do see plenty of evidence for arguments on both sides. That many of one race fear or mistrust those of another race is certainly not unique to Baltimore, Maryland, the USA, or most of the planet.
It is certainly true that blacks commit the majority of crime in Baltimore, and are responsible for almost all of the violent crime. Then again, blacks represent nearly 70% of the city's population, so it would be odd if whites were committing the majority of crimes. I don't think the local news spends a disproportionate amount of airtime focusing on "black crime." In fact, many of the local stations no longer mention the race of the criminals involved, they're just reporting the crime itself. So are all, or even most, black Baltimoreans dangerous, untrustworthy criminals? Of course not.
It is also true that the minority white population holds and generates a disproportionate amount of money, property and influence in the city, relative to their overall numbers. Many have in fact left the city proper to take up residence in areas perceived as safer and more exclusive of other races. Does this mean that all, or even most, white Baltimoreans are power mad money grubbers, intent on exploiting and keeping down the rest of the city's population? Of course not.
On an abstract level, one does not see a great deal of racial mingling/socializing, particularly in certain parts of the city that are categorized as mostly "black" or mostly "white." It's true you don't see many black faces in Fell's Point, Federal Hill or Canton nightspots. But you see even fewer white faces at Club Choices, Eden's Lounge or the New Haven.
If you happen to live in one of Baltimore's many "mixed" neighborhoods you will see a great deal more intermingling and socializing on a personal level. Our neighborhood is like that: we eat, drink, cook out, visit with and watch out for our neighbors both black and white. Last week my black neighbor helped me change out the alternator in my car (he had better tools), this week he asked me, his white neighbor, to keep an eye on his house while he and the wife and kids are on vacation. This is where change has to start, on a personal, one-to-one level, not on some broadly defined, government-mandated feat of social engineering.

[EdwardA]

Originally Posted by Tiger Beer

Where does Baltimore fit into that?

That graph is interesting. But, most of the cities they are comparing NYC with are out in California or out west somewhere (San Antonio, Phoenix). It would be more interesting if it were compared to more 'east of the mississippi' cities, which also have large black populations.

Meaning, cities like New Orleans, Baltimore, Detroit, Memphis, Washington DC, Atlanta, etc. would be better to compare with.

All the cities you mentioned are majority Black or Blacks make up a majority of the school age population so you'd expect a certain degree of segregation in schools. In NYC folks are explicitly going out of their way to not send kids to schools with large Black and Hispanic populations even though they may live on the same block, neighborhood etc.

[Tiger Beer]

Originally Posted by B.K.

But you see even fewer white faces at Club Choices, Eden's Lounge or the New Haven.

Not in Baltimore, but in another American city, I went to a famous upscale black drinking establishment, and had a few beers, sitting at the bar by myself. I'm a white male.

I had a guy come up and ask me if I was a sociologist studying black folk...

I guess he just couldn't get his head around it any other way.

So, yeah, doesn't sound unique to Baltimore at all. Seems like that way across the United States.

[hbosch80]

Originally Posted by EdwardA

All the cities you mentioned are majority Black or Blacks make up a majority of the school age population so you'd expect a certain degree of segregation in schools. In NYC folks are explicitly going out of their way to not send kids to schools with large Black and Hispanic populations even though they may live on the same block, neighborhood etc.

Thats because schools with large Black and Hispanic populations almost always suck. If you are a white parent who really cares about your child's education, why would you send your child to a majority black school when you know what the general attitude towards education within the black community is? Why would you want your child surrounded by a bunch of kids who couldnt care less about education?