[James9283]

I agree that it is normal human nature to do this but people just need to be aware that most of these stereotypes are indeed NOT true! Especially when it comes to minority groups such as blacks. Yeah, alot of black people might fit the stereotype that you might have but in reality many more probably still do not. Just be aware of what the truth is becuase it is not fair to others if you life your life through them. I am also guilty of creating negative stereotypes of other people becuase for a long time I thought that most white people were alot of things. As I got older I was proved wrong on almost all of these so just try not to look at them as coming from the "truth" but as being subjective ideas.

[vicshabcottage]

As a native Floridian now living in another state, I have to say there's as much, if not more, racism everywhere.

I remember as a teenager my aunt was visiting from Pa. We had been in Publix, and after getting over the shock that she was amazed our bakery actually had things like Bear Claws in them, we were in for a further shock when we got to the parking lot. She stated to my sister and me, "My you have a lot of them here." We had no idea what the heck she was talking about. When asked, she stated "Black people". Being quite an outspoken person, I replied that it was funny the only people I had ever heard say anything racist were Yankees....

[Floridabound09]

Moderator cut: off topic ("Florida racism" I have been a victim of it and discrimination for sure.

By the way, if racism is worse in Florida then anywhere else its because the whites are getting screwed and people tend to turn there heads when that happens.

[Floridabound09]

Well the truth.... I grew up in a town that was 60-40 and seen first hand what really goes on in a mixed environment.

Facts:

I have been robbed twice in my life. Columbus, Ohio and Louisville Ky

I have been stabbed once in my life. Chicago

I have had a business broke into once in my life.

I have had my car break down passing through a town while being lost in a town to only have a knife in my face while asking for help. Memphis Tn.

I took a wrong turn on a road in the Bronx and was told by the toll person on the bridge to leave and never come back, I asked why and he said " you are the wrong color my man"

I have had my wallet stolen twice in my life.

Dayton Ohio and Indianpolis Ind.

I have been beaten up twice in my life as a child and my money stolen.

I have been car jacked once in my life. Baltimore Mary.

I have had my home broken into twice in my life.

My wifes purse has been stolen twice, once right off her back while walking down a street in Gatlinburg Tenn.

I have had a brick tossed threw my windshield once in my life. Spartanburg SC

I have had my wife life threathened if I did not hand over money outside the Cincinnati Reds ball park.

My 9 year old was bullied in school more then once in her life and was told that if she did not give up her chicken nuggests she would be punched in the face. This will never happen again, I guarantee you!

And there is much more.

I am NOT racist by any means, I will treat others like I am treated no matter who. But from my experience from the above it is my choice where I choice to live. Wanting to live in a 95% white area is not being racist at all. It is my choice.

And by the way, ALL of the above was committed by a non white person, each and every one of them.

Just so you will know I stopped along a highway not too long ago during the winter after I seen an elderly lady had broken down, I pulled over backed up and ask her if I could help. She told me I cannot believe all the people who passed by here and never stopped to help me. My car is overheating and I cannot walk to the next exit. I told her is was cold out and to get into my car to get warm and we will call a tow truck. Her face lit up like the 4th of July. She asked me do you really mean that? I said sure, why not?
She said I didnt think white people helped black people. I said mam, that is wrong, I will help you and anyone else who needs help like this at any time.
Besides we got to get you in my car to get warm.
Still today she calls me to thank me for helping her, months later. Her daughter even calls me to thank me.
Logic is she felt that whites wouldnt pull over to help, but she also told me more blacks had passed by her that day and not one even put on the brakes to see if she needed any help.
I was driving a rental car outside of Atlanta Ga outside of Commerce Ga.

Each person is responsible for themselves. Therefore with my experience as noted above I choose how I want to live my life, I have the right as much as anyone who is non white has the right to not live in a white area.

The word racist is being used totally wrong these days, just because you have a personal preference does not make you racist at all.
People are stretching the meaning of the word to gain more leverage to be able to use it as they wish.

Besides racist is both directions, not just one way.

[Floridabound09]

If we are going to further the discussion in a nice manner then facts and not your opinion is needed.

Choosing where you live is a right of anyone, no matter the color.

Choosing where to live is not racism by any stretch of your imagination.

Racism is:

"a belief that race is the primary determinant of human traits and capacities and that racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race"

Were does it say your choice of living area in the definition of racism? Living in an all white or all black or all hispanic area is not being "superior", it is a matter of ones choice and by choosing to live in those areas DOES NOT EVER EFFECT the opposite race.

[Magnolia Bloom]

I look for ethnic diversity when searching for a place to live. One of my favorite neighborhoods had so many immigrants that, when walking my dog after work, the smells of dinner cooking coming from the homes was wonderful-all kinds of wonderful odors wafting through the air.

The issue of crime, IMHO, has more to do with the income level of those living there. THIS DOESN'T MEAN THAT POOR PEOPLE COMMIT MORE CRIME! What I mean is, that there is less crime in more affluent areas (maybe not white collar crime ) It's not fair, it just is.

To say that you don't want to live by "them" sounds very racist and small minded to me. People who say things like that are the ones that I do not want to live around. In my experience, it is the less educated, less successful person who says things like this. Sometimes people at the bottom feel that they have to place others beneath them to make themselves feel superior. It is a loser mentality that is really sad.

[Floridabound09]

Originally Posted by hereinfla

I look for ethnic diversity when searching for a place to live. One of my favorite neighborhoods had so many immigrants that, when walking my dog after work, the smells of dinner cooking coming from the homes was wonderful-all kinds of wonderful odors wafting through the air.

The issue of crime, IMHO, has more to do with the income level of those living there. THIS DOESN'T MEAN THAT POOR PEOPLE COMMIT MORE CRIME! What I mean is, that there is less crime in more affluent areas (maybe not white collar crime ) It's not fair, it just is.

To say that you don't want to live by "them" sounds very racist and small minded to me. People who say things like that are the ones that I do not want to live around. In my experience, it is the less educated, less successful person who says things like this. Sometimes people at the bottom feel that they have to place others beneath them to make themselves feel superior. It is a loser mentality that is really sad.

If your meaning me then re read this section. I was merely copying what his other poster was saying and letting him/her know they are putting words in others mouths.


Just because I do not choose to live by them doesn't mean I do not like them, that is your words and of course as usual it is getting read into because that is what you want to hear........ If I did answer that from my heart you would only twist it into something of a normal hate type thing.

[pianogal]

I grew up in South Carolina and have found many people whom I would consider rascist don't see it in themselves. Several years ago when an African American family moved next door to a member of my family who lives in small town SC, my family member was very upset. I asked "Why does it matter what the color of their skin is? Are you prejudiced?" Their answer was typical...."Oh no, I work with them, I'm not prejudiced. They're fine in their place!"

I was horrrified! They saw no rascism or prejudice at all in this statement and were highly offended when I did. There's a saying that describes this condition perfectly. "Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks." Or to put it in plain English....the mouth reveals the condition of the heart.

My mother in law (who lived in the Parramore area of Orlando for many years) has made many statements reflective of a certain race of people over the years. My son (her grandson - who considered himself a champion of justice and human rights) never missed an opportunity to call her on it. "Nana, that was a prejudiced thing to say." She always denied that she was prejudiced. She honestly felt like it was OK because that's the way she felt and those were her experiences.

However, she lives with us in our new neighborhood and is fine with all the ethnicities here. I think she has finally realized there are good people of all colors, religions, etc.

[Prichard]

White people don't like the ghetto and neither do black people. The problem is whenever we want to move out of an unsafe place and into a safer one the white people want to move away, the only way to break the cycle is to let go of your preferences.

I can't help whether black people like the ghetto or not - I'm not black, and that is really no concern of mine. I can help where I live. I do prefer to live in neighborhoods that are mostly "white". That is my culture, my race and therefore I am more comfortable living around people that I share the same culture with.

If someone considers that "racist", then so be it. It is true that if I think too many blacks are moving into my neighborhood, I will consider moving. Like it or not, it is a fact that when a neighborhood turns from white to black, house values substantially go down. I'm not out to change the world, to reform racists into color-blind people. I'll admit that I am much more concerned that I move into neighborhoods where I feel culturally comfortable and where I think housing values will continue to rise.

The problem is that there is a general preception among most white people that neighborhoods where the majority is black are "ghetto" and less desireable places to live. It is a fact that most white people do not really have any incentive to change their preception of "black neighborhoods". So, if the "white flight" syndrome is ever to change, the task falls on those black people who want to change white people's preception of black neighborhoods. The bottom line is that there must be some financial or preceived status gain for a white family to move "up" into a mostly black neighborhood. If there was some way to make it actually desireable for white people to move into black neighborhoods, then "white flight" would be erased overnight. In fact, you might see the reverse - "black flight".

Calling me a racist won't change the facts that we all know exists. It comes down to culture, economics and status. Some people may claim to take the "moral high road" that these things have no meaning to them. As far as I'm concerned, they are nothing more than hypocritical liers - these things have very important meaning to all humans - albeit they may manifest in not-so-obvious ways.

[gypsychic]

This is an interesting discussion - I actually agree TO A POINT what Floridabound is saying, and my husband and I talk about this subject all the time.

I am in my 50s and was born and raised in Tampa Florida. I have Spanish ancestry, and Tampa has always been a melting pot of races and cultures. This makes the city interesting, but unfortunately it does have a lot of crime. I have no problems with anyone of any race or ethnicity as long as they are nice, decent human beings. My hubby and I feel that people DO like to be around their own "kind", whether it's black, white, Jewish, Spanish, etc. - this is normal. What is bad is when people are FORCED to integrate against their will - that is when problems start, at least IMO. And yes, there are always more problems in the poverty-stricken areas and housing projects.

Right now we live in Dade City - a quaint, charming, agricultural town, but I have nick-named it "Bubbaville." Anyone coming here from the northeast would have quite a culture shock here. We have a small black population here, but I don't see many of them that often. There are actually a lot of poor Mexicans, and a good contingent of "good ole boys" with their backwoods country ways. We have been here 10 years, and our neighborhood is fairly affluent, and we never have any problems here, but I am tired of the low consciousness and we are looking to get out - so far Lakeland looks like a good choice for many reasons

And last, there have been some vicious crimes committed up here lately - 2 violent rapes of elderly women, and a shooting at an old Florida attraction, and yes all committed by non-whites. But to be fair, over the years this area has received national attention for some very high profile crimes committed by whites. So I certainly don't blame all crime on any one segment of our society.

Bottom line, people have the right to seek out where they want to live, for whatever reason. I personally love to be around a mix of ages, ethnicities and cultures; like most people, I just want a beautiful and high-consciousness place to live.