Prince George’s County: Growing, and growing more segregated, census shows (Potomac: transplants, rental)

[North Beach Person]

Just a perspective from a PG County teacher:

I've had many students over the years whose whole existence encompassed the area from SE DC out to Capitol Heights. Many of them had zero contact with any whites until middle school when they had a white teacher. Also, great numbers are surprised when we talk demographics of the US in one class or another. From their experience the majority of the US is black. I've even had a few tell me the statistics are wrong.

[justtitans]

Originally Posted by North Beach Person

Just a perspective from a PG County teacher:

I've had many students over the years whose whole existence encompassed the area from SE DC out to Capitol Heights. Many of them had zero contact with any whites until middle school when they had a white teacher. Also, great numbers are surprised when we talk demographics of the US in one class or another. From their experience the majority of the US is black. I've even had a few tell me the statistics are wrong.

My wife and I have had similar experiences. My wife used to teach in PG too and she had some kids in her 4th grade class that had never heard of Annapolis and thought Washington DC was the capital of MD. I've also tutored a 7th grader who didn't know who the governor of MD was. And that's the point I'm bringing up. It might be nice to live in a place where you can relate to everyone, but is that really healthy for the kids? My experience tells me no, but everybody has their opinion.

[Moth]

Originally Posted by EdwardA

You're a little too sensitive that comes with the Internet. I guess in some bizarro world it'd be nice to think everyone is colorblind but that's not reality.

The DC area is very racially polarized anyways did you catch the WaPo article about why Black DC residents are Skin fans?

Anyway there were enough counterpoints. I read several comments from white PG residents who went through where they lived and why they chose to live in PG.

Conversely there were Black residents who posted why they don't live in PG and others who chose to. These are the comments that I refer to as illuminating.

They are Skins fans for the same reason I am- they are the local NFL team. Most people tend to root for the team they grow up with.

Yes, I did read the article.

[mdiggs1]

Originally Posted by meatkins

Are you saying that these people will eventually deal with white people? That I don't disagree with but it is when and how much that I wonder about. Reading about people in text book is no substitute for real life interactions. That's what i'm talking about. Do you think a white person that has never met a black person can know black people based on reading about black people from a book?

And your assertion that black people know more about whites than vice versa is a blanket statement. We are acting as if black people aren't capable of being ignorant and prejudice towards white people. That is simply not true. We live in a nation that has a lot of ignorant people who don't know other cultures and it results in conflict.

Fair enough. I would say interacting with other groups of people is beneficial. And I guess using the word "all" would make it a blanket statement. I guess I would say this: a college educated black person, on average, would know more about white society than a white person would know about black society. I say college educated because the more formal education you have, the more likely you work around white people. The workplace is one of the only places in which different races of people truly interact with each other on an ongoing basis.

[boreatwork]

Somebody with actual living experience in PG can tell you this information without numbers and stats. Really I think more white ppl are moving in. As a black person if you can't understand why black ppl want to live around other black ppl then ???????? And no Pg doesnt represent factual white dominated professional society. And your gripe is? If you are small minded and only know PG thats on you but its not a fault. Its the same as white kids only knowing white boy things. When I went to college I had a big culture shock but that helped me become more well rounded. However I didnt conform to some white dominated culture because it was the norm . Meatkins why even live in PG really?

[boreatwork]

Originally Posted by meatkins

My wife and I have had similar experiences. My wife used to teach in PG too and she had some kids in her 4th grade class that had never heard of Annapolis and thought Washington DC was the capital of MD. I've also tutored a 7th grader who didn't know who the governor of MD was. And that's the point I'm bringing up. It might be nice to live in a place where you can relate to everyone, but is that really healthy for the kids? My experience tells me no, but everybody has their opinion.

Its your wife's job as a teacher to nip that in the bud then. Not ridicule. I know she probably comes home and you guys sit together and complain Pg kids this and Pg kids that. I know you're trying to preach diversity but you do it in the most arrogant smug way

[mdiggs1]

Originally Posted by North Beach Person

Just a perspective from a PG County teacher:

I've had many students over the years whose whole existence encompassed the area from SE DC out to Capitol Heights. Many of them had zero contact with any whites until middle school when they had a white teacher. Also, great numbers are surprised when we talk demographics of the US in one class or another. From their experience the majority of the US is black. I've even had a few tell me the statistics are wrong.

Me myself I grew up in the same type of school environment, black and poor. But many of these families moving to PG County are black and upper middle class. I would say middle class black kids would no more about the racial makeup of the US than poor black kids

[EdwardA]

Originally Posted by boreatwork

Somebody with actual living experience in PG can tell you this information without numbers and stats. Really I think more white ppl are moving in. As a black person if you can't understand why black ppl want to live around other black ppl then ???????? And no Pg doesnt represent factual white dominated professional society. And your gripe is? If you are small minded and only know PG thats on you but its not a fault. Its the same as white kids only knowing white boy things. When I went to college I had a big culture shock but that helped me become more well rounded. However I didnt conform to some white dominated culture because it was the norm . Meatkins why even live in PG really?

You just sound angry. What happened some white woman spurned your advances?

[EdwardA]

Originally Posted by boreatwork

Its your wife's job as a teacher to nip that in the bud then. Not ridicule. I know she probably comes home and you guys sit together and complain Pg kids this and Pg kids that. I know you're trying to preach diversity but you do it in the most arrogant smug way

A teacher's job is to follow the state mandated cirriculum nothing more, nothing less.

[North Beach Person]

Originally Posted by mdiggs1

Me myself I grew up in the same type of school environment, black and poor. But many of these families moving to PG County are black and upper middle class. I would say middle class black kids would no more about the racial makeup of the US than poor black kids

In general you are correct.