I was raised in a poor place filled with whites, hispanics, and black people. Everyone for the most part was fine with one another, we were all poor. I know some of you guys live in Tampa, If you know where the Rembrandt projects were in Port Tampa, I spent most of my childhood in that neighborhood. I hear that it's a lot better now because those projects were torn down, was rougher in the late 80's, early 90's.
This is my old addy from back in the day.
The map is a little off house wise but the street is right.
http://maps.google.com/maps?q=4008+o...37036&t=h&z=16
When I was like 15, my mom was able to get out of there and into a better area. I feel most of the racism on both sides comes from a generalized speculation of everyone based on past experiences with someone, or by listening to family/friends.
My best friend who happens to be black used to talk to me about racist shit he goes through on a daily basis. Let me share some of those points with everyone.
1. Quite a few people won't look him in the eye when hes walking down the street out of fear. Some others will give him dagger eyes out of fear.
2. Half of the time he gets followed around a store until he leaves. Some people think hes going to steal from them apparently.
Here is an example of what I am talking about.
3. When he goes to a party with his white friends he is usually the only black guy there. I don't think that is an intentionally racist thing, but its easy to feel out of place in a situation like that.
4. Police stopping him and giving him a hard time sometimes. Ive known em for 15 or so years he, isn't a liar.
He is a really awesome person and I truly feel bad for him to have to deal with shit like that on a daily basis. He has risen from nothing and now does lighting for some big events like cirque de sole, the ice skating shit, concerts, etc., does music and video work on the side, hes been a stunt cock for someone on this board as well lmfao. He went to Tampa found a way to get into college with almost nothing. the first week or two he lived out of his car and public restrooms. He is a fighter and a true inspiration.
With the above being said, I can see how some black people can become defensive over time. I'm not justifying it but I can understand it to an extent,. If you dislike all white people you're a racist as well though. Do I feel I should be attacked for using the word black? I don't, I've heard the term white boy get tossed around a lot. What about colored or the N word? Yeah I may deserve a punch to the face for that. You know what kind of a reaction you are after if you use those words. I think there needs to be more understanding from African Americans and Caucasian Americans. We are both to blame.
PS: I hope this wasn't offensive to anyone in any way, just sharing my personal views and experiences.