Racism... sometimes justified?

[Libertine]

I live in a ghetto. The majority of the people around here aren't white. Many black people, quite a few arabs and asians, and some white people.

Now, every morning when I get up to go to class, I see tons of people on the streets, on their way to work/school/whatever. The funny thing is, most of those people are white or asian, some are arabs. No black people whatsoever.

Then, when I get back in the afternoon or evening, the black people have suddenly appeared. They are hanging around a bit, drinking beers on the street, pissing against buildings, playing dice for money, dealing drugs (yes, I know this for a fact), trying to sell stolen bikes, blasting music from their cars, shouting at passers-by and more of that type of stuff. They do this every single day, from about 2 PM to about 2 AM.

I don't consider myself a racist. However, I really have a hard time explaining this in a non-racist way. Anyone got any ideas?

[lil2rich4u2]

Originally posted by punkworld
I live in a ghetto

...............

They are hanging around a bit, drinking beers on the street, pissing against buildings, playing dice for money, dealing drugs (yes, I know this for a fact), trying to sell stolen bikes, blasting music from their cars, shouting at passers-by and more

.............

Anyone got any ideas?

move out of the ghetto ?

[dirtyone]

Are there white people working at the Burger King there?

[GeXus]

Hey, There are worst types of people in the world then rasists and If people call you a rasist for telling it how it is... they are living in la la land.

[dirtyone]

Not racism
Main Entry: rac·ism
Pronunciation: 'rA-"si-z&m also -"shi-
Function: noun
Date: 1936
1 : 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
2 : racial prejudice or discrimination
- rac·ist /-sist also -shist/ noun or adjective


I think this is more of a sterotype
Main Entry: 2stereotype
Function: noun
Etymology: French stéréotype, from stéré- stere- + type
Date: 1817
1 : a plate cast from a printing surface
2 : something conforming to a fixed or general pattern; especially : a standardized mental picture that is held in common by members of a group and that represents an oversimplified opinion, prejudiced attitude, or uncritical judgment
- ste·reo·typ·i·cal /"ster-E-&-'ti-pi-k&l/ also ste·reo·typ·ic /-pik/ adjective
- ste·reo·typ·i·cal·ly /-pi-k(&-)lE/ adverb

[EscortBiz]

at the same token I see many black people heading to work, many successful people I know are black.

And I know many white guys who piss in their pants and run up bills all over etc.

I think in all races there is good and bad some just know how to hide it better.

[stevet]

Originally posted by dirtyone
Are there white people working at the Burger King there?

[Johny Traffic]

No black people whatsoever.

Are you suggesting that "NO" black people work where you live? I find that a bit hard to beleive

[Libertine]

Originally posted by Johny Traffic


Are you suggesting that "NO" black people work where you live? I find that a bit hard to beleive

I am not suggesting that. What I am saying is that I see none of them going to work in the morning.
Actually, I saw one once. 7 months ago, black guy in a suit seemingly going to work. It says a lot that I still remember that.

[playa]

think outside of the box man
personally it proves to me how fucked the society/system is with poor people. Lot of people still out of jobs, its still a fucked up economy

I live in atlanta and see it from both sides.

[Katlicious72]

Playa's right.


Case in point. Last night I was on the Coaster coming back from Vista which is north of san diego. Everyone was on their way to Street Scene the biggest party in San Diego. A white guy was dancing on the train, and a little drunk, he walks past me (I'm black/other races) and tells me "I'm white but GIRLFRIEND I got some rythm!" I told him "I don't care if your white, I don't care if you got some rythm, I see in grey, rock on!"

My problem with this whole event was the fact that this guy felt he only could talk to me or identify with me by saying these few words. Did I find it cute or funny? No.

[Libertine]

playa: Over here it's different than in the US. Welfare here is something you can live on, and you'll get it as long as you keep applying for jobs. If you don't have enough education and are under 26, you will get free money from the government to get your degree.

Both my parents were extremely poor when I was born - now, through no other means than hard work and determination, they can live quite comfortably. I've seen both sides, and I know for a fact that over here anyone with determination can make it.

[brand0n]

yea man, wtf are you doing there

pack shit and hual ass, webmasters dont live in the ghetto

[AaronM]

Originally posted by Katlicious72
Playa's right.


Case in point. Last night I was on the Coaster coming back from Vista which is north of san diego. Everyone was on their way to Street Scene the biggest party in San Diego. A white guy was dancing on the train, and a little drunk, he walks past me (I'm black/other races) and tells me "I'm white but GIRLFRIEND I got some rythm!" I told him "I don't care if your white, I don't care if you got some rythm, I see in grey, rock on!"

My problem with this whole event was the fact that this guy felt he only could talk to me or identify with me by saying these few words. Did I find it cute or funny? No.

Why do I get the feeling that you were not in a very good mood last night before Slim Shady approached you?

[Katlicious72]

Originally posted by AaronM


Why do I get the feeling that you were not in a very good mood last night before Slim Shady approached you?

No I wasn't Aaron. It's obvious isn't it. I can't let that one live down LOL

[AaronM]

Originally posted by punkworld
Both my parents were extremely poor when I was born - now, through no other means than hard work and determination, they can live quite comfortably. I've seen both sides, and I know for a fact that over here anyone with determination can make it.

Tell us again why you still live in the ghetto?

[Libertine]

Originally posted by brand0n
yea man, wtf are you doing there

pack shit and hual ass, webmasters dont live in the ghetto

I like it over here. Great apartment for next to no money, great view of the street (watching people get into fights with the police iis funny as hell). Plus, with the housing shortages here it's close to impossible to find something else (been on the waiting list for 28 months so far).

[AaronM]

Originally posted by Katlicious72


No I wasn't Aaron. It's obvious isn't it. I can't let that one live down LOL

Well...If it makes you feel any better. I ain't got no rythm but I do watch Soul Train and YO! MTv Raps!

[Katlicious72]

Originally posted by AaronM


Well...If it makes you feel any better. I ain't got no rythm but I do watch Soul Train and YO! MTv Raps!

Keep playing aaron ROFL

[AaronM]

Originally posted by Katlicious72


Keep playing aaron ROFL

I have a black room mate. Am I cool yet?

[Katlicious72]

I"m gonna get you back aaron, just keep playing

[AaronM]

Originally posted by Katlicious72
I"m gonna get you back aaron, just keep playing

I intend to.

[BVF]

what kind of black ghetto do you live in where they have whites and ASIANS living there too? And how is it that all these white and asian people who live in the same neighborhood manage to go to work while the blacks sit at home?

I live in a black neighborhood and during the day, the kids are in school and the parents are at work...I've lived in straight GHETTOES in Washington, D.C. and I still saw people getting in their car or on the bus to go to work...

And don't even think about looking down on them because they live in the ghetto because you're there too....So therefore, you're seeing what you want to see....

[Libertine]

Originally posted by BVF
what kind of black ghetto do you live in where they have whites and ASIANS living there too? And how is it that all these white and asian people who live in the same neighborhood manage to go to work while the blacks sit at home?

I live in a black neighborhood and during the day, the kids are in school and the parents are at work...I've lived in straight GHETTOES in Washington, D.C. and I still saw people getting in their car or on the bus to go to work...

And don't even think about looking down on them because they live in the ghetto because you're there too....So therefore, you're seeing what you want to see....

What kind of ghetto I live in? A Dutch ghetto It's not completely black by any means.

How is it that all these white and asian people who live in the same neighborhood manage to go to work while the blacks sit at home? I have no fucking idea, that's the whole point I am trying to get.

And no, I don't look down on people because of where they live, what the color of their skin is, what they look like or whatever. I base my view of individuals solely on what they do.
I have as much respect for a hard-working black person as I have for a hard-working person of any other race. I would be delighted to get up in the morning and see people going to work that are a good representation of the people who live here.

[playa]

Originally posted by punkworld
playa: Over here it's different than in the US. Welfare here is something you can live on, and you'll get it as long as you keep applying for jobs. If you don't have enough education and are under 26, you will get free money from the government to get your degree.

Dude you just proved my point.
"you'll get it as long as you keep applying for jobs"
Why the hell there not getting hired?

Many employers think like you. Don't hire the black guy because they just like to get free money from the government.

another thing to think about. if you was some big time mafia type person. Who has connections to bring in weapons and drugs to the ghettos. Who are you gonna hire to do your dirty work?

Its just a fucked up world man

[Libertine]

Originally posted by playa



Dude you just proved my point.
"you'll get it as long as you keep applying for jobs"
Why the hell there not getting hired?

Many employers think like you. Don't hire the black guy because they just like to get free money from the government.

another thing to think about. if you was some big time mafia type person. Who has connections to bring in weapons and drugs to the ghettos. Who are you gonna hire to do your dirty work?

Its just a fucked up world man

Ok, first of all, where did that "Many employers think like you"-comment come from?? Personally, I'd hire anyone that seemed more capable, motivated and intelligent than the other applicants, regardless of race. For instance, I'd rather hire toodamnfli or BVF than lil2rich

Secondly, over here it goes for *all* government jobs and most corporate jobs that preference is given to minorities and women. Maybe that doesn't make up for existing prejudice entirely, but it does help.
I've actually talked to a number of the people "hanging around", and they made fun of the welfare system, talking about how easy it was to rip off. While ofcourse that doesn't mean all of them do it, it does give an indication of how widespread it is.


And about the mafia thing: I'd hire the most capable people to bring drugs and weapons into the ghetto ofcourse, regardless of race

[playa]

Originally posted by punkworld


Ok, first of all, where did that "Many employers think like you"-comment come from??

i was just saying in general that employers would have the same typical beliefs and of course it will be something to consider when hiring.

With your knowledge of the community, you'd know who'd be the most qualied to slang crack rocks in the ghetto's

[BigFish]

A person's welfare and status in life is *usually* directly proportional to his/her education.

Questions: In any *public* university in the USA, Asian American students (representing less than 2 percent of the total population) EASILY outnumber the black student population by at least 5 or 6 times. Why the hell is that?? even when African Americans represent a little more than 12% of the total population?

[Libertine]

Originally posted by playa



i was just saying in general that employers would have the same typical beliefs and of course it will be something to consider when hiring.

With your knowledge of the community, you'd know who'd be the most qualied to slang crack rocks in the ghetto's

Actually, I have no beliefs about ethnic groups. I honestly believe it all depends on the individual.

That's the whole problem with what I'm seeing here; I have no way to explain it that doesn't conflict with my beliefs.

If I believed being black makes you a jobless criminal, I would just say "Well, duh" about this whole thing. However, since I don't believe that to be the case, I'm asking: "I really have a hard time explaining this in a non-racist way. Anyone got any ideas?"

[Nanda]

Originally posted by punkworld


Actually, I have no beliefs about ethnic groups. I honestly believe it all depends on the individual.

I this this is true for most people.

[Bobby Vicious]

I blame BET. Is BET available in Holland kind sir ?

[Libertine]

Originally posted by Bobby Vicious
I blame BET. Is BET available in Holland kind sir ?

What's BET?

[Bobby Vicious]

How can you live in a ghetto and not know what BET is? Black Entertainment Television.

[Libertine]

A television station for black people?

[Bobby Vicious]

who woulda thunk it !

[playa]

Originally posted by punkworld

If I believed being black makes you a jobless criminal, I would just say "Well, duh" about this whole thing. However, since I don't believe that to be the case, I'm asking: "I really have a hard time explaining this in a non-racist way. Anyone got any ideas?"

Statistically speaking yes. More black males are in prison than college. saying It doesn't make you a racist. both sides would agree with you

There is two point of views you can come up with for the reasoning of this

1. Black males don't like to work. are inferior to other races. lack the morals and values to be a productive person in society

2. Its a fucked up educational, economical, and judicial system.


Lets face it if you got arrested for a crime you didn't commit. Had an option of going to court to risk 25 years in jail with public defender or coping a plea for 2 years in jail. You'd cop a plea. Because you know there is no way in hell a black man will win in case with a public defender

[Libertine]

Originally posted by playa



Statistically speaking yes. More black males are in prison than college. saying It doesn't make you a racist. both sides would agree with you

There is two point of views you can come up with for the reasoning of this

1. Black males don't like to work. are inferior to other races. lack the morals and values to be a productive person in society

2. Its a fucked up educational, economical, and judicial system.


Lets face it if you got arrested for a crime you didn't commit. Had an option of going to court to risk 25 years in jail with public defender or coping a plea for 2 years in jail. You'd cop a plea. Because you know there is no way in hell a black man will win in case with a public defender

The problem with both lines of reasoning become painfully obvious when you look at the Netherlands. Over here, most black people are originally either from Suriname or the Dutch Antilles.
The weird thing is, those from Suriname do well in society (high employment rate, low crime rate), while the opposite goes for those from the Dutch Antilles (low employment rate, high crime rate).

How would you explain that?

[playa]

Originally posted by punkworld


The problem with both lines of reasoning become painfully obvious when you look at the Netherlands. Over here, most black people are originally either from Suriname or the Dutch Antilles.
The weird thing is, those from Suriname do well in society (high employment rate, low crime rate), while the opposite goes for those from the Dutch Antilles (low employment rate, high crime rate).

How would you explain that?

Even though they might be all considered "Black" their still different ethnic groups. Different groups have different beliefs.

You can prolly point out a same example with white people. but In america they don't make differences between groups of black or white.

[Libertine]

Originally posted by playa




Even though they might be all considered "Black" their still different ethnic groups. Different groups have different beliefs.

You can prolly point out a same example with white people. but In america they don't make differences between groups of black or white.

But if employment and crime rate are heavily influenced by ethnicity, wouldn't that mean that society is not at fault but, in fact, some ethnic groups are more "criminal" than others?