You have never been angry like I have. You don't know what it is to feel rage. Because rage is what sets in when you realize something: You assume too much! Otherwise, excellent post!

A good question to ask though is why are white people becoming paranoid schizophrenics? Why? What reason do they have?.. Are they all born that way or taught that way in the public school system? IS there any truth to the madness?

They're taught by the media. Watch COPS. That's where it's learned.

Why do you continue to let someone elses actions brand you? Clearly your actions should set you way apart from the idiots..why does it affect you so? Intellectually speaking if someone mistreats you simply because of your race.. if you do not respond in kind by thinking racially motivated thoughts such as "That white person is scared cause I'm a minority".. then aren't you proving you're better than A) the idiot who's screaming out 'race inequality' and than the person who jumped across the street out of fear? Does the knowledge of your ability to get over it and not let it be an albatross around your neck comfort you.. or is it not good enough?

It affects me because the world throws it back in my face. Yes, my actions set me apart, but my actions are not immediately visible to the casual observer. And no, it's not good enough that I rise above it. It's not good enough because I know that I HAVE to rise above it. All of that "sticks and stones" garbage that they feed kids in school doesn't work in real life. In real life, what I do reflects on not only who I am, but what I am, and where I come from. As I said, in real life, I'm not free to be an stupid.

You play into the hands of racism and perpetuate it unknowingly by playing the game of "they're black, they must be criminals" and "They're white, they must think I'm a criminal"..People in general are complete idiots (of all stripes and color), rise above them..Teach others to rise above it, too. Allowing continued outrage, embarassment, and hostility to fester over these situations just distracts you from the real goal, to be better than pawns in the game..Anyone who helps perpetuate the racist propaganda IS a pawn, manipulated by true racists who are motivated by hatred.. Stop being a minority, mentally. It is JUST a statistic, do not allow it to be a state of mind. Too many people do so and behave in the stereotypical ways.

I never said blacks were criminals, and I never said whites think minorities criminals. This was about what I feel when I see minorities bringing unwarranted complaints based on flimsy claims of discrimination. I don't know what you mean by "stop being a minority, mentally." I am what I am; I'm not in the majority, so I'm a minority. You assume that being a "minority, mentally" is a bad thing. You assume that thinking of myself as a minority is somehow akin to self-degradation. That's precisely the kind of thinking that I'm trying to counteract here. I am a minority. Why can't I recognize that without being accused of holding myself down?

P.S. There are alot of human beings on this planet, never assume they cannot relate to your outrage or any emotion..Millions of people identify with it on a daily basis. And rage won't solve your problem, but it will make you hostile.

Again, I just don't think they (white people) can relate to my outrage about this specific subject. I'm sure they can relate to the level of outrage I feel.

I'm one who has commented about racism among minorities, and while I appreciate your comments and perspective, I will continue to do so.

My article was not directed at any of your criticisms, but at those that overgeneralize. I've always found yours to be rather on-the-mark.

When I see a public high school in my state arrange for an day at Miller Park to see a Brewer's game, "for minorities only";

Same for me in high school, when my accounting class sponsored a field trip that only girls could go on.

I can't help but wonder why some minorities seem to live to perpetuate stereotypes.

I take issue with this sentence because I don't believe that they live to perpetuate anything. The stereotype is already there, and when a minority does something, then they're "perpetuating the stereotype." A white person does the same thing, and they're just being greedy, or trying to make a quick buck. The motivation is the same and the perception is different. The question is not why some minorities live to perpetuate a stereotype (which they don't), but why the stereotype is still there.

Very good post! Intelligent and well said, for a minority idiot.

My neighborhood is perhaps 85-90% black, and I understand completely what you mean when you feel singled out. When I walk out of my house, I frequently get stares and such from my black neighbors who haven't met me, and wonder what Whitey is doing living so close to them, and intruding on their area.
I will often walk past a group of blacks, smile and nod, ask how it's going, whatever,and recieve silence in return. It works both ways.

Your article presents your views very well.
In my opinion, however,one of the problems comes from the way minorities portray themselves to the media and to society at large.
How many rappers (black or white, for that matter), for example, do you see smiling warmly out from the display windows of music stores? You don't. They all sneer and snarl threateningly, often making gang signs and perhaps other more anti-social gestures. Their personas as gangstas and Hos come through in their lyrics, which are often unnecessarily and ridiculously violent and sexually explict. This is supposed to reflect minority culture; in fact, I believe, it simply perpetuates the myth of it instead to society at large, while the more responsible members of those minorities (you, for example) seek to rise above it.

Minorities do it to themselves, and willingly at that, but I do get your point. Well written.

ParaTed said 'some' and you took exception to that statement.  Yet it is true.  And while 'some' of the minorities may just be willing accomplices of the so called leaders of the minorities, they do perpetuate the stereotype.  For the media will not write about the 90%+ that live every day lives like you and get harrassed (they will write about the harassment tho), they are quick to jump on every flimsy charge of racism. 

And so what do the rest of us have to look at? The Exceptions?  Sure but that is all the news most people get.

I dont see it as epidemic.  I do see it as playing the victim.  And that is not isolated to minorities, but then it is rare that you see a non-minority using the race card when playing victim.  But a minority playing a victim is sure to have that ace in their repetoire.

 

philo, If I have ever said/printed something anything that cause you even a moments pain or discomfort I deeply apoligize. I mean no harm to anyone {well except crazy liberals} and that just generalzations.

elie

If some minorities choose to behave that way, it is not racist for others to see it and conclude that SOME minorities act that way

I don't think the conclusion is racist, but I don't think it is logical to assume that the aim was to perpetuate the stereotype.

What I absolutely cannot understand about the black community, (disclaimer for the dense: I know not ALL blacks feel this way, ok?) is the notion that anyone trying to better themselves is somehow "selling out" to the white man.

I know what you mean, and I get what you're saying, but I'm beginning to dislike terms such as "black community" and "hispanic community" and whatever race you want to mention with the word community behind it. I know it's not what you mean, but it just sounds like we're getting together somewhere and plotting who to alienate next for "acting white."

When I see a group of them standing around for no apparent purpose, all gold teeth and baggy pants, you're damn right I cross the street.

That bothers me. I'd like to be able to stand with a group of friends and talk. You, of course, are free to cross the street if you wish, but I wonder how much of that fear response is caused by the so-called "authorities" and their protocol. Used to be (and I hope its changed, I'm not really sure), as far as the CPD was concerned, a gang was "2 or more youths associating for no apparent reason." Are you kidding? I can't even walk down the street with someone.

but the recent glorification of the gangsta lifestyle has done *so* much harm to that image that a lot of that progress has been lost.

We must differentiate between fantasy and reality and realize that those who glorify the lifestyle are no different than every other millionaire in this country.

there are thousands of otherwise law-abiding folks who dress, speak, and behave *like* criminals, but act suprised when they are then treated as such.

How do you dress like a criminal? How do you act like a criminal? How do you speak like a criminal? Poor, inner city gangbangers can be criminals. Rich, multimillionaire CEOs can be criminals. There is no standard.

It's so easy for what you say here to be taken as an affront or for you to be told you're taking things too personnally, when you're not. The fact is if someone has never been at the receiving end of what you're talking about, they'll never understand the point you're trying to make.

That's very true. I don't like saying that I have to take it personally because that's the way the world forces me to take it, because I honestly feel like a hypocrite. I don't want to typecast the world in that way. I feel as though I'm generalizing, which is precisely what I don't want other people to do.

In my opinion, however,one of the problems comes from the way minorities portray themselves to the media and to society at large. How many rappers (black or white, for that matter), for example, do you see smiling warmly out from the display windows of music stores? You don't. They all sneer and snarl threateningly, often making gang signs and perhaps other more anti-social gestures. Their personas as gangstas and Hos come through in their lyrics, which are often unnecessarily and ridiculously violent and sexually explict. This is supposed to reflect minority culture; in fact, I believe, it simply perpetuates the myth of it instead to society at large, while the more responsible members of those minorities (you, for example) seek to rise above it. Minorities do it to themselves

This is a good example Rigtwinger. It is a good example of a bad example. The unfortunate thing is rappers and entertainers such as these are seen as representation of what being black is. It is this "picture" that other people around the world see and think of anyone of this minority. It is the stereotype that is used to identify with someone who is American and Black.

And even worst if they cannot identify anything else with Blacks. It is worst when young Black children and youths identify with these rappers who behave this way to make a dollar! It's worst for those children who do not have anyone to guide them and say, this is not all that we are. Do you understand what I'm trying to say? It's like banging your head against a wall trying to make others see that this is not typical and should not be accepted as such.

It's even worst when you try to discuss openly something like this and are presumed to have a chip on your shoulder or lumped with those who claim to be victims. It's a matter of damn if you do and damn if you don't. It's what Phil is trying to say. And Phil if this is not it, then I guess I need to be enlightened!

Would you walk through K-Town on 26th St. wearing black and gold and sporting a gold chain with a five point crown on it?

If you see me walking through there wearing that, feel free to think what you want.

Notice I didnt say I was looking at pictures of gangsters and dressing myself like them. I said I like some shirts that a brand makes. Certain gangsters wear the same shirts. I should not be typecast because of it, especially walking through the suburbs.

And I don't see people rushing to me and offering free drinks when I dress like certain wealthy CEO's, either.

But the point is some people there very likely will think something of you, and about who you associate with, a judgment about who or what you are based on how you express yourself.

I'm not clad in colors, I'm clad in a brand. That shouldn't carry connotations.

Look, all I was saying is that there is no way to tell what a criminal looks like. Clothing that is associated with thugs can be coordinated to look nice too. There is no way to tell what a thug looks like.

You may call that racist. I call it smart.

I haven't called anyone anything. You shouldn't avoid places simply because of the people, though. I don't know how dangerous the places where these groups of young men hang out is; I don't know its reputation. I'm assuming its bad.

But say it was good, and they were still dressed that way: Would you still avoid them?