Racism In The DC Area

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Housing discrimination. Try to get an affordable dwelling apartment in DC. The waitlists are bogus and the developers give the apartments to their friends and employees.

That sounds like classism and favoritism, rather than racism.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Housing discrimination. Try to get an affordable dwelling apartment in DC. The waitlists are bogus and the developers give the apartments to their friends and employees.

Eh, not sure that's a race thing. Poor and middle class white people have a hard time finding affordable housing in DC too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Despite the widely held notion of the DC Metro Area being liberal and progressive, are there traces of racism and hate bubbling under the surface? I have lived a sheltered life born and raised in North Potomac, a wealthy suburb, so I am genuinely clueless of how things really go in this place outside of my little bubble. I have taken an interest in the topic of race relations throughout America as of late, and it has really shaken me out of my sheltered slumber of how things really work in parts of America in the modern day. I for one was genuinely shocked when I learned that segregation was rife in MoCo before the 1960s, and that there were instances of cross burnings and vandalism of Black homes around the DC area when they started moving into White areas after desegregation. For POCs on this forum (especially Black Americans), have you ever experienced overt racism around the DC area? how deep does the rot truly go? I am also interested in learning more about the history of segregation and the Black experience in MoCo during the Jim Crow Era, as it seems they have tried to brush this dark chapter under the rug and it is very hard to find info regarding this on the internet. I fear these instances are only scratching a surface a tad bit.

Growing up in Mt Rainier, my family wasn't allowed to join the local private pool because of our race. PG Pool was explicit that Blacks were not allowed. Today, my cousins can't join for the same reason, it's just implicit.

Tell them to join. Hopefully everyone will behave appropriately. Time for everyone to get over baseless fears. It’s 2023.

This response.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When I was growing up I would be threatened to get jumped for having white skin in the wrong place.

Me too.

[Anonymous]

For black friends, successes are assumed by some to be based on racial preferences. Having, still, to have “the talk” and all related concerns and fears, which I think changes the way they ho through the day at a fundamental level, needing to be alert and recognizing they are automatically mistrusted by many people. Literally seeing people cross the street to avoid groups of black kids, even very young black kids. Regularly seeing people of all races, including black, crunch, or hold purses closer one around black boys, and men. Black students held to a higher standard in some ways and lower standard in others (neither of which is helpful to the students). So many other ways but those are a few.

For myself (white woman with white kids), a presumption by some that I am racist. My kids need to score higher, have higher grades, and generally perform better to have the same academic opportunities and internships/recognition as black classmates. If a black kid and another kid have equally impressive or notable successes, the school generally highlights the black kid’s achievement and almost ignores the achievements of others (it’s actually pretty obvious and sad). Much harder for the Asian kids than the white kids, though, as far as I can see. The kids all know, and talk about it openly, which I actually think is better than splitting up into defensive groups by race.

Also regarding Asia friends, an assumption that their kids aren’t fully dimensional people, but rather are automatons without unique personalities, feelings, etc. there are completely different assumptions if a black or Asian kid succeeds in an academic area or activity. The black kid’s accomplishment is praised and communicated. Meanwhile if an Asian kid has a similar accomplishment it goes wholly unnoticed and it sometimes feels that the school wishes someone else had had the success. As much as that’s weird for the parents (it’s pretty obvious), it’s even weirder for the kids.

[Anonymous]

I once worked as a canvasser and led teams that included young Black men and women. They frequently got harassed by police while walking around knocking on doors. I never did. I am White.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The modern day racism in the DC area is the belief that we shouldn't give criminals tough sentences and should instead allow those criminals to repeatedly victimize black people and terrorize predominantly black communities.

Yes, if we are talking about systemic racism, I agree with you. Because intent doesn't matter, impact does. Many people think they are engaging in anti-racist policy and legal changes, and they are very well intended. I believe many (not all) have their hearts in the right place. But they are not subject matter experts and refuse to listen to SMEs. And who suffers most when systems are upended? The most vulnerable among us. And that, in our nation, are lower-income families of color.

Bravo to both of you.

Now be ready to be named names if you dare say this in public.

[Anonymous]

I am a black mom and I got divorced about 5 years ago. It was virtually impossible for me to get a rental. My husband got the house in Colonial Village and I wanted to start fresh. I looked all over NE and Upper NW. No one would rent to me and my teenage black sons. I was literally denied a rental b/c it was taken, only for it to be available the next day.

When I finally found a place in Brookland, I have to show my salary (which at the time was over $250k, divorce settlement funds, retirement account info, etc).

The people before me (white guys) trashed the place. Literally trashed it. When I left, I had the carpets cleaned, floors polished and the entire house painted inside - all because I did not want another mom discriminated against like I was.

[Anonymous]

Made $250K but couldn’t get an apartment in NW, DC?

Okay.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Made $250K but couldn’t get an apartment in NW, DC?

Okay.

Black woman with black teenage sons (plural). Oh I believe it, that she couldn't get an apartment in NW, DC. I'm sure she had a certain standard as one would expect when making $250k annually, and that buildings at that standard had zero interest in two black teenage males moving in.

[Anonymous]

The DC area is far more systemically racist than it’s ever been in the past.

[Anonymous]

I'm a transplant to DC, and have asked - "Where are the poor white neighborhoods?" Silence...
Where are the poor black neighborhoods?

[Anonymous]

There are only 221 unhoused individuals in DC. That’s great progress.

Too bad DC is so far behind when it comes to how racist it is here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Housing discrimination. Try to get an affordable dwelling apartment in DC. The waitlists are bogus and the developers give the apartments to their friends and employees.

That sounds like classism and favoritism, rather than racism.

Except when the developers and friends are Black and they discriminate against Hispanics, Asians, Africans, Arabs and Whites.

That's racism.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm a transplant to DC, and have asked - "Where are the poor white neighborhoods?" Silence...
Where are the poor black neighborhoods?

What's your point?