How can someone be born and raised in the DC area yet still be racist?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I mean, I wasn't racist until I lived in DC for many years. Why would you think exposure to DC reduces racism rather than increasing it? Just curious.

Being born and raised in D.C. is a different experience than coming to the city later. The experience for a native Washingtonian is being asked in this post. At one point D.C. was an even moreso predominately Black city more so than it is today.

Yes, but if you are part of certain white DC circles, what you see is a world where white people are the homeowners and execs and the black people are the domestic help and the admin and building staff.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would say one would have had plenty of positive and negative interactions with people of all shades, creeds, races in this region.

Honest question, how can someone still have such views when the area is so diverse?

Unfortunate realization: virtually 99% of all crime in DC is committed by youngish black males. I returned here after college fully woke and somewhat strident about it, but over the last many years, I've reached the point where I can't reconcile the progressive dogma with the realty of DC's crime statistics. And I really have no patience left for street criminals and shooters.

I don't think noticing this makes me racist, but I'm sure others disagree.

This. It is the elephant in the room. Most people DO notice this and they know it.

Anyone with half a brain has a serious issue with police brutality and systemic racism. BUT most people also are well aware that AAs are responsible for a disproportionate amount of crime in this country. Where are the people marching about black on black crime? Yes, I get that the police are held to a higher standard or should be than the average person. But people still can't ignore the criminal activity and lack of agency. I can assure you this is what the "silent majority" thinks. Why would most people want to support a movement that in their eyes represents violence and crime?

And you still won't ask Why? That's the problem. By not caring about the fact that an entire system has created a hopeless and depressed situation for a segment of a population, you're showing that the people don't matter to you. Its just another excuse to further cast off an entire group of people as inherently violent. And, oh by the way -ever think that what you're looking at is the percentage of people arrested for crime and not the percentage that's committing it? If over-policing is one of the problems, look at why Blacks are actually arrested more than Whites. Its a proven fact that White people commit just as much crime as Black people, wherever you live. But taking statistics without the perspective of the entire population of the area is just disingenuous and a way to fit the narrative that you've created.

You’re framing the problem as though 100% of the cause of black criminality and violence stems from historical and current structural inequalities in the system and frankly that’s dishonest and strips every black person of their agency. I don’t think anybody who is paying attention doubts that these structural barriers exist, but there is zero interest in discussing much less addressing the immense cultural problems that also contribute to the insanely high black on black crime rate. The PP highlighted the need for police reforms so she’s an ally on that front. Your focus on parsing statistics at the margin while ignoring the enduring vastness of the problem is the sort of indifference that causes fatigue amongst allies on the broader racial inequity issue.

Well said. Thank you for taking the time to explain this nuance.

If we allow Black people the "agency" to have a criminal element just as every other race or group has a criminal element, then this is not a "cultural" thing. Humans have criminal elements and Black people are not immune to that. If you add a depressed condition generated by structural inequities on top of that element, you end up with a higher crime rate. The problem with calling this a "cultural" situation is that you're implying that Black people are inherently more violent, despite their circumstances and that is not true. If the crime was a part of the culture, why doesn't the same phenomenon of Black on Black crime occur in wealthy Black neighborhoods? It doesn't and I know because I've lived in several.

Generally speaking, crime doesn’t occur in more affluent areas the way it does in low income areas. And, media coverage focuses on urban areas where minorities are represented rather than rural areas where whites comprise more of the low income and criminal stats.

See how this is more of a class/socioeconomics thing than a true race issue?

Nobody is afraid of their black neighbors in Potomac or McLean. Most people aren’t interested in living in or driving through low income areas. Some/many affluent people don’t want poor kids of any color bused into their schools, but they don’t have an issue if the family can afford the million dollar home in the W school pyramid (because, again, nobody is worried about affluent people regardless of skin color).

I don’t understand why people aren’t acknowledging this?

Because people ARE still afraid of their Black neighbors in Potomac or McLean. My husband has gotten stopped by police (who've absolutely been called by neighbors a few streets over) and other "concerned citizens" several times in 3 years in our well-to-do neighborhood as he walks our dog. Our boys know that they are not allowed to jog down the street (a White person seeing a young, Black boy running is all kinds of trouble), wear hoodies or ski masks, or have their hands where people can't see them. We have to learn the best way to exist in a society that has created a narrative that we are violent and scary, no matter how much money we have.

Culture is defined as social norm or custom of a group of people (e.g., celebrating holidays, eating certain foods, etc). Violence is a reaction - it can be an outcome of a socio-economic condition or survival mechanism, but it is not a part of the Black "culture." Just like school shootings aren't a part of the White "culture" (and please don't go into comparing school shooting numbers - the point is they are almost exclusively done by White people).

If this was "cultural," shouldn't we assume that White people are culturally violent with all the stealing of land, stealing and enslaving of people, and years of burning and lynching that they've done (over centuries)? The last lynchings (that were literally watched for entertainment by White audiences) wasn't that long ago. But, no one makes that leap with White people, so why would you make that leap with Black people?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would say one would have had plenty of positive and negative interactions with people of all shades, creeds, races in this region.

Honest question, how can someone still have such views when the area is so diverse?

Unfortunate realization: virtually 99% of all crime in DC is committed by youngish black males. I returned here after college fully woke and somewhat strident about it, but over the last many years, I've reached the point where I can't reconcile the progressive dogma with the realty of DC's crime statistics. And I really have no patience left for street criminals and shooters.

I don't think noticing this makes me racist, but I'm sure others disagree.

This. It is the elephant in the room. Most people DO notice this and they know it.

Anyone with half a brain has a serious issue with police brutality and systemic racism. BUT most people also are well aware that AAs are responsible for a disproportionate amount of crime in this country. Where are the people marching about black on black crime? Yes, I get that the police are held to a higher standard or should be than the average person. But people still can't ignore the criminal activity and lack of agency. I can assure you this is what the "silent majority" thinks. Why would most people want to support a movement that in their eyes represents violence and crime?

And you still won't ask Why? That's the problem. By not caring about the fact that an entire system has created a hopeless and depressed situation for a segment of a population, you're showing that the people don't matter to you. Its just another excuse to further cast off an entire group of people as inherently violent. And, oh by the way -ever think that what you're looking at is the percentage of people arrested for crime and not the percentage that's committing it? If over-policing is one of the problems, look at why Blacks are actually arrested more than Whites. Its a proven fact that White people commit just as much crime as Black people, wherever you live. But taking statistics without the perspective of the entire population of the area is just disingenuous and a way to fit the narrative that you've created.

You’re framing the problem as though 100% of the cause of black criminality and violence stems from historical and current structural inequalities in the system and frankly that’s dishonest and strips every black person of their agency. I don’t think anybody who is paying attention doubts that these structural barriers exist, but there is zero interest in discussing much less addressing the immense cultural problems that also contribute to the insanely high black on black crime rate. The PP highlighted the need for police reforms so she’s an ally on that front. Your focus on parsing statistics at the margin while ignoring the enduring vastness of the problem is the sort of indifference that causes fatigue amongst allies on the broader racial inequity issue.

Well said. Thank you for taking the time to explain this nuance.

If we allow Black people the "agency" to have a criminal element just as every other race or group has a criminal element, then this is not a "cultural" thing. Humans have criminal elements and Black people are not immune to that. If you add a depressed condition generated by structural inequities on top of that element, you end up with a higher crime rate. The problem with calling this a "cultural" situation is that you're implying that Black people are inherently more violent, despite their circumstances and that is not true. If the crime was a part of the culture, why doesn't the same phenomenon of Black on Black crime occur in wealthy Black neighborhoods? It doesn't and I know because I've lived in several.

Generally speaking, crime doesn’t occur in more affluent areas the way it does in low income areas. And, media coverage focuses on urban areas where minorities are represented rather than rural areas where whites comprise more of the low income and criminal stats.

See how this is more of a class/socioeconomics thing than a true race issue?

Nobody is afraid of their black neighbors in Potomac or McLean. Most people aren’t interested in living in or driving through low income areas. Some/many affluent people don’t want poor kids of any color bused into their schools, but they don’t have an issue if the family can afford the million dollar home in the W school pyramid (because, again, nobody is worried about affluent people regardless of skin color).

I don’t understand why people aren’t acknowledging this?

Because it does not fit into a 10-second sound bite and requires critical thinking.

Not true. Wealthy families will be the first to move when they feel the neighborhood is becoming too diverse. I’ve heard it first hand as someone who lived in McLean as a SA and Black family.

Well, McLean is full of ass-hats. And VA is conservative.

You wouldn’t have those issues in Silver Spring or Rockville.

[Anonymous]

After reading 14 pages of responses, I think the better question is "How can someone be born and raised in the DC area and NOT develop racist (or at least prejudiced) mindsets?"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would say one would have had plenty of positive and negative interactions with people of all shades, creeds, races in this region.

Honest question, how can someone still have such views when the area is so diverse?

Unfortunate realization: virtually 99% of all crime in DC is committed by youngish black males. I returned here after college fully woke and somewhat strident about it, but over the last many years, I've reached the point where I can't reconcile the progressive dogma with the realty of DC's crime statistics. And I really have no patience left for street criminals and shooters.

I don't think noticing this makes me racist, but I'm sure others disagree.

This. It is the elephant in the room. Most people DO notice this and they know it.

Anyone with half a brain has a serious issue with police brutality and systemic racism. BUT most people also are well aware that AAs are responsible for a disproportionate amount of crime in this country. Where are the people marching about black on black crime? Yes, I get that the police are held to a higher standard or should be than the average person. But people still can't ignore the criminal activity and lack of agency. I can assure you this is what the "silent majority" thinks. Why would most people want to support a movement that in their eyes represents violence and crime?

And you still won't ask Why? That's the problem. By not caring about the fact that an entire system has created a hopeless and depressed situation for a segment of a population, you're showing that the people don't matter to you. Its just another excuse to further cast off an entire group of people as inherently violent. And, oh by the way -ever think that what you're looking at is the percentage of people arrested for crime and not the percentage that's committing it? If over-policing is one of the problems, look at why Blacks are actually arrested more than Whites. Its a proven fact that White people commit just as much crime as Black people, wherever you live. But taking statistics without the perspective of the entire population of the area is just disingenuous and a way to fit the narrative that you've created.

You’re framing the problem as though 100% of the cause of black criminality and violence stems from historical and current structural inequalities in the system and frankly that’s dishonest and strips every black person of their agency. I don’t think anybody who is paying attention doubts that these structural barriers exist, but there is zero interest in discussing much less addressing the immense cultural problems that also contribute to the insanely high black on black crime rate. The PP highlighted the need for police reforms so she’s an ally on that front. Your focus on parsing statistics at the margin while ignoring the enduring vastness of the problem is the sort of indifference that causes fatigue amongst allies on the broader racial inequity issue.

Well said. Thank you for taking the time to explain this nuance.

If we allow Black people the "agency" to have a criminal element just as every other race or group has a criminal element, then this is not a "cultural" thing. Humans have criminal elements and Black people are not immune to that. If you add a depressed condition generated by structural inequities on top of that element, you end up with a higher crime rate. The problem with calling this a "cultural" situation is that you're implying that Black people are inherently more violent, despite their circumstances and that is not true. If the crime was a part of the culture, why doesn't the same phenomenon of Black on Black crime occur in wealthy Black neighborhoods? It doesn't and I know because I've lived in several.

Generally speaking, crime doesn’t occur in more affluent areas the way it does in low income areas. And, media coverage focuses on urban areas where minorities are represented rather than rural areas where whites comprise more of the low income and criminal stats.

See how this is more of a class/socioeconomics thing than a true race issue?

Nobody is afraid of their black neighbors in Potomac or McLean. Most people aren’t interested in living in or driving through low income areas. Some/many affluent people don’t want poor kids of any color bused into their schools, but they don’t have an issue if the family can afford the million dollar home in the W school pyramid (because, again, nobody is worried about affluent people regardless of skin color).

I don’t understand why people aren’t acknowledging this?

Because people ARE still afraid of their Black neighbors in Potomac or McLean. My husband has gotten stopped by police (who've absolutely been called by neighbors a few streets over) and other "concerned citizens" several times in 3 years in our well-to-do neighborhood as he walks our dog. Our boys know that they are not allowed to jog down the street (a White person seeing a young, Black boy running is all kinds of trouble), wear hoodies or ski masks, or have their hands where people can't see them. We have to learn the best way to exist in a society that has created a narrative that we are violent and scary, no matter how much money we have.

Culture is defined as social norm or custom of a group of people (e.g., celebrating holidays, eating certain foods, etc). Violence is a reaction - it can be an outcome of a socio-economic condition or survival mechanism, but it is not a part of the Black "culture." Just like school shootings aren't a part of the White "culture" (and please don't go into comparing school shooting numbers - the point is they are almost exclusively done by White people).

If this was "cultural," shouldn't we assume that White people are culturally violent with all the stealing of land, stealing and enslaving of people, and years of burning and lynching that they've done (over centuries)? The last lynchings (that were literally watched for entertainment by White audiences) wasn't that long ago. But, no one makes that leap with White people, so why would you make that leap with Black people?

Very good point! Hmmm!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:After reading 14 pages of responses, I think the better question is "How can someone be born and raised in the DC area and NOT develop racist (or at least prejudiced) mindsets?"

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would say one would have had plenty of positive and negative interactions with people of all shades, creeds, races in this region.

Honest question, how can someone still have such views when the area is so diverse?

Unfortunate realization: virtually 99% of all crime in DC is committed by youngish black males. I returned here after college fully woke and somewhat strident about it, but over the last many years, I've reached the point where I can't reconcile the progressive dogma with the realty of DC's crime statistics. And I really have no patience left for street criminals and shooters.

I don't think noticing this makes me racist, but I'm sure others disagree.

This. It is the elephant in the room. Most people DO notice this and they know it.

Anyone with half a brain has a serious issue with police brutality and systemic racism. BUT most people also are well aware that AAs are responsible for a disproportionate amount of crime in this country. Where are the people marching about black on black crime? Yes, I get that the police are held to a higher standard or should be than the average person. But people still can't ignore the criminal activity and lack of agency. I can assure you this is what the "silent majority" thinks. Why would most people want to support a movement that in their eyes represents violence and crime?

And you still won't ask Why? That's the problem. By not caring about the fact that an entire system has created a hopeless and depressed situation for a segment of a population, you're showing that the people don't matter to you. Its just another excuse to further cast off an entire group of people as inherently violent. And, oh by the way -ever think that what you're looking at is the percentage of people arrested for crime and not the percentage that's committing it? If over-policing is one of the problems, look at why Blacks are actually arrested more than Whites. Its a proven fact that White people commit just as much crime as Black people, wherever you live. But taking statistics without the perspective of the entire population of the area is just disingenuous and a way to fit the narrative that you've created.

You’re framing the problem as though 100% of the cause of black criminality and violence stems from historical and current structural inequalities in the system and frankly that’s dishonest and strips every black person of their agency. I don’t think anybody who is paying attention doubts that these structural barriers exist, but there is zero interest in discussing much less addressing the immense cultural problems that also contribute to the insanely high black on black crime rate. The PP highlighted the need for police reforms so she’s an ally on that front. Your focus on parsing statistics at the margin while ignoring the enduring vastness of the problem is the sort of indifference that causes fatigue amongst allies on the broader racial inequity issue.

Well said. Thank you for taking the time to explain this nuance.

If we allow Black people the "agency" to have a criminal element just as every other race or group has a criminal element, then this is not a "cultural" thing. Humans have criminal elements and Black people are not immune to that. If you add a depressed condition generated by structural inequities on top of that element, you end up with a higher crime rate. The problem with calling this a "cultural" situation is that you're implying that Black people are inherently more violent, despite their circumstances and that is not true. If the crime was a part of the culture, why doesn't the same phenomenon of Black on Black crime occur in wealthy Black neighborhoods? It doesn't and I know because I've lived in several.

Generally speaking, crime doesn’t occur in more affluent areas the way it does in low income areas. And, media coverage focuses on urban areas where minorities are represented rather than rural areas where whites comprise more of the low income and criminal stats.

See how this is more of a class/socioeconomics thing than a true race issue?

Nobody is afraid of their black neighbors in Potomac or McLean. Most people aren’t interested in living in or driving through low income areas. Some/many affluent people don’t want poor kids of any color bused into their schools, but they don’t have an issue if the family can afford the million dollar home in the W school pyramid (because, again, nobody is worried about affluent people regardless of skin color).

I don’t understand why people aren’t acknowledging this?

Because people ARE still afraid of their Black neighbors in Potomac or McLean. My husband has gotten stopped by police (who've absolutely been called by neighbors a few streets over) and other "concerned citizens" several times in 3 years in our well-to-do neighborhood as he walks our dog. Our boys know that they are not allowed to jog down the street (a White person seeing a young, Black boy running is all kinds of trouble), wear hoodies or ski masks, or have their hands where people can't see them. We have to learn the best way to exist in a society that has created a narrative that we are violent and scary, no matter how much money we have.

Culture is defined as social norm or custom of a group of people (e.g., celebrating holidays, eating certain foods, etc). Violence is a reaction - it can be an outcome of a socio-economic condition or survival mechanism, but it is not a part of the Black "culture." Just like school shootings aren't a part of the White "culture" (and please don't go into comparing school shooting numbers - the point is they are almost exclusively done by White people).

If this was "cultural," shouldn't we assume that White people are culturally violent with all the stealing of land, stealing and enslaving of people, and years of burning and lynching that they've done (over centuries)? The last lynchings (that were literally watched for entertainment by White audiences) wasn't that long ago. But, no one makes that leap with White people, so why would you make that leap with Black people?

Very good point! Hmmm!

Ridiculous point.

There is no single Black culture.

There is no single White culture.

There IS a very violent and misogynistic inner city gang culture that is embraced by many poor black people but not all.

There IS a very violent and misogynistic rural white redneck culture that is embraced by many poor white people but not all.


When a white person is fearful of black people that exhibit certain cultural signifiers that align with the violent gang subculture then people are reacting to more than just skin color alone.

When a black person is fearful of white people that exhibit certain cultural signifiers that align with the racist and violent redneck subculture then they are reacting to more than just skin color alone.


See?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would say one would have had plenty of positive and negative interactions with people of all shades, creeds, races in this region.

Honest question, how can someone still have such views when the area is so diverse?

Unfortunate realization: virtually 99% of all crime in DC is committed by youngish black males. I returned here after college fully woke and somewhat strident about it, but over the last many years, I've reached the point where I can't reconcile the progressive dogma with the realty of DC's crime statistics. And I really have no patience left for street criminals and shooters.

I don't think noticing this makes me racist, but I'm sure others disagree.

This. It is the elephant in the room. Most people DO notice this and they know it.

Anyone with half a brain has a serious issue with police brutality and systemic racism. BUT most people also are well aware that AAs are responsible for a disproportionate amount of crime in this country. Where are the people marching about black on black crime? Yes, I get that the police are held to a higher standard or should be than the average person. But people still can't ignore the criminal activity and lack of agency. I can assure you this is what the "silent majority" thinks. Why would most people want to support a movement that in their eyes represents violence and crime?

And you still won't ask Why? That's the problem. By not caring about the fact that an entire system has created a hopeless and depressed situation for a segment of a population, you're showing that the people don't matter to you. Its just another excuse to further cast off an entire group of people as inherently violent. And, oh by the way -ever think that what you're looking at is the percentage of people arrested for crime and not the percentage that's committing it? If over-policing is one of the problems, look at why Blacks are actually arrested more than Whites. Its a proven fact that White people commit just as much crime as Black people, wherever you live. But taking statistics without the perspective of the entire population of the area is just disingenuous and a way to fit the narrative that you've created.

You’re framing the problem as though 100% of the cause of black criminality and violence stems from historical and current structural inequalities in the system and frankly that’s dishonest and strips every black person of their agency. I don’t think anybody who is paying attention doubts that these structural barriers exist, but there is zero interest in discussing much less addressing the immense cultural problems that also contribute to the insanely high black on black crime rate. The PP highlighted the need for police reforms so she’s an ally on that front. Your focus on parsing statistics at the margin while ignoring the enduring vastness of the problem is the sort of indifference that causes fatigue amongst allies on the broader racial inequity issue.

Well said. Thank you for taking the time to explain this nuance.

If we allow Black people the "agency" to have a criminal element just as every other race or group has a criminal element, then this is not a "cultural" thing. Humans have criminal elements and Black people are not immune to that. If you add a depressed condition generated by structural inequities on top of that element, you end up with a higher crime rate. The problem with calling this a "cultural" situation is that you're implying that Black people are inherently more violent, despite their circumstances and that is not true. If the crime was a part of the culture, why doesn't the same phenomenon of Black on Black crime occur in wealthy Black neighborhoods? It doesn't and I know because I've lived in several.

Generally speaking, crime doesn’t occur in more affluent areas the way it does in low income areas. And, media coverage focuses on urban areas where minorities are represented rather than rural areas where whites comprise more of the low income and criminal stats.

See how this is more of a class/socioeconomics thing than a true race issue?

Nobody is afraid of their black neighbors in Potomac or McLean. Most people aren’t interested in living in or driving through low income areas. Some/many affluent people don’t want poor kids of any color bused into their schools, but they don’t have an issue if the family can afford the million dollar home in the W school pyramid (because, again, nobody is worried about affluent people regardless of skin color).

I don’t understand why people aren’t acknowledging this?

Because people ARE still afraid of their Black neighbors in Potomac or McLean. My husband has gotten stopped by police (who've absolutely been called by neighbors a few streets over) and other "concerned citizens" several times in 3 years in our well-to-do neighborhood as he walks our dog. Our boys know that they are not allowed to jog down the street (a White person seeing a young, Black boy running is all kinds of trouble), wear hoodies or ski masks, or have their hands where people can't see them. We have to learn the best way to exist in a society that has created a narrative that we are violent and scary, no matter how much money we have.

Culture is defined as social norm or custom of a group of people (e.g., celebrating holidays, eating certain foods, etc). Violence is a reaction - it can be an outcome of a socio-economic condition or survival mechanism, but it is not a part of the Black "culture." Just like school shootings aren't a part of the White "culture" (and please don't go into comparing school shooting numbers - the point is they are almost exclusively done by White people).

If this was "cultural," shouldn't we assume that White people are culturally violent with all the stealing of land, stealing and enslaving of people, and years of burning and lynching that they've done (over centuries)? The last lynchings (that were literally watched for entertainment by White audiences) wasn't that long ago. But, no one makes that leap with White people, so why would you make that leap with Black people?

Very good point! Hmmm!

Ridiculous point.

There is no single Black culture.

There is no single White culture.

There IS a very violent and misogynistic inner city gang culture that is embraced by many poor black people but not all.

There IS a very violent and misogynistic rural white redneck culture that is embraced by many poor white people but not all.


When a white person is fearful of black people that exhibit certain cultural signifiers that align with the violent gang subculture then people are reacting to more than just skin color alone.

When a black person is fearful of white people that exhibit certain cultural signifiers that align with the racist and violent redneck subculture then they are reacting to more than just skin color alone.


See?

And the two subcultural elements you just described were both low-income.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would say one would have had plenty of positive and negative interactions with people of all shades, creeds, races in this region.

Honest question, how can someone still have such views when the area is so diverse?

Unfortunate realization: virtually 99% of all crime in DC is committed by youngish black males. I returned here after college fully woke and somewhat strident about it, but over the last many years, I've reached the point where I can't reconcile the progressive dogma with the realty of DC's crime statistics. And I really have no patience left for street criminals and shooters.

I don't think noticing this makes me racist, but I'm sure others disagree.

This. It is the elephant in the room. Most people DO notice this and they know it.

Anyone with half a brain has a serious issue with police brutality and systemic racism. BUT most people also are well aware that AAs are responsible for a disproportionate amount of crime in this country. Where are the people marching about black on black crime? Yes, I get that the police are held to a higher standard or should be than the average person. But people still can't ignore the criminal activity and lack of agency. I can assure you this is what the "silent majority" thinks. Why would most people want to support a movement that in their eyes represents violence and crime?

And you still won't ask Why? That's the problem. By not caring about the fact that an entire system has created a hopeless and depressed situation for a segment of a population, you're showing that the people don't matter to you. Its just another excuse to further cast off an entire group of people as inherently violent. And, oh by the way -ever think that what you're looking at is the percentage of people arrested for crime and not the percentage that's committing it? If over-policing is one of the problems, look at why Blacks are actually arrested more than Whites. Its a proven fact that White people commit just as much crime as Black people, wherever you live. But taking statistics without the perspective of the entire population of the area is just disingenuous and a way to fit the narrative that you've created.

You’re framing the problem as though 100% of the cause of black criminality and violence stems from historical and current structural inequalities in the system and frankly that’s dishonest and strips every black person of their agency. I don’t think anybody who is paying attention doubts that these structural barriers exist, but there is zero interest in discussing much less addressing the immense cultural problems that also contribute to the insanely high black on black crime rate. The PP highlighted the need for police reforms so she’s an ally on that front. Your focus on parsing statistics at the margin while ignoring the enduring vastness of the problem is the sort of indifference that causes fatigue amongst allies on the broader racial inequity issue.

Well said. Thank you for taking the time to explain this nuance.

If we allow Black people the "agency" to have a criminal element just as every other race or group has a criminal element, then this is not a "cultural" thing. Humans have criminal elements and Black people are not immune to that. If you add a depressed condition generated by structural inequities on top of that element, you end up with a higher crime rate. The problem with calling this a "cultural" situation is that you're implying that Black people are inherently more violent, despite their circumstances and that is not true. If the crime was a part of the culture, why doesn't the same phenomenon of Black on Black crime occur in wealthy Black neighborhoods? It doesn't and I know because I've lived in several.

Generally speaking, crime doesn’t occur in more affluent areas the way it does in low income areas. And, media coverage focuses on urban areas where minorities are represented rather than rural areas where whites comprise more of the low income and criminal stats.

See how this is more of a class/socioeconomics thing than a true race issue?

Nobody is afraid of their black neighbors in Potomac or McLean. Most people aren’t interested in living in or driving through low income areas. Some/many affluent people don’t want poor kids of any color bused into their schools, but they don’t have an issue if the family can afford the million dollar home in the W school pyramid (because, again, nobody is worried about affluent people regardless of skin color).

I don’t understand why people aren’t acknowledging this?

Because people ARE still afraid of their Black neighbors in Potomac or McLean. My husband has gotten stopped by police (who've absolutely been called by neighbors a few streets over) and other "concerned citizens" several times in 3 years in our well-to-do neighborhood as he walks our dog. Our boys know that they are not allowed to jog down the street (a White person seeing a young, Black boy running is all kinds of trouble), wear hoodies or ski masks, or have their hands where people can't see them. We have to learn the best way to exist in a society that has created a narrative that we are violent and scary, no matter how much money we have.

Culture is defined as social norm or custom of a group of people (e.g., celebrating holidays, eating certain foods, etc). Violence is a reaction - it can be an outcome of a socio-economic condition or survival mechanism, but it is not a part of the Black "culture." Just like school shootings aren't a part of the White "culture" (and please don't go into comparing school shooting numbers - the point is they are almost exclusively done by White people).

If this was "cultural," shouldn't we assume that White people are culturally violent with all the stealing of land, stealing and enslaving of people, and years of burning and lynching that they've done (over centuries)? The last lynchings (that were literally watched for entertainment by White audiences) wasn't that long ago. But, no one makes that leap with White people, so why would you make that leap with Black people?

Very good point! Hmmm!

Ridiculous point.

There is no single Black culture.

There is no single White culture.

There IS a very violent and misogynistic inner city gang culture that is embraced by many poor black people but not all.

There IS a very violent and misogynistic rural white redneck culture that is embraced by many poor white people but not all.


When a white person is fearful of black people that exhibit certain cultural signifiers that align with the violent gang subculture then people are reacting to more than just skin color alone.

When a black person is fearful of white people that exhibit certain cultural signifiers that align with the racist and violent redneck subculture then they are reacting to more than just skin color alone.


See?

And the two subcultural elements you just described were both low-income.

Exactly. Lower income people of all colors have far more in common with each other than they do with wealthy people of the same skin color. As long as we view everything as a result if racism we will never address the true causes of poverty and violence for all people.

[Anonymous]

Re: Low Income Communities. There’s low income white and black people working together in the same Government offices. They are coworkers, spending more hours together than with their own families. Does that just enforce the stereotypes or actually help them understand each other’s differences?

People are coming from Spotsylvania and Fredericksburg, Frederick and Clinton, McLean and Bethesda to the same office buildings.

That’s not found in places in other parts of the country.

[Anonymous]

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8522121/Four-teens-attack-pregnant-mother-fly-kick-toddler-daughter.html

Blame the media.

Stuff like this is shocking and prompts outrage and fear. Despite this sort of attack being rare, it quickly fosters a stereotype if you’ve seen it multiple times.

Think about what’s covered on the evening news: crime and violence. Every night. And what does that do to your brain? To your biases?

And, it’s universally low-income people. Their color depends upon your location: urban or rural.

[Anonymous]

OP have you seen the real estate forum? People look for school districts with the least numbers of Hispanics and AAs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP have you seen the real estate forum? People look for school districts with the least numbers of Hispanics and AAs.

There are also those of us who purposefully live in east county for the opposite reason.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP have you seen the real estate forum? People look for school districts with the least numbers of Hispanics and AAs.

Yep...including people of color.

Many upwardly mobile blacks and Latinos want their kids to go to less diverse schools (as opposed to schools where minorities are the majority).

Why?

Class. Socioeconomics.

Nobody wants their kids surrounded by kids who aren’t planning to go to college.

Diverse communities like MoCo don’t really have white flight anymore. Look at the demographics. Instead, you see families of all races and ethnicities scrambling to move west where zoning laws prevented the development of rentals or affordable housing.

I’m convinced socioeconomics trumps race, yet we never talk about it. Perhaps because the wealthy people running our world don’t want us to get hip to economic inequality and seek to level the field?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP have you seen the real estate forum? People look for school districts with the least numbers of Hispanics and AAs.

Yep...including people of color.

Many upwardly mobile blacks and Latinos want their kids to go to less diverse schools (as opposed to schools where minorities are the majority).

Why?

Class. Socioeconomics.

Nobody wants their kids surrounded by kids who aren’t planning to go to college.

Diverse communities like MoCo don’t really have white flight anymore. Look at the demographics. Instead, you see families of all races and ethnicities scrambling to move west where zoning laws prevented the development of rentals or affordable housing.

I’m convinced socioeconomics trumps race, yet we never talk about it. Perhaps because the wealthy people running our world don’t want us to get hip to economic inequality and seek to level the field?

NP. This is so offensive. I didn’t go to college and I make mid-six figures. Go take your disastrous “Kids are bad if they aren’t go to college” or “College isn’t for everyone-but but that doesn’t apply to my kid” agenda elsewhere.