Need an African American to Explain this Behavior

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I live near a college campus and I've had my property vandalized by drunk white kids numerous times. I never blamed it on racism (I'm not white), just them being drunk and obnoxious. Only people of color are forced to take the blame for the actions of an individual.

I also I've in a college town and the white young "men" are some of the sorriest, most drunken, homophobic excuses for human beings I've ever seen.

I still don't think this is representative of all white people.

No, but that's not going to stop some minority who is being harrassed by them from feeling that it is racially motivated, is it? Of course not. I think that's a very human response (and probably often true anyway).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I have never had a black teenager try to intimidate me in DC. I treat them politely, say excuse me, and I am not afraid of them, and nothing untoward has ever, ever happened to me. Especially with my child. If anything, they are more polite.

See, but you are a black mother. Try being a white mother with a child encountering a black male teen, and ask yourself if you think you can expect the same response. Nothing untoward has ever happened to me either, but I have made eye contact and said hello to black teens in my neighborhood who gazed past me, pretended not to hear, and said nothing. I won't call that racist b/c I don't know the motivation, but what is that behavior if not disrespect?

Not sure what you're getting at here. Am I supposed to feel sorry for white mothers if black teenagers don't say hi?

There are plenty of people who don't answer back if you say hello. Happens to me all the time with all kinds of people. I really don't take it personally.

No, but I do think it's disingenous to suggest that no one of any race anywhere in the city has anything to fear from black teens, or that your being black has nothing to do with black kids showing you some respect. I have no doubt that you have encountered little white shits who are rude or disrespectful, and I also have no doubt that they would not behave the same way towards me.

The point was, I am not afraid of them, and AA teens are respectful towards me. Sure, my race probably also has something to do with it. My race also means I see THEM as human and not scary. I'm not necessarily negating others' experiences by saying I'm fine. There are plenty of kids who are indifferent to you (general you) and harmless.

And if anyone is afraid of ALL black teenagers, they have a serious problem and should maybe refrain from ever going out in public in DC. Or taking the Metro. Just use Uber car service or Zipcar or something.

[Anonymous]

Durn, that didn't work out.

My reply was:

The point was, I am not afraid of them, and AA teens are respectful towards me. Sure, my race probably also has something to do with it. My race also means I see THEM as human and not scary. I'm not necessarily negating others' experiences by saying I'm fine. There are plenty of kids who are indifferent to you (general you) and harmless.

And if anyone is afraid of ALL black teenagers, they have a serious problem and should maybe refrain from ever going out in public in DC. Or taking the Metro. Just use Uber car service or Zipcar or something.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I live near a college campus and I've had my property vandalized by drunk white kids numerous times. I never blamed it on racism (I'm not white), just them being drunk and obnoxious. Only people of color are forced to take the blame for the actions of an individual.

I also I've in a college town and the white young "men" are some of the sorriest, most drunken, homophobic excuses for human beings I've ever seen.

I still don't think this is representative of all white people.

Good point. I believe those people are called "white trash" in the US (I hate that label, but the fact is that it exists). Has the mainstream AA community equally created a "black trash" label to make it clear it doesn't share or condone unbecoming behaviors?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Durn, that didn't work out.

My reply was:

The point was, I am not afraid of them, and AA teens are respectful towards me. Sure, my race probably also has something to do with it. My race also means I see THEM as human and not scary. I'm not necessarily negating others' experiences by saying I'm fine. There are plenty of kids who are indifferent to you (general you) and harmless.

And if anyone is afraid of ALL black teenagers, they have a serious problem and should maybe refrain from ever going out in public in DC. Or taking the Metro. Just use Uber car service or Zipcar or something.

I'm not afraid of all black kids. I just don't understand the generally disrespectful and rude behavior I encounter on a daily basis. Your claim was that when you say hello to them they become MORE polite. I'm simply pointing out that these kids don't have the same response to everyone, and that internalized generalizations and perceptions of race probably has a lot to do with that. Just my opinion, b/c I can't think of any other plausible explanation. We all do it. I'm just calling you on pretending like these dynamics don't exist.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I live near a college campus and I've had my property vandalized by drunk white kids numerous times. I never blamed it on racism (I'm not white), just them being drunk and obnoxious. Only people of color are forced to take the blame for the actions of an individual.

I also I've in a college town and the white young "men" are some of the sorriest, most drunken, homophobic excuses for human beings I've ever seen.

I still don't think this is representative of all white people.

No, but that's not going to stop some minority who is being harrassed by them from feeling that it is racially motivated, is it? Of course not. I think that's a very human response (and probably often true anyway).

I understand what you're saying - but OP was referring to behavior that was pointedly aggressive and angry towards him/her. Unfortunately others of us have also experienced this aggression. There might be a problem that needs addressing.

[Anonymous]

^^Plus, I just want to point out that of course I see them as human. There actually are some really nice teens/pre-teens in my neighborhood with whom my family has very pleasant relations. It's not like I'm some scared white lady who views every black teen as an animal about to attack.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I live near a college campus and I've had my property vandalized by drunk white kids numerous times. I never blamed it on racism (I'm not white), just them being drunk and obnoxious. Only people of color are forced to take the blame for the actions of an individual.

I also I've in a college town and the white young "men" are some of the sorriest, most drunken, homophobic excuses for human beings I've ever seen.

I still don't think this is representative of all white people.

Good point. I believe those people are called "white trash" in the US (I hate that label, but the fact is that it exists). Has the mainstream AA community equally created a "black trash" label to make it clear it doesn't share or condone unbecoming behaviors?

But they aren't white trash. These are 'future CEOs' just being 'kids'.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I live near a college campus and I've had my property vandalized by drunk white kids numerous times. I never blamed it on racism (I'm not white), just them being drunk and obnoxious. Only people of color are forced to take the blame for the actions of an individual.

I also I've in a college town and the white young "men" are some of the sorriest, most drunken, homophobic excuses for human beings I've ever seen.

I still don't think this is representative of all white people.

No, but that's not going to stop some minority who is being harrassed by them from feeling that it is racially motivated, is it? Of course not. I think that's a very human response (and probably often true anyway).

I'm non-white and I just think they're entitled, partying, drug-loving idiots.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I live near a college campus and I've had my property vandalized by drunk white kids numerous times. I never blamed it on racism (I'm not white), just them being drunk and obnoxious. Only people of color are forced to take the blame for the actions of an individual.

I also I've in a college town and the white young "men" are some of the sorriest, most drunken, homophobic excuses for human beings I've ever seen.

I still don't think this is representative of all white people.

No, but that's not going to stop some minority who is being harrassed by them from feeling that it is racially motivated, is it? Of course not. I think that's a very human response (and probably often true anyway).

I'm non-white and I just think they're entitled, partying, drug-loving idiots.

Well yes. White racism comes both in the form of ignorant, redneck white trash and entitled, priveleged brats who would never admit it but completely think they are better than any black/brown person. So says the white person who is embarrassed of her white trash racist relations and has cut off all ties b/c their ignorance knows no bounds and they are impervious to reason AND who has worked for elite schools full of the entitled white brats. Can't stand either kind and wish they would all just go away already.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I live near a college campus and I've had my property vandalized by drunk white kids numerous times. I never blamed it on racism (I'm not white), just them being drunk and obnoxious. Only people of color are forced to take the blame for the actions of an individual.

I also I've in a college town and the white young "men" are some of the sorriest, most drunken, homophobic excuses for human beings I've ever seen.

I still don't think this is representative of all white people.

Good point. I believe those people are called "white trash" in the US (I hate that label, but the fact is that it exists). Has the mainstream AA community equally created a "black trash" label to make it clear it doesn't share or condone unbecoming behaviors?

Nope, these people are not seen as white trash (I also hate the term) - not the ones I live around. These are the children of wealthy white people. I think they're trashy, but they're not who mainstream America would label as white trash. They'd label them as "boys being boys" or something like that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I live near a college campus and I've had my property vandalized by drunk white kids numerous times. I never blamed it on racism (I'm not white), just them being drunk and obnoxious. Only people of color are forced to take the blame for the actions of an individual.

I also I've in a college town and the white young "men" are some of the sorriest, most drunken, homophobic excuses for human beings I've ever seen.

I still don't think this is representative of all white people.

Good point. I believe those people are called "white trash" in the US (I hate that label, but the fact is that it exists). Has the mainstream AA community equally created a "black trash" label to make it clear it doesn't share or condone unbecoming behaviors?

Not crazy about the use of "white trash" to begin with, but you do know that it's not like there is a AA language committee that assigns labels to different groups, don't you? That's been one of the objections that pps have raised about the OP's initial inquiry. Certainly the spitter's behavior was awful and who knows whether it was racist or not, but it's not like the AA community can answer for everything everyone does. The OP, being Asian, seems to feel more responsibility for other members of his race and their behavior, and apparently wanted the same kind of reaction from the AA posters. He didn't get it. While I'm sympathetic (kid was clearly a jerk), I don't think it's appropriate to ask AA DCUMers to answer for the kid's behavior.

Believe me, as a white upper middle class professional, I would love to be able to control the behavior of rich, white spoiled teenagers and to label them in such a way that shows my disapproval of their behavior, but I can't answer for every white kid, only my own.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I live near a college campus and I've had my property vandalized by drunk white kids numerous times. I never blamed it on racism (I'm not white), just them being drunk and obnoxious. Only people of color are forced to take the blame for the actions of an individual.

I also I've in a college town and the white young "men" are some of the sorriest, most drunken, homophobic excuses for human beings I've ever seen.

I still don't think this is representative of all white people.

Of course these fools don't represent all whites.

The spitters don't represent all blacks either. But sadly, it's those extreme cases that leave marks on us, and it's those same cases that make the news.

[Anonymous]

OP, if the same events happened and the spitter was white would you think race had anything to do with it?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, if the same events happened and the spitter was white would you think race had anything to do with it?

I would. What other explanation is there for that kind of blatant hostility?