To WP: What Can Black People Do to Improve Race Relations in this Country?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am a foreigner and I live in an area where there are not very many black people. I mostly see them in customer service, including state agencies.
If I have a choice I will go to an Asian customer service rep because:
I don't like walking on eggshells as to what I am saying
I don't want to meet this 1 in 100 stereotypical person
I don't understand what a lot of black people are saying a lot of times; while I cut Asian immigrants tons of slack, it is not so easy to do when you have an American born and bred person in front of you

IME, some Asians can be incredibly rude, curt and dismissive.

NP. Yes, but they value customers so they tend to remedy problems. They might not smile while doing so, but they will exchange items for you without a hassle, etc.

I don't think you actually frequent Asian businesses. This has not been my experience at all.

They know who to bow down to. Whities.

[Anonymous]

They can stop crossing the street, parking lot, etc. as slooowly as possible while looking straight at drivers, as if daring them to hit them. That happens constantly where I live, especially with young black people in their teens and 20's, and I am sick and tired of the "I dare you" attitude.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They can stop crossing the street, parking lot, etc. as slooowly as possible while looking straight at drivers, as if daring them to hit them. That happens constantly where I live, especially with young black people in their teens and 20's, and I am sick and tired of the "I dare you" attitude.

Ooh, dem so smart. Knows the driver ain't gonna runs dem down. Seriously though, this is the kind of thing ppl who feel disrespected and powerless do.

[Anonymous]

I am the foreigner PP. I was not talking about Asian businesses, more like cashiers at Safeway.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am a foreigner and I live in an area where there are not very many black people. I mostly see them in customer service, including state agencies.
If I have a choice I will go to an Asian customer service rep because:
I don't like walking on eggshells as to what I am saying
I don't want to meet this 1 in 100 stereotypical person
I don't understand what a lot of black people are saying a lot of times; while I cut Asian immigrants tons of slack, it is not so easy to do when you have an American born and bred person in front of you

IME, some Asians can be incredibly rude, curt and dismissive.

NP. Yes, but they value customers so they tend to remedy problems. They might not smile while doing so, but they will exchange items for you without a hassle, etc.

New PP here, agreeing with the core observation by foreigner above. Asian culture tends to be perfectionist and service-oriented, encouraging behaviors that some AAs (not all) would consider "acting white" or lacking in self-respect.

The brief answer to OP's question is then: revamp your culture, make it focused on solutions and the future, instead of entitlements and the past.

[Anonymous]

Make education, nutrition and intact families priorities in the black community.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They can stop crossing the street, parking lot, etc. as slooowly as possible while looking straight at drivers, as if daring them to hit them. That happens constantly where I live, especially with young black people in their teens and 20's, and I am sick and tired of the "I dare you" attitude.

Again, you're talking about TEENS, for the most part. Why do you judge a race of people by their teens? Do you have any idea how much of an asshole teens can be?

I get the same reaction when I'm driving downtown. (White) pedestrians do not quicken their pace but instead make sure you know they have the right of way. Should I now judge all white people harshly as a result of this finding?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am a foreigner and I live in an area where there are not very many black people. I mostly see them in customer service, including state agencies.
If I have a choice I will go to an Asian customer service rep because:
I don't like walking on eggshells as to what I am saying
I don't want to meet this 1 in 100 stereotypical person
I don't understand what a lot of black people are saying a lot of times; while I cut Asian immigrants tons of slack, it is not so easy to do when you have an American born and bred person in front of you

IME, some Asians can be incredibly rude, curt and dismissive.

NP. Yes, but they value customers so they tend to remedy problems. They might not smile while doing so, but they will exchange items for you without a hassle, etc.

New PP here, agreeing with the core observation by foreigner above. Asian culture tends to be perfectionist and service-oriented, encouraging behaviors that some AAs (not all) would consider "acting white" or lacking in self-respect.

The brief answer to OP's question is then: revamp your culture, make it focused on solutions and the future, instead of entitlements and the past.

Asian cultures where exactly? Certainly not in their home countries. But once they get here, they definitely learn how to tap dance (while secretly calling you a white devil).

[Anonymous]

It is interesting that most of these answers are along the lines of "AAs need to change the way they interact with us." That tells me that people are not even willing to meet halfway. Especially when Whites choose the worst examples and put those forward as "how AA people are." AA people tend not to paint Whites with such a broad brush.

It is even funnier, because while you want us to be more like you, a lot of your young people are assimilating us. If a rapper like Lil Wayne depended on AA people, he would be working at Safeway. But if you look at who is buying his records and going to his concerts, some of you would be shocked!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It is interesting that most of these answers are along the lines of "AAs need to change the way they interact with us." That tells me that people are not even willing to meet halfway. Especially when Whites choose the worst examples and put those forward as "how AA people are." AA people tend not to paint Whites with such a broad brush.

It is even funnier, because while you want us to be more like you, a lot of your young people are assimilating us. If a rapper like Lil Wayne depended on AA people, he would be working at Safeway. But if you look at who is buying his records and going to his concerts, some of you would be shocked!

Agreed, hip-hop culture has a HUGE impact on the lives of white suburban (and ghetto) kids as well. Those are the teens more likely to try some of the drugs mentioned in many of the songs (ex: Molly).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am a foreigner and I live in an area where there are not very many black people. I mostly see them in customer service, including state agencies.
If I have a choice I will go to an Asian customer service rep because:
I don't like walking on eggshells as to what I am saying
I don't want to meet this 1 in 100 stereotypical person
I don't understand what a lot of black people are saying a lot of times; while I cut Asian immigrants tons of slack, it is not so easy to do when you have an American born and bred person in front of you

IME, some Asians can be incredibly rude, curt and dismissive.

NP. Yes, but they value customers so they tend to remedy problems. They might not smile while doing so, but they will exchange items for you without a hassle, etc.

New PP here, agreeing with the core observation by foreigner above. Asian culture tends to be perfectionist and service-oriented, encouraging behaviors that some AAs (not all) would consider "acting white" or lacking in self-respect.

The brief answer to OP's question is then: revamp your culture, make it focused on solutions and the future, instead of entitlements and the past.

No offense, but how the heck does one "revamp a culture?" Especially in less than a generation! The past? Racism is alive and well. I agree that people should not use it as an excuse for failure, but come on! My answer to the original question is that AA's should STOP seeking validation from Whites and focus on building our own institutions and such. The only good thing about segregation is it forced us to create our own banks, hospitals, universities, and companies and our leaders came from those ranks. We supported each other and invested in each other's success. That is gone now! Whites will never respect us as a race on a personal level, so let's stop trying that. But if AA could ever decide to wield its economic power and stop making the White man rich, respect would come in a hurry. Money talks!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They can stop crossing the street, parking lot, etc. as slooowly as possible while looking straight at drivers, as if daring them to hit them. That happens constantly where I live, especially with young black people in their teens and 20's, and I am sick and tired of the "I dare you" attitude.

Ahh, let them do it.I'd say: "take your time". That attitude of not giving shit that you have to wait or I'm all that is exactly the one that lets me know how little they feel inside.So I let them take their time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm a European who goes to school with mostly black people and we get along just fine.I don't hear any complaining that somebody is holding them back(happened only once, but the guy was from Cameroon and local blacks told him to shut up).
I wanted to say that I wish you'd address the black on black violence. It makes me feel like black people don't value life (specially black life), and therefore black people are worth less.
Then again, what can be done to change it?!

OMG WE ARE NOT A MONOLITH. You think just because two people have black skin that they can start lecturing each other on violence? Don't you think there are more complex issues at work? What the hell am I supposed to do to stop black on black violence? I don't know people like that, my family and friends aren't violent. I suppose I should go to MLK Jr. Blvd, get on a soapbox and start shouting that people should stop killing each other.

And "European", just what country are you from? France? Does that mean since the French didn't resist the German invasion, they are all cheese-eating surrender-monkeys? Or all Germans hate Jews? Or all Brits eat fish-n-chips? No? Then don't you dare generalize 'black people'.

Thank you for the breath of reason.

Two things I wish the dominant culture would stop doing:

1) Treating blacks as some sort of monolithic entity. "Why don't you talk to the other Blacks and tell them to stop the violence" is about as fucking ignorant as you can get.

2) Acting as though the issues/problems in the community are "black problems". Conversely, there are no such thing as "white problems". Practicing this kind of mental segregation is the most insidious sort of racism.

Here's a thought experiement: list three "Southern Heroes". Those who immediately spring to mind are people like Robert E Lee. Does Martin Luther King make the short list? Did he even cross your mind? You just might be a racist...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They can stop crossing the street, parking lot, etc. as slooowly as possible while looking straight at drivers, as if daring them to hit them. That happens constantly where I live, especially with young black people in their teens and 20's, and I am sick and tired of the "I dare you" attitude.

I hear you....sort of like how, where I live, 3 White teenagers walking side by side on the sidewalk and won't move so that other people can get by! You mean like that?

[Anonymous]

Heroes of the American South: Rosa Parks? No! Why, she can't be a Southern Hero! She's black!