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

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:One thing - I wish blacks would SERIOUSLY start addressing the issue of black-on-black violence. I live in what many would consider to be the 'hood - and I feel as though every week I pass a church where there is a funeral for a youth. When I check news reports, these deaths are barely mentioned. It's disgusting. But, the only solution will come from within the black community.

Why is it black people's job to stop black on black violence? I agree it is the job of the community to stop violence within it. But you are part of the community too. What are you doing to stop violence?

Anyway, I think black people could sometimes be more civil to white peopl even if they have a legitimate chip on their shoulder. I am thinking of the black ladies who snarl at me just because I mistakenly bump into them on the metro or whatever. Never happens with any other race, and I can almost here them say "stupid white girl!"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am praying real hard, but I am starting to hate OP.

Why do you dislike the OP?

[Anonymous]

This thread is useless. After every other answer, all we're seeing is a reply and an explanation or excuse from someone who is AA.

No matter how it is common and accepted in your community or culture, that does not changed how others perceive you.

[Anonymous]

Stop crowding the Verizon Center McDonalds and 8th street, near the Eastern Market Metro.

You will not find opportunity there!

[Anonymous]

Get over yourselves and stop thinking that your "culture" entitles you to a free ride.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I feel like it would go really far for black people to:

1. Strive to appear educated.
2. Speak more quietly in public.
3. Pick their pants up.
4. Smile sometimes. Every black mother I am friends with on FB who has a teen or older son has zero pictures of them smiling. They all look angry and menacing.

+1

[Anonymous]

There are many white communities where whites who try to move up are laughed at. I see many frustrated rural white kids who try to distance themselves from their families and crazy communities and get a label, sort of like "trying to act white".

Also, wrt the making excuses thing:
I would be labeled as very successful as a black woman. Have 2 beautiful kids, husband, nice home, the works.
However, I would be lying to myself if I said that there has been no racism. There are times that I recall that can bring me to tears. After a point, some people break, but racism has had a huge impact on my personality and outlook. Denying that certain circumstances were racist is very dangerous to one's spirit. I refuse to blame myself for everything, that wears on you.

The one time that I know that I was fired purely because of race, was a tumultuous event that shook me and my family. [The aftermath was that the whole company lost their contract at a site and they all (literally) run and avoid me and each other now because they are embarrassed that they were led down a nasty path by a Nazi like character.]
That aside, whites need to understand how much we actually put ourselves into denial about race.

I always say that black people perceive a lot less racism than is actually occurring, then react to less than half of it, report 1/100th of it, and have resolution with 1/10th of what is reported. Your success is in part depended on the smarts or sophistication of the one dishing it out (not so smart whites, children, and immigrants have a way of screwing up badly).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There are many white communities where whites who try to move up are laughed at. I see many frustrated rural white kids who try to distance themselves from their families and crazy communities and get a label, sort of like "trying to act white".

Also, wrt the making excuses thing:
I would be labeled as very successful as a black woman. Have 2 beautiful kids, husband, nice home, the works.
However, I would be lying to myself if I said that there has been no racism. There are times that I recall that can bring me to tears. After a point, some people break, but racism has had a huge impact on my personality and outlook. Denying that certain circumstances were racist is very dangerous to one's spirit. I refuse to blame myself for everything, that wears on you.

The one time that I know that I was fired purely because of race, was a tumultuous event that shook me and my family. [The aftermath was that the whole company lost their contract at a site and they all (literally) run and avoid me and each other now because they are embarrassed that they were led down a nasty path by a Nazi like character.]
That aside, whites need to understand how much we actually put ourselves into denial about race.

I always say that black people perceive a lot less racism than is actually occurring, then react to less than half of it, report 1/100th of it, and have resolution with 1/10th of what is reported. Your success is in part depended on the smarts or sophistication of the one dishing it out (not so smart whites, children, and immigrants have a way of screwing up badly).

Have you ever actually been on a farm or in a rural community? Wouldn't the critiscm be more like "quit acting like a Wall Streeter".

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are many white communities where whites who try to move up are laughed at. I see many frustrated rural white kids who try to distance themselves from their families and crazy communities and get a label, sort of like "trying to act white".

Also, wrt the making excuses thing:
I would be labeled as very successful as a black woman. Have 2 beautiful kids, husband, nice home, the works.
However, I would be lying to myself if I said that there has been no racism. There are times that I recall that can bring me to tears. After a point, some people break, but racism has had a huge impact on my personality and outlook. Denying that certain circumstances were racist is very dangerous to one's spirit. I refuse to blame myself for everything, that wears on you.

The one time that I know that I was fired purely because of race, was a tumultuous event that shook me and my family. [The aftermath was that the whole company lost their contract at a site and they all (literally) run and avoid me and each other now because they are embarrassed that they were led down a nasty path by a Nazi like character.]
That aside, whites need to understand how much we actually put ourselves into denial about race.

I always say that black people perceive a lot less racism than is actually occurring, then react to less than half of it, report 1/100th of it, and have resolution with 1/10th of what is reported. Your success is in part depended on the smarts or sophistication of the one dishing it out (not so smart whites, children, and immigrants have a way of screwing up badly).

Have you ever actually been on a farm or in a rural community? Wouldn't the critiscm be more like "quit acting like a Wall Streeter".

Yes, I work in a rural community, but it is something like an urban slicker or years ago, a yuppie. I just really hear them laugh and scowl at the brother or sister who thinks they "are too good for us".

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not all, but some black people e.g. Al Sharpton can't let go of the fact black people have been victimized. I didn't victimize them but I feel sorry that it happened. The fact that I have white guilt and Al Sharpton feels that I should have white guilt inhibits my relationships with black people.

Al Sharpton would say its my fault, but of course he says everything is my fault. Maybe it is my fault and unfortunately as long as everything continues to be my fault, my relationships with black people will not be equal.

You need to let go of the guilt and stop letting Al Sharpton run your life.

[Anonymous]

There are many examples of people trying to remove themselves from the old ways. My DH's family is Eastern European Jewish and boy oh boy was that turmoil in the family when the kids went mainstream. They decided they wanted to wear regular clothes, speak local languages, and not get married and pregnant by 16 then have 10 kids by 30 and look 50. Oh, and didn't you know how far the German Jews ran from the Eastern Jews as they tried to assimilate. One hundred years later we are still hearing about it.

[Anonymous]

I wish:

1. that more wealthy blacks would give back to the education system by helping struggling schools and

2. that more (minorities in general) would enter education.

An educated mind is not easily swayed.

[Anonymous]

Stop trying to separate yourselves from the rest of society.

[Anonymous]

Let go of the notion that AA's cannot be racist.

Stop with the "white privilege" crap. A poor white kid doesn't have as much "privilege" as a rich AA kid or any kid whose parent's are well educated.

Stop hating whites for the color of their skin. None of us choses our skin color and no one white or black should be hated or made to feel ashamed of their genetics.

Stop blaming the white community for failures in certain segments of the AA community.

Work to stem the problem of teen pregnancy and unwed motherhood in the AA community. Challenge AA males to take responsibility for their children.

[Anonymous]

As stated by Walter Williams, "In sports, when have you heard a coach explain or excuse a black player's poor performance by blaming it on a "legacy of slavery" or on that player's being raised in a single-parent household? When have you heard sports standards called racist or culturally biased? I have yet to hear a player, much less a coach, speak such nonsense. In fact, the standards of performance in sports are just about the most ruthless anywhere. Excuses are not tolerated.

Stop making excuses.