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

[Anonymous]

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.

I always wonder where yall live. I am 50, black, have lived in DC (the city, not the DMV) for almost 20 years and have never been a victim of a crime of any kind -- never mugged, no car break-ins, no home break-ins, nothing. But to hear other people tell it, they are living in an apocalyptic war zone.

It does happen--I know several people who have been mugged in city. All were men and out late in bars areas--Georgetown, Adams Morgan, etc. I do know one woman who was attacked by a group of teens though. That one was troubling

[Anonymous]

I think both sides of the argument are right and both have their merits. There is a definite problem with poor, black people. They need to start looking inward and help themselves to correct their community. White people becoming anti-racist will not magically solve all their problems.

On the other hand, white people - don't be scared of all black people! Just because a school becomes more diverse doesn't mean the gangs will take over and the education suffers! My kids go to a diverse school. Their education has not suffered because of the diverseness at all. My kids aren't scared to be around black people. We know plenty of smart, successful, pretty awesome black families. Don't brush them all with the same paintbrush!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Agree with PP that views of what is racist are shifting to include many things that would have been seen differently a few years or so.

.

Think back, 10 years ago did it ever seem appropriate for someone to self-identify as a Nazi? Because there are more Nazis now. I never heard of nazis in AMERICA until a few years ago. What about David Duke? Being a Nazi is not subtle and does not change.

The headquarters of the American Nazi Party was in Arlington, and its leader was asssasinated when leaving a laundromat in a strip center. Recently Nazis tried to commemorate the anniversary of his death at the strip centers. Neighbors showed up and shut down the rally. There are actually fewer Nazis now and members of the KKK. They are more overt.

Of course, in Europe the Nazi and white supremacists groups are growing. It will be interesting to see if the EU bans Confederate flags.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:America is the racist shit hole; not other countries.

Everywhere else is better than us, and fair.

/s. FTFY

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Or you’re a fan of the football tram

Meh. Most of the people I see wearing Redskin gear are black.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's easy. Look at the schools. I've never lived in an area with de facto segregated schools such as Langley, TJ, Discovery Elementary (No Va.) I don't know as much about MD or DC schools but I would have to assume that they are more diverse overall.

Some schools in DC are primarily black. No diversity.

That said, “diversity” is usually a goal for white people, many of whom were raised to think not being racist is being colorblind. They don’t get it. They also want “diversity” for their child’s perceived benefit and it never occurs to them that some other communities might now want diversity at all. The call for diversity in schools is just another feature of white privilege.

What?

What about this don’t you understand?

White people are the only people who clamor for “diversity” as if it is some panacea for systemic racism. People of color don’t think this way. Diversity doesn’t magically make racial conflict stop. That’s a myth. It’s an extension of the “I don’t see color” mantra whites raised by well-meaning but clueless parents. People of color WANT to be seen. And valued. For who they are. They don’t want to be literally whitewashed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Because DC is a racist city. We (try to) keep black poors in their quadrants/place. We made up ‘boundaries’ (not in or out of the districts) to keep the blacks/poors out of the NW schools. Because gentrification has pushed out all the blacks/poors for your loft studio.

I’ve lived in small towns in fly over country and DC. DC is way more racist.

OP’s question refers to people “born and raised in the DC area.” It is very limiting because many people living in the DC area came from other states and other countries.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's easy. Look at the schools. I've never lived in an area with de facto segregated schools such as Langley, TJ, Discovery Elementary (No Va.) I don't know as much about MD or DC schools but I would have to assume that they are more diverse overall.

Some schools in DC are primarily black. No diversity.

That said, “diversity” is usually a goal for white people, many of whom were raised to think not being racist is being colorblind. They don’t get it. They also want “diversity” for their child’s perceived benefit and it never occurs to them that some other communities might now want diversity at all. The call for diversity in schools is just another feature of white privilege.

What?

What about this don’t you understand?

White people are the only people who clamor for “diversity” as if it is some panacea for systemic racism. People of color don’t think this way. Diversity doesn’t magically make racial conflict stop. That’s a myth. It’s an extension of the “I don’t see color” mantra whites raised by well-meaning but clueless parents. People of color WANT to be seen. And valued. For who they are. They don’t want to be literally whitewashed.

Very good explanation, PP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:America is the racist shit hole; not other countries.

Everywhere else is better than us, and fair.

You obviously haven't traveled much. Racism, sexism, classism is alive and rampant in MOST countries.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Honest answer: I went to a very diverse (but very low ses) high school), not in the dc area but close. Hundreds of countries and languages were represented. In reality, and I feel gross just saying this, the Hispanic kids sat together at lunch, as did the AAs, Chinese, Indian Americans, Polish, etc. If you were not of that origin and walked over to their lunch table, they looked at you like you had six heads. People spoke their native languages outside of class. This was in the last 10 years.

Go to any high school pre Covid and you will see the same thing. The HS where I teach is in a liberal, close in area and has the highest SES in the City. The white kids sit together in the cafeteria and are divided among the beautiful, jocks, nerds, music, and others. The Asian kids sit in a separate part of the cafeteria. The African kids sit in a separate area of the cafeteria. The black kids gather outside an entry with a few benches. The Hispanic kids gather in one stairwell.

The only mixing seen occasionally is with jocks the day of a game.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think both sides of the argument are right and both have their merits. There is a definite problem with poor, black people. They need to start looking inward and help themselves to correct their community. White people becoming anti-racist will not magically solve all their problems.

On the other hand, white people - don't be scared of all black people! Just because a school becomes more diverse doesn't mean the gangs will take over and the education suffers! My kids go to a diverse school. Their education has not suffered because of the diverseness at all. My kids aren't scared to be around black people. We know plenty of smart, successful, pretty awesome black families. Don't brush them all with the same paintbrush!

So it’s ok to be prejudiced against poor Black people. You know the epidemic of ignorance just keeps growing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hmph.

As others have pointed out, the definition of racism is constantly changing to fit whatever the latest dogmatic narrative is. And along with it is the definition of diversity.

We now live in a day where a school that is 50% white and 40% Asian/South Asian (including many of recent immigration heritage) isn't considered diverse.

I grew up in Baltimore so my views on the causes of institutional urban poverty doesn't quite fit the popular narrative these days. I think there's a lot of willful denial and people are latching onto "racism" and changing/expanding the definition to avoid tackling the real problems because it's easier to blame other people rather than yourself for the failures of your own actions. This does not mean there isn't racism or that there haven't been racist actions but I don't buy the argument of a systematic institutional racism being the source of the problem. And the racist inquisition and their enablers fully ignore the full range of human discrimination and biases that affects everyone. Race is just one of many, many ways people judge each other by.

I also grew up in Baltimore. West Baltimore in the 1970s and 80s. If you scratch beneath the surface, you see how systemic racism and classism shaped some of the “choices” people make. In my family’s case, denial of GI Bill benefits to the older men in the family and redlining stopped them from accessing the tools white working class men could use to enter the lower middle class.

Look at this article. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2014/10/18/poor-kids-who-do-everything-right-dont-do-better-than-rich-kids-who-do-everything-wrong/

I see my cousins in the argument made about people kids who do nothing wrong.

[Anonymous]

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.

You aren't wrong to notice aa crime but the problem is that the crime stems from economic inequality stemming from systemic slavery stemming from slavery. So pointing out aa crime comes off racist to some as it does nothing to acknowledge/address/solve the continued issues still existing today- it only victim blames. Yes criminals are victims too- just not always tragic or sympathetic figures. Hard to feel sorry for someone when they rob you/assault you. I know this has turned some of my coworkers very racist- the things they say would NEVER have come out of their mouths before they too were victimized.

Really? So, every or even most economically disadvantaged person commits crime?

Sorry but your theory is flawed.

Crime stems from - in no particular order- bad parenting, lack of God in ones life,poor choices, bad peer group, and being taught that life doesn’t matter.

You can’t be serious.

It is quite serious. Why do you think so many prisoners reform when they find Jesus? I am an agnostic but work on prison reform. The spiritual element is very important in reducing recidivism.

[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.

You aren't wrong to notice aa crime but the problem is that the crime stems from economic inequality stemming from systemic slavery stemming from slavery. So pointing out aa crime comes off racist to some as it does nothing to acknowledge/address/solve the continued issues still existing today- it only victim blames. Yes criminals are victims too- just not always tragic or sympathetic figures. Hard to feel sorry for someone when they rob you/assault you. I know this has turned some of my coworkers very racist- the things they say would NEVER have come out of their mouths before they too were victimized.

Really? So, every or even most economically disadvantaged person commits crime?

Sorry but your theory is flawed.

Crime stems from - in no particular order- bad parenting, lack of God in ones life,poor choices, bad peer group, and being taught that life doesn’t matter.

You can’t be serious.

Today, completely and absolutely serious. And, the lack of God in our public discourse doesn’t help either.

When God is used in public discourse, He's used to oppress. So, no thank you.

Not true, if God is used in His real sense, like our founders did. He is the source of all freedom and liberty.

You are nutty. I am a staunch atheist and so are most people I know. You aren't fooling anyone.

Tolerance works both ways, PP. Chill on name calling the poster that references their belief in God.

DP. Yes, the important thing here isn’t that PP is a religious nut job, it’s that PP uses religion as an excuse for her/his racism.

PP who made the God comment. How in the world do you get that (bolded?) Ny church is one of the most diverse in the city and we love all, as Jesus did.

Oh, and to the "staunch atheist." Of course most people you know are atheists. You have chosen a very limited world view in which to marinate yourself.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hate whoever you want.
Hold those prejudices near and fear in your heart.
Just don’t even think about putting that shit on display in MY FACE cause you fitting to get dealt with.

Sure. Right. Of course.