You have never been angry like I have. You don't know what it is to feel rage. Because rage is what sets in when you realize something: You assume too much! Otherwise, excellent post!

You assume too much!

I just meant in regards to the situation at hand...I'm sure there is some anger somewhere that white people feel that I don't.

Otherwise, excellent post!

Thank you.

A good question to ask though is why are white people becoming paranoid schizophrenics? Why? What reason do they have?.. Are they all born that way or taught that way in the public school system? IS there any truth to the madness?

They're taught by the media. Watch COPS. That's where it's learned.

Why do you continue to let someone elses actions brand you? Clearly your actions should set you way apart from the idiots..why does it affect you so? Intellectually speaking if someone mistreats you simply because of your race.. if you do not respond in kind by thinking racially motivated thoughts such as "That white person is scared cause I'm a minority".. then aren't you proving you're better than A) the idiot who's screaming out 'race inequality' and than the person who jumped across the street out of fear? Does the knowledge of your ability to get over it and not let it be an albatross around your neck comfort you.. or is it not good enough?

It affects me because the world throws it back in my face. Yes, my actions set me apart, but my actions are not immediately visible to the casual observer. And no, it's not good enough that I rise above it. It's not good enough because I know that I HAVE to rise above it. All of that "sticks and stones" garbage that they feed kids in school doesn't work in real life. In real life, what I do reflects on not only who I am, but what I am, and where I come from. As I said, in real life, I'm not free to be an stupid.

You play into the hands of racism and perpetuate it unknowingly by playing the game of "they're black, they must be criminals" and "They're white, they must think I'm a criminal"..People in general are complete idiots (of all stripes and color), rise above them..Teach others to rise above it, too. Allowing continued outrage, embarassment, and hostility to fester over these situations just distracts you from the real goal, to be better than pawns in the game..Anyone who helps perpetuate the racist propaganda IS a pawn, manipulated by true racists who are motivated by hatred.. Stop being a minority, mentally. It is JUST a statistic, do not allow it to be a state of mind. Too many people do so and behave in the stereotypical ways.

I never said blacks were criminals, and I never said whites think minorities criminals. This was about what I feel when I see minorities bringing unwarranted complaints based on flimsy claims of discrimination. I don't know what you mean by "stop being a minority, mentally." I am what I am; I'm not in the majority, so I'm a minority. You assume that being a "minority, mentally" is a bad thing. You assume that thinking of myself as a minority is somehow akin to self-degradation. That's precisely the kind of thinking that I'm trying to counteract here. I am a minority. Why can't I recognize that without being accused of holding myself down?

P.S. There are alot of human beings on this planet, never assume they cannot relate to your outrage or any emotion..Millions of people identify with it on a daily basis. And rage won't solve your problem, but it will make you hostile.

Again, I just don't think they (white people) can relate to my outrage about this specific subject. I'm sure they can relate to the level of outrage I feel.

I'm one who has commented about racism among minorities, and while I appreciate your comments and perspective, I will continue to do so.

When I see a public high school in my state arrange for an day at Miller Park to see a Brewer's game, "for minorities only"; When I sit in what the Army laughingly calls an "Equal Opportunity" briefing, where a Sergeant Major (who is Black) stands there and tells me how minorities just never get a break in the Army; When, after an hour of CPR and Advance Cardiac Life Support on a young child, when the time of death is called and I just want to curl into a ball and cry my eyes out, I here the kid's father on already on the phone with a lawyer planning the racial discrimination lawsuit against everyone involved; I can't help but wonder why some minorities seem to live to perpetuate stereotypes.

That being said:

When I see General Powell, Condaleeza Rice, A boatload of nameless high ranking NCOs and Officers, CEOs, Fire Chiefs, Police Chiefs, Governors, Celebrities and highly motivated, highly successful people (who just happen to be "minorities"); Then I read your article about how outraged you are at the same things that outrage me; I feel a thrill of hope for the future.

Keep on speaking out! Not only because you see racial injustice comes in all flavors and colors, but because you see injustice!

I'm one who has commented about racism among minorities, and while I appreciate your comments and perspective, I will continue to do so.

My article was not directed at any of your criticisms, but at those that overgeneralize. I've always found yours to be rather on-the-mark.

When I see a public high school in my state arrange for an day at Miller Park to see a Brewer's game, "for minorities only";

Same for me in high school, when my accounting class sponsored a field trip that only girls could go on.

I can't help but wonder why some minorities seem to live to perpetuate stereotypes.

I take issue with this sentence because I don't believe that they live to perpetuate anything. The stereotype is already there, and when a minority does something, then they're "perpetuating the stereotype." A white person does the same thing, and they're just being greedy, or trying to make a quick buck. The motivation is the same and the perception is different. The question is not why some minorities live to perpetuate a stereotype (which they don't), but why the stereotype is still there.

Phil,

What I was driving at is that racism is but ONE brand of injustice; people who live a lifestyle of oppressing others won't confine their oppression to racial differences.

Very good post! Intelligent and well said, for a minority idiot.

My neighborhood is perhaps 85-90% black, and I understand completely what you mean when you feel singled out. When I walk out of my house, I frequently get stares and such from my black neighbors who haven't met me, and wonder what Whitey is doing living so close to them, and intruding on their area.
I will often walk past a group of blacks, smile and nod, ask how it's going, whatever,and recieve silence in return. It works both ways.

Your article presents your views very well.
In my opinion, however,one of the problems comes from the way minorities portray themselves to the media and to society at large.
How many rappers (black or white, for that matter), for example, do you see smiling warmly out from the display windows of music stores? You don't. They all sneer and snarl threateningly, often making gang signs and perhaps other more anti-social gestures. Their personas as gangstas and Hos come through in their lyrics, which are often unnecessarily and ridiculously violent and sexually explict. This is supposed to reflect minority culture; in fact, I believe, it simply perpetuates the myth of it instead to society at large, while the more responsible members of those minorities (you, for example) seek to rise above it.

Minorities do it to themselves, and willingly at that, but I do get your point. Well written.

I will often walk past a group of blacks, smile and nod, ask how it's going, whatever,and recieve silence in return. It works both ways.

True, although I wouldn't think the stares you get are as hostile as the ones I do. I could be wrong, of course.

How many rappers (black or white, for that matter), for example, do you see smiling warmly out from the display windows of music stores? You don't.

You don't see any rock stars smiling either, though.

They all sneer and snarl threateningly, often making gang signs and perhaps other more anti-social gestures.

Society has to stop thinking that these rappers are "gangstas," though. We must learn to differentiate between real gangbangers on the street and "studio gangstas" who are nothing but the products of record labels. This issue is addressed by a rather recent Terror Squad song, "Lean Back". One of its lyrics mentions how rap acts have "made gang signs commercial," and how they're being flashed by individuals who have no business claiming to know the lifestyle.

Their personas as gangstas and Hos come through in their lyrics, which are often unnecessarily and ridiculously violent and sexually explict. This is supposed to reflect minority culture; in fact, I believe, it simply perpetuates the myth of it to society at large instead, while the more responsible members of those minorities seek to rise above it.

People think it reflects minority culture because it's coming out of a minority's mouth, and thats what I don't understand. No one thinks Eminem reflects white culture. They think he reflects his experience growing up. Why isn't the same standard applied to minority rappers? Words are words, no matter how explicit they may be. Rappers just talk about it. On the other hand, look at the porn industry, which is mostly operated by white people. They're actually doing it!!! Why aren't they stigmatized as "ho's"? Look at the mob. Look at Chicago in the time of the CVL and the first Mayor Daley and the Irish-American "social clubs." Why hasn't this come back to haunt white people like the Latin Kings continue to haunt minorities?

Minorities do it to themselves, and willingly at that,

I don't think minorities are doing anything to themselves, I just think that what we do is perceived in the wrong way. I should be able to write a violent, sexually explicit story if I want to. I should be able to wear baggy clothing and a crooked hat if I want to. I should be able to exchange an elaborate, visually oriented greeting with my friends if I want to. And I should be able to do all of these things, and in fact profit from them, without someone telling me that I'm inviting observers to look down on me, and minorities in general.

but I do get your point. Well written.

Thank you.

ParaTed said 'some' and you took exception to that statement.  Yet it is true.  And while 'some' of the minorities may just be willing accomplices of the so called leaders of the minorities, they do perpetuate the stereotype.  For the media will not write about the 90%+ that live every day lives like you and get harrassed (they will write about the harassment tho), they are quick to jump on every flimsy charge of racism. 

And so what do the rest of us have to look at? The Exceptions?  Sure but that is all the news most people get.

I dont see it as epidemic.  I do see it as playing the victim.  And that is not isolated to minorities, but then it is rare that you see a non-minority using the race card when playing victim.  But a minority playing a victim is sure to have that ace in their repetoire.

 

The motivation is the same and the perception is different. The question is not why some minorities live to perpetuate a stereotype (which they don't), but why the stereotype is still there.

There's a lot of truth to that, although in the cases I cited above, each were racially motivated for their specific words or actions. If some minorities choose to behave that way, it is not racist for others to see it and conclude that SOME minorities act that way. It is self-evident. However it isn't any reason to think that ALL minorities (or even all members of any minority group) are "that way".

philo, If I have ever said/printed something anything that cause you even a moments pain or discomfort I deeply apoligize. I mean no harm to anyone {well except crazy liberals} and that just generalzations.

elie

ParaTed said 'some' and you took exception to that statement. Yet it is true

I don't think anyone gets up in the morning and says, "How can I perpetuate a stereotype today."

leaders of the minorities

How do you define them?

And so what do the rest of us have to look at? The Exceptions? Sure but that is all the news most people get.

Ignorance is not an excuse in this or any other case.

I do see it as playing the victim. And that is not isolated to minorities, but then it is rare that you see a non-minority using the race card when playing victim. But a minority playing a victim is sure to have that ace in their repetoire.

This is my point. I don't see why we can't just see all cases as a desperate person reaching for a lifeline.

If some minorities choose to behave that way, it is not racist for others to see it and conclude that SOME minorities act that way

I don't think the conclusion is racist, but I don't think it is logical to assume that the aim was to perpetuate the stereotype.

Very nicely written article Phil! There's nothing wrong in feeling the way you do. It's so easy for what you say here to be taken as an affront or for you to be told you're taking things too personnally, when you're not. The fact is if someone has never been at the receiving end of what you're talking about, they'll never understand the point you're trying to make.

Not all minorities play the victim card, not all minorities are the way how the media and other people typecast us. Unfortunately, the good suffer for the bad, and most times, we all get lumped together in one basket. Some might protest and say it's not true, but it's the reality of life.

While a majority of us don't go around with a chip on our shoulders, it is assumed that we do. Until our society stops seeing the color of someone's skin, or what ethnicity they're from, especially when it's not outwardly obvious, there will always be cause for rage.

What I absolutely cannot understand about the black community, (disclaimer for the dense: I know not ALL blacks feel this way, ok?) is the notion that anyone trying to better themselves is somehow "selling out" to the white man.

I know what you mean, and I get what you're saying, but I'm beginning to dislike terms such as "black community" and "hispanic community" and whatever race you want to mention with the word community behind it. I know it's not what you mean, but it just sounds like we're getting together somewhere and plotting who to alienate next for "acting white."

When I see a group of them standing around for no apparent purpose, all gold teeth and baggy pants, you're damn right I cross the street.

That bothers me. I'd like to be able to stand with a group of friends and talk. You, of course, are free to cross the street if you wish, but I wonder how much of that fear response is caused by the so-called "authorities" and their protocol. Used to be (and I hope its changed, I'm not really sure), as far as the CPD was concerned, a gang was "2 or more youths associating for no apparent reason." Are you kidding? I can't even walk down the street with someone.

but the recent glorification of the gangsta lifestyle has done *so* much harm to that image that a lot of that progress has been lost.

We must differentiate between fantasy and reality and realize that those who glorify the lifestyle are no different than every other millionaire in this country.

there are thousands of otherwise law-abiding folks who dress, speak, and behave *like* criminals, but act suprised when they are then treated as such.

How do you dress like a criminal? How do you act like a criminal? How do you speak like a criminal? Poor, inner city gangbangers can be criminals. Rich, multimillionaire CEOs can be criminals. There is no standard.