The Already Doomed Thread on Race Around the World - Step Up, Ask Your Questions!

[holdingmyown11]

For those that don’t really care what others are thinking, you probably don’t visit the What Are You Thinking? thread. Last night there was a lot of discussion on this topic and it was suggested that a thread would be a good idea. It’s quite possible a good one was already started and if so, feel free to go there.

There’s likely more appropriate discussion boards on Lit for this discussion but I don’t go off the PG much and I suspect that’s the case for many, so we can have another one here.

The basic rules are that there are no rules. This is a free speech thread and you are free to say anything you would like. Obviously the objective is for constructive conversation on race and questions or thoughts people have so it would be preferred that if you have something vile to say, you find an alternate thread on the GB. Still, nothing said here will be policed, at least by me.

So ask a question you have about race or say what’s on your mind or skip this thread altogether if you’d like. Let’s be nice to each other and appreciate each other’s perspectives and see them as a way for us to learn and grow, whichever side of a conversation you’re on.

Thanks!
HMO

 

[Deleted member 3041612]

I'm blushing now. Thank you for your boldness.

My question:

A group of rowdy teenagers, 4-5, are walking down the sidewalk of a residential area. Are you more likely to cross the street, walk through them or walk in a different direction? Add in 2 different races than your own. Now answer.

I've done this several times in different areas. My responses were different.

 

[holdingmyown11]

My first question...

What will success look like? That sounds like a dumb question since everyone will say “Equality!” But what will that look like to you? If you’re black, maybe it’s not being followed in a store because security thinks you’re going to steal. The picture of equality might be different for a white person might because they believe the laws on the books are color blind and that we already have equal opportunity.

So what does it look like to you when we get to where we want to be?

For me it will be that time when race is such a non-factor that we all can talk to each other without that worry about being politically correct. Because that would mean we don’t see each other based on our skin color but just as ordinary people.

 

[holdingmyown11]

I'm blushing now. Thank you for your boldness.

My question:

A group of rowdy teenagers, 4-5, are walking down the sidewalk of a residential area. Are you more likely to cross the street, walk through them or walk in a different direction? Add in 2 different races than your own. Now answer.

I've done this several times in different areas. My responses were different.

I think this is a great first question. I value my personal safety so I will act accordingly. Rowdy teenagers? Do they look dangerous? What does dangerous mean? I’ve asked myself this question before and it’s more about my notion of what a dangerous appearance looks like. I switch out races and my comfort level doesn’t change. White teens dressed like gang members are the same as black teens dressed like gang members.

It begs the question, where do I get my visual definition of dangerous? The news, the TV show cops... where is violent crime the largest? Inner cities. What are the demographics of inner cities? What we see on TV influences how we see things in our lives.

 

[Deleted member 3041612]

My response:

Black teenagers: they were respectful and moved out the way for me to walk, while still loud and rowdy but nice.

White teenagers: they didn't move, I walked around them.

Hispanic teenagers: they moved out the way while cat calling me at the same time. They were surprised when I responded back to them in their language after passing them saying "be careful you never know who knows your language".

I just said rowdy, I didn't say dangerous nor gang members. One would not know that off sight.

 

[holdingmyown11]

Racist vs Prejudice

When did we lose the difference between prejudice and racist. Politics and the desire to marginalize people’s voice I believe has eliminated the use of terms like prejudice. Everyone is prejudice, it’s a human instinct for survival. You’re walking down the street and see a Golden Retriever in one yard and a Doberman in another, what’s crossing your mind? All information that’s been collected allows you to worry less about the Golden Retriever than the Doberman.

I know I’m not perfect and have unfair prejudices that are not accurate and I try to take effort to see them for what they are. But racism is hatred of another race. I don’t have hatred for other races but any prejudice I have now by definition makes me a racist. Why is that? I think it’s because being tainted as a racist is so undesirable that it either silences me (marginalization) or gets me to join the side that’s wielding the term like a sledgehammer. I think that’s the politics part of this issue.

 

[holdingmyown11]

My response:

Black teenagers: they were respectful and moved out the way for me to walk, while still loud and rowdy but nice.

White teenagers: they didn't move, I walked around them.

Hispanic teenagers: they moved out the way while cat calling me at the same time. They were surprised when I responded back to them in their language after passing them saying "be careful you never know who knows your language".

I just said rowdy, I didn't say dangerous nor gang members. One would not know that off sight.

I view appearance as a critical piece of the evaluation. We’re always taking in information and assessing it, consciously or subconsciously. Teenagers black or white don’t concern me. I put them in the context of the situation. How are they dressed? What time of day is it? Location? All that matters doesn’t it?

 

[Deleted member 3041612]

I see a dog. I saw an Akita in a park last Sunday. He was big and jumped on me after asking to pet him. I love dogs. All dogs. I grew up with a muscular German Shepherd mixed with Husky that Iooked like a wolf. Big dogs don't scare me.

We all have prejudices within us. My reactions to the teenagers were based on their response to me as I was walking down the street on the sidewalk. It's a matter of respect. Some were trained to show respect for a female, but I don't know what went through the minds of those white and Hispanic teenagers. I can only assume things. I can admit, negative racial thoughts and assumptions were made.

 

[holdingmyown11]

I see a dog. I saw an Akita in a park last Sunday. He was big and jumped on me after asking to pet him. I love dogs. All dogs. I grew up with a muscular German Shepherd mixed with Husky that Iooked like a wolf. Big dogs don't scare me.

We all have prejudices within us. My reactions to the teenagers were based on their response to me as I was walking down the street on the sidewalk. It's a matter of respect. Some were trained to show respect for a female, but I don't know what went through the minds of those white and Hispanic teenagers. I can only assume things. I can admit, negative racial thoughts and assumptions were made.

That’s ok, we can’t deny our feelings when we have them. As far as dogs, I love them all too. I’m very wary of anything in the pit bull breed and cautious around Dobermans, Rottweilers and Shepherds. I got bit once when I was a kid so that contributes. And too many bad stories about Pit Bulls Gone Wild. They do scare me.

 

[Deleted member 3041612]

What questions do you have?

 

[JerseyJade]

I just have one:

What do you call a person who describes an innocent black man who was brutally murdered by 4 cops on a street in Minneapolis as a, "piece of crap dirtbag?"

 

[Modern_drunkard]

https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn%3AANd9GcT7dHtsBMmM6ggYMVyG6FVqlvU17mSgWbud88dJzJ8qN2rE00y-&usqp=CAU

 

[barefootgirl69]

I meant to quote BCC!

My question:

A group of rowdy teenagers, 4-5, are walking down the sidewalk of a residential area. Are you more likely to cross the street, walk through them or walk in a different direction? Add in 2 different races than your own. Now answer.

I've done this several times in different areas. My responses were different.

As a child, I was shy and would pass people looking at the sidewalk, hoping they wouldn't say 'hello'. As an adult, it's not as painful.

In either case, in any country or state that I've lived in, I've never crossed a street to avoid people. As a young bfg, I always lived outside a military base - except for 6 months when I was 13. My friends were all races. I wasn't taught to be afraid of certain people because of the color of their skin or their religion or the food they ate. I wasn't taught to see anyone as better or worse.

 

[Misanthrope4Life]

I'm good, after exposing the LIT CLAN last night


No questions

 

[Deleted member 3041612]

I meant to quote BCC!


As a child, I was shy and would pass people looking at the sidewalk, hoping they wouldn't say 'hello'. As an adult, it's not as painful.

In either case, in any country or state that I've lived in, I've never crossed a street to avoid people. As a young bfg, I always lived outside a military base - except for 6 months when I was 13. My friends were all races. I wasn't taught to be afraid of certain people because of the color of their skin or their religion or the food they ate. I wasn't taught to see anyone as better or worse.

I've never crossed a street either, but I have walked around groups. There was an heir of disrespect there. I was always taught walk with my back straight and head held high, even when sad. It's about being aware of my surroundings for no surprises.

 

[Deleted member 3041612]

I just have one:

What do you call a person who describes an innocent black man who was brutally murdered by 4 cops on a street in Minneapolis as a, "piece of crap dirtbag?"

A person who finds it hard to forgive others of past faults.

 

[barefootgirl69]

I've never crossed a street either, but I have walked around groups. There was an heir of disrespect there. I was always taught walk with my back straight and head held high, even when sad. It's about being aware of my surroundings for no surprises.

This. I taught my kids this...not because of race. I taught them because of kidnappings.

 

[holdingmyown11]

I just have one:

What do you call a person who describes an innocent black man who was brutally murdered by 4 cops on a street in Minneapolis as a, "piece of crap dirtbag?"

Passions can run deep and sometimes we express things that are meant to be hurtful and not constructive. My understanding (though haven’t read in any detail) is that Mr. Floyd had some questionable events in his past. Again, I didn’t read about them myself so I can’t comment in any depth. Assuming the past events are true and bad, the question then is did that justify what happened to him? Did he lose his right for redemption? The questions are rhetorical since we know what the answer is.

The same question can be put on the protests. Does the action of Officer Chauvin justify the violence committed against fellow civilians, officers and Guardspeople? Does it justify the looting and destruction?

If your answer is ‘no’ on one and ‘yes’ on the other, then that would be logic I don’t yet understand.

 

[Deleted member 3041612]

This. I taught my kids this...not because of race. I taught them because of kidnappings.

I was taught this not because of race also, but in life be confident, or at least give the appearance of it. People take you more seriously when you do.

 

[holdingmyown11]

What questions do you have?

If you had to characterize your top three issues you face as a person of color, what would they be? Then, what solutions do you think that would help improve the issues? (Our expectations have to be realistic in that it took 150 years to get to where we are today)

This is a personal question to everyone since how race issues are experienced I would think can differ from person to person.

 

[Misanthrope4Life]

Passions can run deep and sometimes we express things that are meant to be hurtful and not constructive. My understanding (though haven’t read in any detail) is that Mr. Floyd had some questionable events in his past. Again, I didn’t read about them myself so I can’t comment in any depth. Assuming the past events are true and bad, the question then is did that justify what happened to him? Did he lose his right for redemption? The questions are rhetorical since we know what the answer is.

The same question can be put on the protests. Does the action of Officer Chauvin justify the violence committed against fellow civilians, officers and Guardspeople? Does it justify the looting and destruction?

If your answer is ‘no’ on one and ‘yes’ on the other, then that would be logic I don’t yet understand.

The officer also had many Police Misconduct complaints on him, if somebody only focuses on the victims past and not the murderer, it shows a lot.

Also, this revolution isn't just about this one case, it's about the multiple cases Officers got away with murder and torture.

 

[JerseyJade]

Does the action of Officer Chauvin justify the violence committed against fellow civilians, officers and Guardspeople? Does it justify the looting and destruction?

No it doesn't. It only hurts the cause and makes people even more angry. But I will admit, I was happy to see the police station in Minneapolis burn to the ground. That definitely sent a message to those cops that people aren't going to tolerate their shit anymore.

As much as I am against the violence and people looting, I think it forced the prosecutors to press charges and arrest the 4 cops. I mean, seriously... why did it take a week to arrest that POS cop when the video alone was proof enough that he committed murder. Why? Because they really didn't want to arrest anyone. If the protests had just remained peaceful and there were no rioting and looting, I'm sure those 4 cops would have not been arrested.

 

[JerseyJade]

The officer also had many Police Misconduct complaints on him, if somebody only focuses on the victims past and not the murderer, it shows a lot.

Also, this revolution isn't just about this one case, it's about the multiple cases Officers got away with murder and torture.

Exactly!

 

[Deleted member 3041612]

If you had to characterize your top three issues you face as a person of color, what would they be? Then, what solutions do you think that would help improve the issues? (Our expectations have to be realistic in that it took 150 years to get to where we are today)

This is a personal question to everyone since how race issues are experienced I would think can differ from person to person.

There are so many things to list here. You do realize freedoms are very new. The Civil Rights act of 1964 dealt with labor laws for people across the board.
The Civil Rights act of 1968 dealt with fair housing.
The Voting Rights act of 1965 deals with being able to register to vote, even though the 15th amendment ratified the right to vote in 1870.

There is too much and too many to name.

The main thing is Black citizens of the US who were here for gracious knows how long are just permitted freedoms only recently. Even then, these are limited freedoms. Examine the Constitution for yourself and see where things have to be redefined, clarified and amended in because SOME white people were/are not ready for that change and of the day's events broadcasted, there's PLENTYmore change needed.

 

[Deleted member 3041612]

To break it down locally:

I want to walk down the street without being thought of as a suspect.

I want to be able to have access to medications for my loved ones without insurance companies cranking up the prices.

I want to see people like me with full-time careers in this area, not just jobs and be paid equally for them.

I want to see people like me be able to live in nice areas without being killed as they go for a jog.