The percentage of Americans who see racism as a “big problem” has dropped in half in the past dozen years, from 54 percent in 1996 to 26 percent in the latest Washington Post/ABC News survey. But there hasn’t been much change in the amount of racism people perceive in their local communities. “There are two levels of identity with racism,” Wichita native Ron Walters (in photo), a University of Maryland political scientist, told the Post. “One is the national level, which is more symbolic. And the other is how they parse it in terms of their lives.” Not surprisingly, the latest poll also show disparity in how people of different races view the issue, with 44 percent of blacks and 22 percent of whites seeing racism as a large problem.
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39 Comments
I think it is important blacks keep the whites feeling guilty about our racist history. The best way to keep the handouts and special treatment coming is to keep us in line.
For instance, it is a cardinal sin for white people to use the “N” word.
Last night, after the bball game, we happened on the HBO showing of “Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins”.
This movie contained mostly black American actors shown in “supposedly” their home natural settings, when a family of blacks come home to visit.
Over the course of five minutes, the leading black characters used the “N” word more times than I have in my life.
It was portrayed not just once, not just an “occassional” use of the “N” word, but it reoccurred throughout the movie.
If this is accurate, blacks are using the “N” word daily in their private lives. Isn’t this just carrying on the wrong outlook on their history?
And of course, you have the double standard. But as I say, that is useful for keeping themselves in the news; Black Congressional Caucus, Black TV, Black History Month, etc……
Now will come the “well if you whites had not kept us in bondage” or “well they were slaves, what do you expect?” or “we owe them for all the centuries of slavery and abuse”.
(we switched channels, the movie sucked and the language continued to be horrible
Racism cuts both ways and will probably always be a part of our lives to some degree. Whites don’t have a lock on racism. Try being the only white person working with a group of blacks or Mexicans and then let’s talk about racism.
XXX we both served in the crotch. One of the things that made us unique, I think was the different backgrounds – which was an eye opener for me.
I spend twenty years in it. During your era (you are old corps by your posts), you had the draft? and probably saw the worst racism in the military. During my two decades, I worked closely with and became friends (buddies really) with men (and women later) of all cultural backgrounds. It got even better when they started mandatory urinalysis testing (don’t ask me why). Today, I work with people of much the same mix (albeit a lot less swearing and four letter words). My closest confident is not the same color as me.
Are you saying if the office was all black and only one white guy things would be different?
Charles Tyson has decided not to serve a third term as mayor of South Harrison Township, saying he and his family have endured death threats and racist vandalism since he became the town’s first black mayor two years ago.
At a township reorganization meeting on Monday, the 66-year-old Tyson declined a nomination to continue serving as mayor but agreed to be deputy mayor. The five committee members in the Gloucester County community fill the leadership positions each year from within their ranks.
Tyson said he stepped aside “because of the threats and the personal attacks, and the fact that I don’t want to put my family, my wife, and my wife’s family through this.”
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Sadly, there are still those out there willing to destroy people because of color. And the sad reality is it will go on for generations. As long as there are parents teaching their children that race, religion or sexual preference is/are bad things, we will have this going on.
The main person responsible for the threats to the mayor is up on federal charges. He also put out a poster portraying Obama in the cross hairs. A real piece of work.
I predict that racism will become an even bigger problem in our country over the next four years. Obama may be black, but he will have very little effect on the plight of the black people in America.
We’re in for some tough economic times and the government is basically the problem. As Obama uses the government to solve the problem it will get worse.
Conservatives like me will blame the government. The poor will blame the ‘rich’. The union members will blame management. The blacks will blame the whites.
That’s how the politicians have conditioned the sheeple.
Racism isn’t over, we’ve nothing to replace it.
When all the old people who lived with and accepted racism and segregation die off, we will see the end of most of that attitude…hopefully.
I’m amazed at how prejudiced many of my older patients are. And they don’t think a thing about telling anyone either.
Racism will never be as bad as what we grew up with, Hank.
And those you speak of are the minority of Americans..thankfully.
It’s going to get worse before it gets better, Mary. Not because of what’s in peoples hearts but because of their expectations.
http://www.motherjones.com/photos/aryan-outfitters/
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Hank, you may be correct in your assumption, but racial hatred has no place in this country. And, in my opinion, it’s not the politicians, but the brain dead morons keeping it alive.
Hank posted January 25, 2009 at 9:23 am
We’re in for some tough economic times and the government is basically the problem. As Obama uses the government to solve the problem it will get worse.
Conservatives like me will blame the government. The poor will blame the ‘rich’. The union members will blame management. The blacks will blame the whites.
————-
So Hank is an expert on economics, government, Obama’s policies, racism, and psychology — as well as science (due to his Navy “liason” duties)? That’s very impressive Hank! sarcasm /OFF
“is an expert”
Cosmos if being an expert is a requirement to post on a blog, then I’m afraid the weblog needs to close up shop.
American_Way
Posted January 25, 2009 at 9:09 am | Permalink
XXX we both served in the crotch. One of the things that made us unique, I think was the different backgrounds – which was an eye opener for me.
I spend twenty years in it. During your era (you are old corps by your posts), you had the draft? and probably saw the worst racism in the military.
_________________________________________________
Amway,
I served from 70 to 72 and you’re right. I saw some of the very worst. Race riots were very common in the Corps. I spent some time on Okinawa and it was terrible. The draft was in effect and drug use was rampant. Drug testing was barely on the horizon and interdiction of drugs was a joke.
So Hank is an expert on economics, government, Obama’s policies, racism, and psychology — as well as science (due to his Navy “liason” duties)? That’s very impressive Hank! sarcasm /OFF
__________________________________________
Thank you, cosmos!
I come to this BLOG with an opinion and a known reputation. A lot of the regulars here have met me. They know a little about my personal life and credentials.
You, not so much.
American_Way posted January 25, 2009 at 10:09 am
“is an expert”
Cosmos if being an expert is a requirement to post on a blog, then I’m afraid the weblog needs to close up shop.
——————-
American_Way,
You seem to be confused?
Hank claims that he is a science expert, because he served as a Navy “liason” to scientists.
http://blogs.kansas.com/weblog/2009/01/open-thread-116-3/#comment-504835
At least he didn’t claim to be a spelling expert.
Try “liaison” instead of “liason”.
At the local level, I think he might be confusing racism with, judging people on their appearances. If it was fashionable in the poor white community for men to walk around in dresses, black men might find that ridiculous and not want to associate with the white men who wear dresses. Just as some people don’t want to associate with baggy pants, exposed underwear, and a hip hop thug life culture. You dress like a thug, talk like a thug, and walk like a thug, then you are presenting yourself as a thug. Plain and simple.
I heard about the war stories XXX. 75-96…
I “grew up” in the Corps during the transition from the draft military to the volunteer. My “old corps” leaders slowly retired or go out. It might surprise you the good that change made. The stories we both can tell.
When I was with E/2/3, out of Kbay, there was one incident that I remember. In the corner of the parade deck area behind 2d Battalion HQ, was a BBQ pit. Not much. Just a brick covered area with one picnic table and a brick grill. We “partied” there at night. Well, a gang of blacks took it over, there were thumpings and it became a nightly occurrence for fights. Then they tried a small rebellion and decided to stay there all night after hours; loud music, booze, drugs, you name it. It became an embarrasement I’m sure. But the next morning the Reactionary Bn was activated and pulled a 360 around them. I don’t know if they had live rounds issued, but they were there were not magazines in their weapons. But the regimental SgtMaj, who was black, stepped forward and ordered them men to disburse. He DID pull his .45 and slam a clip home. Maybe it was because he was black, maybe it was the threat of shooting, but everyone disappeared. Things got better after that. That was the worst I ever saw.
I heard the war stories and know it was much worse for you. Places you dare not go – even though you were all supposed to be Marine “green”.
American_Way posted January 25, 2009 at 10:58 am
At least he didn’t claim to be a spelling expert.
Try “liaison” instead of “liason”.
——————-
Tell Hank, not me.
http://blogs.kansas.com/weblog/2009/01/open-thread-116-3/#comment-504835
Hank posted January 16, 2009 at 11:23 am
I was the laison[sic] between thenm[sic] and the submarine squadron in San Diego.
Hank claims that he is a science expert, because he served as a Navy “liason” to scientists.
_____________________________________-
cosmos cannot debate the facts because the facts are not on his side. Therefore he must constantly mis-characterize other peoples comments then argue against the mis-characterization.
On this particular BLOG amongst the regulars I may not be an expert, but I have experience and knowledge on certain matters that far exceeds most.
We know very little about you cosmos, other than you are a liar.
Actually Cosmos is reverting to the name-calling and character attack so typical when they cannot win the discussion. It all sorta goes down hill from there……….
Hank, we’d probably laugh our self silly if we found out who cosmos actually was.
Hank posted January 25, 2009 at 11:16 am
cosmos cannot debate the facts because the facts are not on his side. Therefore he must constantly mis-characterize other peoples comments then argue against the mis-characterization.
————–
American_Way posted January 25, 2009 at 11:21 am
Actually Cosmos is reverting to the name-calling and character attack so typical when they cannot win the discussion.
—————————–
Dear Hank,
1) List your “facts” showing that ENSO events do not cause short-term average global temperature fluctuations.
2) List what I have “mis-characterize[d]” about your ENSO denial post.
Ask your friends American_Way and Regular for help, if you have trouble answering.
http://blogs.kansas.com/weblog/2009/01/open-thread-116-3/#comment-504835
Dear Hank,
To summarize why you believe that climate scientists worldwide are wrong about ENSO affecting global temperatures:
* You think that I “ain’t smart enough. . .”
* You lie about what I’ve posted.
* You try to use an irrelevant, bogus “authority” line — your Navy “liason” duty.
* Just because you say so. (uh-huh)
* You think that I’ve demonstrated my “incredible ignorance”.
* You think that the climate science and data is done by Al Gore’s “butt-boy”.
———
Anything else, Hank?
Or are those all of your arguments against the commonly accepted ENSO – average global temperature correlations?
Anal cosmos, very very anal – get a life.
Cosmos is so disappointed no one wants to talk about GW that he is posting it under a thread about racism in America.
Imagine that.
American_Way posted January 25, 2009 at 11:38 am
Cosmos is so disappointed no one wants to talk about GW that he is posting it under a thread about racism in America.
———–
Actually, it’s about whether Hank’s posts have any credibility.
http://blogs.kansas.com/weblog/2009/01/fewer-americans-see-racism-as-big-problem/#comment-508958
http://blogs.kansas.com/weblog/2009/01/fewer-americans-see-racism-as-big-problem/#comment-509033
But it seems that is too complicated for American_Way to understand.
XXX,
“Try being the only white person working with a group of blacks or Mexicans and then let’s talk about racism.”
We lived in a poor, 90-95% black neighborhood in Wichita for 14 years. Yeah, there may have been a little prejudice at first, but once we got to know our neighbors and they got to know us, it was a good place to live. Have you done as much? If so, then maybe we can talk about racism.
Jed
Posted January 25, 2009 at 12:50 pm | Permalink
We lived in a poor, 90-95% black neighborhood in Wichita for 14 years. Yeah, there may have been a little prejudice at first, but once we got to know our neighbors and they got to know us, it was a good place to live. Have you done as much? If so, then maybe we can talk about racism.
___________________________________________________
Jed,
I lived in the Polytech area of Ft Worth for several years before moving to Riverside/Daggett. Makes any rough neighborhood in Wichita look like a playground.
But your point isn’t to discuss, is it?
Please feel free to buzz off, creep.
Hey Jed,
Please tell us the story about how that nasty Catholic priest attacked your poor comatose wife again.
I love good fiction.
“We lived in a poor, 90-95% black neighborhood in Wichita for 14 years.”
Yeah, sure….
It seems to me that the biggest racists are the ones who scream racism at every turn. Like the columnist for this paper, mark mccormick. For months there were stories about gang shootings, murders, black people being killed left and right, and mccormick ranted non-stop about what some off duty cops might have said at a party.
It seems that people like mccormick are only happy if they are accusing someone of being racist. Or like the ‘victims’ who claim (after driving 20 mph over the speed limit) that they were “only stopped because they are black”.
I have had black bosses, coworkers, and friends. Like anything else, there are good and bad among all. It is people like mark mccormick who continually scream racism that keep the problems of racism alive.
One thing holds true, douche bags come in every color.
It is people like mark mccormick who continually scream racism that keep the problems of racism alive.
=========================
Absolutely!
Like it or not, admit it or not, racism is in America’s constitutional DNA.
For so-called constitutional “originalist” CONservatives, the subliminal message is their (perhaps unintended) advocacy to return some Americans to the status of 3/5ths a human being.
Jim Crow laws show how crafty American racists were in getting around post-Civil War amendments. Civil Rights laws of the 1960s certainly didn’t solve de facto racism. And in the real world, people would welcome Dennis Rader into their homes, probably, before they would open their doors to the Carr brothers.
Why do you think that is?
What?
Were you saying something “Monkeyhawk”?
We will not have any improvement in race relations in America as long as distinctions are drawn because of race.
The old white people that are still prejudiced will be dying off in the next 5-10 years. Those that are left are the ones that have actually lived around, worked with, gone to school with, and gotten to know people from races other than their own. When this happens, the only thing preventing improvement in race relations will be minorities themselves.
The same thing happened in the Irish community in the mid to late 1800’s. That time, they referred to themselves as Irish, or Irish American. Eventually, they have just became Americans. This did not involve a loss of their cultural heritage either. Eventually, they realized that after a couple generations living in America, you are no longer an Irish American, just an American.
Many blacks have a longer heritage living in America than many whites. But curiously, the blacks are African-Americans and the whites are not Slavic-Americans or Italian-Americans or Eqyption-Americans or Russian-Americans, or Agentinian-Americans, they are just white Americans. There can be no realistic expectation that others will perceive them as just ‘Americans’ as long as a group themselves refers to themselves and distinquishes themselves as something other than just Americans.
I think Bill Clinton was right on when he said:
“When you look at a person and the first thing you DON’T see is the color of their skin..then you’ll know you’re not a racist.”
It’s just this easy:
http://crazy.codetroop.com/randimg/?gay_black_jewish_klansmen.jpg
#
Mary_Caruso
Posted January 25, 2009 at 6:19 pm | Permalink
I think Bill Clinton was right on when he said:
“When you look at a person and the first thing you DON’T see is the color of their skin..then you’ll know you’re not a racist.”
————————
Is that why Hillary changes her accent to southern drawl, nasal twang when she speaks at a Black Church?
Mark McCormick is the prime racist in the doodah area at this time. Blacks are 100 times more racist than the most vile white racists I know (and yes, I know a bunch). As long as whiners like McCormick and his hero N0bammy are ginning up their hate speech the country can’t move forward. McCormick is particularly revolting in his unabashed whining.