Whites find it hard to grasp racist truths

[mcdavictim]

by Leonard Pitts Jr.
Fresno Bee Monday May 22, 2006

Thank you, but I don't need a lecture on personal responsibility.
Many of you apparently felt otherwise after reading my recent column on the use of the justice system as a codgel against black children.
The column dealt with the mistreatment of more than 100 juveniles, most of them black, who were left in a flooded New orleans detention center for up to five days without food and water after Katrina. It was also about the death of Martin Lee Anderson, an unresisting 14 year old black kid who was hit, choked and restrained by up to nine guards in Panama City, Fla. boot camp.
The abuse and the disproportionate number of black kids who wind up in those places was, I said, a legacy of the nation's historic tendency to use its justice system to control a population it finds frightening and inconvenient.
In response, a woman demanded to know,"When is the black community going to take responsibility for themselves?" A man named Don, "Why are they in jail? Because most young blacks are thugs, dope dealers and car thieves in my experience." A fellow wrote that "AA women need to stop having children out of wedlock.. Raise a child in a home with a mother and a father and you will see the stats for crime go way down." Some people, using statistics freshly pulled from their backsides, sought to "prove" black kids commit pretty much all the crime in the country. And one individual said Martin Lee Andersons's guards "did us all a favor."
As I said, some people find the existence of black children inconvenient.
You want to talk responsibility? I'm fine whth that. Much of what ails black America lies squarely within its power to fix: I've been saying that for years.
But the fact is, the need for greater personal responsibility, important as it is, does not of itself account for all the dysfunctions that beset the black community.
Of course, many white folks don't want to go there. And it never fails to amaze me how airily they absolve themselves and this nation of the charge of racism, how readily they look past, look through, flat-out ignore, anything that says otherwise. Indeed, it's telling that of all the dissenters preaching personal responsibility, not a single one even addressed the statistics in the column suggesting that racial animus plays a role in the disproportionate number of black people behind bars.
I repeat: "And Justice For Some" a 2000 study co-sponsored by the Justice Department, found that a black drug defendant is 48 times more likely to be jailed than a white one with the same record.
There's more. According to "The Real War on Crime: The Report of the National Criminal Justice Commission," blacks account for 13% of all regular drug users, but are 35%of those arrested, Are 55% of those convicted, and 74% of those imprisoned for drug possession. A 2004 Miami Herald report found that a judicial procedure that allows a defendant's record to be wiped clean of a felony offense is given to white drug dealers, rapists and child molesters. But to black? Not so much.
Beg pardon, but "personal responsibility" does not explain those disparities. And it's vexing that so many Caucasians find it so hard to get their lips around the word that does. (racism)
But then, that would require of them more than the easy ability to wag a finger at the failures of others. It would require a willingness to own their own failures and to face truths that do not flatter self-image-- something some white Americans clearly lack the intestinal fortitude to do. So you'll forgive me if I find it hard to take seriously all this pious advice to blacks.
Responsibility is a two way street.

Leonard Pitts Jr. writes for the Miami Herald.

[mcdavictim]

When one 16 year old black person goes to prison and a 20 year old white person gets 180 community service for the same crime, Is that not racism?

[Dodgergirl]

Here we go again,...

Ok, since you choose to continue this, how about stating what you're talking about. All of the facts, not a cryptic blurb.

Thx

[monkey]

Wow, I thought this was all over with.

[Ironhorse]

Originally posted by mcdavictim:
When one 16 year old black person goes to prison and a 20 year old white person gets 180 community service for the same crime, Is that not racism?

Tell ALL the facts of BOTH cases and we'll let you know. And I mean ALL the facts, from both prosecution and defense side, not just your one-sided interpretation. Myself, I think this person needs to just be shut down, because it's the same litany, over and over and over, with vague innuendos, and the article posted would seem to indicate she is calling all white people racist. JMO Or do we have to keep listening to this till the next DA's election http://oakhurstonline.com/icon/rolleyes2.gif

[Kahlua Kid]

Lets be reminded that each of us are free to post whatever opinion we want on these boards - whether its a popular or unpopular opinion.

If MC wants to continue her debate and point-of-view on the matter, that's her choice. To visit, debate, not comment, comment, is your choice.

MC obviously feels a huge unjustice has happened to her Grandson. She has a right to put that out here.

Some may agree, others disagree... but that's what the forums are about. Open discussions and points-of-view.

If MC has a strong argument, then she will persuade some to agree. If not, then she won't. But I say she has the same opportunity we all do to post whatever we want as long as it does not personally attack another forum member or violate any of the OF rules.

[Dodgergirl]

Didn't ask for a strong argument, just the facts, ma'am...

[BGW]

Other than a few posts in my journal on racism, I haven't yet spoken out. And, for good reason.

This is my family
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e119/bgirl64/Brothers4.jpg
And, yes, they are blood brothers, my blood immediate family.

From left to right

1. Just graduated high school and is heading off to college in the fall; of which he has worked for and saved up the money to pay for his tuition himself

2. Recently did his time in Iraq for you and me, but unlike his wife, he chose not to reenlist; as he and his wife were stationed in Iraq at the same time, but at different bases, and their newborn son had to stay stateside with family and might not have ever seen either of them again. #2 chose to stay home, go to college and be Mr. Mom with the kids while Mommy fights in the war.

3. Will be turning 13 soon. This last year his Jr. High basketball took top honors and yes, #3 pulls the grades and is a starting player.

4. Has already graduated from college and is married with children. Making a great living and being an even greater Daddy. Oops, this one didn't pay for all of his college..he received a partial a football scholarship.

#1's dad died a few years ago. #2's dad has remained a well kept secret . #3's Dad actually lives in the same town but isn't always 'available', and #4's Dad...well, when he was younger his dad was great with him as he grew out of the puppy stage, his Dad kinda lost interest in him; though they still communicate and see each other from time to time.

Not one boy has had a run in with the law. And if we are to believe statistics...all 4 of them never had a fighting chance to success in this life. They should have been making babies, going to prison, and refusing to pay child support. Well my family blows that theory right out of the water. it has been the white faction and the white faction only that has had the run-ins with the law, done time, been addicted to one thing or another, and left their kids at the drop of a hat.

What makes these boys different? I'd say their Mother and the love of the rest of their family. The boys are big manly men ,as you can see, and not a one of them got to big to come and steal kisses and hugs during those "embarrassed to be seen with the family" years.

They have not always lived in the best of neighborhoods, shoot they haven't even always had a home. There are many more negative factors that these boys dealt with while groing up, but that doesn't all need to be aired here. They are worth more and deserve more than that!

Having said that...I will say, they don't buy into your racial argument, the family doesn't buy into this argument and I most definitely refuse to buy into something that would have negatively changed and or destroyed the lives of these four wonderful boys, had they been taught the racism message at home, and believed in it.

And, no, they weren't raised as white kids, and they weren't raised as black kids, and they weren't raised as German kids. They were raised as good kids by a family that very much believes in them. So please, try to get a grasp on the idea that Society is not to blame, because Society didn't raise these kids, their families raised them. Well at least my four anyways.

PS: As near as I can tell from reading all the court and case history, her grandson had more charges brought against him than the others, and was the only kid that didn't take a plea bargain. It sounds to me like his strategy didn't pay-off.

[Mysteefied]

I agree with you KK. While I don't know a whole lot about racism, I unfortunatly have dealt with a little bit, with my daughter being part mexican. It never even crossed my mind until a particular incident years ago. I totally agree that there are SOME people who wont like you unless you are the same race as them, whether it be white, mexican , black, chinese...well, hopefully you get the picture here. And the same goes with crime, I don't care if a white person, chinese person, black person, mexican person or otherwise commits a crime, they need to do their time, without playing the race card, It gets tiring. If my best friend raped a person, I would expect that they should get the same sentence as a black man/woman, mexican man/woman so forth, if they dont....it's NOT my fault because I'm white, black, mexican, chinese...do you get what I'm saying here?? We cannot all be blamed because someone of the same race didn't do what you felt they should, or did something you felt they shouldn't.

[Yosemite_Wolf]

Originally posted by mcdavictim:
When one 16 year old black person goes to prison and a 20 year old white person gets 180 community service for the same crime, Is that not racism?

The 16 yr old committed RAPE! this is not about race but about the crime of RAPE. Now do us all a favour and go piss up a rope on ANOTHER forums.

Love your post BGW

[wandaful]

Beautiful family, BGW. I can tell how proud of them you are, and I don't blame you. Our family looks similar, plus a beautiful Thai daughter in law. And you are right about racism and it coming from the home, so every one of us can do our part by seeing that it doesn't come from our homes.

[Ironhorse]

Originally posted by bgirlsworld:
Other than a few posts in my journal on racism, I haven't yet spoken out. And, for good reason.

This is my family
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e119/bgirl64/Brothers4.jpg
And, yes, they are blood brothers, my blood immediate family.

From left to right

1. Just graduated high school and is heading off to college in the fall; of which he has worked for and saved up the money to pay for his tuition himself

2. Recently did his time in Iraq for you and me, but unlike his wife, he chose not to reenlist; as he and his wife were stationed in Iraq at the same time, but at different bases, and their newborn son had to stay stateside with family and might not have ever seen either of them again. #2 chose to stay home, go to college and be Mr. Mom with the kids while Mommy fights in the war.

3. Will be turning 13 soon. This last year his Jr. High basketball took top honors and yes, #3 pulls the grades and is a starting player.

4. Has already graduated from college and is married with children. Making a great living and being an even greater Daddy. Oops, this one didn't pay for all of his college..he received a partial a football scholarship.

#1's dad died a few years ago. #2's dad has remained a well kept secret . #3's Dad actually lives in the same town but isn't always 'available', and #4's Dad...well, when he was younger his dad was great with him as he grew out of the puppy stage, his Dad kinda lost interest in him; though they still communicate and see each other from time to time.

Not one boy has had a run in with the law. And if we are to believe statistics...all 4 of them never had a fighting chance to success in this life. They should have been making babies, going to prison, and refusing to pay child support. Well my family blows that theory right out of the water. it has been the white faction and the white faction only that has had the run-ins with the law, done time, been addicted to one thing or another, and left their kids at the drop of a hat.

What makes these boys different? I'd say their Mother and the love of the rest of their family. The boys are big manly men ,as you can see, and not a one of them got to big to come and steal kisses and hugs during those "embarrassed to be seen with the family" years.

They have not always lived in the best of neighborhoods, shoot they haven't even always had a home. There are many more negative factors that these boys dealt with while groing up, but that doesn't all need to be aired here. They are worth more and deserve more than that!

Having said that...I will say, they don't buy into your racial argument, the family doesn't buy into this argument and I most definitely refuse to buy into something that would have negatively changed and or destroyed the lives of these four wonderful boys, had they been taught the racism message at home, and believed in it.

And, no, they weren't raised as white kids, and they weren't raised as black kids, and they weren't raised as German kids. They were raised as good kids by a family that very much believes in them. So please, try to get a grasp on the idea that Society is not to blame, because Society didn't raise these kids, their families raised them. Well at least my four anyways.

PS: As near as I can tell from reading all the court and case history, her grandson had more charges brought against him than the others, and was the only kid that didn't take a plea bargain. It sounds to me like his strategy didn't pay-off.

http://oakhurstonline.com/icon/applause.gif http://oakhurstonline.com/icon/applause.gif And they are a great looking group, and sounds like they do their family proud. Congratulations to a job well done, to all of them. http://oakhurstonline.com/icon/happy.gif

[Ironhorse]

Originally posted by Yosemite_Wolf:
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by mcdavictim:
When one 16 year old black person goes to prison and a 20 year old white person gets 180 community service for the same crime, Is that not racism?

The 16 yr old committed RAPE! this is not about race but about the crime of RAPE. Now do us all a favour and go piss up a rope on ANOTHER forums.

Love your post BGW </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

http://oakhurstonline.com/icon/wink3.gif

[monkey]

Not to get off topic, but "piss up a rope"????http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/23/23_29_132.gif (http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb008_ZNxmk278CVUS)

[wandaful]

LOVE IT....well said, Ironhorse. http://oakhurstonline.com/icon/applause.gif

[John @ 3300ft.]

I think the title of this topic is racist...

[Surfus]

Guys play nice!
this topic is close to being closed

[SheilaMae]

Fact: Racism Sucks! So do sexism and poverty and disability and elitism and any other thing that causes one to bear prejudice against another because they're different from ourselves. Different isn't better, or worse...it's just different. Variety is the spice of life and thank God for it - the world is never truly boring unless you close yourself off from it.

God grant us the serenity to accept the things we cannot change, courage to change the things we can, and wisdom to know the difference.

Fond memory, mildly racism-related:
Years ago in the burbs of Chicago, through one of my childrens' friends I became friends with a couple, she black/he white. Mickey, the wife, liked to dance and so did I. One weekend we had a girls night out to go to a club on the South Side of Chicago to dance. A band of guys Mickey had known from high school was playing the club and a buncha her old high school pals were going to be there as well. While getting dressed to go I tore my hose and when I knocked on Mickey's door in my hot pink dress, late already, I apologized and said I'd need to stop somewhere for stockings on the way. Mickey looked down and said - "Don't worry, those white ones look fine." Those white ones were my bare legs!
When we got to the club off south 63rd St., deep in Bad, Bad Leroy Brown territory, I think I was one of only 3 white gals in the place and for blocks and blocks around and I honestly think the other two white gals were hookers.

[Californee Girl]

Im finding this topic pretty offensive. When is this thread going to end so I can quit being insulted every time I log in?

[Pop-Rocks]

This is why I normally avoid Politics and local issues there are too may openions and too many hurt feeling. We must learn to keep it nice if we are going to keep posting on the forums. Otherwise we may start loosing people and prevent new ones from joining.