The journey from there to here

A few years ago, we had an apartment across from a public housing project. Our downstairs neighbors were a mixed race couple, prone to heavy drug use and partying.

When they would throw a party, they would invite all of their friends from Milwaukee up. We were privvy to one such soiree. The friends arrived in beaten up vans, packed 15 to 20 to a van, and proceeded to dive into the fixings. While we hadn't invited them, we HAD prepared for them, and offered cold brews and a few choice meats for the grill. They were generally nice people, even if a little loud (we lived, fortunately, in an area where most of the other surrounding places were businesses and a church, and the housing project was set back far enough from the street that the noise either wasn't a problem or wasn't reported as such).

The fallout came at the end of the weekend. The police arrived, not because of noise, but because of several reported thefts in the area. A few of the guests took refuge in the cockroach filled basement, and a few others conveniently found themselves in need of errands to run shortly before the police to arrive. But the majority were there as the police grilled them about the thefts, which included removing every single screen from the windows of the first floor of the housing complex. No arrests were made, although the police did suggest to a couple of them that it might be productive for them to head home to Milwaukee before they got in trouble in Oshkosh.

As soon as the police left, the cries of racism began. The cops had singled them out, they said, because they were black. While I agree about the general racist nature of many in Oshkosh, I also know that sometimes a cigar is a cigar, and that in this case, the police went to the people who were reported by the victims as being suspects. They were reported because they were strangers in the neighborhood, not because of their race.

Not long after the police left, the loading began. Of window screens and several other items of suspicious origin. I climbed into my van, and saw that someone had attempted to move my stereo.

Of course, it COULD have been the kids down the street, but given the strong weight of circumstantial evidence, that didn't seem likely.

The truth is, EVERY race has its good people and its miscreants. To deny that is to show complete ignorance to an insane degree. But because of the trend of political correctness (brought about, I believe, by "white guilt" wanting to atone for the various atrocities that WERE committed in past cultures), it's unfashionable to point to the miscreants of some cultures and demand accountability.

Don't believe me? Look at how we treat those in minority cultures who DO ask people of their race to step up. Who's more respected in the projects, Walter Williams or Al Sharpton? Bill Cosby or Jesse Jackson? The answer to both of these is clear. Those who ARE demanding accountability are pariahs and accused of being traitors to their race.

The truth is, more minorities are in prison than whites not because of racism but because more minorities commit violent crimes in America than whites (more whites commit "white collar crimes", but because those crimes don't have as obvious victims, the sentences are usually shorter). That's not conjecture, it's statistical fact. Why this happens is not because of genetic predisposition, but cultural.

The inner city culture suffers from "spoiled child syndrome". We've all seen it. A three year old throws a tantrum in KMart, momma buys him a Snickers bar, and the tantrum goes away. But she's just ensured herself a tantrum every time she goes to the store from a child that has learned throwing tantrums pays.

The same is true of disadvantaged minorities. Many of them, sadly, have never known what it is to have a work ethic because they've lived under a nanny state for so long. And when the initial petty theft lands them with not a prison sentence, but counseling from some counselor trying desperately to play the part they saw Michelle Pfeiffer play in Dangerous Minds, they not only don't learn the lesson, but learn they live in a culture that wants to excuse their behaviour, however abhorrent.

The thugs in minority communities do not compose a majority of their culture. Not even close. But just as the spoiled children throwing tantrums in KMart are the ones we remember, the thugs are as well. And it's evident in popular culture as well. We remember "50 cent". We don't remember Luther Vandross. We remember Lil Kim. We don't remember Aretha Franklin.

Our culture needs to get past the idea that asking people to step up is racist. Asking people to step up is the proper request of ALL races, all the way from the white redneck's trailer with the red and white #8 in their trailer window and the pit bull in the yard to the inner city project with the rap music shaking th windows and the...umm, pit bull in the yard.


Comments (Page 1)
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on Sep 11, 2007

I agree with your assessment, and find it very saddening.  The deffinition of a sellout in some races is a person who has made it. As you mention, Bill Cosby and Walter E. Williams.  Until the so called leaders of these races decide to start doling out some tough love, I dont see that changing.  It is easy to be a victim.  No experience or skills required.  It does not get you very far, but the perks are enough to stay one for the rest of your life.

on Sep 11, 2007
I agree...as Doc, said, "It's easy to be a victim."

I really do hate the victim mentality...it's always: "Everyone's against me and I can't do anything about it"...whites (or Caucasians...whatever) do this too...just not with the race card.

~Zoo
on Sep 11, 2007
Racism will never end if those who are the future generation of those who were once oppressed continue to remind everyone (even those not responsible) how bad their ancestors were treated. It's like my mom once told me as a child, if I ignore those who bother me, they eventually get tired because they are not getting a rise out of me and then leave me alone. If we continue to bring back racism when there is none, we, as a civilization will never be able to eliminate it.

I remember racism as actually doing something bad to those of other races other than yours. It seems that you don't even have to do anything bad anymore, you simply have to be of a different race than those you are questioning to be racist. Hell, you don't even have to be white to be a racist. And if of the same race, like DrGuy said, you could be a sellout for not being like them.
on Sep 11, 2007
whites (or Caucasians...whatever) do this too...just not with the race card.


Actually, some whites do it with the race card, too. I can't count how many times I have heard someone lament not being able to find a job because they were kept out by a quota. Yet, every person I have heard express this sentiment has either been employed or had a glaring personal problem (alcoholism or drug addiction, for instance) that has been the real reason they aren't working.
on Sep 11, 2007

Actually, some whites do it with the race card, too.

I was thinking about the KKK on that one.  They use the race card to try to explain their own incompetance and problems.

on Sep 11, 2007

When you have people like Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton, Louis Farrakhan and other prominent Blacks that keep the divide open and festering, while promoting the idea of victimhood among blacks and looked on with respect, there is little chance of someone like Bill Cosby's message being heard.

Stepping up means taking responsibility for your own situation, something it seems a large percentage of blacks are unwilling to do.

on Sep 15, 2007
Have you ever been a person of African descent a day in your life? Have you done comprehensive research on inner city African American communities? If so what is the title of your dissertation, or any studies you have contributed to scholarly journals? Do you have any close friends that are African American (I mean seriously- any that you would make the godparents of your children)? You speak with such authority on our situation and what we think; obviously the answer to these questions would be yes. Unfortunately, your naive, misinformed, and self-contradicting comments have become the norm, which all the apologists seem to relish. You make the same mistake that many of you make. You use your isolated experiences to blanket indict, and project yourself as some authority justified to post addled statements on a broad and complex matter. If you did some objective research as I have done, you would not readily make that errant statement about more people of color being in the penal system than whites because they commit more crime. Case and point: I was doing research in Dimmit, TX where I found that Caucasians were not even getting arrested for the same crimes Mexican Americans were being jailed for, simply because the Caucasians knew someone at the courthouse or in law enforcement. If someone were able to do comprehensive research and produce the statistics on how many crimes Caucasian Americans commit vs. how many Caucasians get arrested and convicted, and compared those numbers to those same statistics for people of color, it would tell us what you should already know: whites commit more crime, but they don't get arrested or penalized nearly as much as others. Thus, it does not show up in the official statistics. As far as Bill Cosby and those like him, who you hold in such high regard, they are long on criticism, and short on solutions. That is why we do not give him the credit or audience that you feel he deserves. He is just preaching to the choir, and to get a slap on the back (and a payday) from people like you who gobble that stuff up because it conforms to your prejudices. Who's treatise did you pull that Kmart garbage from. Interesting. I think you are confusing spoiled suburban white child syndrome for spoiled inner-city child syndrome. As far as excuses, I think Caucasians have written the book on having excuses and alibis for decadent behavior (e.g. New World and African Colonialism apologists). You amuse me- the way you embrace stereotypes in one sentence, distance yourself from them in the next, all the while using Bill Cosby and Juan Williams as a shield. Incidentally, none of my business owning, CPA, MBA, Ph.d having, or attorney friends and former classmates, cry wolf or subscribe to this so called cult of victimhood- and there are many of them. They are too busy hustling. So much for the "most Blacks" hypothesis. I think this is the new facade used to excuse business as usual. Al and Jesse have limited influence amongst educated African Americans, African American intellectuals and the conscious community. So this cacophony of sound bites from the mainstream media about how they are leading and influencing the "whole" of African America is nonsense.
on Sep 16, 2007
Kagemni,

Let's set the anger aside and have a rational discussion here. You make several excellent points, but I think you misunderstand.

I'm sorry, first of all, that you think it takes a doctorate to even speak to the situation. That is the kind of lousy thinking that keeps us from coming up with solutions. There are a lot of people out there who don't have doctorates who can still speak to situations like this.

I am not saying that racism does not exist, and I'm not saying it's pretty widespread. I AM saying that there's a difference between racism and asking people to step up. Adults need to take responsibility for their own behaviour.

Now, then:

Do you have any close friends that are African American (I mean seriously- any that you would make the godparents of your children)?


Actually, yes. I try to get to know people AS people, not as an ethnic. If you had read me for any length of time, kagemni, you would know we've been cast as pariahs in our small Texas town (incidentally, not far from Dimmit) ever since the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina when we offered our home to refugees. The reason, we were told, is because they didn't want (race expletive deleted) in their town. I say this not to brag but to answer and to put things in context.

If you did some objective research as I have done, you would not readily make that errant statement about more people of color being in the penal system than whites because they commit more crime.


No, I said more VIOLENT crime. There's a difference. I readily acknowledged whites commit more "white collar" and other such crimes. Whether those crimes should carry equal penalties is another matter entirely.

You refer to "limited experience", Kagemni, let me tell you, it ain't that limited. The other night I was hit up for money when I was at the gas station. After I got in the car I found that some items had been taken from my car before the beggars had approached me. Nothing big, mind you, nothing that seriously set me back or upset me, but enough to be noticed. I'll leave it to you to guess the race of the individuals in question. The interesting thing about it was, there was an officer there. He pulled out while the men were speaking with me, and waited to see if I would give them money. I waited until he drove off, and gave them a few. He looped around the block and came back around and ASKED me if they were begging. This is one of the few times I lied to a cop, because I didn't feel these men belonged in jail for their actions, simply because I don't know the rest of the story. And yet people like you are ready to slap the racist brand on anyone who challenges them.

I've been MANY places, been mugged on four occasions. Not one of those muggers was white. I've had people beg me for money. Not one of those beggars was white (although, to be fair, I'll add in the ones who show up on Sunday for football and mooch the pizza, bringing it to about a 50/50 split).

As for the cult of victimhood, it knows no racial bounds. People who live lives of failure are prone to make excuses for their failure, and it doesn't matter what race they are. My problem is when the LEADERS are preaching that, then that only exacerbates the problem.

You say your PhD friends of African descent don't follow Jackson or Sharpton? I'm glad to hear that. What are THEY doing to SOLVE the problems in the inner cities, solutions you chastise Bill Cosby and WALTER Williams for not having? I'll tell you what I'M doing, Kagemni. I'm working with corporations to start a computer giveaway in poor neighborhoods here (and I've actually got the interest of MAJOR corporations). I'm trying to start an internship/mentoring program that will help steer some of the kids in disadvantaged communities towards college/trade schools. I'm trying to help with organizers who are trying to put together a Boys and Girls Club. I will be managing their network once they get up and running. I'm trying to organize a midnight basketball program. And yet there are people like you who will criticize no matter what I do because I'm WHITE. Nice racial tolerance there.

As far as excuses, I think Caucasians have written the book on having excuses and alibis for decadent behavior (e.g. New World and African Colonialism apologists).


Agreed.

Thanks for your contribution to the discussion, Kagemni. It's always interesting to get a different perspective. Even though we see things from different perspectives, you are always welcome to offer yours here as long as the tone stays relatively civil.
on Sep 16, 2007
Incidentally,

I must point out...one of the things that irks me continually.

I'm going to a small college right now. The college is built directly adjoining the low income housing units. While the low income housing units have a long waiting list, the college suffers for enrollment. Virtually all of these families qualify for full Pell, yet most of them won't bother to walk 300 feet to improve their situation.

on Sep 16, 2007
I just wish you had read the full article, though. You'd have seen paragraphs like this:


The thugs in minority communities do not compose a majority of their culture. Not even close. But just as the spoiled children throwing tantrums in KMart are the ones we remember, the thugs are as well. And it's evident in popular culture as well. We remember "50 cent". We don't remember Luther Vandross. We remember Lil Kim. We don't remember Aretha Franklin.


And this:

Our culture needs to get past the idea that asking people to step up is racist. Asking people to step up is the proper request of ALL races, all the way from the white redneck's trailer with the red and white #8 in their trailer window and the pit bull in the yard to the inner city project with the rap music shaking th windows and the...umm, pit bull in the yard.


on Sep 16, 2007
Have you ever been a person of African descent a day in your life? Have you done comprehensive research on inner city African American communities? If so what is the title of your dissertation, or any studies you have contributed to scholarly journals? Do you have any close friends that are African American (I mean seriously- any that you would make the godparents of your children)? You speak with such authority on our situation and what we think; obviously the answer to these questions would be yes. Unfortunately, your naive, misinformed, and self-contradicting comments have become the norm, which all the apologists seem to relish.


Excuse me. There are many caucasians that are "African Americans" and many blacks that are not. Let's dump that stupid hyphenation. They/We are black.

Second, I have some black blood and 2 nephews that are black. By blood. So get off the victim mentality, and stop calling up phony straw men. You may be an expert, but hardly any more expert than Gideon. You commit the same crimes you accuse him of.
on Sep 16, 2007
There are many caucasians that are "African Americans" and many blacks that are not. Let's dump that stupid hyphenation.


Excellent point. I AM technically, of African descent (the Berbers are from northern Africa).

Still, I thought the input genuinely contributed to the discussion.
on Sep 16, 2007
"No, I said more VIOLENT crime. There's a difference. I readily acknowledged whites commit more "white collar" and other such crimes. Whether those crimes should carry equal penalties is another matter entirely."

Read carefully I did not distinguish. I meant all crime, be it white collar or violent crime. Whether they is punished equally is impertinent to the discussion.

"You say your PhD friends of African descent don't follow Jackson or Sharpton? I'm glad to hear that. What are THEY doing to SOLVE the problems in the inner cities, solutions you chastise Bill Cosby and WALTER Williams for not having? I'll tell you what I'M doing, Kagemni. I'm working with corporations to start a computer giveaway in poor neighborhoods here (and I've actually got the interest of MAJOR corporations). I'm trying to start an internship/mentoring program that will help steer some of the kids in disadvantaged communities towards college/trade schools. I'm trying to help with organizers who are trying to put together a Boys and Girls Club. I will be managing their network once they get up and running. I'm trying to organize a midnight basketball program. And yet there are people like you who will criticize no matter what I do because I'm WHITE. Nice racial tolerance there."

If you had done rudimentary research you would find that their are countless organizations, founded and operated by educated African Americans that do all of things you say that you are doing and more. If you are trying to say that educated African Americans are not active in the community, you are not properly informed. Again, you are applying your isolated circumstances and observations to the whole of African America. In New York and Washington, D.C. there any number of such organizations. At least do an internet search before you make such assertions. I reaffirm, you are not adequately informed about our community to make these indictments. We don't need you to ask us to step up or to help us acknowledge the problem. We are already well versed on the diagnosis. What is irritating is this constant echo from people outside of our community disseminating their half-baked observations like they are providing a revelation. You are definitely not informing me of anything

"I'm going to a small college right now. The college is built directly adjoining the low income housing units. While the low income housing units have a long waiting list, the college suffers for enrollment. Virtually all of these families qualify for full Pell, yet most of them won't bother to walk 300 feet to improve their situation."

Please stop being myopic about the situation and take a more comprehensive view which is comprised of all of the variables. If you are not academically qualified to be in college the opportunity can exist all day long us, but we will not be able to take advantage of it. A portion of those in the community that you refer to have acknowledged this about themselves, and know that enrolling in a college that does not have proper remedial programs is simply a waste of their time and energy. Others are working two and three Mc-jobs to pay bills and support their families, they cannot afford to quit even one job to go to school. You need to canvass that community and take a survey of their situations before you assert that culture of laziness and apathy is endemic. The mistake is to characterize the whole group based on the profligates you see on the corner everyday.

on Sep 16, 2007
"I just wish you had read the full article, though. You'd have seen paragraphs like this:"

Dude those two patronizing paragraphs do not make up for the fallacious mess you wrote before them.
on Sep 16, 2007

Dude those two patronizing paragraphs do not make up for the fallacious mess you wrote before them.

neither does your condescending attitude.  You have your set prejudices and nothing is going to change your mind.  You cant even get Walter E Williams name right.

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