Ok, this may be a hot topic and this may or may not label me as a racist. It is easy these days to label people as racists because, for example, blacks will say; “You have not lived in my shoes and experienced racism.” This is true to a point. Mexicans also experience racism and so do almost all ethic groups. Except white isn’t considered an ethic group but within the next 50 years, whites will be a minority.
Why am I bringing this up? Well, being white and raised by a father who was truly racist, I have had a hard time coming to terms with my inner feelings. Sure, I have looked at a group of black kids on a corner and thought; “There is a bunch of thieves and thugs up to no good…” but have never said the same about a group of white kids.
My dad was horrible when it came to blacks and today I am ashamed of the mindset he had. Rest his soul. But, and this is a big but, my wife grew up in the south end of Peoria, we bought a house in the south end of Peoria and my sons went to the schools in the south end of Peoria. As many know, the south end these days is mostly black. My kids did not grow up with the racists mentality I had. They learned to judge people for who they were and not from the color of their skin. It shows in how they act today now that they are grown. They have taught me a lot about tolerance and my lack of it. Who says you can’t learn from your kids.
I have also learned through the years, sometimes the hard way, that you simply can’t stereotype people on the color of their skin. It just doesn’t work. My boys went to schools where they were the minority in their classes and as they grew, they didn’t harbor the stereotypes and the race problems I did when I was growing up. I know this works both ways as I am sure that black kids growing up in my era were told not to trust whitey either by their fathers who really experienced racism. It wasn’t that long ago we had black and white water coolers and white lines painted on the floor of the bus.
What brought me to this tribe I am writing today? Well, a post over on Billy’s site and a comment made by a local blogger that happens to be black. She has a blog named Emerge Peoria.
What Billy was bitching about this time, and no it wasn’t Aaron Schock, it was the fact that the paper or the police seem to include the words “black males” when reporting on crime, like that term was not needed. Emerge posted this comment to the post saying that her granny listens to the scanner and this seems to sum it up:
"Whatever is going on, they only describe a “black male”. They never give the officers any other description of the other people involved, just the “black male” description."
I disagree as I too listen to the police scanner and while they do say “black male(s)” they also provide a description of clothing and hats or whatever. I am saying that sometimes, maybe we don’t hear what we want to hear and others hear what we want to hear. Does that make any sense? I am saying that they do use the term; “black male” a lot.
Yes, I look in the paper and I see black males been arrested, the latest a Manual basketball star for drugs who at one time had everything going for him….then I hear that two black males tried to rob a pair of golfers and then I hear a black was shot by a black outside of a grocery store. From my point of view, it seems that the crime in Peoria is mostly blacks on whites, blacks on blacks, and blacks on anyone else.
Please…help me understand. I know whites commit crimes. In fact, you can be of any race and commit crime but why does it seem that the black community is waging war on everyone else?
Is this really the white elephant in the room or is Billy merely spouting off about the use of race descriptions in the news?
Because I am wondering about this, does this make me racist? Can Emerge set me straight if indeed I need to be set straight? Or…is Billy simply pandering to his audience in this case?
25 comments:
Randall,
I don't consider myself an expert on who is/is not a racist.
You are correct in that they do usually describe the hoodie or t-shirt the person may be wearing.
There is no denying that black males are committing crimes and they wear hoodies and t-shirts.
I think there is a cumulative effect. In and of itself identifying skin color when trying to locate a criminal isn't offensive.
However, I have looked at my own habits and practices when referring to "my fellow man". For example, if I'm in line at the grocery store and some crazy shit goes down with the lady in front of me, do I share that story by starting off "There was the black lady in front of me at the store..."? Why would I do that? I really feel that I'm not a person who uses race as a yardstick but when I preface stories and refer to skin color, although I don't think I'm being racist, I'm certainly not advancing the notion that skin color is irrelevant. And, maybe, when I share a story an include race, I'm not considering my audience...maybe my offhanded inclusion perpetuates ill will in the person to whom I'm speaking.
For me, it's like this...I would never intentionally do anything or say anything that would perpetuate stereotypes or ill will about race. But do I go out of my way to make sure that I don't?
My husband doesn't go out of his way to annoy me by not putting his socks in the laundry hamper....but he also doesn't go out of his way to NOT annoy me by making sure they end up there. You know? (And of course, racism and my husbands dirty socks are not anywhere near being on the same plane). I think we SHOULD go out of our way to promote equality. It doesn't exist just because I say (or anyone says) it does.
Do I feel more afraid if I see a bunch of black teenagers ambling about than I would if there were the same number of white teenagers? Not anymore. Actually, right now, in my personal life, I see waaayyyyyy more teens with white skin committing crimes and being stupid than I do black kids.
As an outsider or relative newcomer to this community, I see that there IS an elephant in the room. Is Mr. Dennis pandering to his audience...duh. Do those of us who have no idea what it's like to be in the minority sometimes have trouble walking the walk while we talk the talk? Hell yes.
Because I "happen to be black" and most crimes are allegedly committed by BMs am I in any less danger of being a victim of crime than a Rix or a Randall, I don't think so. Do I have to rationalize my fears, of course, just like any other citizen who simply wants to live a life in a city free of crime?
Personally, I don't care what race or age you are, if you look or act shady, I will be avoiding you. BM, AM, WM, WF, BF, AF, MF, MM, whatever.
I'd pay $5 to see the deleted comment and know who wrote it.
Heh.
Because I "happen to be white" do I feel any more danger of being a victim of a crime than Emerge? No. I'm an East Bluffer and if I'm approached by three black youths or three white youths while working in my yard, I would feel equally wary of either of the young men's intent. It is hard to remain non-baised, however, when most of the reported "high profile" crime in Peoria is committed by African-American males,and I am reminded of it by my morning paper. But...I remain non-biased!
Um. I see that Emerge wrote the deleted comment and re-wrote it below. She probably had some typos to fix. What a concept.
Ah ... my mistake.
In the collection of a desciption of a purpatrator of a crime, race is important. If a white female commits a crime wearing tan shoes with pink shoelaces, It would not be effecive for an APB to be aired that did not include these pieces of information. The same holds true for a black male wearing a hoodie and baggie pants. The Police need to know what they are looking for in order to be effective. This is not racist this is common scence.
I also listen to the police scanner and quite frequently hear the term "Black Male". But they also give the description of what the person is wearing.(THEY ALWAYS GIVE WHAT THE PERSON IS WEARING. ALWAYS). How is there any other way to describe what color a person is that officers need to know when they are looking for whoever committed the crime? If it is a white male, they say "white Male". If is is Asian they say "Asian Male". duh. (A big F@@king duh that is!) There is no other way to say this, but the term "black Male" is used frequently because blacks are the ones mostly doing the crimes. No if, ands, or buts about it. Not racist, just the facts.
phxwolf2: Not a surprising comment from someone who lists "white pride" as an interest in his Blogger profile.
Didn't all you assholes leave Peoria when Matt Hale got sent to federal prison?
There's a difference between specifying race on a police scanner and listing the race (with no other identifying characteristics) in the newspaper. The first seems totally acceptable, the second is definitely questionable.
@ Grannies now listening to scanner:
Call to WalMart on Allen Road, Adult Female, shoplifiting, no trouble.
Is that enough info for the officer? Why no other descriptors, race, clothes?
This is the norm, if the crime does not involve a BM.
Sorry Emerge it is NOT the norm. The officers/dispatchers are repeating what they are told from the victims/witnesses. Maybe the Walmart employee who called in the crime only knew that it was an adult woman. So please give me a break and quit assuming something when you don't know what is going on w/ the crime.
Neal
Gee Neal, okay.
Billy,
Any other race on God's green earth can have pride in their race, but you can't if you are white? OK. I have met many people like you in my life and the best thing to do is just ignore you. So I will not waste anymore space here or anywhere else regarding the likes of you. And Yeah Billy I am probably the biggest asshole you could imagine.
Maybe because white happens to be your skin color and not your race?
phxwolf2: And Yeah Billy I am probably the biggest asshole you could imagine.
Oh, get over youself, Daisy. You aren't the biggest asshole I've had to deal with this week.
Oh Randy. Don't you worry your pretty little self. No one would finger a lefty union lib like you as a racist. Afterall, you voted for Obama, right-o??
Emerge... do the human race an enormous favor and pour yourself a nice tall glass of shut the fuck up. Enough already with the played-out racial blame game.
It is law enforcement protocol (when applicable) to identify the unidentified by the basics, and physical features such as skin color and gender are obviously key attributes.
If hearing the description "black male" is that routine to you, it's because the men and women in uniform are aware that black helicopter type conspiracy hysterics like Emerge are attentively tuning in looking to be offended. Can you hear the black helicopters in the distance?
Sad, but true, crime in Peoria is committed mostly by blacks -- from the muggings on city streets and golf courses, to the string of armed robberies at area businesses, to this years homicide count. Head over to crimemapping.com to see the lastest data, and tell me who populates the majority of these high crime areas.
Hey Capt! As always it's not great to hear from you and your hate spew. First, I am a lefty and no, I don't think I am 100% pro union, even my own union has done some dumb things and Yes, I voted for Obama. After all I voted with a huge majority of the country and after Bush, what choice did we have? Besides, Obama was simply the best choice.
Please, when you attack a person like Emerge, you are showing the racist side of your own self.
A comment like yours makes me think that you are a white right winged non think for yourself idiot that sits in a dark room in his underwear getting off to Hannity and Limbaugh.
Don't you like perception? You use it enough.
Listen to the racist who has the temerity to call me a racist. LOL!
Typical response from an Obama-ite.
Randypoo, would you be so kind as to find one quote verbatim of mine that brands me as a racist?
What you are referring to can simply can be translated as Captain Smartass helping Randy face himself in the mirror.
I quite consciously made your exact argument but rather in an abbreviated and coherent manner, Cowpoke.
That I cite cold hard factual data to support my point hardly qualifies me as a racist. You keeping drinking that Flavor-aid, Bubba.
Feel free to share with the class the recent gunplay incident you narrowly missed last week in the hallway of that apartment complex on MLK drive.
Are you color blind, baby?
Capt. If you look at the very bottom of my site, you'll see the "sitemeter" icon. I pay a small fee to get IP addresses and for free they offer hits etc etc. I know that you used Google to find my site and I know you need to update IE7. I know how long you stayed. Since you mentioned something only a few people know about, I now know who you are.
If you could grow some balls, you would just face me at work but you hide behind a name and a keyboard. That's OK as I take your comments for what they are worth. Nothing. I thought you were a better person but I guess I am wrong and you are as two faced as they get. Go hide.... I won't tell who you are but I do know now. Something else you said in your comment confirmed for also.
BTW, what does Obama have to do with any of this? Talk about drinking cool-aide. I always thought you were a "little" person and now I know it.
If you actually pay sitemeter money, I'd demand a refund, if I were you.
A quick check of my browser's help file shows v7.0 (7.0.6001.xxxxx to be exact.)
Ever since Sitemeter's migration rollback last year, things haven't been the same. It appears their attempt totally fucked up their appVersion engine detection. This would explain why you can't accurately detect my browser's version.
Now, quit being a crybaby with the adolescent diversion tactics and stick to the issues I've raised ... if you can....
I check Emerge's blog on a daily basis just to see if she has posted something new. I find her to be a refreshing voice of reason. Whether it is the neighborhood, the schools or issues of race, she seems very objective.
I call the police on occasion and dispatch asks "what were they wearing?" I usually try to remember what the shoes look like or if there is something about the marking on the trousers. Red T-shirt and baggy jeans will not help much.
Captain, yes IE7 is what is said and yes it gave the exact version. You should go to 8 but I'd have to say fuck you. I could care less what you have to say now that I know who you are...
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