Racial sensitivity

In recent years... I'm not sure if it's due to social media or what but... it seems that more and more young black men are being killed while the assailants, clearly using excessive force, walk free.

Our 10th planet fan is very diverse. All colors and creeds. I assume up front that no one is racist... Overtly or subconsciously without realizing it.

In the wake of the Tray on case, I feel it somewhat necessary to warn my brothers about subtle racism so that you are not a victim or transgressor.


About me:

I'm a white looking Hispanic who has lived in rich and poor areas. In rich areas I was discriminated against. In poor areas, namely black neighborhoods, I was given a pass. I've been on both ends of racism. my point is that racism is much more real than people think. It seems people believe it's over because no one is being lynched or fire hosed. But racism has become much more subtle. It's become subconscious. It's been engrained in us. Its economic and cultural. Its handed down to us from our parents. Its been confirmed by some folks who fulfill stereotypes... because those stereotypes have been deemed hate worthy and fearful, while white stereotypes are simply annoyances and inconveniences. We fear the big black man on the sidewalk but don't bat an eye at the hot tempered roided out frat boy who has had 20 bat fights. We fear that some Hispanic kid is going to rob us but don't worry about sue happy neighbors looking to make a quick buck off of you.


I know that my white 10th planet bros have worked their assess of to get to where they are so they might be skeptical that things are harder for people of color. But I promise you, white privilege is real and darker skinned folks not only have to deal with all the crap you do, they have to shoulder the burden of everyday racism; both subtle and overt. I have literally experienced both sides.

My point: Don't diminish their experience until you've walked in their shoes. I'm sure most of you have lived a hard life. I'm taking nothing away from that. But black people (and other minorities) have to deal with the same issues, PLUS the burden of racism. All I'm saying is, try....try...at least try to be sensitive.

If you can be sensitive to people with disabilities, you can be sensitive to people who are economically and socially disadvantaged.

Yes, Tray on was a delinquent. Some of the media villifies him for smoking weed. Half of 10th planet smokes. He is a villain for fighting in and outside of school. I'm sure half of us have had our fair share of fights in and out of school. But did we deserve to die? Of course not. And thats something real to consider. A horrible dangerous thug didn't die. A young, impressionable teen was profiled, confronted, and killed. Legal technicalities aside; we know that this kid didn't need to die.

None of you may think like white supremecists, but there are forces in play that are very much about that. Who makes up the prison population? Who has the poorest schools? Which neighborhoods are the most impacted by drug abuse?

Again, I'm not saying to give anyone a pass. In the end we are all responsible for our choices. I'm just saying to be sensitive because for some people, the choices are either very limited, difficult, or altogether unknown.

Ask yourself: how is it that a culture that fought for equal rights and equal education slowly degraded? Why is education and hard work no longer respected as much as it once was? And why are the schools getting bigger police budgets, yet cutting actual educational budgets?

I worked in loan modifications for the biggest bank in America during the height of the mortgage crisis. Guess who had the most sub prime loans. Black and Hispanic people. Guess who got the most foreclosures. Yeah. Hell of a coincidence. In a country where wealth is power, and owning a home is the dream, what better way to set back a people who are catching up? Ruin their financial status. Believe what you want. I'm just displaying facts.

Racism, along with political parties, is just another way to divide and conquer. Truthfully, we are all being taken advantage of. The sooner we see it and unite insured of fight, the sooner we might actually be able to work forward change for all.


The promise of wealth is an illusion. People will literally ignore the suffering of others as long add they feel comfortable believing that they will suffer less. But the thing is, if they are willing to do it to minorities, they will do it to anyone. Don't ignore other's suffering and cling to your comfort. Injustice is injustice regardless of color.

http://youtu.be/vX_Vzl-r8NY

This video is a bit hackey and exaggerated, but it does add some perspective.

Much love. I'm done for tonight.

David I am not discrediting any of what you said I just wanted to put it out there that white people are just as much victims of racism as any other race. Believe that, I was jumped by 13 black folks when I was 14 in a movie theater lobby, and it was simply because I was white. Sadly for them I knew how to fight and most of them didn't lol.:cool:

I think its a bit misguided to believe that the solution is to direct white people to be more sensitive to racism, when they are a victim of it themselves.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by David Rosado

I worked in loan modifications for the biggest bank in America during the height of the mortgage crisis. Guess who had the most sub prime loans. Black and Hispanic people. Guess who got the most foreclosures. Yeah. Hell of a coincidence. In a country where wealth is power, and owning a home is the dream, what better way to set back a people who are catching up? Ruin their financial status. Believe what you want. I'm just displaying facts.

---

If you get a sub prime loan its typically because your credit is bad. If you pay your bills on time, your credit will be good.
If you pay the bank what you agreed to, they wont foreclose on your house. Those are facts. You try to make it sound like the bank wants people to not pay their bills just so they can ruin the lives of a minority.

that cartoon was funny. I grew up hispanic living in NY in an all white neighborhood and the only people that messed with my family were the adopted vietnamese kids that lived up the street. I went to a shitty school district and I busted my ass to get good grades and stay away from dumbasses looking to get into trouble. I graduated with honors and went to college and have a decent job a home and married with kids. People that dont succeed its usually cause they messed around too much in school and felt like victims of society. Screw that make your own fate

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Brandon Woolsey

David I am not discrediting any of what you said I just wanted to put it out there that white people are just as much victims of racism as any other race. Believe that, I was jumped by 13 black folks when I was 14 in a movie theater lobby, and it was simply because I was white. Sadly for them I knew how to fight and most of them didn't lol.:cool:

---

I'm definitely aware of racist attacks toward white people. But there are situations like that, and there is systematic racial oppression for which there is real evidence of.

Are you aware that Martin Luther King Jr's family won a civil case against the government because they were able to prove the governments involvement in MLK's assassination?

Are you aware that the CIA flooded poor neighborhoods with crack to fund a "secret" war?

There's racism, then there is systematic oppression. Slavery, segregation, poverty, etc....we all deal with problems. But you don't have to deal with systematic oppression.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Tom Carbone

I think its a bit misguided to believe that the solution is to direct white people to be more sensitive to racism, when they are a victim of it themselves.

---

THE solution? No. Part of the solution, yes. Again, the kind of racism you may deal with is not the same kind that black folks deal with.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Tom Carbone

If you get a sub prime loan its typically because your credit is bad. If you pay your bills on time, your credit will be good.
If you pay the bank what you agreed to, they wont foreclose on your house. Those are facts. You try to make it sound like the bank wants people to not pay their bills just so they can ruin the lives of a minority.

---

Sounds like common sense right? You would think everyone just simply knows how to build credit, right? Problem is, many responsible people go well into their 30s paying cash only. But paying your light bill, rent, cell phone, Internet...paying this on time doesn't build credit. So it's not always bad credit. It's insufficient credit history.


For others dealing with a check to check mentality, poverty and minimum wage jobs, it's not 100% realistic for everyone to have perfect credit simply by paying bills on time. When you're forced to choose between paying your light bill, or a cell phone when your hours got cut....getting medical bills sent to collections that you can't afford.

It sound simple. But it's not as simple for everyone.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Eric Perez

that cartoon was funny. I grew up hispanic living in NY in an all white neighborhood and the only people that messed with my family were the adopted vietnamese kids that lived up the street. I went to a shitty school district and I busted my ass to get good grades and stay away from dumbasses looking to get into trouble. I graduated with honors and went to college and have a decent job a home and married with kids. People that dont succeed its usually cause they messed around too much in school and felt like victims of society. Screw that make your own fate

---

Partly true. But you grew up in a white neighborhood. You were able to look around and see success. People that don't succeed don't always know HOW to succeed. If their example of success is a neighborhood of drug dealers, guess what? Your neighborhood, and your parents were examples of hard work. You followed that.


I'm not trying to offend anyone. Just trying to give you a chance to at least try and see things differently. Victim blaming is not the answer. Apathy is not the answer. Willful ignorance is not the answer.

david, ia gree there is racism everywhere andthat it affects black people asian people hispanic people probably to a higher degree than white people but i truly believe that going into discussions like this all fired up and throwing around generalisations like white people and black and hispanic people only fires up the people and will get them to unecessarily defned themselves. were all brothers and sisters. some of us just have better tans than others. i judge people on their heritage to a point because it allows me to understand them better and when i say judge i dont mean what people often think. i dont negatively judge them. ie thinking theyre black therefore poor etc. i take my first opinion of them and factor that in to what i know of them.

i know you say youre not trying to offend anyone and i think your being genuine but its also about the way things come across. instead of pointing fingers, lets look at solving problems. get to the peace negotiations before we have the war etc.

peace out everyone :D

Lack of community is what I see, i hear alot of senistive and tolerant people everyday but if only your facebook friends and twitter followers see it what hope is there that the black family at the end of the block know how PC and tolerant you are? We need to say hi, not have a dialogue no need to call jesse jackson, just see what s up with your neighbor. maybe they're dicks, well now ya know, dont hang out, but and i think this is more common than we think, i think we can share a story and a laugh a get one more step towards the equality everyone wants. We need to rebuild our community. And as cheesy as it sounds a smile and a motherfuckin handshake go a long way brothers and sisters.

I'm truly not pointing fingers at any of my brothers here. I'm far from riled up. I'm very calm and peaceful. I understand that it can agitate some people. That's not my intention. No one on here is out to intentionally hurt a person of color. And I'm not saying that.

I mean, I guess it's ok to talk conspiracies for everything else. But systematic racism is also a conspiracy. I don't get why it's dealt with differently.

Segregation. Evidence involving the US governments participation in the MLK assassination. The crack epidemic in minority neighborhoods shortly after segregation fell. Systematic financial sabotaging while the wage gap was closing. There's evidence for this. It's about justice. I'm just trying to get people to unite rather than remain divided. A step in the right direction is understanding the other side rather than victim blame.

I sincerely am trying to help. I'm not blaming anyone. I'm blaming a system. I'm blaming subconscious brainwashing on both sides.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by WilliamGunter

Lack of community is what I see, i hear alot of senistive and tolerant people everyday but if only your facebook friends and twitter followers see it what hope is there that the black family at the end of the block know how PC and tolerant you are? We need to say hi, not have a dialogue no need to call jesse jackson, just see what s up with your neighbor. maybe they're dicks, well now ya know, dont hang out, but and i think this is more common than we think, i think we can share a story and a laugh a get one more step towards the equality everyone wants. We need to rebuild our community. And as cheesy as it sounds a smile and a motherfuckin handshake go a long way brothers and sisters.

---

Word. That is definitely a step in the right direction.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by David Rosado

Sounds like common sense right? You would think everyone just simply knows how to build credit, right? Problem is, many responsible people go well into their 30s paying cash only. But paying your light bill, rent, cell phone, Internet...paying this on time doesn't build credit. So it's not always bad credit. It's insufficient credit history.


For others dealing with a check to check mentality, poverty and minimum wage jobs, it's not 100% realistic for everyone to have perfect credit simply by paying bills on time. When you're forced to choose between paying your light bill, or a cell phone when your hours got cut....getting medical bills sent to collections that you can't afford.

It sound simple. But it's not as simple for everyone.

---

I was one of those responsible people who went into their late 20's paying for everything in cash with ZERO credit history. Then I tried to get a small loan for a car and got denied. So I went on the internet and looked up "how to build your credit". It said to get a credit card and pay it on time. That's what I did and now I have good credit. Sounds pretty simple to me.

As for people who have a history living paycheck to paycheck at minimum wage jobs, what the hell are they doing applying for a home loan to begin with? Its not racist to give poor people who are a big risk a higher rate. Its smart business

When you make a statement like this.......
"My point: Don't diminish their experience until you've walked in their shoes. I'm sure most of you have lived a hard life. I'm taking nothing away from that. But black people (and other minorities) have to deal with the same issues, PLUS the burden of racism. All I'm saying is, try....try...at least try to be sensitive."
......How do you think you're coming off?

You say "don't dimish their experience until you've walked in their shoes" but that's exactly what your doing. You say that racism towards minorities is more "subtle and subconscious" which may be true, but that's a hell of a lot better than the blunt in your face racial harassment, robberies, and assaults that Ive had to grow up with. I know its not your intent, but frankly its a bit insulting to have to go through that and then listen to someone tell me that "I" need to try and be more sensitive and that white people don't have the burden of racism. Until you acknowledge that its a problem that comes from ALL sides, your gonna be fighting against people for racial equality, instead of with them

i think we should all try to walk a mile in someone elses shoes, then you're a mile away and have their shoes. :D

thought id throw that in there. seriously though, david, where are the solutions, i think williams idea of building a better community is a good start, but how to do that on a larger scale. atm this thread has been about generalised and then more specific situations where racism has appeared. talking about who has been affected more by racism than someone else is just gunna get us nowhere. to put it bluntly, we need to work together to solve this, not have a cock measuring contest.

put it in other terms, someone puts you in a submission, you dont sit there and complain how they did that, you look to escape. we all know that racism is a problem, consciously or subconsciously but who is going out and changing it? and i dunno if anyone has caught on yet, by changing it i dont mean getting a group together to complain about its existance, i mean, like william suggested, going to their neighbour and getting to know them, learning about others cultures in order to understand where they're coming from even if you dont agree.

one fo the biggest problems with racism is that its too generalised, in saying that black people have it harder than white people, or hispanic people deal with mroe burdens, you are instantly stating soemthing false. its an invalid arguement. all i need is one example to prove (the generalised you not any specific person) you wrong while you need every example to be right in order to prove you right.

sometimes i wish that you were right, cos i would love to be more successful than tiger woods, barack obama. (michael jackson?)

were all family.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Isaac Atley

i think we should all try to walk a mile in someone elses shoes, then you're a mile away and have their shoes. :D

thought id throw that in there. seriously though, david, where are the solutions, i think williams idea of building a better community is a good start, but how to do that on a larger scale. atm this thread has been about generalised and then more specific situations where racism has appeared. talking about who has been affected more by racism than someone else is just gunna get us nowhere. to put it bluntly, we need to work together to solve this, not have a cock measuring contest.

put it in other terms, someone puts you in a submission, you dont sit there and complain how they did that, you look to escape. we all know that racism is a problem, consciously or subconsciously but who is going out and changing it? and i dunno if anyone has caught on yet, by changing it i dont mean getting a group together to complain about its existance, i mean, like william suggested, going to their neighbour and getting to know them, learning about others cultures in order to understand where they're coming from even if you dont agree.

one fo the biggest problems with racism is that its too generalised, in saying that black people have it harder than white people, or hispanic people deal with mroe burdens, you are instantly stating soemthing false. its an invalid arguement. all i need is one example to prove (the generalised you not any specific person) you wrong while you need every example to be right in order to prove you right.

sometimes i wish that you were right, cos i would love to be more successful than tiger woods, barack obama. (michael jackson?)

were all family.

---

I like how you were able to relate it back to JiuJitsu :cool:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Tom Carbone

I like how you were able to relate it back to JiuJitsu :cool:

---

its simple.

jiu jitsu = life,
everything in the world relates back to life.
therefore everything in the world relates back to jiu jitsu.

:D


btw, 2pac had it right,

http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/2pac/changes.html

I just dislike the dividing energy that spreads everywhere when the media pushes racial issues. Seems to bring up many different types of thoughts that are race related that work within a similar frequency that causes division. Seems like old school divide and Conquer tactics from the Art of War used on an energetic level through tv "programming" to keep peoples attention focused on each other... Probably a rich group of evil wizards somewhere powering up off of spreading negative energy everywhere... just kiddin :)

whites are the least racist of all the races...

proof, 72.4% of america is white... 12.6% is black...

and we have obama in the white house, not once but twice...

if whites were as racist as the governemnt wants people to believe, there would never be a black person in the white house..

the government wants us divided..

my 2.5 cents..

later, ron

They did a study in the 60's where they took a bunch of white kids and asked them about different races

Then divided the kids by eye colour and told the blue eyed group they were smarter then the brown eyed group.

They spent a long time insulting the brown eyed group

The two groups started fighting and the brown eyed group preformed much worse on tests because they were told they werent good enough.

The next day they reversed everything and the test scores flipped for the 2 groups

So point is stereotypes actually enforce themselves to an extent, if you tell a group of people they suck and are stupid they loose confidence and fall into there labeled pattern