Sick of Black Racism - MLK day food for thought

One of the best ways to learn about other people, races, cultures is to interact with people from different races and cultures. One of the best kept secrets about being black in NYC was that until very recently it was possible to be a black person in Brooklyn and grow up with zero interactions with white folks outside of the "power structure". This means that while your teachers, policemen, firefighters, subway conductors, judges, etc may have been white it was possible that you did not live near, go to school with, shop from, or interact with ANY white folks that didn't exert some sort of control over you.

For people who grew up in parts of Bed-Stuy, Crown Heights, Bushwick or East NY for example, and who hung out at places like Fulton Mall, Pitkin Ave, Jamaica Ave, etc. interactions with white folks were limited to conversations on the subway and the occasional chance meeting. I know folks, including lots of adults who never left Brooklyn to go shopping or to a movie or to see a girl or guy. They worked in Brooklyn, partied in Brooklyn, lived and died in Brooklyn. In fact, there was so much perceived "beef" that some folks didn't even go into other black neighborhoods in the city.

Fast forward ten years and these folks (and/or their children) are now living in newly gentrified neighborhoods. In many ways its as strange for them as it was for white folks in the 60's and 70's suburbs who got their first black neighbor. And yet, it seems that people are constantly exclaiming how surprised they are by the receptions they receive.

I guess all that I'm trying to say is that you are right, there are probably some folks who look at you askance and think of you as a "cracker". I guess I'm more surprised by the fact that you are surprised by it. Why would you expect to move into a neighborhood that was all black for forty years and then be greeted by people who were comfortable being around white people? And frankly, are you doing anything to make it better? I'm assuming you are a 20-30 year old. Have you tried to make friends with anyone in your neighborhood that is the same age who is black? Or, is your circle of associates limited to other white folks that are just like you?

In answer to your question, I think these folks think that their preconceived notions about white folks are okay for two reasons 1) they don't know any whites who might change their perceptions and 2) the whites they see seem to have no interest in getting to know them either as neighbors or individuals. As long as these divides continue to exist, you'll continue to get the same types of reactions from people.

As for what you individually can do, the reality is that you man up and prepare to fight if necessary or you bite your tongue and walk away.

You are right, but the class issues are so much more complex. I'm not sure that all of the white people that are renting here think of themselves as middle class, but they definitely are living middle class lifestyles here in BK.

Muk wrote: DITTO!

[quote=Flexichick]I am nominating this for "best of Brooklynian" after just 3 posts because I can imagine where this is going :-)

How many posts before name calling?

off topics posts like this not counted, of course.

homeowner wrote: You are right, but the class issues are so much more complex. I'm not sure that all of the white people that are renting here think of themselves as middle class, but they definitely are living middle class lifestyles here in BK.

I think the problem is not so much how whites perceive themselves but how blacks perceive them and I suspect the perception is that all white people moving into Brooklyn are rich or have the potential to be so. Let's face it the status quo for many brooklynians is a welfare state and having enclaves like Park Slope only serves to remind them of how poor they really are.

Subject: Anecdote says WHA!?

I'm confused... you are a white man, and you, as a white man, are drawing the conclusion that black people are more racist than all other people because you, one white man living in a largely black neighborhood, get racist comments thrown at you by black people?

Were you expecting more white people to throw racist comments at you?

homeowner wrote: One of the best ways to learn about other people, races, cultures is to interact with people from different races and cultures. One of the best kept secrets about being black in NYC was that until very recently it was possible to be a black person in Brooklyn and grow up with zero interactions with white folks outside of the "power structure". This means that while your teachers, policemen, firefighters, subway conductors, judges, etc may have been white it was possible that you did not live near, go to school with, shop from, or interact with ANY white folks that didn't exert some sort of control over you.

Thanks for sharing this perspective. I never looked at it from that angle and am awed in the truth of it. It shows me the possible cause for the issues.

Santa wrote: most people are assholes.

its not much of a race thing.

Thanks I needed that. Now back to our regularly scheduled program.

silverager wrote:
Oh and if JAH and Fedup are one and the same person that is either hilarious or just kind of sad, I can't decide which.

Oh, it's pathetic.

Subject: Re: Sick of Black Racism - MLK day food for thought

Obamanut wrote: [quote=fedup]I just want to say that I am sick of being targeted - in ways overt and not - by black people because I am white. It is the the only group that seems to think its okay to be openly racist. (Not all or even most, of course but some). I have been called a pussy, had rocks thrown at me, snowballs, see smiles turn to frown when I walk into stores or businesses. I have been mocked. The super in my building won't even respond when I say hello. I know Asian friends of mine who get called racial slurs. And on and on...

I think it probably has more to do with you being a gentrifier than it does with your color.


I think this is, in essence, the main issue. Notwithstanding that you are just a simple non-confrontational STRUGGLING white person, you are a threat to the very ethno-economic security of the community. You come in, prices go up, older residents must move way, simple structural prejudice (and not some basic color dynamic as fedup wants it to be).

If it isn't that, then you need to do some push-ups and get big.

[/i]

Excellent name for a band: Ethno-economic security threat #1



"On this day, we gather because we have chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord."

"For we know that our patchwork heritage is a strength, not a weakness."

Barack Obama in his inaugural address

Flexichick wrote: [quote=brooklynpotter][quote=Flexichick]

I'm half-expecting Precious Williams to come to the rescue

heh, you took my line.

for a while, I thought nobody was going to get that reference! you have to get here a little earlier to use those lines :-)

I got it, but didn't want to admit it.

This thread will be the one that crashes the board.

Will hit 10,000,000,000,000.

That lovey-dovey bullshit is what it is---bullshit. You want to say something meaningful, how about: We're at a perfect time in our history to take a detailed look at race and the power structure in America, and commit ourselves to rectifying wrongs.

Ezn wrote: DO NOT FEED THE TROLLS!!!

If you do, the terrorists win and baby Jesus cries.

At the rate this is going, baby Jesus sobs non-stop.

[quote="fedup"]I don't have a pot to piss in.

If you did,why would you?

What are you, Irish ?