This weekend, I started to do some research on the hate crime numbers in Philadelphia in the wake of the flash mob attacks-as well as the recent incident in Milwaukee. That is because I consider what has been happening in those two cities to be clear examples of one ethnic group targeting another ethnic group. Then, just last night, comes the news of the June 26 murder of a black man in Jackson, Mississippi by a group of white teenagers-2 car loads of them- for no other reason beyond the man's race. (One teen has been charged with murder and another for assault.)
http://www.cnn.com/2011/CRIME/08/06/mississippi.hate.crime/index.html
As one whose mother was a Southerner, I had come to the belief over the past few decades that it was a new South that had put the KKK, lynchings, segregation, and resistance to civil rights behind them. I had come to the belief that race relations between whites ands blacks in the South were as good, if not better, as anywhere else in the US.
And now this.
It may well be true that this could have just as easily have happened in New York, Boston or Chicago. The more important point is that we are going the wrong way again. Blacks attack whites in Philadelphia and Milwaukee, and a gang of white teens attacks and kills a 48-year-old black man in Jackson, Mississippi. One can argue that these are isolated incidents, but it is undeniable that anger is being stoked on both sides when these awful things occur. The damage to our country and our society will be incalculable, as if we needed one more problem.
When James Byrd was murdered several years ago in Jasper, Texas by three white men who dragged him to his death with a vehicle, the local community came together as one to work together. The case was quickly solved and justice was meted out (including 2 death sentences). When Jesse Jackson came blowing into town, he was quickly told by black community leaders that his presence was not needed. They were doing just fine with their white brethren without him. That is what needs to happen now in Jackson.
There are so many issues that need to be discussed between white and black America. They always say that America needs a frank and open discussion on race. I agree. It must be frank and open on both sides because both whites and blacks have legitimate concerns, as evidenced by Philadelphia and Milwaukee. But it has to be always an exchange of words and ideas, not violence.
Milwaukee, Philadelphia and now Jackson, Mississippi have done us enormous damage. I commend Philadelphia mayor Michael Nutter for his actions in dealing with the issue. I think at this time, it would be good for President Obama to play a role in getting people to come together. What that role would be I am not sure, but now might be the time for him to give a speech.
(I can't believe I said that.)
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4 comments:
Not bad at all Gary, but you, like many Americans of many ideological and other persuasions, seem mired in the notion that there are "two sides" that need to "come together." The reason Jesse Jackson wasn't needed in Jasper was that there were not.
Recently, The Economist, a magazine with a warped traditionally liberal perspective but good news coverage, observed that to ignore poverty as one factor in the recent British riots would foolish, but to brush aside other factors would be an insult to all the impoverished residents who did not riot, that is, most of them.
None of the events you refer to are clashes between two communities. They are isolated incidents perpetrated by thugs, who opportunistically make use of race when it is convenient. There is nothing that law-abiding, employed, articulate, ambitious, African Americans are more tired of than being lectured by people who think of themselves as "white" about what "the black community" needs to do about these thugs. They are no more the responsibility of other people who happen to have the same skin color than you and I are responsible for Charles Manson.
Again, you deserve a lot of credit for delving into this in such an open, balanced way, but, perhaps in the same spirit that you asked me to watch use of the n-word, let's try to put racial identification out of the picture once and for all. (People of African descent will of course keep talking knowingly to each other about peach cobbler, the way Russians talk about borscht and piroshki, Irish about Guinness and potatoes, etc.)
Siarlys,
Like you and others, I have witnessed this drama all my life. I don't have the answer. All I know is that slavery was evil and the Civil Rights movement was a great event in our history. Today, what is racism, what is discrimination, what should be done-I don't really know. I just wish to God that we did not have this situation. I often feel burned out on the topic.
I have come to the opinion, however that it is the black community that must remedy the situation in the inner cities. We can't do it and the govt can't do it. I don't like to sound like I am preaching to anybody, but there are no excuses for what happened in philadelphia, Milwaukee and Jackson.
Obama was elected largely because we thought it was a historic opportunity to put some of this behind us. Thus far, that has not happened. I hate to say it, but it may have actually worsened the situation. As much as I am tired of hearing his speeches that mean nothing, I do think this is a great opportunity for him to speak to the nation. Who knows? It might even save his presidency.
To a limited extent, it is true that some of these thugs will pay more attention if the brick to the head comes from someone their own color. But people who could pass for "white" if we still wanted to bother with this stuff need to learn how to talk straight, neither in an overbearing, paternalistic manner, nor with a sense of guilt.
To say that "the black community" must deal with this is to say that "These are your thugs, deal with them." They are not. They are individuals, responsible for their own behavior. That said, plenty of community leaders of African descent know it is in their interest to get things under control. It is rare for a band to go after "white" motorists or picnic parties. It is more common to rob someone their own color coming home from the grocery store, or gang rape a girl who is, again, their own color.
None of them have the delusion they are striking a blow for their race. They are just out to "get mine."
There are, among the African American population of the United States, some who talked about "painting the White House black" when Obama was elected. But most realize that Obama could be elected, whereas Al Sharpton could not. Our president has been walking a fine line every since, and I don't envy him all that he has to deal with.
After reading some more news coverage Gary, I have a distinct impression that this was a bunch of rough, drunk guys out looking for fun who saw an opportunity and went way to far. Once they saw that there was a man with dark complexion in the parking lot, they may well have had thoughts, hey, let's get that ______." Or they may not. But there is nothing so far to suggest that this was an Aryan gang out looking for people of a certain color.
Also, I have a distinct sense that once the tumult of giving up "the southern way of life" was over, race relations in the South ARE better now than in the north. After all, everybody goes to similar churches, eats similar food, talks in similar dialects of English, and has a similar laid-back approach to life. In the south, people of all races were at least used to seeing a bit of each other. Up north the clash between southern and northern plays out as black and white, except where there is a substantial Appalachian population in their own little ghettoes.
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