Dare To Ask Talk And News About Our Differences - This topic has 30 replies, 31 voices, and was last updated 16 years, 3 months ago by
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- I've heard a lot of people question why white people are afraid of black people. But this year alone, I was walking home and a black guy came up behind me, split my head open and took my wallet (he got $30, my hospital bill was $7,000). Also, several of my friends were held up at gunpoint by black men, and I just received an email from two friends who were jumped by two black guys while a crowd stood around and watched, making them assume it was a gang.
My questions: 1) During a conversation, 6 of 8 of us stated we'd been robbed at gunpoint, and all of them were by African Americans. All of the above incidents were done by African Americans. Why do you think that is? It seems really high odds to always be someone black.
2) Am I more nervous around African Americans? Of course. My friends were held up at gunpoint, two others beaten and robbed, and another guy split my head open. This doesn't happen with Latinos who walk by. It doesn't happen with Asians. It doesn't even happen with Somalis. So why is it so hard for other African Americans to understand why people would be nervous?
3) I find myself growing more and more prejudiced, and I don't like it. How do I fight it? I understand that I can't assume everyone is the same. I have close black friends. But my friends don't swear every other word, beg people for change, etc., either. But I still get nervous around a guy wearing cornrows and baggy pants and a 5XL coat, and my assumptions just continue to get reinforced. What is the solution?User Detail :
Name : Anonymous23692, Gender : M, Age : 35, City : Minneapolis, State : MN Country : United States,I understand your fear of black men because of what you've been through. Please know that not all African Americans are like that. I am an Caribbean American woman and non of my male relatives act in this repugnet manner. Maybe it's the area that you were in. That's not to say that what happend to you is acceptable beacuse of that. I want you to understand that there are evil people in every race and just beacuse you don't hear about it doesn't mean that it's not a reality. African American people have been assaulted by Whites since they landed on this continent.User Detail :
Name : Simone28014, Gender : F, Age : 23, City : White Plains, State : NY Country : United States, Social class : Upper middle class,First off, I would just like to say that what happened to you is absolutely terrible and I hope you're ok! Yet, I don't mean to be going against you but I kind of think that there are a lot of stereotypes out there. I understand that this terrible incident has happened to you and your friends only by African Americans, yet I don't think you should simply think that because it happened consecutively to you and your friends that it is the truth. Did all of these incidences happen to occur in really bad neighborhoods? I know that you probably won't agree but I do think that these incidences were coincidences that they were all performed by people of the same race. There is no need to immediately start despising an entire race because of a select few who performed such horrible acts. I think that a answer to your question of why would other African Americans not understand why others are nervous around people of their race is simple, because put yourself in the shoes of these innocent people of that same race. How would you feel if only a select few people of your same background completely ruined your name or your specific background when you had never done anything wrong? People in society ruin it for others. There is no need to automatically pinpoint and exclude people of a certain marginalized group due to stereotypes, which were created for the select 'bad guys' of its group. And like they say, appearance isn't everything, because you can see a person dressed in baggy pants and a 5XL coat, yet the one that might have a trigger pointed at your head will be a person nicely dressed in a suit, who you thought you could trust and you did, and now your assumptions were deceived when the guy in baggy pants could have been the friendliest person that you have ever met and then ends up saving your life! I guess i'm just trying to make the point that you really shouldn't judge a book by its cover, because you can't anymore in this deceiving world. You can't let your prejudice grow against the African Americans because it is just not fair and you would only be hurting society some more. Prejudice is such an evil trait in this world and slowly, one by one we have to diminish its terrible presence. The less stereotypes and assumptions about people that we automatically make when we see someone for the first time, the better off we will be in this world because the less hate will exist in the long-run.User Detail :
Name : JT26996, Gender : F, Race : White/Caucasian, Age : 20, City : Cortland, State : NY Country : United States, Education level : 2 Years of College,Are you and your friends in the inner city when you get robbed? All inner cities are known for crime. Maybe you just happen to be near one with mostly black people. If you go to another city it could be filled with Latinos or any other race who could rob you.User Detail :
Name : Tela, Race : Black/African American, City : Fairfax, State : VA Country : United States,I thank you for asking your question. I am responding in hopes that you dont become prejudice or racist in any way. there are many factors that affect your situation. Do you live in an area where there is an equal amount of 'races'? I put races in apostrophes because i believe there is only one race, Human. If this is true or if there is a higher population of Black people, then it would be easy to say that there is a higher chance that a Black person would be likely to do anything in your area, save someones life, be the mayor, run the schools, win a competition and yes, even commit a crime. Thats one factor. Next, think about how many times someone that was Black walked by you without doing anything to you. Also, your friends are Black, yet you say that you are scared of Black people. I propose this to you. Please do not be prejudice. Instead see people for their personalities and how they are. Being a criminal is not a characteristic of any race at all. Timothy Mcvae blew up a building, and him being White, do you feel unsafe to be a in a building with a White male? See? So you should be afraid of criminals, not of people of a race. That is racism for one thing, and judging them on how they dress is prejudice. and you sound like a person who wants to stop themselves from being racist and in turn, wrong in life. i hope this helps you out. People should be judged on personality, not whats on the outside. And if they all happen to be Black, then thats just a coincidence and i know its hard for you to think of it like that but you must try. Ask if anyone has ever been robbed by someone of another race, and you'll see that crime doesnt discriminate, so why should you? I'm 17 telling a 35 yr-old this. It should be the other way around, or better yet, we shouldnt be having this conversation at all.User Detail :
Name : Just-another-Human, Age : 17, City : Anywhere, State : NA Country : Everywhere,I just want to say that there are wicked people on both ends of the spectrum. At the same time you are saying this a black person, asian, ect...can be going through the exact same thing. Just because things happen to you and your friends personally who can't blame all blacks. I am sorry to hear what happened to you, and your friends, but every black male/person isn't like that. There really is no way to fight being prejudice-everyone has a prejudice about something. You can step back and pray though, not only for yourself, but for the ones who did this to you and your friends. I would like to talk to you more if that is fine with you. There is some points I'd like to analyze and see how some of this came about.User Detail :
Name : Sir Brian Charles, Gender : M, Age : 20, City : Boone/Greensboro, State : NC Country : United States, Occupation : Student/Teacher/Business Owner, Education level : 4 Years of College, Social class : Middle class,I can see why you would be afraid of black people because of you being robbed at gun point and getting your head split open. I have been robbed by black men and had a gun pointed in my face. I also am a black woman but I don't let it discourage me. Sometimes I feel as though I am becoming prejudice because of something a white person has done to me. but then again you can't just stereotype a whole group of people. Alot of white people rob and steal also. Just put it like this you were at the wrong place at the wrong time. I admit that I am a bit paranoid when I go to the cut and shoot part of town.User Detail :
Name : Karen26757, Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : Black/African American, Religion : Methodist, Age : 26, City : Columbia, State : MD Country : United States, Occupation : Secretary, Education level : 2 Years of College, Social class : Lower middle class,Black males ar between 16 and 21 times more likely than white males to commit violent crime. (varies depending on year, set of data, etc) Considering the high level of violence done by white men, that figure for blacks is shockingly high. That alone is a reson to be careful with balck men you don't know, much as you might with pit bulls that you don't know: they are statistically far more dangerous than their peers of different ethnicity. And as far as the cornrows/5XL look goes, the young ones who dress like this are doing so to affect a 'thug' style. I'd say this makes them even stronger candidates for the possibility of violence. It's not racism, not prejudice, not profiling -- just rational response to a sad societal reality.User Detail :
Name : DH, Gender : M, Race : White/Caucasian, Age : 35, City : SanFrancisco, State : CA Country : United States, Education level : 4 Years of College, Social class : Upper middle class,In a way I think you have sort of answered your own question. Consider this....I grew up in predominantly white community and I caught hell from those people because I was black. I resented them but when I left for college I meant all sorts of descent people and some real jerks too. They came in all colors and I had to draw the conclusion that you just never know what you are going to get just by looking on the outside. I say all this because you state that you have black friends, but they don't engage in undesirable behaviors. So why then are you associating the behaviors you mentioned above with skin color? Lets be honest if I saw someone who looked like scum I would be worried too...there is nothing wrong with being cautious. I think you acknowledging your prejudice is a great first step to fighting racism. If you truly have black friends talk with them and don't be afraid to ask questions. Once we understand one another we can respect one another. After all it only took one white person to change my mind.User Detail :
Name : Ivy21252, Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : Black/African American, Religion : Christian, Age : 24, City : St. Louis, State : MO Country : United States, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, Social class : Middle class,Table 4. - Number of Known Offenders by Race, 1995 Suspected Offender's Race Number of Known Offenders Total 8,433 White 4,991 Black 2,253 American Indian/Alaskan Native 45 Asian/Pacific Islander 211 Multi-Racial Group 318 Unknown 615 Law enforcement agencies reported the number of known offenders for 62 percent of hate crimes coming to their attention in 1995. Among the 8,433 known offenders reported to be associated with hate crime incidents, 59 percent were white, and 27 percent were black. The remaining offenders were of other or multi-racial groups. Maybe we should be scared of you. What happen to you and your friends was wrong and it's sad that we live in a society where there is so much hatred between the races but don't act like the violence is a one way thing.I'm sure you are aware of some of the violence crimes by white men against blacks Dennis Byrd in Texas dragged to death behind a pick up truck,the man in Florida dosed with gasoline and set on fire and many others both past and present.There are evil people in this society of all races,if you only look at one race you will create a bais in your own mind. The human being that hit you in the head was one of those evil people the color of his skin does not matter. The solution be careful we live in a hate filled society. JahblessUser Detail :
Name : K, Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : Black/African American, Religion : Rasta, Age : 33, City : Dayton, State : OH Country : United States, Occupation : Technician, Education level : 2 Years of College, Social class : Lower middle class,i dont know if there is a solution. My brotehr was attacked by a huge grop o asian boys. He was then beaten up in school by abour 10 white guys. My brother is mixed race. I have otehr friends who have been held at gunpoint by white guys and black guys. currently my brther is afraid of walking past a group of asian guys. He associates them with the violence he endures. Its natural, but i believe that u r incorrect in assuming that latinos, asians, and white people do not commit crimes against otehrs, because they do.User Detail :
Name : Lee22834, Gender : F, Age : 20, City : London, State : NA Country : United Kingdom,I often ask myself the same questions in regard to white men.Where I live I am truly afraid to go pass the white men who hang on the corner or if they are hanging out in the parking lot getting high or drinking. In my past I have been called racst remarks, my purse have been snatched and been pushed to the ground by white men. I think this country has a problem in education and employment so we turn on our own. I truly fear white men but I am trying to realize that not all white men are racist or robbers. I hope you can try to see that not all black men theives or violent beacuse 99 percent of them are great men.User Detail :
Name : A-Williams, City : Philadelphia, State : PA Country : United States,Strange. Anyways, try talking to someone about your problems with this( a professional, mind you!!). Its great that you are trying to avoid being prejudiced but concider this: where are you when you ( or your friends) get robbed? There are some places not even blacks go for fear of robbery. What time of day are you out, ( dusk/night are obviouly not the best times to be out on a busy/dangerous street). Obvioulsy parks after dusk and dark secluded areas are dangerous, esp. in questionalble cities/towns. I hope that helps.User Detail :
Name : kristy26298, Gender : F, Race : Black/African American, Age : 17, City : Hartford, State : CT Country : United States, Education level : Less than High School Diploma, Social class : Lower class,I will try to answer you questions as best as I can. First you must understand that under the circumstances you are only speaking of your experiences so the odds that you state are not as high as you assume. There are people I know who have been robbed, beaten and shot, but never by a black person. Does that mean that their odds mean as more than yours? No. everyones experiences mean what they mean to that person. Second, You should feel nervous when black people walk buy because of what you have gone through. Just don't paint all of us with so broad a paint brush. The reason we don't understand is because people are nervous whether we do anything or not. You should be nervous about the man that robbed you not me. I did nothing to you. We want to be held as individuals not as a group just like everyone else. If it had been someone white who had done these things to you would you be saying all white people make you nervous? No, you would hold those individuals responsible. So don't make me responsible for something someone else did to you. Third, I have good friends who happen to be white and they are not elitist, condesinding snobs who long to hold black people down. But there are those people out there and try as I might, as hard as it may seem sometimes I hold them as individuals and not as a collective.User Detail :
Name : Aaron, Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : Black/African American, Religion : Baptist, Age : 31, City : Palo Alto, State : CA Country : United States, Occupation : Customer Service Rep, Education level : 2 Years of College, Social class : Middle class,I'm sorry to hear about the things you and your friends have suffered at the hands of African-American men. I'm not American, but I am black, and even I have a fear of the type of men you describe. My observation has been that many of the guys who dress and act in that way tend to be city-dwellers or live in neighborhoods just outside urban centers. I'm afraid of them, too, and like you, I can't always tell the difference between the few criminals from the majority of men who are just going about their lawful businsess. My own brothers wear cornrows, but they would not commit armed robberies, yet if I didn't know them, I might be scared of them, too. Fear of criminal black men is rampant, not just among whites but among other races, too. Even law-abiding black men fear criminal black men because they can't always tell who will do harm and who won't. No one can tell who's who. My advice to not develop hate for all blacks just because of a few. Don't develop hate for anyone at all. Always be careful around people who you don't know. Crooks and robbers come in all shapes and colors, but it may be that the ones in your area are predominantly black. Also, it's good to know that you do have decent, respectable, black friends. Keep those friends. We all need to maintain interracial communications so that prejudice does not grow.User Detail :
Name : Bella23322, Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : Afro-Caribbean, Religion : Christian, Age : 31, City : Washington, State : DC Country : United States, Occupation : Administrative Assistant, Education level : Technical School, Social class : Middle class,
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