Is it ok to be proud of your skin color?

[All Else Failed]

You're trying to justify your statements with your "working near a ghetto."

You don't know what it is like to LIVE in a ghetto. Cotton's question was directed to you, after I made the statements I did about how they adopt a lifestyle that goes hand in hand with poverty. You took it as me saying people in GENERAL in the ghetto.

I corrected you by listing - again- that I meant gang bangers.

I work IN the ghetto, not near one.

I'll admit I don't know the full extent of life as an impoverished black person, and neither do you. BUT, you can make good observations by working with them and the like.

 

[Elle]

also, you dismissed my mentioning gang bangin', as a "stereotype." Are you denying this exists, as rampant as it is?

 

[All Else Failed]

also, you dismissed my mentioning gang bangin', as a "stereotype." Are you denying this exists, as rampant as it is?

Gang banging certainly exists, but i don't think the average black lives up to this assertion. Only a minotirty within the community is a full fledged gang member.

 

[Cotton]

I work IN a ghetto as well. Wilmginton Delaware is a HUGE stop on the drug corridor between NYC, Baltimore and DC.

I see plenty working here. I see plenty of people that have no motivation, no ambition, I hear the gun shots, I see the cops, MANY of these people (especially) young males choose to continue this life style.

My wife sat on the jury of a Capital Murder trial. A gang banger walked into a barbershop intending to kill a rival gang banger in the process he shot and killed a 4 year old boy. This was just down the block from where I work.

I'm asked on a daily basis for money by strug out drug addicts, you can see the gang bangers crusing down the streets, the gangs of guys hanging on corners. Yes they are CHOOSING that life style.

 

[Elle]

I work IN the ghetto, not near one.

I'll admit I don't know the full extent of life as an impoverished black person, and neither do you. BUT, you can make good observations by working with them and the like.

Last time you've been in a ghetto?

You answered Cotton with this:

I basically live near one and my work is in it. I'm pretty much there every day.

Pretty much telling us that your statements are facts, because of your working near the ghetto.

I never claimed to know the full extent of their lives within the ghetto. You dismissed my mere mention of these people who CHOSE gang bangin', (thus, in return, CHOSE poverty), as a stereotype. I am educated enough, because I have chosen to learn about it. I've watched a gaziliion documentaries, read books, watched many other shows that report/research these lifestyles in the most uncensored, raw manner. It baffles my mind when people like you say that discussions and statements about blacks and latinos chosing gangs and crime filled lives, is stereotyping!

 

[Elle]

Gang banging certainly exists, but i don't think the average black lives up to this assertion. Only a minotirty within the community is a full fledged gang member.

You're twisting my original statement. You pish poshed away a post stating that people chose poverty. When I repsonded with instances where that is true, you still aren't accepting it. I don't get this.

Gangs are a HUGE, HUGE choice for black and latinos! It's easy for most!

 

[Tim]

I think you two are missing the point...

If you think Black skin = gangs or lazy or violence, then you are racist. Plain and simple.

Discussing gangs and violence in the inner city and relating the fact that majority are African American or Latino is not racist. Yes there is a problem, but that's a whole different topic. But when you make it seem that this problem is because they are black or latino, then once again you crossed the line and are stereo typing by color and nothing more... that's racism.

 

[Elle]

I think you two are missing the point...

If you think Black skin = gangs or lazy or violence, then you are racist. Plain and simple.

Discussing gangs and violence in the inner city and relating the fact that majority are African American or Latino is not racist. Yes there is a problem, but that's a whole different topic. But when you make it seem that this problem is because they are black or latino, then once again you crossed the line and are stereo typing by color and nothing more... that's racism.

THAT is what I am doing. Again, I NEVER mentioned, Ghetto=poverty for a lifetime for ALL. I merely stated the FACTS about gang bangers...

 

[Elle]

Also, my original response was to AEF, because he mentioned how it's preposturous for these people to actually chose poverty. I tried correcting him a bit, by discussing how some DO chose poverty, by chosing to be in a gang.

 

[Tim]

THAT is what I am doing. Again, I NEVER mentioned, Ghetto=poverty for a lifetime for ALL. I merely stated the FACTS about gang bangers...

Those are better suited for a new thread since you talking about social economic issues and not about pride in color...

If you want to start a new thread about your topic, I can move those posts in here to it if you like.

 

[Elle]

Those are better suited for a new thread since you talking about social economic issues and not about pride in color...

If you want to start a new thread about your topic, I can move those posts in here to it if you like.

If YOU'D like to, sure. I didn't intend to start a discussion about economical issues regarding gangs and crime. Even still, I feel my posts were relevant, because they depicted the instances where blacks and latinos act "proud" of their skin types, by their gang choices and their statements and actions resulting from.

 

[All Else Failed]

You answered Cotton with this:



Pretty much telling us that your statements are facts, because of your working near the ghetto.

I never claimed to know the full extent of their lives within the ghetto. You dismissed my mere mention of these people who CHOSE gang bangin', (thus, in return, CHOSE poverty), as a stereotype. I am educated enough, because I have chosen to learn about it. I've watched a gaziliion documentaries, read books, watched many other shows that report/research these lifestyles in the most uncensored, raw manner. It baffles my mind when people like you say that discussions and statements about blacks and latinos chosing gangs and crime filled lives, is stereotyping!

its no secret that some of them do choose to be a part of that lifestyle. BUT, there are many factors that make that choose somewhat reasonable in their situation since they are born into poverty.

You're twisting my original statement. You pish poshed away a post stating that people chose poverty. When I repsonded with instances where that is true, you still aren't accepting it. I don't get this.

Gangs are a HUGE, HUGE choice for black and latinos! It's easy for most!

Do you know why it is easy? Because there is a lot of money in it, and many minorities are so disillusioned with society that they see it as the only way in a lot of circumstances.


Its not like this is a minority only thing...this is more of a class and financial issue than a "racial" one.

 

[Elle]

See... I knew you'd come around...now post in the OTHER thread make specifially for this!

 

[All Else Failed]

See... I knew you'd come around...now post in the OTHER thread make specifially for this!

Keep in mind, when I say "choose" I don't mean them thinking "Hey, I love living in a shit hole and worrying about being shot everyday, I choose to be this way!". When I say "choose" I mean "I'm most likely not going to get out of poverty, so I choose to be in a gang to stay alive and make money".

(this only pertains to those who DO go into gangs, not all)

 

[Elle]

Keep in mind, when I say "choose" I don't mean them thinking "Hey, I love living in a shit hole and worrying about being shot everyday, I choose to be this way!". When I say "choose" I mean "I'm most likely not going to get out of poverty, so I choose to be in a gang to stay alive and make money".

(this only pertains to those who DO go into gangs, not all)

That's totally what I'm saying, too!!

 

[Cotton]

Keep in mind, when I say "choose" I don't mean them thinking "Hey, I love living in a shit hole and worrying about being shot everyday, I choose to be this way!". When I say "choose" I mean "I'm most likely not going to get out of poverty, so I choose to be in a gang to stay alive and make money".

(this only pertains to those who DO go into gangs, not all)

:24:

So..... You're saying they don't even try.. Born into poverty means no one ever succeeds. No one has ever been successful coming from poverty..

Do they come out of the womb wearing red or blue if they're born into poverty.. Give me a break.

Thats a piss poor excuse of a cop out.. Oh I was born in poverty so I'm not even going to try and make a better life for myself. Instead I'd rather just bitch about society, and talk about how everyone owes me something because of this. Maybe I'll just join a gang because I'm so "disillusioned" by society.

 

[Peter Parka]

Thats pretty much how it works with all kinds of poverty and regardless of colour. If you can't see a light at the end of the tunnel, you're more likely to look around for other ways of making money. I'm not saying it's right, it's just an observation.

 

[All Else Failed]

:24:

So..... You're saying they don't even try.. Born into poverty means no one ever succeeds. No one has ever been successful coming from poverty..

Do they come out of the womb wearing red or blue if they're born into poverty.. Give me a break.

Thats a piss poor excuse of a cop out.. Oh I was born in poverty so I'm not even going to try and make a better life for myself. Instead I'd rather just bitch about society, and talk about how everyone owes me something because of this. Maybe I'll just join a gang because I'm so "disillusioned" by society.

Noooooooooooo. Many of them do try, and many of them do succeed. its not like all blacks are lazy because they aren't. You're misreading and not understanding.

I'M saying, that many of them are so disgusted with the system, and so disillusioned that they often see crime and gangs as a alternative to getting out of the ghetto by other means. Its not that they don't want to try, they probably do, its the fact that its just often easier to resort to gangs and the like since they have the idea in their head that society puts into them.

 

[Elle]

:24:

So..... You're saying they don't even try.. Born into poverty means no one ever succeeds. No one has ever been successful coming from poverty..

Do they come out of the womb wearing red or blue if they're born into poverty.. Give me a break.

Thats a piss poor excuse of a cop out.. Oh I was born in poverty so I'm not even going to try and make a better life for myself. Instead I'd rather just bitch about society, and talk about how everyone owes me something because of this. Maybe I'll just join a gang because I'm so "disillusioned" by society.

YES! This is totally true. Ever heard of the term ""Blood Drops?"

This is the newborn child of a Blood and a Bloodette!

If forced sterilization would EVER be justified...

 

[Cotton]

Ah ok that makes more sense.