Henninger: Is the South Still Racist?

[spookyturtle 9,465]

Well darn spook something can get you slapped other than ..... Those were some painful images. It's hard to understand how the crowd looked like they are at a church social. I have to admit as a white southerner I have a hard time dealing with the fact that is part of my heritage. If I am not mistaken one of the pics was taken in my hometown. We are famous for two things..

1. Being at the epicenter of racial violence in the late 70's and early eighties. (and of course prior to that )

2. producing the greatest Tailback that ever played college football.

I have to take up for spooky. His pictures, albit old and not Representative of the new south, are closer to topic than 90% of the junk we all post here.

The smiles on the faces of the onlookers is really sad. Innocent people being hung, burnt alive, tortured etc and it was like a fun day at the park. No different than what goes on in other parts of the world on a daily basis. I posted the pics for shock value, so people would really think about it instead of all of the idiotic insulting replies- which I am as guilty of as anyone here. That is a part of America's not so distant past. While we were out fighting to keep the communist out of Vietnam, we had citizens who couldn't use the same bathroom as a white person, had to stand at the back of the bus, couldn't go to the same school as a whites, etc, etc. A big black eye on a country that defends freedom and equality around the globe.

I get the impression from a few people here that they don't think anything is wrong with the way blacks were/are treated. You had the balls to admit how you felt and why you feel that way. I didn't grow up under the circumstances that you and many others did so I don't know what forced busing and integration caused for problems or what it was like to live through it. It's a shame in my eyes that we ever had the segregation to begin with, but we did. I grew up in the North East and there is racism and prejudice here too, but not as widespread. In my area, there is basically none, but Boston has it's issues like most major cities. Except Vermont, of course.

[spookyturtle 9,465]

This is true too. I know black racists, Asian racists, Hispanic racists. Skin color doesn't determine if someone is a racist.

[We Keep Receipts 9,238]

The smiles on the faces of the onlookers is really sad. Innocent people being hung, burnt alive, tortured etc and it was like a fun day at the park. No different than what goes on in other parts of the world on a daily basis. I posted the pics for shock value, so people would really think about it instead of all of the idiotic insulting replies- which I am as guilty of as anyone here. That is a part of America's not so distant past. While we were out fighting to keep the communist out of Vietnam, we had citizens who couldn't use the same bathroom as a white person, had to stand at the back of the bus, couldn't go to the same school as a whites, etc, etc. A big black eye on a country that defends freedom and equality around the globe.

I get the impression from a few people here that they don't think anything is wrong with the way blacks were/are treated. You had the balls to admit how you felt and why you feel that way. I didn't grow up under the circumstances that you and many others did so I don't know what forced busing and integration caused for problems or what it was like to live through it. It's a shame in my eyes that we ever had the segregation to begin with, but we did. I grew up in the North East and there is racism and prejudice here too, but not as widespread. In my area, there is basically none, but Boston has it's issues like most major cities. Except Vermont, of course.

Too true, my friend(we're friends now since Himher says so, I guess it's because you see us as individuals instead of the criminal element we are) it's a sad part in our history, but I think we've made a lot of progress. We still have a way to go. And it's going to take a lot of work from both sides. the people inside that have to clean up the messes, and the government to streamline programs so folks can't take advantage of the system and make it more productive to work than not. And there are several folks here that believe this would work, but you have quite a few on here that refuse to see anything but skin color.

[spookyturtle 9,465]

Too true, my friend(we're friends now since Himher says so, I guess it's because you see us as individuals instead of the criminal element we are) it's a sad part in our history, but I think we've made a lot of progress. We still have a way to go. And it's going to take a lot of work from both sides. the people inside that have to clean up the messes, and the government to streamline programs so folks can't take advantage of the system and make it more productive to work than not. And there are several folks here that believe this would work, but you have quite a few on here that refuse to see anything but skin color.

There are a few here who only see it as skin color and I truly pity them and those like them. I didn't grow up in the south so I am no expert on what it is like to live there. Where I live, most of the problems are caused by the white kids and most of the crime is by whites. If I am walking down the street and see a black guy, I don't even think of crossing the street to be safe. Now I freely admit that if I was in Boston and I was the only white guy in a mostly black, Chinese, Vietnamese, Cape Verdean area, I would be paying close attention to my surroundings. And there are also areas that I would avoid completely, and some of them are populated by whites. There is trouble in all races, ethnic groups and skin colors.

[Penny Lane 8,159]

BTW welcome back Liberals. Hope you enjoyed the weekend. Odd how most of you only post during working hours.

I can generally only stomach being here if I'm getting paid at the same time.

[Penny Lane 8,159]

Perfect!,

You now qualify as an expert on these matters.

Hey, you were the one who wanted to know where I was from so you could lecture me about the segregation of the city. Too bad you didn't follow through.

[Karee 4,190]

I can generally only stomach being here if I'm getting paid at the same time.

ETA: Thanks for making me feel like I have no life.

Edited April 2, 2013 by Karee

[The Nature Boy 4,224]

The smiles on the faces of the onlookers is really sad. Innocent people being hung, burnt alive, tortured etc and it was like a fun day at the park. No different than what goes on in other parts of the world on a daily basis. I posted the pics for shock value, so people would really think about it instead of all of the idiotic insulting replies- which I am as guilty of as anyone here. That is a part of America's not so distant past. While we were out fighting to keep the communist out of Vietnam, we had citizens who couldn't use the same bathroom as a white person, had to stand at the back of the bus, couldn't go to the same school as a whites, etc, etc. A big black eye on a country that defends freedom and equality around the globe.

I get the impression from a few people here that they don't think anything is wrong with the way blacks were/are treated. You had the balls to admit how you felt and why you feel that way. I didn't grow up under the circumstances that you and many others did so I don't know what forced busing and integration caused for problems or what it was like to live through it. It's a shame in my eyes that we ever had the segregation to begin with, but we did. I grew up in the North East and there is racism and prejudice here too, but not as widespread. In my area, there is basically none, but Boston has it's issues like most major cities. Except Vermont, of course.

I have seen more racism and discrimination than probably anyone on this board. That is why I say with no reservation that most of the problems the black community faces today are self inflicted. I stand by that.

We had a housekeeper growing up. I loved that woman like my own mother. It's funny, that i remember asking as a kid. Why doesn't she eat at the table like the rest of the family.. Why does she go to the back door always ? ETC ETC.

Racism is learned.

[Penny Lane 8,159]

ETA: Thanks for making me feel like I have no life.

Sorry.

[The Nature Boy 4,224]

There are a few here who only see it as skin color and I truly pity them and those like them. I didn't grow up in the south so I am no expert on what it is like to live there. Where I live, most of the problems are caused by the white kids and most of the crime is by whites. If I am walking down the street and see a black guy, I don't even think of crossing the street to be safe. Now I freely admit that if I was in Boston and I was the only white guy in a mostly black, Chinese, Vietnamese, Cape Verdean area, I would be paying close attention to my surroundings. And there are also areas that I would avoid completely, and some of them are populated by whites. There is trouble in all races, ethnic groups and skin colors.

If you lived where I live unfortunately you would be on more of an alert when black people are around. In most settings. Obviosly if you are in a bank, hospital etc you do not even think about it, However if you are on the street and you see the dread locked baggy pants crowd, which is so so prevalent here. You go on high alert.

Sorry it's that way, but that is how it is. That element commits most of the violent crime here. it's just a fact.

Now go up to North ga.. That changes..

I can generally only stomach being here if I'm getting paid at the same time.

BAWWAA now that's funny... I don't care if you are from England

[MyLittlePony 340]

Car jacking.

[spookyturtle 9,465]

I have seen more racism and discrimination than probably anyone on this board. That is why I say with no reservation that most of the problems the black community faces today are self inflicted. I stand by that.

We had a housekeeper growing up. I loved that woman like my own mother. It's funny, that i remember asking as a kid. Why doesn't she eat at the table like the rest of the family.. Why does she go to the back door always ? ETC ETC.

Racism is learned.

I certainly believed it is learned. A kid isn't born with it. We are all exposed to it in some way, some much more than others. But don't you think that some of the problems with the black community go back to the segregation days and then for many other reasons snowballed from there? Like your housekeeper. I'm guessing she was black or a minority since you added the racism line?

[MyLittlePony 340]

Is there car jacking in the south?

[The Nature Boy 4,224]

I have seen more racism and discrimination than probably anyone on this board. That is why I say with no reservation that most of the problems the black community faces today are self inflicted. I stand by that.

We had a housekeeper growing up. I loved that woman like my own mother. It's funny, that i remember asking as a kid. Why doesn't she eat at the table like the rest of the family.. Why does she go to the back door always ? ETC ETC.

Racism is learned.

Darn I was about to tell a story...One story I remember vividly is, her telling me about the time she got a job in the lunchroom, at what was then the white High School. Early 60's. The Klan actually came to her house and threatened to burn it down and kill her if she did not quit.

Is there car jacking in the south?

Do what ??? Does Jim Dandy Make grits ??

[The Nature Boy 4,224]

I certainly believed it is learned. A kid isn't born with it. We are all exposed to it in some way, some much more than others. But don't you think that some of the problems with the black community go back to the segregation days and then for many other reasons snowballed from there? Like your housekeeper. I'm guessing she was black or a minority since you added the racism line?

Yes she was black...

Here is the problem here at least..

Blacks-- are mired in a self destructive quagmire still blaming whitey for all their ills, despite the fact every door in the world is open for them with arms reaching through to help them get through them.

Whites- roll their eyes and say " I never owned slaves" and blame blacks 100% for being where they are today.

The truth is both races are wrong. Whites can't be responsible for hundreds of years of oppression and once it is fixed just walk away like nothing happened. Blacks have got to start taking responsibility for their own communities and not tolerating making the lowest common denominator of society their role models.