BLM

[justford]

I heard a friend say he was more racist now than before all the BLM began. This is a man that I would never consider racist as he has black friends, works with black people and has black family members. Maybe he just meant he looked at black people a little differently now. Wonder how many more are out there with the same feelings??

[Dwight Schrute]

Maybe you ought to reconsider what you’d consider racist. Having black friends doesn’t mean you aren’t.

I had a black roommate in college who was and is a good friend of mine but it still took me years to realize I was guilty of applying negative stereotypes to people of color.

[justford]

Maybe you ought to reconsider what you’d consider racist. Having black friends doesn’t mean you aren’t.

I had a black roommate in college who was and is a good friend of mine but it still took me years to realize I was guilty of applying negative stereotypes to people of color.

I think that one of the real issues is what is the correct or acceptable definition of racist? Seems like it is something that can’t be defined with one blanket definition.

[40bill]

Maybe you ought to reconsider what you’d consider racist. Having black friends doesn’t mean you aren’t.

I had a black roommate in college who was and is a good friend of mine but it still took me years to realize I was guilty of applying negative stereotypes to people of color.

That's a good point. However, are anyone us comfortable walking in some areas of our cities that are predominately black and have a history of violence? Does that translate into racism? There are those same type of areas that are predominantly white with the same issues, and are we comfortable in them?
if we do not go to an otherwise all black church, does that make us racist or is that simply a question of culture? Or both?

[40bill]

Back to the sports teams....most of us had questions when we were college aged. Part of being a free nation is the right to express those questions or opinions.
the only request I would have is it be a discourse, not a screaming match insulting intelligence or moral character. If these young people do join in true discourse, yay... we're all the better.

[Dwight Schrute]

I think that one of the real issues is what is the correct or acceptable definition of racist? Seems like it is something that can’t be defined with one blanket definition.

Well to be clear I have no reason to think you meet the classical definition of a racist where you believe whites are the superior race.

But it’s entirely possible that one perpetuates behaviors -
unknowingly - that are sorta problematic where they may give the benefit of the doubt about something to a white person that they wouldn’t for a black person. I notice poor white people get discussed differently than poor black people, especially as it relates to drugs or government welfare assistance.

So I don’t believe overt racism in believing whites are superior to other races is as prevalent these days as the more subtle kind where we presume negative behaviors or express surprise at a black kid that does well in school or something.

[Dwight Schrute]

That's a good point. However, are anyone us comfortable walking in some areas of our cities that are predominately black and have a history of violence? Does that translate into racism? There are those same type of areas that are predominantly white with the same issues, and are we comfortable in them?
if we do not go to an otherwise all black church, does that make us racist or is that simply a question of culture? Or both?

To be honest with you I have felt safer in Avondale in Cincinnati (predominantly black) than I have in Covington or Latonia in northern Kentucky (largely white). When I worked near Avondale I was largely left alone.

My wife and I looked at houses in an “up and coming” part of Covington that I later saw on an episode of Cops. The only time I’ve ever felt unsafe was in a trailer park on the south side of Louisville when I was 26.

But avoiding bad parts of town doesn’t make you a racist, but what can be problematic is when you start assuming the worst of someone because of where they’re from or presume a behavior of them because of it.

My aforementioned roommate was a trombone major at UK. He told a story once where his professor introduced him to a potential student by saying “this is *roommate*, he’s one of our students. He’s one of three minority students in the school. Good student though.”

That kind of stuff is more common these days.

[J.Jennings]

I heard a friend say he was more racist now than before all the BLM began. This is a man that I would never consider racist as he has black friends, works with black people and has black family members. Maybe he just meant he looked at black people a little differently now. Wonder how many more are out there with the same feelings??

What I been saying, people who are not racist are sick and tired of being labeled or categorized as a racist. The fallout from this further divides, not everyone on board with us...

[40bill]

I agree....calling someone a hate name or categorizing them as one certainly doesnt help calm any waters.
there are those that truly believe this is the only way.

Time will tell.

[Lighthouse]

That's a good point. However, are anyone us comfortable walking in some areas of our cities that are predominately black and have a history of violence? Does that translate into racism? There are those same type of areas that are predominantly white with the same issues, and are we comfortable in them?
if we do not go to an otherwise all black church, does that make us racist or is that simply a question of culture? Or both?

I worked as a debit insurance agent in the West end and Portland areas of Louisville for 21 years. Most of my clients were friends and very good people. The majority were black with more white in Portland. I have no idea how it is now but back then the majority of folks I came in contact with were good honest hard working people. I felt safe for the most part until it got late and I had calls to make in the projects. I ate many meals in homes that were clean and well kept and most folks were like friends. Now that wasn't the case in every home, especially in the projects.

[Westtncat]

There's bad and then there's bad. Trying venturing into the wrong part of'Memphis on any given night. That being said I used to make runs for work to a local city. There was a certain occasion where a black co worker was with me. He would not stop for gas at particular places in town because of the danger. It was predominately black side of town. It's not racist to avoid danger It's smart.

[TrueblueCATfan]

I believe black lives matter just like I believe white lives matter and yellow lives matter and red lives matter, But I do not support BLM.

AMEN...I feel the same way Steve

[TrueblueCATfan]

Just tired of hearing all of it.

Me too..I live in Louisville and it is far from over......

[SCBlu]

.....The BLM protests started in a good place and have gotten real bloated over the weeks and months. But also the response to those protests has gotten completely out of hand. Americans always overshoot the target by so much because we get so emotionally wrapped in these issues--and because we're so damn partisan that we refuse to bend at all. On anything. Ever.

Not sure BLM even "started in a good place." I cannot support an organization that professes "Pigs in a blanket, Fry'em like bacon", and "What do we want? Dead cops. When do we want it? NOW" . Those chants occurred 4 years ago and to my knowledge, the BLM organization has never disavowed those horrible chants. Add the undisputed fact that BLM's Mission Statement includes wanting to "disrupt the Western-prescribed nuclear family structure," and it's incredulous to me that anyone would support such an organization.
Do Black lives matter? Absolutely. Do I want our police to die, or our nuclear family structure disrupted? Absolutely not!

[SCBlu]

When I was a part time staff member at the Cabbage Patch and again when I coached teenagers there, I saw first hand why the protests are happening and necessary. Way to many kids of all colors are made to fend for themselves because there is no father in their house and the mother just doesn't care enough to raise them right. Not all, but way to many. These families are stuck in poverty and they feel there's no way out. And then when these kids are in school, they rebel at any form of discipline which causes more issues. Then when a obnoxious police officer comes on the scene and suspects them for anything and shows them no respect, they rebel at a higher level. The fact that there are slaves in their past really has no bearing on how and why they feel the way they do, it's just a reason to hang on to. We all need to listen to the peaceful protesters and hear what they say, but there will always be those who want to stir up trouble and do as much destruction as they are allowed to do. A peaceful protest is legal and necessary, but destruction and killing should be stopped.

Thanks Lighthouse.