Family members and race survey...

[SassyLady]

Most of my family were racist - I say "were" because most of them are dead. I was constantly fighting with my family about racism. But back then it wasn't called racism. It was "sticking with your own kind".

My parents moved the family twice to keep me from going to school with, as they called them "n*****s" and "s***s" (AA and Hispanic). Going into 7th grade we moved because I would not be in an all white school. Then, going into 9th grade moved again. However, we did have 2 exchange students from Jamaica, but I didn't tell my parents. Two out of over 400 kids.

They divorced when I was halfway through my junior year. Had no choice about where to move and I ended up in a school that was almost 50/50 whites and hispanics. Still no blacks.

I think I've mentioned this before ... I grew up in Bakersfield, CA area. A little suburb of Bakersfield was Oildale. Had to cross a bridge to get there. Sign on bridge said "no blacks after sunset". It's still a very racist town.

Google Oildale and read a little bit.

I have racist views .... hate white trash ... or any color trash. I'm also a bigot. Bigot does not tolerate ... I don't tolerate a lot of things, so I'm a bigot.

What pisses me off is people thinking white people are the most racist. Don't have to look to far to realize that blacks hate everyone, hispanics hate everyone, asians hate everyone, middle easterns hate everyone ... racism exists .... everywhere.

[Jeff]

I Have a brother in NY that is a real racist

All kidding a side, my family wasn't brought up to be racist, heck one of my closes friends coming up was black, and then when I started hanging and partying, at least a 1/3 of the crowd was black. It wasn't until I went to work in the city ( Newark NJ ) a mostly black area where I really seen racism, and no it wasn't just the blacks, it was the inner city folks in general. As I wound up hanging up that way and partying I seen more and more racism on both sides.

But as far as family goes, I had a uncle that use to kid my cousins friend (he was black ) about making sure the neighbors didn't see him come in the front door, but where we grew up it just wasn't a big deal, color that is.

[Noir]

I'd say most of my extended family are racist or sectarian.

[revelarts]

... I grew up in Bakersfield, CA area. A little suburb of Bakersfield was Oildale. Had to cross a bridge to get there. Sign on bridge said "no blacks after sunset". ...

There was a sign like that in my hometown in VA as well. But it was completely prohibitive.
"No Blacks beyond this point" it was at the entrance of just the one large neighborhood that ended in a marsh.
sign went away sometime in the 70s.

[Perianne]

There was a sign like that in my hometown in VA as well. But it was completely prohibitive.
"No Blacks beyond this point" it was at the entrance of just the one large neighborhood that ended in a marsh.

It's long gone -mid -late 70s- and plenty of blacks live in the area now.
but you'll find more confederate flags flying in that area than any others in town.
no correlation of course.

I am curious. Why would blacks want to live where they are obviously not wanted?

[revelarts]

I am curious. Why would blacks want to live where they are obviously not wanted?

you opened yourself up to this one perianne.
i've got to let this one fly folks.

"Why would blacks want to live where they are obviously not wanted?"
you mean like AMERICA?

Sadly we're kinda use to it.
Plus MLK and many of us blacks like to think and know that many whites can change and have changed,
plus and not all whites are racist... or at least not so racist as to be a major problem.

Not to mention there were fairly nice homes. some water front property.
the fish don't care if we're black.

[Perianne]

you opened yourself up to this one perianne.
i've got to let this one fly folks.

"Why would blacks want to live where they are obviously not wanted?"
you mean like AMERICA?

Sadly we're kinda use to it.
Plus MLK and many of us blacks like to think and know that many whites can change, and not all whites are racist.

Not to mention there were fairly nice homes. some water front property.
the fish don't care if we're black.

Rev, I meant no disrespect. I thought it was a simple question. There are places here in Lexington where white people are not welcome. The simple answer is to avoid those places. There are plenty of nice places where black people are welcome. I wondered why they would choose one of the most racist places to want to live.

[Tyr-Ziu Saxnot]

you opened yourself up to this one perianne.
i've got to let this one fly folks.

"Why would blacks want to live where they are obviously not wanted?"
you mean like AMERICA?

Sadly we're kinda use to it.
Plus MLK and many of us blacks like to think and know that many whites can change and have changed,
plus and not all whites are racist... or at least not so racist as to be a major problem.

Not to mention there were fairly nice homes. some water front property.
the fish don't care if we're black.

Not to mention there were fairly nice homes. some water front property.
the fish don't care if we're black.

^^^ You see, this is why I like you so much. Made me smile and laugh out loud. Thats a gift/talent you have.
You should cultivate and display it more often my friend IMHO.

Even with our political differences , we still share quite a bit in the attitude department.
Now, if only I could just get ya to come on over into the conservative movement and see the light a tad bit better. -Tyr

[Noir]

I am curious. Why would blacks want to live where they are obviously not wanted?

Jeez, whats the follow up to this? 'Hey Rev - why would blacks want to sit at the front of the bus anyways'

[Drummond]

Jeez, whats the follow up to this? 'Hey Rev - why would blacks want to sit at the front of the bus anyways'

But as I see it, Perianne asked a legitimate question.

Imagine yourself to be black, Noir. Why, then, would you single out a locality to live, where you understood yourself to not be wanted ? Why choose such an area ? For what reason ?

[Perianne]

Jeez, whats the follow up to this? 'Hey Rev - why would blacks want to sit at the front of the bus anyways'

Noir, you are silly. I would never say anything like that. Nor would I think it.

[Tyr-Ziu Saxnot]

Jeez, whats the follow up to this? 'Hey Rev - why would blacks want to sit at the front of the bus anyways'

Not exactly, but you always seem to skew certain comments the way you prefer to read them IMHO.
THATS THE SOCIALIST IN YOU METHINKS.
Sad in my opinion but hey its your life not mine, so carry on.-Tyr

[Kathianne]

Rev, I meant no disrespect. I thought it was a simple question. There are places here in Lexington where white people are not welcome. The simple answer is to avoid those places. There are plenty of nice places where black people are welcome. I wondered why they would choose one of the most racist places to want to live.

It seems simple to me, people should be able to live where they choose to buy, as long as they are able to afford it. In order for this to be fair, they should have the ability to have a fair shot at education and employment based upon their abilities, work ethics, and experiences.

For many that 'fairness' wasn't available. While all barriers have not been eliminated, it's reasonable to argue that enough have been that the time for things like quotas is over. For one thing it smears those that have worked hard to achieve to being a token. It also sets up a culture of victimization for those that don't work hard and gives reason to those that claim reverse discrimination. There really needs to be a limit on what the government should do.

If we assume a level playing field, granted with acknowledging the shortcomings, it's not the minorities that should stay away, it's the people that live there that need to learn that when it comes to buying and selling, it's ability to pay that determines who your neighbors will be.

Here's a clue, if I can afford to buy the house next door to you, we probably have many things in common. We have income that's similar. In order to do that, we likely have similar work ethics and education. We share similar aspirations for our children and their futures. In order for them to have those futures, we likely share instilling the same expectations in their behaviors and achievements. This is true whether one lives in a million dollar home or in a trailer park.

[tailfins]

I'm one of the least racist members of my family. My Grandpa was an active Klansman, my aunt closed her diner in 1961 rather than serve colored people. By the time I was ten, I knew practically every racial and religious slur in the book. However, my hatred for Communists "crowded out" other hates. One can only hate so much!

[Noir]

Imagine yourself to be black, Noir.

I will do no such thing.
Some comments in this thread bewilder the mind.