meloanyk wrote:

holfresh wrote:

meloanyk wrote:

holfresh wrote:

BRIGGS wrote:

Uptown wrote:

BRIGGS wrote:I think this is just a common sense answer from my own personal view point. I think its pretty simplistic. African Americans are responsible for a disproportionate amount of violent crime so the police who are in charge of that area have their "eye" on them much more so than other races. I guess from a cops point of view--he is scared or at a minimum heightened when confronted with the possibility of dealing with a higher source of danger. Remember these guys put their lives on the line every day--so you have to factor in their mindset. I think it really is as simple as that. If black people believe that white people have it out for them--my friends--you are dead wrong. White people green people yellow people--most of us have an every day responsibility of family and we are to busy to think about anything other than immediate issue. If it wasnt for what I heard on TV I probably wouldve steered clear of this thread. I believe strongly that Im a decent and honest fellow and answering questions honestly--even if they potentially offend--although im not trying to do that--is just reasonable back and forth recourse on an issue thats been getting a lot of attention. Its disturbing to hear--as a white person--what I believe is some true deep seeded hatred African Americans seem to have. I dont believe in the hood nor do I believe in excuse of race. If race was such an issue why dont Chinese people complain?

My dad died when I was 8. I went to PS 230 in Brooklyn until I was 10 and moved to a small condo in Ct with my two brothers and Mom. I shared a room with my twin brother for 18 years--two pretty big guys in a small room. I didnt have the money for special sneakers or clothes--and I lived in a town that had some money. The money I had was working a paper route that I had to get up at 6 am before school to do shuffling snow or cutting grass. When i was 15 and old enough to work I worked washing dishes at a Chinese restaurant(maybe the worst job on Earth:) I loved and played all sports--I was tall and ended up being a very decent football player. I dedicated time to work hard on my school work every day--no one told me too--my Mom worked---I took it upon myself to be aggressive and compete on my studies while putting effort into working out working--I mean I had ZERO "privilege" believe me. On top of it I was Jewish--and Ive heard my fair amount of derogatory BS--but I just dealt with it and went about my day--majority of people liked my brother and I. My goal was to play football at Syracuse and become a gym teacher or sportscaster because that is what I loved. I ended up at Uconn and had to pay for my own school and soon found out the difference between being good at sports in hS and college were two different beasts--but I played 4 years and worked hard anyway. I stayed and paid at Uconn for 6 years--all the way to an MBA. I wasnt given a penny for help from anyone in my family--I paid for myself by working in the summer. I ended up in the business side by chance--simply thats what my first roommate was there for--so I went with it as well. I got a very decent job right away in NY after graduating--yada yada 8 years later I dont have to work anymore---some luck there and some cahones--but it was built on hard hard work from a young age with absolutely ZERO privilege. Nothing--so when I hear that I dont get it and I dont personally believe in it. I believe in Obama and thats why I voted for him twice. You have to work hard in this world and those who dont get left behind and bitch. Sorry white people dont hate black people yellow people or green people==really I dont even think about it nor do i care because to me its a non issue.. If I was black and lived in the hood--Id work three F jobs and would get the F out to move my family to a decent place. And those who live there and bthc about it--thats on them--no one in this world forces them to be there. And finally like I said--cut the crime rate down and my bet is a lot of good things will happen.

First off, stop generalizing and painting everyone with a broad brush. The majority of black people who live in the inner-city are decent hard working families and quite a few of them have worked hard and are working hard to move to safer areas and or make their community a safer place to live. Not all white people hate blacks, but to think there aren't whites who do hate blacks, again would be ignorant on your part.

The fact that you are saying the color of a persons skin is a non-issue is either ignorance on your part or denial....Do you agree that there is systemic racism in this country?

Im not--Im telling you what I would do if my kids were subject to living in a bad environment--I would not allow it. If you work hard and bring home a decent check--there is NO reason on this Earth that you have to stay in the inner city? It doesnt even make sense????? Why would anyone stay in a neighborhood if you felt it was dangerous to your kids? I dont believe in racism in 2016 I believe there was once racism now its morphed into an excuse word. Can you explain to me what is racist today? I mean the president is African American--so you think white people are holding black people back these days---sorry I dont believe it and it would be very difficult for you to convince me otherwise. Today racism to me is an excuse word and its a disgrace to use it for those who truly experienced it. There is racists but thats a far cry from anyone holding another race back. If anything I have seen over the last week--AA are far more racist than white people. Sorry but thats what I have witnessed

Please look up the Rockerfeller Drug Laws..Dudes are doing 15-25 for slining crack, which is more prominent in black neighborhoods versus regular cocaine in white neighborhoods...

Rockefeller launched his campaign to toughen New York's laws at a press conference in January 1973 — almost exactly 40 years ago. He called for something unheard of: mandatory prison sentences of 15 years to life for drug dealers and addicts — even those caught with small amounts of marijuana, cocaine or heroin.


Today, Heroin addiction, which is ravaging the white community is now being handled the right way with compassion...Kids are not being put in jail but are now directed to treatment...Care to explain the change??

You might want to read Black Silent Majority or The Carceral State and the Crucible of Black Politics: An Urban History of the Rockefeller Drug Laws
Michael Javen Fortner
Rutgers University-Camden

Abstract
While scholars have illuminated the effects of mass incarceration, the origins of the criminal justice policies that produced these outcomes remain unclear. Many explanations obscure as much as they reveal—in great measure because they either ignore or minimize the consequences of crime. Emphasizing the exploitation of white fears, the construction of black criminality, or the political strategies of Republican political elites, prevailing theories ignore black crime victims. In order to excavate the historical roots of the modern carceral state, this study traces the development of New York State's Rockefeller drug laws. Rather than beginning in Albany, this history focuses on Harlem, a community hit hardest by rising crime rates and drug addiction. Drawing upon a variety of primary sources, this study traces how African American activists framed and negotiated the incipient drug problem in their neighborhoods and interrogates the policy prescriptions they attached to indigenously constructed frames. It describes how middle-class African Americans facing the material threats of crime and crime-related problems drew upon the moral content of indigenous class categories to understand these threats and develop policy prescriptions. It reveals how the black middle class shaped the development of this punitive policy and played a crucial role in the development of mass incarceration.
Correspondence

Crazy talk..It was all part of the Republican strategy to win elections...It began with Nixon declaring a national War on Drugs in 1972 on which Rockerfeller built upon...Bush One had no problem showcasing the Willie Horton ad during the '88 Presidential election...Trump's theme today is making Amreica safe again...Since when has black folks have clout to change laws???

"If you think that everything can be explained by white backlash, if you think the white racial order is somehow omni-present and all-powerful, and is always trying to re-establish itself, then you hate what I do,”

Mr. Fortner and many other black intellectuals have written extensively on that subject. Maybe you can educate yourself by reading up rather than rushing to your default of white conspiricy. The public opinion of black people, black activists and black politicians were all pushing for enacting tough laws to take on the drugs that were destroying their neighborhoods. Know your history before making bigoted statements

Bigoted statements?!?!...Where??

dk7th wrote:

Uptown wrote:

BRIGGS wrote:I think this is just a common sense answer from my own personal view point. I think its pretty simplistic. African Americans are responsible for a disproportionate amount of violent crime so the police who are in charge of that area have their "eye" on them much more so than other races. I guess from a cops point of view--he is scared or at a minimum heightened when confronted with the possibility of dealing with a higher source of danger. Remember these guys put their lives on the line every day--so you have to factor in their mindset. I think it really is as simple as that. If black people believe that white people have it out for them--my friends--you are dead wrong. White people green people yellow people--most of us have an every day responsibility of family and we are to busy to think about anything other than immediate issue. If it wasnt for what I heard on TV I probably wouldve steered clear of this thread. I believe strongly that Im a decent and honest fellow and answering questions honestly--even if they potentially offend--although im not trying to do that--is just reasonable back and forth recourse on an issue thats been getting a lot of attention. Its disturbing to hear--as a white person--what I believe is some true deep seeded hatred African Americans seem to have. I dont believe in the hood nor do I believe in excuse of race. If race was such an issue why dont Chinese people complain?

My dad died when I was 8. I went to PS 230 in Brooklyn until I was 10 and moved to a small condo in Ct with my two brothers and Mom. I shared a room with my twin brother for 18 years--two pretty big guys in a small room. I didnt have the money for special sneakers or clothes--and I lived in a town that had some money. The money I had was working a paper route that I had to get up at 6 am before school to do shuffling snow or cutting grass. When i was 15 and old enough to work I worked washing dishes at a Chinese restaurant(maybe the worst job on Earth:) I loved and played all sports--I was tall and ended up being a very decent football player. I dedicated time to work hard on my school work every day--no one told me too--my Mom worked---I took it upon myself to be aggressive and compete on my studies while putting effort into working out working--I mean I had ZERO "privilege" believe me. On top of it I was Jewish--and Ive heard my fair amount of derogatory BS--but I just dealt with it and went about my day--majority of people liked my brother and I. My goal was to play football at Syracuse and become a gym teacher or sportscaster because that is what I loved. I ended up at Uconn and had to pay for my own school and soon found out the difference between being good at sports in hS and college were two different beasts--but I played 4 years and worked hard anyway. I stayed and paid at Uconn for 6 years--all the way to an MBA. I wasnt given a penny for help from anyone in my family--I paid for myself by working in the summer. I ended up in the business side by chance--simply thats what my first roommate was there for--so I went with it as well. I got a very decent job right away in NY after graduating--yada yada 8 years later I dont have to work anymore---some luck there and some cahones--but it was built on hard hard work from a young age with absolutely ZERO privilege. Nothing--so when I hear that I dont get it and I dont personally believe in it. I believe in Obama and thats why I voted for him twice. You have to work hard in this world and those who dont get left behind and bitch. Sorry white people dont hate black people yellow people or green people==really I dont even think about it nor do i care because to me its a non issue.. If I was black and lived in the hood--Id work three F jobs and would get the F out to move my family to a decent place. And those who live there and bthc about it--thats on them--no one in this world forces them to be there. And finally like I said--cut the crime rate down and my bet is a lot of good things will happen.

First off, stop generalizing and painting everyone with a broad brush. The majority of black people who live in the inner-city are decent hard working families and quite a few of them have worked hard and are working hard to move to safer areas and or make their community a safer place to live. Not all white people hate blacks, but to think there aren't whites who do hate blacks, again would be ignorant on your part.

The fact that you are saying the color of a persons skin is a non-issue is either ignorance on your part or denial....Do you agree that there is systemic racism in this country?

It persists but I think it has lessened significantly in the last twenty years. It'd help a hell of a lot if the fabulously and unprecedentedly wealthy black athletes like Carmelo Anthony gave up two-thirds of their earnings to inner city issues. Has that notion crossed your mind? To ask him or others to give back? Money talks and genuine untold wealth can help.

Athletes are exempt because they have need every penny to feed their children because often times they don't have the benefit of having white privilege. They are applauded for their capitalism

newyorknewyork wrote:Many people in this thread have stated how each person should be accountable for themselves. Which is fine. Yet when we bring up the issues that have lead to the current state of affairs it becomes about generalizations.

Tamir Rice,, Alton Sterling, Philando Castilo etc weren't gang members, weren't drug dealers, weren't rapist, don't have any ties to black homicide. Take race out of it and look at each case individually then. They were all murdered due to failure to follow proper police protocol. Yet when challenged to why the reply is - well cops are scared because of generalizations. Which is it? What happen to everyone being accountable for themselves?

newyorknewyork - can you please cite the law that states that failure to follow "police protocol" is punishable by instant execution?

Alton Sterling was pinned to the ground, dammit.

DrAlphaeus wrote:

dk7th wrote:

BRIGGS wrote:

dk7th wrote:

Uptown wrote:

BRIGGS wrote:I think this is just a common sense answer from my own personal view point. I think its pretty simplistic. African Americans are responsible for a disproportionate amount of violent crime so the police who are in charge of that area have their "eye" on them much more so than other races. I guess from a cops point of view--he is scared or at a minimum heightened when confronted with the possibility of dealing with a higher source of danger. Remember these guys put their lives on the line every day--so you have to factor in their mindset. I think it really is as simple as that. If black people believe that white people have it out for them--my friends--you are dead wrong. White people green people yellow people--most of us have an every day responsibility of family and we are to busy to think about anything other than immediate issue. If it wasnt for what I heard on TV I probably wouldve steered clear of this thread. I believe strongly that Im a decent and honest fellow and answering questions honestly--even if they potentially offend--although im not trying to do that--is just reasonable back and forth recourse on an issue thats been getting a lot of attention. Its disturbing to hear--as a white person--what I believe is some true deep seeded hatred African Americans seem to have. I dont believe in the hood nor do I believe in excuse of race. If race was such an issue why dont Chinese people complain?

My dad died when I was 8. I went to PS 230 in Brooklyn until I was 10 and moved to a small condo in Ct with my two brothers and Mom. I shared a room with my twin brother for 18 years--two pretty big guys in a small room. I didnt have the money for special sneakers or clothes--and I lived in a town that had some money. The money I had was working a paper route that I had to get up at 6 am before school to do shuffling snow or cutting grass. When i was 15 and old enough to work I worked washing dishes at a Chinese restaurant(maybe the worst job on Earth:) I loved and played all sports--I was tall and ended up being a very decent football player. I dedicated time to work hard on my school work every day--no one told me too--my Mom worked---I took it upon myself to be aggressive and compete on my studies while putting effort into working out working--I mean I had ZERO "privilege" believe me. On top of it I was Jewish--and Ive heard my fair amount of derogatory BS--but I just dealt with it and went about my day--majority of people liked my brother and I. My goal was to play football at Syracuse and become a gym teacher or sportscaster because that is what I loved. I ended up at Uconn and had to pay for my own school and soon found out the difference between being good at sports in hS and college were two different beasts--but I played 4 years and worked hard anyway. I stayed and paid at Uconn for 6 years--all the way to an MBA. I wasnt given a penny for help from anyone in my family--I paid for myself by working in the summer. I ended up in the business side by chance--simply thats what my first roommate was there for--so I went with it as well. I got a very decent job right away in NY after graduating--yada yada 8 years later I dont have to work anymore---some luck there and some cahones--but it was built on hard hard work from a young age with absolutely ZERO privilege. Nothing--so when I hear that I dont get it and I dont personally believe in it. I believe in Obama and thats why I voted for him twice. You have to work hard in this world and those who dont get left behind and bitch. Sorry white people dont hate black people yellow people or green people==really I dont even think about it nor do i care because to me its a non issue.. If I was black and lived in the hood--Id work three F jobs and would get the F out to move my family to a decent place. And those who live there and bthc about it--thats on them--no one in this world forces them to be there. And finally like I said--cut the crime rate down and my bet is a lot of good things will happen.

First off, stop generalizing and painting everyone with a broad brush. The majority of black people who live in the inner-city are decent hard working families and quite a few of them have worked hard and are working hard to move to safer areas and or make their community a safer place to live. Not all white people hate blacks, but to think there aren't whites who do hate blacks, again would be ignorant on your part.

The fact that you are saying the color of a persons skin is a non-issue is either ignorance on your part or denial....Do you agree that there is systemic racism in this country?

It persists but I think it has lessened significantly in the last twenty years. It'd help a hell of a lot if the fabulously and unprecedentedly wealthy black athletes like Carmelo Anthony gave up two-thirds of their earnings to inner city issues. Has that notion crossed your mind? To ask him or others to give back? Money talks and genuine untold wealth can help.

That is crazy talk--why does Carmelo have to give up 2/3 of his check?????? He seems to have tried to do some nice things for his community. Change will come when the AA community wants to change it. No one person can do that.

If the problem is as some have claimed in this thread then Melo and others can overcome the redlining tactics that are being asserted.

I think financial literacy is something various NBA players are involved in, most famously, Antoine Walker:
http://www.antoinewalker8.com/the8foundation/

A foundation is easier to open than a bank or credit union, to be sure. I have dreams of Oprah coming down from the mountain and single-handedly bringing black folks to the Promised Land but I'm not too much into waiting for saviors.

And to be clear: I bring up redlining specifically to talk to BRIGGS question about why there is a "hood" in the first place.

i hear you. i get the feeling that the situation is reaching a critical mass point in terms of guns and ghettos. i hate the gun laws in this country and the nra. i also hate that the legislative branches refuse to do the right thing, which is to tax the **** out of the wealthy. anyway, to my way of thinking the only antidote is to create another sort of critical mass where fabulously wealthy black athletes-- and white athletes-- band together not just with words at the espys but with real money to create schools, jobs, housing. there is enough money to be pooled among these men to create a course correction. the money that they make now is, lets face it, at least two orders of magnitude greater than 25 years ago, and for those who do not understand what two orders of magnitude means, its 100 times greater than 25 years ago. haven't we been marveling at the crazy money these guys are making now? i wonder what the owner of BET is up to with his 500 million bucks? you know, robert l. johnson? i think it's a great idea and i wonder why there is not a voice among the black community to call these people out. and then, when that gets going, you shame white owners of sports teams into doing the right thing. even dolan could redeem himself.

WaltLongmire wrote:

gunsnewing wrote:

Uptown wrote:

BRIGGS wrote:I think this is just a common sense answer from my own personal view point. I think its pretty simplistic. African Americans are responsible for a disproportionate amount of violent crime so the police who are in charge of that area have their "eye" on them much more so than other races. I guess from a cops point of view--he is scared or at a minimum heightened when confronted with the possibility of dealing with a higher source of danger. Remember these guys put their lives on the line every day--so you have to factor in their mindset. I think it really is as simple as that. If black people believe that white people have it out for them--my friends--you are dead wrong. White people green people yellow people--most of us have an every day responsibility of family and we are to busy to think about anything other than immediate issue. If it wasnt for what I heard on TV I probably wouldve steered clear of this thread. I believe strongly that Im a decent and honest fellow and answering questions honestly--even if they potentially offend--although im not trying to do that--is just reasonable back and forth recourse on an issue thats been getting a lot of attention. Its disturbing to hear--as a white person--what I believe is some true deep seeded hatred African Americans seem to have. I dont believe in the hood nor do I believe in excuse of race. If race was such an issue why dont Chinese people complain?

My dad died when I was 8. I went to PS 230 in Brooklyn until I was 10 and moved to a small condo in Ct with my two brothers and Mom. I shared a room with my twin brother for 18 years--two pretty big guys in a small room. I didnt have the money for special sneakers or clothes--and I lived in a town that had some money. The money I had was working a paper route that I had to get up at 6 am before school to do shuffling snow or cutting grass. When i was 15 and old enough to work I worked washing dishes at a Chinese restaurant(maybe the worst job on Earth:) I loved and played all sports--I was tall and ended up being a very decent football player. I dedicated time to work hard on my school work every day--no one told me too--my Mom worked---I took it upon myself to be aggressive and compete on my studies while putting effort into working out working--I mean I had ZERO "privilege" believe me. On top of it I was Jewish--and Ive heard my fair amount of derogatory BS--but I just dealt with it and went about my day--majority of people liked my brother and I. My goal was to play football at Syracuse and become a gym teacher or sportscaster because that is what I loved. I ended up at Uconn and had to pay for my own school and soon found out the difference between being good at sports in hS and college were two different beasts--but I played 4 years and worked hard anyway. I stayed and paid at Uconn for 6 years--all the way to an MBA. I wasnt given a penny for help from anyone in my family--I paid for myself by working in the summer. I ended up in the business side by chance--simply thats what my first roommate was there for--so I went with it as well. I got a very decent job right away in NY after graduating--yada yada 8 years later I dont have to work anymore---some luck there and some cahones--but it was built on hard hard work from a young age with absolutely ZERO privilege. Nothing--so when I hear that I dont get it and I dont personally believe in it. I believe in Obama and thats why I voted for him twice. You have to work hard in this world and those who dont get left behind and bitch. Sorry white people dont hate black people yellow people or green people==really I dont even think about it nor do i care because to me its a non issue.. If I was black and lived in the hood--Id work three F jobs and would get the F out to move my family to a decent place. And those who live there and bthc about it--thats on them--no one in this world forces them to be there. And finally like I said--cut the crime rate down and my bet is a lot of good things will happen.

First off, stop generalizing and painting everyone with a broad brush. The majority of black people who live in the inner-city are decent hard working families and quite a few of them have worked hard and are working hard to move to safer areas and or make their community a safer place to live. Not all white people hate blacks, but to think there aren't whites who do hate blacks, again would be ignorant on your part.

The fact that you are saying the color of a persons skin is a non-issue is either ignorance on your part or denial....Do you agree that there is systemic racism in this country?

Hopefully these core issues will be addressed with a new President in place. I doubt the status quo will change under Hillary if it hasn't after 8yrs of Obama. She is even more in bed with the lobbyist and corporate American which fund her campaign in return for kick backs and status quo. Fewer jobs for Americans of every race and less chance to improve and control you own destiny. All the while corporations continue to line their pockets at the expensive of common folks. The rich become richer by keeping us the middle class and poor in a bubble and alive with their social governmental programs. Making it harder to advance and build a better life for yourself.

We need more American jobs and someone who isn't in bed with these billion dollar corporations and lobbyists. The wealth has to trickle down and be put into our economy to benefit us and not the rest of the world. American businesses can not compete in this corporate run market as presently constituted so they are taking their business elsewhere leading to fewer jobs. Fewer factory jobs etc. The people at he very top are getting wealthier at everyone's expense. Again not much has changed under 8yrs of Obama. Another 4-8yrs of Hillary and we will likely self destruct as the population increase and the job market continues shrinking on this current path

So tell me again...under which party did our recent "Great Recession" get started?

We've had a Great Depression and a Great Recession, both caused by Republican policy and a neglect to regulate the way the nation does business. If you look at history, you'll also know that Reaganomics failed, too. Throwing "trickle down" economics is not a good idea, since we've now learned that the trickle is usually going up.

Maybe Trump, if elected, can use the methods he perfected with Trump University to scam us into thinking that everything is good again.

Hopefully he would not have to face the obstructionism (perhaps racially motivated???) of the Republicans in the Senate and House, something which has been well documented, by the way.

Most of the issues in this nation's economy, and in the world have their origins in decisions made by the Bush administration...to deny this is to deny the truth.

I would mostly agree with that take. Limited regulation, excessive leveraging of balance sheets of trading desks, poor risk management and ever increasing drives for profits and bonuses, reckless expansion of subprime lending and creation of derivatives by banks and federal agencies all conspired to create a bubble that burst. All it took was one investment bank not to have their funding lines rolled over and the whole thing unraveled.Having said that, earlier policies that were established with the good intent of helping everyone get a house backfired. No docs, no income verification were recipes for disaster and you had defaults the ensuing foreclosure crisis. President Obama inherited a economic mess and America has not yet fully recovered across a wide spectrum of our population. Technology has also helped productivity but eliminated jobs .Right now you have a educated middle class without the same upward mobility that past generations had and standards of living are declining for most economic groups

Uptown wrote:

dk7th wrote:

Uptown wrote:

BRIGGS wrote:I think this is just a common sense answer from my own personal view point. I think its pretty simplistic. African Americans are responsible for a disproportionate amount of violent crime so the police who are in charge of that area have their "eye" on them much more so than other races. I guess from a cops point of view--he is scared or at a minimum heightened when confronted with the possibility of dealing with a higher source of danger. Remember these guys put their lives on the line every day--so you have to factor in their mindset. I think it really is as simple as that. If black people believe that white people have it out for them--my friends--you are dead wrong. White people green people yellow people--most of us have an every day responsibility of family and we are to busy to think about anything other than immediate issue. If it wasnt for what I heard on TV I probably wouldve steered clear of this thread. I believe strongly that Im a decent and honest fellow and answering questions honestly--even if they potentially offend--although im not trying to do that--is just reasonable back and forth recourse on an issue thats been getting a lot of attention. Its disturbing to hear--as a white person--what I believe is some true deep seeded hatred African Americans seem to have. I dont believe in the hood nor do I believe in excuse of race. If race was such an issue why dont Chinese people complain?

My dad died when I was 8. I went to PS 230 in Brooklyn until I was 10 and moved to a small condo in Ct with my two brothers and Mom. I shared a room with my twin brother for 18 years--two pretty big guys in a small room. I didnt have the money for special sneakers or clothes--and I lived in a town that had some money. The money I had was working a paper route that I had to get up at 6 am before school to do shuffling snow or cutting grass. When i was 15 and old enough to work I worked washing dishes at a Chinese restaurant(maybe the worst job on Earth:) I loved and played all sports--I was tall and ended up being a very decent football player. I dedicated time to work hard on my school work every day--no one told me too--my Mom worked---I took it upon myself to be aggressive and compete on my studies while putting effort into working out working--I mean I had ZERO "privilege" believe me. On top of it I was Jewish--and Ive heard my fair amount of derogatory BS--but I just dealt with it and went about my day--majority of people liked my brother and I. My goal was to play football at Syracuse and become a gym teacher or sportscaster because that is what I loved. I ended up at Uconn and had to pay for my own school and soon found out the difference between being good at sports in hS and college were two different beasts--but I played 4 years and worked hard anyway. I stayed and paid at Uconn for 6 years--all the way to an MBA. I wasnt given a penny for help from anyone in my family--I paid for myself by working in the summer. I ended up in the business side by chance--simply thats what my first roommate was there for--so I went with it as well. I got a very decent job right away in NY after graduating--yada yada 8 years later I dont have to work anymore---some luck there and some cahones--but it was built on hard hard work from a young age with absolutely ZERO privilege. Nothing--so when I hear that I dont get it and I dont personally believe in it. I believe in Obama and thats why I voted for him twice. You have to work hard in this world and those who dont get left behind and bitch. Sorry white people dont hate black people yellow people or green people==really I dont even think about it nor do i care because to me its a non issue.. If I was black and lived in the hood--Id work three F jobs and would get the F out to move my family to a decent place. And those who live there and bthc about it--thats on them--no one in this world forces them to be there. And finally like I said--cut the crime rate down and my bet is a lot of good things will happen.

First off, stop generalizing and painting everyone with a broad brush. The majority of black people who live in the inner-city are decent hard working families and quite a few of them have worked hard and are working hard to move to safer areas and or make their community a safer place to live. Not all white people hate blacks, but to think there aren't whites who do hate blacks, again would be ignorant on your part.

The fact that you are saying the color of a persons skin is a non-issue is either ignorance on your part or denial....Do you agree that there is systemic racism in this country?

It persists but I think it has lessened significantly in the last twenty years. It'd help a hell of a lot if the fabulously and unprecedentedly wealthy black athletes like Carmelo Anthony gave up two-thirds of their earnings to inner city issues. Has that notion crossed your mind? To ask him or others to give back? Money talks and genuine untold wealth can help.

I was always of the opinion that black athletes that make it out of the inner city should give back in some way whether its money for youth programs, investing in black businesses or just to give their time. Jim Brown is not acknowledged enough for the charitable work he has done especially going into some of the worse crime infested areas and re-mediating meetings between gang leaders, etc. More athletes and entertainers need to do this because they are revered by many young kids in the inner city and have the resources and influence to provoke change.

For as much sh#t as Marbury has taken, the one great thing he did was help create affordable sneakers for kids. That was big and innovative and I was hoping some athletes would follow his lead.

first off my hat is off to you for doing right. second, as i just posted, we are in a new era of salaried wealth among nba players, with salaries two orders of magnitude greater than 25 years ago. we have all been marveling at it, right? well, the flip side of this exponential wealth is an opportunity to create a genuine financial tipping point, where these tens of millions can be pooled to make a real change.

holfresh wrote:

Uptown wrote:

newyorknewyork wrote:

dk7th wrote:

BRIGGS wrote:

dk7th wrote:

Uptown wrote:

BRIGGS wrote:I think this is just a common sense answer from my own personal view point. I think its pretty simplistic. African Americans are responsible for a disproportionate amount of violent crime so the police who are in charge of that area have their "eye" on them much more so than other races. I guess from a cops point of view--he is scared or at a minimum heightened when confronted with the possibility of dealing with a higher source of danger. Remember these guys put their lives on the line every day--so you have to factor in their mindset. I think it really is as simple as that. If black people believe that white people have it out for them--my friends--you are dead wrong. White people green people yellow people--most of us have an every day responsibility of family and we are to busy to think about anything other than immediate issue. If it wasnt for what I heard on TV I probably wouldve steered clear of this thread. I believe strongly that Im a decent and honest fellow and answering questions honestly--even if they potentially offend--although im not trying to do that--is just reasonable back and forth recourse on an issue thats been getting a lot of attention. Its disturbing to hear--as a white person--what I believe is some true deep seeded hatred African Americans seem to have. I dont believe in the hood nor do I believe in excuse of race. If race was such an issue why dont Chinese people complain?

My dad died when I was 8. I went to PS 230 in Brooklyn until I was 10 and moved to a small condo in Ct with my two brothers and Mom. I shared a room with my twin brother for 18 years--two pretty big guys in a small room. I didnt have the money for special sneakers or clothes--and I lived in a town that had some money. The money I had was working a paper route that I had to get up at 6 am before school to do shuffling snow or cutting grass. When i was 15 and old enough to work I worked washing dishes at a Chinese restaurant(maybe the worst job on Earth:) I loved and played all sports--I was tall and ended up being a very decent football player. I dedicated time to work hard on my school work every day--no one told me too--my Mom worked---I took it upon myself to be aggressive and compete on my studies while putting effort into working out working--I mean I had ZERO "privilege" believe me. On top of it I was Jewish--and Ive heard my fair amount of derogatory BS--but I just dealt with it and went about my day--majority of people liked my brother and I. My goal was to play football at Syracuse and become a gym teacher or sportscaster because that is what I loved. I ended up at Uconn and had to pay for my own school and soon found out the difference between being good at sports in hS and college were two different beasts--but I played 4 years and worked hard anyway. I stayed and paid at Uconn for 6 years--all the way to an MBA. I wasnt given a penny for help from anyone in my family--I paid for myself by working in the summer. I ended up in the business side by chance--simply thats what my first roommate was there for--so I went with it as well. I got a very decent job right away in NY after graduating--yada yada 8 years later I dont have to work anymore---some luck there and some cahones--but it was built on hard hard work from a young age with absolutely ZERO privilege. Nothing--so when I hear that I dont get it and I dont personally believe in it. I believe in Obama and thats why I voted for him twice. You have to work hard in this world and those who dont get left behind and bitch. Sorry white people dont hate black people yellow people or green people==really I dont even think about it nor do i care because to me its a non issue.. If I was black and lived in the hood--Id work three F jobs and would get the F out to move my family to a decent place. And those who live there and bthc about it--thats on them--no one in this world forces them to be there. And finally like I said--cut the crime rate down and my bet is a lot of good things will happen.

First off, stop generalizing and painting everyone with a broad brush. The majority of black people who live in the inner-city are decent hard working families and quite a few of them have worked hard and are working hard to move to safer areas and or make their community a safer place to live. Not all white people hate blacks, but to think there aren't whites who do hate blacks, again would be ignorant on your part.

The fact that you are saying the color of a persons skin is a non-issue is either ignorance on your part or denial....Do you agree that there is systemic racism in this country?

It persists but I think it has lessened significantly in the last twenty years. It'd help a hell of a lot if the fabulously and unprecedentedly wealthy black athletes like Carmelo Anthony gave up two-thirds of their earnings to inner city issues. Has that notion crossed your mind? To ask him or others to give back? Money talks and genuine untold wealth can help.

That is crazy talk--why does Carmelo have to give up 2/3 of his check?????? He seems to have tried to do some nice things for his community. Change will come when the AA community wants to change it. No one person can do that.

If the problem is as some have claimed in this thread then Melo and others can overcome the redlining tactics that are being asserted.

I don't know about 2/3s of his paycheck. But Athletes should pool money together and start building long term networks for success.

agreed

It's not the job of athletes to educate, make the communities safe for everyone, and to ensure everyone get a fair shake...Its the job of the government...The Koch Brothers are spending 900 million dollars on this years election...What are they getting in return??..Think he ground is level??..Can our athletes spend 900 million to get the government do what's right for the community??

says who? since when do you get to decide on who should or shouldn't be doing good? these aren't merely athletes we are talking about. according to you they are businessmen and are entitled to make as much money as possible, what the market will bear. your assertion concerning athletes reads as ignorant and hypocritical. what else is new.

BRIGGS wrote:

DrAlphaeus wrote:

BRIGGS wrote:

DrAlphaeus wrote:

BRIGGS wrote:

DrAlphaeus wrote:

BRIGGS wrote:I think this is just a common sense answer from my own personal view point. I think its pretty simplistic. African Americans are responsible for a disproportionate amount of violent crime so the police who are in charge of that area have their "eye" on them much more so than other races. I guess from a cops point of view--he is scared or at a minimum heightened when confronted with the possibility of dealing with a higher source of danger. Remember these guys put their lives on the line every day--so you have to factor in their mindset. I think it really is as simple as that. If black people believe that white people have it out for them--my friends--you are dead wrong. White people green people yellow people--most of us have an every day responsibility of family and we are to busy to think about anything other than immediate issue. If it wasnt for what I heard on TV I probably wouldve steered clear of this thread. I believe strongly that Im a decent and honest fellow and answering questions honestly--even if they potentially offend--although im not trying to do that--is just reasonable back and forth recourse on an issue thats been getting a lot of attention. Its disturbing to hear--as a white person--what I believe is some true deep seeded hatred African Americans seem to have. I dont believe in the hood nor do I believe in excuse of race. If race was such an issue why dont Chinese people complain?

My dad died when I was 8. I went to PS 230 in Brooklyn until I was 10 and moved to a small condo in Ct with my two brothers and Mom. I shared a room with my twin brother for 18 years--two pretty big guys in a small room. I didnt have the money for special sneakers or clothes--and I lived in a town that had some money. The money I had was working a paper route that I had to get up at 6 am before school to do shuffling snow or cutting grass. When i was 15 and old enough to work I worked washing dishes at a Chinese restaurant(maybe the worst job on Earth:) I loved and played all sports--I was tall and ended up being a very decent football player. I dedicated time to work hard on my school work every day--no one told me too--my Mom worked---I took it upon myself to be aggressive and compete on my studies while putting effort into working out working--I mean I had ZERO "privilege" believe me. On top of it I was Jewish--and Ive heard my fair amount of derogatory BS--but I just dealt with it and went about my day--majority of people liked my brother and I. My goal was to play football at Syracuse and become a gym teacher or sportscaster because that is what I loved. I ended up at Uconn and had to pay for my own school and soon found out the difference between being good at sports in hS and college were two different beasts--but I played 4 years and worked hard anyway. I stayed and paid at Uconn for 6 years--all the way to an MBA. I wasnt given a penny for help from anyone in my family--I paid for myself by working in the summer. I ended up in the business side by chance--simply thats what my first roommate was there for--so I went with it as well. I got a very decent job right away in NY after graduating--yada yada 8 years later I dont have to work anymore---some luck there and some cahones--but it was built on hard hard work from a young age with absolutely ZERO privilege. Nothing--so when I hear that I dont get it and I dont personally believe in it. I believe in Obama and thats why I voted for him twice. You have to work hard in this world and those who dont get left behind and bitch. Sorry white people dont hate black people yellow people or green people==really I dont even think about it nor do i care because to me its a non issue.. If I was black and lived in the hood--Id work three F jobs and would get the F out to move my family to a decent place. And those who live there and bthc about it--thats on them--no one in this world forces them to be there. And finally like I said--cut the crime rate down and my bet is a lot of good things will happen.

Props to you BRIGGS as well for your achievements. I respect where are coming from. I certainly don't hate white folks... some of my best friends are white!

I just have to bring up the redlining question again though because of your "no one in this world forces them to be there" perspective.

My mom is the ultimate bootstrapper. Born in a cold water flat during WWII to a single mother, super smart and skipped grades twice, worked crazy hard, left a bad marriage and raised up my siblings and me in our own house with my grandmother, sent us all to private school in the suburbs, worked in the city for 3 decades. When we move to the neighborhood she lives in now, we replaced the second-to-last white family on our block — "white flight" as they call it. The mortgage she got in the mid-80s was a total subprime ripoff but she did what she had to do, and eventually paid it off.

We suffered through the crack era, to see brighter days. She's now retired, city reassessed her house as a crazy value. She had the house on sale for 2 years — just as the floor fell out of the housing market. So she can't really move now. Luckily the house is solid and the neighborhood is stable now and she's doing great with the next generation of grandkids nearby.

Individually, I couldn't have had a better role model. I have been VERY lucky. But redlining was and is a real thing. Not bringing it up as an excuse, but an explanation to a question you've asked at least twice now.

DrAlpheus--I have zero clue what redlining is. Im just stating that if I was in a position where my kids would have to grow up in a shtty environment--I would not accept that as a human being. I would do what I had to do change that. Can you explain to me why a person HAS to stay in the hood in 2016? They do NOT IMHO.

Probably a big reason why there has been a "reverse Great Migration" of black folks in the north back down south the last couple decades. Neighborhoods that were once considered blighted become gentrified, so when a lot of old timers finally see their neighborhood doing better, they see the good disappear with the bad and get priced out of NYC.

And if all the high achieving folks leave a neighborhood that doesn't become gentrified, who and what are they leaving behind?

Redlining in short, from Wikipedia:

In the United States, redlining is the practice of denying services, either directly or through selectively raising prices, to residents of certain areas based on the racial or ethnic makeups of those areas. While some of the most famous examples of redlining regard denying financial services such as banking or insurance, other services such as health care or even supermarkets, can be denied to residents (or in the case of businesses like the aforementioned supermarkets, simply moved impractically far away from such residents) to carry out redlining. The term "redlining" was coined in the late 1960s by John McKnight, a sociologist and community activist. It refers to the practice of marking a red line on a map to delineate the area where banks would not invest; later the term was applied to discrimination against a particular group of people (usually by race or sex) irrespective of geography.

During the heyday of redlining, the areas most frequently discriminated against were black inner city neighborhoods. For example, in Atlanta in the 1980s, a Pulitzer Prize-winning series of articles by investigative-reporter Bill Dedman showed that banks would often lend to lower-income whites but not to middle- or upper-income blacks. The use of blacklists is a related mechanism also used by redliners to keep track of groups, areas, and people that the discriminating party feels should be denied business or aid or other transactions. In the academic literature, redlining falls under the broader category of credit rationing.

Some articles:
http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2014/10/the-racist-housing-policies-that-built-ferguson/381595/
http://www.brickunderground.com/blog/2015/10/history_of_redlining
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2015/05/28/evidence-that-banks-still-deny-black-borrowers-just-as-they-did-50-years-ago/

I can believe that 1960-1980--not anymore. There is nothing in this world that will hold any race down. No bank can or even WOULD deny a loan today if they can make it. Its not even an issue--if a person can qualify for a loan an entity will give it to you. Anything less is illegal and absolute terrible business. Loans are purchased sold more than ever. They dont give a sht about your race they want your money--and there is no doubt about that.

Bank? What is this "bank"? Is that like a check cashing spot?

I guess we are going to have to agree to disagree about "nothing in this world that will hold any race down" with regards to the financial inudstry. Please do me a favor and check out at least one of those links I put up for you.

If they don't give a sht about your race and only want money, and you ain't got none...

Dr Alpheus--those shtty loans that the banks gave out from 2004-2009 has caused irreparable damage to every race in the US. With the expense of college and soaring student loan debt IN Combination with higher standards for loans(I think you have to have 20% down now) its slowly eroding prices on homes and flooding the market with excess inventory. You have people becoming "less wealthy" and that 20% has become very hard to come by for anyone. When a mom or dad once held a hand for a first time home payment--that money has now gone to education. All races are in the same boat--those loans have hurt the middle class without regard to race. But if you have the money and you have a good job do you think a Quicken Loans is not going to give you a loan based on race? No way. Incredibly bad business that wouldnt be in their heads to even think about. They give you the mortgage and sell it just as fast.

From the last link I sent you — title "Redling: Still a thing"

Case in point: This week the Department of Housing and Urban Development settled with the largest bank headquartered in Wisconsin over claims that it discriminated from 2008-2010 against black and Hispanic borrowers in Wisconsin, Illinois and Minnesota. The bank, Associated Bank, denies wrongdoing in the settlement, but HUD itself is declaring victory in "one of the largest redlining complaints" ever brought by the federal government against a mortgage lender.

Yes, they screw us all over, but some folks get hurt more because they don't have anything to fall back on. We are all in boats being raised and lowered together, but some folks are in the Queen Mary and some on the SS Minnow, metaphorically speaking... all I'm saying. If for decades we been screwed financially, we are still dealing with that today in myriad ways. Of course rhere has been great strides made and a lot of success stories. But you seem to answer your own questions: if all the hard-working striving folks who catch the right breaks leave a community behind, who is left? The hard working folks who can't catch a break, along with folks mired in poverty financially and mentally.

I don't know much about finance myself so I'm quickly getting out of my depths. But marinate on the anecdote I told you about my mom and my background. She did everything right and still she's stuck where she is for the time being because of forces bigger than her formiible will and intellect

misterearl wrote:Say What?

newyorknewyork wrote:Many people in this thread have stated how each person should be accountable for themselves. Which is fine. Yet when we bring up the issues that have lead to the current state of affairs it becomes about generalizations.

Tamir Rice,, Alton Sterling, Philando Castilo etc weren't gang members, weren't drug dealers, weren't rapist, don't have any ties to black homicide. Take race out of it and look at each case individually then. They were all murdered due to failure to follow proper police protocol. Yet when challenged to why the reply is - well cops are scared because of generalizations. Which is it? What happen to everyone being accountable for themselves?

newyorknewyork - can you please cite the law that states that failure to follow "police protocol" is punishable by instant execution?

I think you misread. The police failed to follow protocol not Sterling or the others.

holfresh wrote:

meloanyk wrote:

holfresh wrote:

BRIGGS wrote:

Uptown wrote:

BRIGGS wrote:I think this is just a common sense answer from my own personal view point. I think its pretty simplistic. African Americans are responsible for a disproportionate amount of violent crime so the police who are in charge of that area have their "eye" on them much more so than other races. I guess from a cops point of view--he is scared or at a minimum heightened when confronted with the possibility of dealing with a higher source of danger. Remember these guys put their lives on the line every day--so you have to factor in their mindset. I think it really is as simple as that. If black people believe that white people have it out for them--my friends--you are dead wrong. White people green people yellow people--most of us have an every day responsibility of family and we are to busy to think about anything other than immediate issue. If it wasnt for what I heard on TV I probably wouldve steered clear of this thread. I believe strongly that Im a decent and honest fellow and answering questions honestly--even if they potentially offend--although im not trying to do that--is just reasonable back and forth recourse on an issue thats been getting a lot of attention. Its disturbing to hear--as a white person--what I believe is some true deep seeded hatred African Americans seem to have. I dont believe in the hood nor do I believe in excuse of race. If race was such an issue why dont Chinese people complain?

My dad died when I was 8. I went to PS 230 in Brooklyn until I was 10 and moved to a small condo in Ct with my two brothers and Mom. I shared a room with my twin brother for 18 years--two pretty big guys in a small room. I didnt have the money for special sneakers or clothes--and I lived in a town that had some money. The money I had was working a paper route that I had to get up at 6 am before school to do shuffling snow or cutting grass. When i was 15 and old enough to work I worked washing dishes at a Chinese restaurant(maybe the worst job on Earth:) I loved and played all sports--I was tall and ended up being a very decent football player. I dedicated time to work hard on my school work every day--no one told me too--my Mom worked---I took it upon myself to be aggressive and compete on my studies while putting effort into working out working--I mean I had ZERO "privilege" believe me. On top of it I was Jewish--and Ive heard my fair amount of derogatory BS--but I just dealt with it and went about my day--majority of people liked my brother and I. My goal was to play football at Syracuse and become a gym teacher or sportscaster because that is what I loved. I ended up at Uconn and had to pay for my own school and soon found out the difference between being good at sports in hS and college were two different beasts--but I played 4 years and worked hard anyway. I stayed and paid at Uconn for 6 years--all the way to an MBA. I wasnt given a penny for help from anyone in my family--I paid for myself by working in the summer. I ended up in the business side by chance--simply thats what my first roommate was there for--so I went with it as well. I got a very decent job right away in NY after graduating--yada yada 8 years later I dont have to work anymore---some luck there and some cahones--but it was built on hard hard work from a young age with absolutely ZERO privilege. Nothing--so when I hear that I dont get it and I dont personally believe in it. I believe in Obama and thats why I voted for him twice. You have to work hard in this world and those who dont get left behind and bitch. Sorry white people dont hate black people yellow people or green people==really I dont even think about it nor do i care because to me its a non issue.. If I was black and lived in the hood--Id work three F jobs and would get the F out to move my family to a decent place. And those who live there and bthc about it--thats on them--no one in this world forces them to be there. And finally like I said--cut the crime rate down and my bet is a lot of good things will happen.

First off, stop generalizing and painting everyone with a broad brush. The majority of black people who live in the inner-city are decent hard working families and quite a few of them have worked hard and are working hard to move to safer areas and or make their community a safer place to live. Not all white people hate blacks, but to think there aren't whites who do hate blacks, again would be ignorant on your part.

The fact that you are saying the color of a persons skin is a non-issue is either ignorance on your part or denial....Do you agree that there is systemic racism in this country?

Im not--Im telling you what I would do if my kids were subject to living in a bad environment--I would not allow it. If you work hard and bring home a decent check--there is NO reason on this Earth that you have to stay in the inner city? It doesnt even make sense????? Why would anyone stay in a neighborhood if you felt it was dangerous to your kids? I dont believe in racism in 2016 I believe there was once racism now its morphed into an excuse word. Can you explain to me what is racist today? I mean the president is African American--so you think white people are holding black people back these days---sorry I dont believe it and it would be very difficult for you to convince me otherwise. Today racism to me is an excuse word and its a disgrace to use it for those who truly experienced it. There is racists but thats a far cry from anyone holding another race back. If anything I have seen over the last week--AA are far more racist than white people. Sorry but thats what I have witnessed

Please look up the Rockerfeller Drug Laws..Dudes are doing 15-25 for slining crack, which is more prominent in black neighborhoods versus regular cocaine in white neighborhoods...

Rockefeller launched his campaign to toughen New York's laws at a press conference in January 1973 — almost exactly 40 years ago. He called for something unheard of: mandatory prison sentences of 15 years to life for drug dealers and addicts — even those caught with small amounts of marijuana, cocaine or heroin.


Today, Heroin addiction, which is ravaging the white community is now being handled the right way with compassion...Kids are not being put in jail but are now directed to treatment...Care to explain the change??

You might want to read Black Silent Majority or The Carceral State and the Crucible of Black Politics: An Urban History of the Rockefeller Drug Laws
Michael Javen Fortner
Rutgers University-Camden

Abstract
While scholars have illuminated the effects of mass incarceration, the origins of the criminal justice policies that produced these outcomes remain unclear. Many explanations obscure as much as they reveal—in great measure because they either ignore or minimize the consequences of crime. Emphasizing the exploitation of white fears, the construction of black criminality, or the political strategies of Republican political elites, prevailing theories ignore black crime victims. In order to excavate the historical roots of the modern carceral state, this study traces the development of New York State's Rockefeller drug laws. Rather than beginning in Albany, this history focuses on Harlem, a community hit hardest by rising crime rates and drug addiction. Drawing upon a variety of primary sources, this study traces how African American activists framed and negotiated the incipient drug problem in their neighborhoods and interrogates the policy prescriptions they attached to indigenously constructed frames. It describes how middle-class African Americans facing the material threats of crime and crime-related problems drew upon the moral content of indigenous class categories to understand these threats and develop policy prescriptions. It reveals how the black middle class shaped the development of this punitive policy and played a crucial role in the development of mass incarceration.
Correspondence

Crazy talk..It was all part of the Republican strategy to win elections...It began with Nixon declaring a national War on Drugs in 1972 on which Rockerfeller built upon...Bush One had no problem showcasing the Willie Horton ad during the '88 Presidential election...Trump's theme today is making Amreica safe again...Since when has black folks have clout to change laws???

Safety is a bigger issue now than at any other point in my lifetime. I'm glad Trump is making American safety a priority because at this rate we will self destruct or be destructed by outsiders

gunsnewing wrote:

holfresh wrote:

meloanyk wrote:

holfresh wrote:

BRIGGS wrote:

Uptown wrote:

BRIGGS wrote:I think this is just a common sense answer from my own personal view point. I think its pretty simplistic. African Americans are responsible for a disproportionate amount of violent crime so the police who are in charge of that area have their "eye" on them much more so than other races. I guess from a cops point of view--he is scared or at a minimum heightened when confronted with the possibility of dealing with a higher source of danger. Remember these guys put their lives on the line every day--so you have to factor in their mindset. I think it really is as simple as that. If black people believe that white people have it out for them--my friends--you are dead wrong. White people green people yellow people--most of us have an every day responsibility of family and we are to busy to think about anything other than immediate issue. If it wasnt for what I heard on TV I probably wouldve steered clear of this thread. I believe strongly that Im a decent and honest fellow and answering questions honestly--even if they potentially offend--although im not trying to do that--is just reasonable back and forth recourse on an issue thats been getting a lot of attention. Its disturbing to hear--as a white person--what I believe is some true deep seeded hatred African Americans seem to have. I dont believe in the hood nor do I believe in excuse of race. If race was such an issue why dont Chinese people complain?

My dad died when I was 8. I went to PS 230 in Brooklyn until I was 10 and moved to a small condo in Ct with my two brothers and Mom. I shared a room with my twin brother for 18 years--two pretty big guys in a small room. I didnt have the money for special sneakers or clothes--and I lived in a town that had some money. The money I had was working a paper route that I had to get up at 6 am before school to do shuffling snow or cutting grass. When i was 15 and old enough to work I worked washing dishes at a Chinese restaurant(maybe the worst job on Earth:) I loved and played all sports--I was tall and ended up being a very decent football player. I dedicated time to work hard on my school work every day--no one told me too--my Mom worked---I took it upon myself to be aggressive and compete on my studies while putting effort into working out working--I mean I had ZERO "privilege" believe me. On top of it I was Jewish--and Ive heard my fair amount of derogatory BS--but I just dealt with it and went about my day--majority of people liked my brother and I. My goal was to play football at Syracuse and become a gym teacher or sportscaster because that is what I loved. I ended up at Uconn and had to pay for my own school and soon found out the difference between being good at sports in hS and college were two different beasts--but I played 4 years and worked hard anyway. I stayed and paid at Uconn for 6 years--all the way to an MBA. I wasnt given a penny for help from anyone in my family--I paid for myself by working in the summer. I ended up in the business side by chance--simply thats what my first roommate was there for--so I went with it as well. I got a very decent job right away in NY after graduating--yada yada 8 years later I dont have to work anymore---some luck there and some cahones--but it was built on hard hard work from a young age with absolutely ZERO privilege. Nothing--so when I hear that I dont get it and I dont personally believe in it. I believe in Obama and thats why I voted for him twice. You have to work hard in this world and those who dont get left behind and bitch. Sorry white people dont hate black people yellow people or green people==really I dont even think about it nor do i care because to me its a non issue.. If I was black and lived in the hood--Id work three F jobs and would get the F out to move my family to a decent place. And those who live there and bthc about it--thats on them--no one in this world forces them to be there. And finally like I said--cut the crime rate down and my bet is a lot of good things will happen.

First off, stop generalizing and painting everyone with a broad brush. The majority of black people who live in the inner-city are decent hard working families and quite a few of them have worked hard and are working hard to move to safer areas and or make their community a safer place to live. Not all white people hate blacks, but to think there aren't whites who do hate blacks, again would be ignorant on your part.

The fact that you are saying the color of a persons skin is a non-issue is either ignorance on your part or denial....Do you agree that there is systemic racism in this country?

Im not--Im telling you what I would do if my kids were subject to living in a bad environment--I would not allow it. If you work hard and bring home a decent check--there is NO reason on this Earth that you have to stay in the inner city? It doesnt even make sense????? Why would anyone stay in a neighborhood if you felt it was dangerous to your kids? I dont believe in racism in 2016 I believe there was once racism now its morphed into an excuse word. Can you explain to me what is racist today? I mean the president is African American--so you think white people are holding black people back these days---sorry I dont believe it and it would be very difficult for you to convince me otherwise. Today racism to me is an excuse word and its a disgrace to use it for those who truly experienced it. There is racists but thats a far cry from anyone holding another race back. If anything I have seen over the last week--AA are far more racist than white people. Sorry but thats what I have witnessed

Please look up the Rockerfeller Drug Laws..Dudes are doing 15-25 for slining crack, which is more prominent in black neighborhoods versus regular cocaine in white neighborhoods...

Rockefeller launched his campaign to toughen New York's laws at a press conference in January 1973 — almost exactly 40 years ago. He called for something unheard of: mandatory prison sentences of 15 years to life for drug dealers and addicts — even those caught with small amounts of marijuana, cocaine or heroin.


Today, Heroin addiction, which is ravaging the white community is now being handled the right way with compassion...Kids are not being put in jail but are now directed to treatment...Care to explain the change??

You might want to read Black Silent Majority or The Carceral State and the Crucible of Black Politics: An Urban History of the Rockefeller Drug Laws
Michael Javen Fortner
Rutgers University-Camden

Abstract
While scholars have illuminated the effects of mass incarceration, the origins of the criminal justice policies that produced these outcomes remain unclear. Many explanations obscure as much as they reveal—in great measure because they either ignore or minimize the consequences of crime. Emphasizing the exploitation of white fears, the construction of black criminality, or the political strategies of Republican political elites, prevailing theories ignore black crime victims. In order to excavate the historical roots of the modern carceral state, this study traces the development of New York State's Rockefeller drug laws. Rather than beginning in Albany, this history focuses on Harlem, a community hit hardest by rising crime rates and drug addiction. Drawing upon a variety of primary sources, this study traces how African American activists framed and negotiated the incipient drug problem in their neighborhoods and interrogates the policy prescriptions they attached to indigenously constructed frames. It describes how middle-class African Americans facing the material threats of crime and crime-related problems drew upon the moral content of indigenous class categories to understand these threats and develop policy prescriptions. It reveals how the black middle class shaped the development of this punitive policy and played a crucial role in the development of mass incarceration.
Correspondence

Crazy talk..It was all part of the Republican strategy to win elections...It began with Nixon declaring a national War on Drugs in 1972 on which Rockerfeller built upon...Bush One had no problem showcasing the Willie Horton ad during the '88 Presidential election...Trump's theme today is making Amreica safe again...Since when has black folks have clout to change laws???

Safety is a bigger issue now than at any other point in my lifetime. I'm glad Trump is making American safety a priority because at this rate we will self destruct or be destructed by outsiders

Safety??..Crime rates are the lowest in 50 years...