Is This Letter Racist?

At what point do we face facts and recognize that a hugely disproportionate percentage of violent crime and drug dealing is coming from a very targeted demographic? Is verbalizing this racism? If you have a genuine concern with the issue and it threatens your safety, should you be forced to keep quiet?

 

It has some over tones . . . and some inconsistancies. . .

Rocket River

 

Assuming Mrs. Marshall's story is true, which it might not entirely be, she probably still makes a bad analogy.

 

No, I think you are looking for a chance to cry foul. For starters, this story isn't about black person on her door step. It is her assumption that a "gang banger" is on her door step threatening her family. For all we know, she could be black too.

You see "black boy" twice and see racism. I see a very descriptive article, enough to the point where I think she might have fabricated some of the story (my assumption).

 

i dont think the letter is inherently racist, although i think it shows a certain degree of ignorance on the writers part and it does seem like a bs story. next time the cops taser someone, think about what they did to get tasered? give me a break!

if that scenario played out on me that kid would have gotten a gut full of bird-shot.

 

But why does the first thing (the only thing, really) we know about him have to be his race? How does that advance her point any more than his his height, weight, etc.? If she wants to argue what T_J is arguing, then it might matter. But she's not. Her point is about "thugs" in general.

If you want to talk about racial issues, do it directly. Don't just keep talking about a "black boy" on your porch when race has nothing to do with your point.

I'm also curious about the guys age. In the South, blacks seem to get called "boy" much later in life than whites.

 

Would saying something like "I"m scared of black people but I blame it on the white people for putting them in situations where they're more prone to unsavory acts" be considered racist?

I think anytime you're dealing with race, economical disparity, religion, etc. You're gonna have a very different mix of views, it doesn't hurt to try and walk in each other shoes every once in a while.

BTW: Crash was a great great movie.

 

I don't think the letter is racist. The author may be racist or maybe not. The letter didn't seem to be racist.

 

I got the impression that the author of the letter was black. Anyone know?

 

How the hell could that be considered racist? Why is this even a discussion. R u just trying to find racism where it is clearly not hte case?

 

Maybe she should tell her 17 yr old son to stop talking **** about people.

 

wait . . remember her wasn't there. . in fact had not been there in 8 yrs and was married 5 of those years. . . or. . wait. . uhm . .. . I'm now confused

Rocket River

 

Which portion of the letter do you consider racist, and why? If she didn't use the word thug, and she didn't mention that this person was black, is there still racism in it?

She apparently has more than one son ("oldest son" is who the guy was looking for), and the one still at home was 17 years old. I don't see an inconsistency there.

 

I think your racist for thinking this letter is racist.

 

she did mention 3 times that this person was "balack" (props to tradertexx!) with her use of the term "black boy".

thats how i interpreted it. she said the "black boy" was looking for her oldest son.

but the whole story sounds made up - just someone trying to justify police killing people.

"So, parents, the next time you are angry with the police because they had to Taser your child or even shoot them, you need to ask what did your child do to be treated in such a way."

 

And she is right. The vast majority of the time, if someone gets shot or tasered by the police, they were doing something to deserve it.

 

The person was black.