tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12509286.post7673689159406912320..comments2024-03-01T07:43:16.529-06:00Comments on Smart City Memphis: Changing Reality Starts With RaceUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12509286.post-58237008467253735262008-05-28T08:03:00.000-05:002008-05-28T08:03:00.000-05:00the poverty line in this city and the race line ar...the poverty line in this city and the race line are parallel, less than an inch apart. if you are talking poverty in this city you are talking about blacks. many people feel easier about talking along poverty lines. the poverty lines in this city are due to wealth accumulation at the expense of blacks.<BR/><BR/>aaron - i do not know what ethnicity you are but you seem to get it. i have read many of your comments and with few exceptions are always on the mark.<BR/><BR/>anonymous - hopefully you see this as a challenge to your assumptions and not a personal attack. "There are business and professional groups for blacks. There are black social organizations. There is a college devoted to black students. There are churches and schools that are mainly black." the business and professional groups for blacks were started due to segregation. a black could not join the established professional organizations due to discrimination, so they started there own. what's wrong with that? what professional organization has reached out and tried to unite with black organizations? meaning accepting the membership and board representation and looking at policies, mission and vision from a different view. women also have there own professional organizations for the same reason, i.e. discrimination.<BR/>the college you refer to are historically black colleges, for the same reason stated above. blacks could not go to school with whites so they started their own schools. what's wrong with that? most colleges in the south are historically white, because they would not let blacks enroll. the difference is blacks have always been willing to go to school with whites but whites rarely want to go to school with blacks, especially a majority black college. i like many other people went to grade school, high school, undergrad and graduate school all with less than 5% blacks. nothing was wrong with that in the minds of the students, faculty or staff.<BR/><BR/>if you really want to have a discussion on race, look at commongroundmemphis.org for new class and discussion times.<BR/><BR/>food for thought, blacks are not monolithic. blacks have different opinions about things so if you get an answer to your proverbial questions it will be from the perspective of that individual not "blacks" in general. perspectives will differ according to a myriad of factors including, age, gender, socio - economic status and life experiences.<BR/>a good example is the current "sweetie" gaffe by presidential candidate obama. some women found it offensive others not. some women were vehemently opposed to this type of language in a professional setting others felt it was an innocent term of endearment. women also are not monolithic.<BR/><BR/>good discussionAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12509286.post-48616745233768161862008-05-27T18:30:00.000-05:002008-05-27T18:30:00.000-05:00When we talk about segregation or the rift or the ...When we talk about segregation or the rift or the divide in Memphis, let's look at both sides.<BR/><BR/>There are business and professional groups for blacks. There are black social organizations. There is a college devoted to black students. There are churches and schools that are mainly black. There are those who believe that only a black can represent the blacks in District 9.<BR/><BR/>What is wrong with this picture? Racism is racism, and it does not matter what group is being racist or discriminatory, it is all damaging and wrong. It is definitely not Christian or any other religion. <BR/><BR/>Parents still teach their children to be racists. We have to break the cyle and I don't see that a flower garden sponsored by the churches will solve the problem. Some of the churches are part of the problem. <BR/><BR/>To attend a forum on race is not usually productive as it seems to lay lots of blame,offer lots of excuses with few to no solutions.<BR/><BR/>I would be thrilled to particiapate in a professionally guided, nonreligious discussion on what offends and pleases people of different races or nationalities to understand more how to relate.<BR/><BR/>In turn, maybe others could learn what confuses or frustrates me about trying to get along with everyone and not knowing what the rules really are,as no one is communicating them to me.<BR/><BR/>Let's have some honest dialogue for a change. I do have a lot of questions that have never been asked or answered because there has never been an opportunity.<BR/><BR/>I am a native Memphian who moved away as a young adult.<BR/>Circumstances forced me to return as a mature adult and it has been a totally shocking experience. Memphis needs to get out of its time warp and move forward.Only we can accomplish that change.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12509286.post-24124110087144009182008-05-27T18:16:00.000-05:002008-05-27T18:16:00.000-05:00Indeed the two are intimately linked. One is the c...Indeed the two are intimately linked. One is the cause the other it's symptom.Aaronhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03607388015996166639noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12509286.post-88822995768178575632008-05-27T17:41:00.000-05:002008-05-27T17:41:00.000-05:00Race is crucial, but so is economic class. The po...Race is crucial, but so is economic class. The poverty in this city, which IMO drives a LOT of the aberrant behavior, separates us almost as much as race.<BR/><BR/>It is the gigantic disparity in income, especially in the last few years, that has hurt as much as anything. This is a city that was built not only on cultural and racial stratification, but economic as well.<BR/><BR/>Let us never forget that Dr. King was not assassinated until after he began to speak about the ECONOMIC divide in America.<BR/><BR/>Just sayin'...Steve Steffenshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08104688163653632284noreply@blogger.com