Quote:
Originally Posted by Did you just call me Coltrane?
What about real life experience? When that fear is learned through personal experience rather than taught? I've seen enough to where I am crossing the street when I see a group of young, poorly dressed black men walking towards me at night. Am I being fearful or am I making a reasoned decision based on probability? Probably both. Isn't crossing the street the smart thing to do? Would you cross the street? And if you wouldn't cross the street, would it only be because you are telling yourself that's what a racist person would do?
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I like that you zero'd in on the one example that makes you the most uncomfortable. But let's talk about it.
If you see a group of teenagers who are dressed poorly, I imagine that you cross the street whether they are black, white, hispanic, asian, or any combination. If you're telling me you only cross the street when they're black, I'd probably think you are an asshole (and a liar).
But let's change your hypothetical. I'm a black (albeit way too light-skinned), grown up. If you saw me (and just me) walking toward you in sweats at night (like I was coming from the fucking gym), would you cross the street? Would you do that if a similarly-aged white partner from a law firm in the exact same outfit with the exact same build approached you in the exact same circumstances? If you were a woman, would you clutch your purse or your child a little tighter for one and not the other? Would you lock your car doors with your kids in the back?
Are all the instances when I experience that bullshit, based on personal experience of being attacked by a black man? Or do you think that's based on fear that's passed on constantly in a myriad of different ways (including those I listed above)?
TM
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