News-Record.com

I agree with Hogg and Hammer. I think part of the problem is that people (including myself upon reflection) confuse the term "racism" with bigotry and discrimination.

Racism refers to the belief that one race is superior to the other. Bigotry is a mindset that refers to a dislike of a group of people based on a characterstic they may have. This could be race, religion, ethinicity, and even gender (misogeny). Discrimination is the action a bigoted person may take against a person of the group the bigot dislikes.

A racist does not necessarily have a hatred of a group of people, but they do subscribe to irrational stereotypes of people and reach conclusions based on generalizations. A white person who is a racist will believe in the superiority of the white race despite all the evidence of great achievements by other races.

To me, most racists establish their beliefs due to bigotry. They start out with a dislike of a group and then formulate a theory of superiority in order to validate there dislike of the group. Being guided by a set of preordained beliefs, they operate against reason and are thus deliberately ignorant. It's not suprising that most racists are very apparent in their ignorance and are easily identified by their own lack of education which is frequently much less than those that they feel superior to. In this regard, they aren't just ignorant but stupid as well for not seeing the irony of their own situation.

A racist can be a person of any race, because it only requires the belief in superiority. It does not require a position of power as some people frequently say. In fact, many believers in racism have no power at all because they are too stupid to put themselves in a position to have any.

Bigotry is a form of hatred without a reason. Because any person can have a dislike of an entire group of people based on stereotypes and generalizations, bigotry is not confined to one group of people. Thus, a black person can be a bigot by automatically disliking all white people based solely on the color of their skin. The best examples of bigots in pop culture are Archie Bunker (a white bigot, who made assumptions about all blacks and jews), and George Jefferson (a black bigot who made assumptions about all whites).

Discrimination is the issue that Martin Luther King Jr. fought against. Discrimination is bigotry in action. You cannot criminalize opinion (such as bigotry), but you could criminalize actions taken as a result of that opinion. Thus, King sought to end the blanket act of treating people badly (judging them by the color of their skin) without giving them a fair shake (judging them by the content of their character). A police officer that stops a person solely based on the color of their skin is not necessarily a racist, but is practicing discrimination.

I have often opined here that the N&R spends too much time on racism, but in actuality we are probably more often dealing with accusations of bigotry and discrimination.

It is not lost on me that the N&R had barely a mention of the story that Hogg referred to and that was printed in the Rhino. They probably decided that because the story dealt with an elected black official calling all white people racists, it was not newsworthy because the N&R subscribes to the belief that racism, bigotry and discrimination are the exclusive province of white people.

Allen, why haven't you commented on this story like you have every time a white person says something racist, bigoted or discriminatory towards a minority? Where is JR and the news division? If Steve Arnold made those comments, you'd be all over it. This isn't tit for tat, but it does highlight why people stop caring about race relations. They see the double standard, and tune out.

Mr. Spagnola, People are not just tuning out, but much worse, they are becoming resentful of the discrimination against Whites. Blacks didn't, and indeed could not, make the gains they have made without the help of many, many Whites who believe in the equality of All peoples regardless of race, sex or religion. I shudder to think of what will happen when this 'resentment' builds to the point of taking action. Only the Blacks will lose.

Why Mr. Johnson did you not report the very racist letter that Ms. Wells wrote to her fellow council members? Why does the N&R overlook the criminal activities of Melvin "Skip" Alston? Why was the "smoke" surrounding Lt. Hinson's dealings with known drug dealers over looked by the N&R? Is it discrimination on your part or a reluctance to alienate members of your race, or embarrassment that another member of your race is thought to be involved in crimanal behavior? Or is itas Mr. Spagnola charges that you too harbor racist feelings towards Whites? I truly want to understand why all of this is happening after a life time of working for the equality and acceptance of all people. This working for equality MUST also be coupled with a recognition of and condemnation of wrong behavior by the groups you are trying to bring into the mainstream; it MUST be fair and unbiased to ALL people if you want fairness for ONE.

I want to clarify that I have never said that Allen was a racist. I think the N&R does discriminate however by only highlighting racism, bigotry and discrimination when perpetrated by whites. This ends in a one sided conversation that is not productive because people don't respond when you attack them.

Oh, I don't know, Sam. I think we take the rap for reporting or commenting on what's already there, not creating it.
Race permeate a number of key issues in the news and to pretend otherwise is to avoid telling the whole story.
Who could dispute that race isn't an issue in school discipline, school redistricting, housing patterns, criminal justice, etc.?

I agree that race CAN be a factor in all that you mentioned except for school discipline. I have a great amount of experience in juvenile delinquency, and the things that kids are disciplined for are behaviors that warrant it regardless of race, and it has been my experience that the same act committed by a person of any race is punished the same either at the school level or in the courtroom or both.

Spend a day in juvenile court and you will see that race is not a factor despite what statistics may say. The facts are the factor.

I also would not commit to saying that race is a factor in criminal justice because the term is too broad. It may be a factor in some matters of criminal justice, but you would have to first narrow it down to specifics. I honestly don't encounter it in criminal defense very often except for occasionally when dealing with police stops. Even in those situations, there is in fact an underlying crime that was committed. Whether race alone was the basis for a stop is usually not the case. There are usually other factors involved such as running from the police or the person stopped being an area where a crime has recently been reported. I would not say that it is never a factor because I have had clients that I believe were stopped solely based on race- but even in those cases, they almost always did commit the crime for which they are charged.

From a defense standpoint it actually would be more helpful to the client if they were stopped solely on race because you can have the evidence suppressed due to the unlawful stop. But that doesn't mean a crime was not committed. This is most common in drug offenses.

I can't speak for other attorney's, but I rarely hear about race being a factor in stops from other lawyers. Generally, conversations about defenses revolve around the substance of the case against the defendant. Most suppression issues are colorblind and are based on fourth amendment violations that have nothing to do with race.

I also think that it is too easy to say that housing patterns are race based. It might be for a group of bigots who don't want to live near other races, but I think most people make decisions based on schools, crime rates, and quality of life. "White flight" does exist, but I think it is fleeing from crime, not blacks. I think that most black people also seek to move away from crime if possible- call it middle and upper class black flight. You never hear the stories about the lower class white neighborhoods that are crime ridden even though they exist. White people in those neighborhoods who can afford to leave do leave. They are leaving the crime, not the race. I also think that if you looked at the crime rates for neighborhoods that people are "fleeing" from, you will see that the crime rate has gone up. I think this would justify anyone moving somewhere else.

To blanket the whole housing pattern situation on race is not accurate. There are a growing number of middle and upper class mixed neighborhoods that are very stable, and neighbors are indifferent to the color of their other neighbors. If the neighborhood starts to see an increase in crime, whites and blacks will move elsewhere.

The redistricting thing has been rehashed before. It is about race- I just don't understand why. I just haven't seen any data that warrants moving kids across town solely for diversity. In fact, our recent data in Guilford County indicates it was not helpful to raising scores. I challenged you before that if you could show a measurable improvement, I could be persuaded. I have yet to see such data.

I think the whole redistricting thing is designed by white liberals so they can feel better about themselves. Rather than treating minorities like individuals, they treat them like novelties. Redistricting based on race is just a culmination of this mind set. Those of us who went to integrated schools and had friends from all over the color spectrum know differently. We lived close together and our friendships went beyond the schoolyard. Busing makes this more difficult, and I don't know that many minorities like the idea either.

Finally, you stated "I think we take the rap for reporting or commenting on what's already there, not creating it. Race permeate (sic) a number of key issues in the news and to pretend otherwise is to avoid telling the whole story." If this is so, 1) why haven't you commented on Goldie Wells' remarks, and why hasn't JR run a news story on it? 2) by not doing so, aren't you avoiding telling the whole story? You have to admit that the N&R never publicizes stories where racial comments are made about whites, and in your heart you know that I'm right- if Steve Arnold or Billy Yow said the same thing about blacks or other minorities, your paper would be all over it. 3) reporting on it would not be "creating" it, because it's "already there". She did make the remarks, didn't she? No need to "create" anything to report it.

Typical N&R double standards, telling half the story, only whites are bad so shame on us all. You engage in the same behavior (stereotyping and generalizations) you claim to deplore. That's why people give up. Damned if you do, damned if you don't.

Ms. Wells spoke words of poetic justice. Apparently racist cannot see their own racist behavior. If you read the piece in the Rhino, it was easy to see that she was not speaking in a racist tone, she was merely asking what is it that a black person can do to be accepted in the so-called main stream. As a black person she has a right to question the majority. Some of you white people want to start race relations from today and totally forget about the past. The past is where racism began and, in part, it is the pains of the past that persist today. For a white person to not even recognize that their actions of the past are THE problem of today, to a black person, is quite insulting. I am aware that in your worlds, problems can be solved by using a degree of intellect and understanding, however, as it relates to racism, this is not one of the subjects that any of you are an authority of. Yet, you attempt to eloquently provide reasoning and rationale on how to approach it and deal with it. The disconnect between the races comes from seeing it from two totally different perspectives.

Ms. Bowers,

The more you speak the more you begin to sound like a KKK wife, excuse me if that sounds offensive, but what criminal activities has Mr. Alston been charged? As far as Mr. Hinson, to my recollection he has been cleared of any charges, so what smoke is there? As I have read your blogs lately, you always seem to mention that blacks will lose if there is some form of revolution. That issue I won't address, however your threats are slightly disturbing.

Mitchell said:

"I am aware that in your worlds, problems can be solved by using a degree of intellect and understanding, however, as it relates to racism, this is not one of the subjects that any of you are an authority of."

If a problem cannot be solve with intellect and reasoning, how can it be solved? What is your suggestion?

Mitchell, you will never understand that you will never convince people to pay for the sins of others, especially in the melting pot that is America. So many people are not descendants of slave holders nor of any white person that was in this country during slavery. Trying to convince them that they have done something wrong or owe somebody else anything is futile.

Very often, they were victims of discrimination themselves when their ancestors arrived here. You will never convince them of the oft mentioned argument that their success was built on the backs of blacks- they will say they earned it, particularly those who started with nothing. If I'm in Sicily in 1920 and move here with nothing and make something of myself- how is that taking advantage of minorities? What if I was a success in Sicily before I got here and am a success after I get here, what did American racism and slavery have to do with my success if it began overseas? To what do the people still living overseas attribute their success to?

As long as you keep looking back to the past hoping to guilt people into doing whatever it is you want, you will fail. That is why the only way to improve things is to look forward. Young people who did not grow up in segregation will never be convinced of your argument- that they should somehow "pay" for what some white person (that they are almost assuredly not even related to) did 50 or more years ago.

It seems to me that you defended Wells by saying she was merely asking what it would take for a black person to be accepted in the majority (as if we all get together in a conspiracy and decide who gets "in"). Yet, your argument seems to be that the only acceptable position for a white person to have to be accepted by the minority is to admit it's all their fault and then do...(what?). Thankfully, I don't see the world as Us vs. Them as you seem to. Rather, I don't care too much about being accepted by an entire group of obviously same thinking people (because they are the same color, you know- they must all think the same) as much as I do about establishing individual relationships.

Funny, after all these years, who is making assumptions about people based on the color of their skin, and not their character? If you think in groups, don't be suprised if people judge you in groups.

Allen,

You continue to complain about racism in school redistricting, but you have yet tko answer my question about why Dudley is allowed to remain nearly 100% black, while High Point schools are hammered about thelack of diversity. You keep writing about the need for diversity, but when Dudley is mentioned, you give some vague answer or ignore the subject. Do you think that Dudley remains a neighborhood school that is not integrated because the people there want it that way? And, I might add, they have that right.

Mr Spagnolia,

Thats the same old blah, blah, blah, blah, blah!

I did say a degree of intellect and understanding. My point was, that in my opinion, you fail to use that same degree of intellect and understanding as it relates to actual racism. You tend to mold racism to a form that is more comfortable to your personal liking. I have always said, that you all can quite eloquently speak on how racism is not racism. However, it's just preaching to your choir. Now if you really want to test your theoris on racism, come and preach this face to face with our choir. Have you seen the billboards around town that reads something to the effect of "racism is not seen but you know its there."

In your opinion is it true, that all black people are just imagining racism exists? If so, then there must be some sort of a systematic problem, or either the collateral damage of slavery, Jim Crow and racism has left a profounding effect on a mass of people, which has us all so paranoid that every time something doesn't go our way, we cry racism. NOT (to the latter)!

Mr. Spagnolia,

Please allow me to offer you this reading. http://thetalkingdrum.com/wil.html

If you can stomach this, I can almost guarantee you you will go back to the beginning to verify that this was written in the 1700's and not just last year.

Great question and point Stormy.
Allen, are you gonna answer or WHAT?
It's a legit and fair question.

Mitchell, you said "In your opinion is it true, that all black people are just imagining racism exists?" I never said such a thing. I have often said I believe that white people underestimate racism, and black people overestimate racism. Or more appropriately, bigotry and discrimination. But to address you head on regarding the problem as you see it- what is it exactly that you want? What would make you happy? What could anyone possibly do to change your view of the world? What is your solution to the problem as you see it? If you want to deal in reality, then answer those questions instead of putting the problem as you see it in the abstract. What would have to happen in your world view before it is no longer true that "racism is not seen but you know its there." What would it take for you to finally say that there was no more racism?

allen, i am waiting for a response to Stormy's question. it was fair and legit. come on..
"whos a racist"?

Stormy and others:
Do a search on this blog of the keyword "Dudley," and I think you'll see I addressed this question dozens of times.

American RACISM for Dummies

You pass me on the street and sneer in my
direction. You glare at me and leer at my
wife and daughter. You stand in my path
and block the aisles, daring me to protest.

It’s OK for you to call me names like
"Cracker", "Honky", "Whitey", "Gringo",
"Goyem" and "White Boy”. If I call you
"Nigger", “Spook”, "Kike", "Spic",
"Beaner", "Towelhead", "Sand-Nigger",
"Chink" or "Gook" that makes me a racist.

Your musicians, actors, and comedians
constantly rant against my people. White
entertainers don’t dare mention race lest
their careers be ruined. You demand
respect and offer none in return.

You want us to call you "African-American"
although you've never been to Africa. True
Africans envy you for having been born
in the world's greatest country. African
immigrants learn to speak better English
than you do.

You never stop complaining about
"slavery" while casting accusing looks at
me. I have never owned a slave, nor have
any of my living relatives. You have never
been a slave, nor have any of your living
relatives. If your slave ancestors could
see you today, they'd surely wonder what
the hell you're whining about.

You condemn White activists who speak
of separation, but you have no problem
with your own activists who call for
domination and/or destruction of my
entire race.

You complain that Whites commit violence
against you, but your own ghettos are the
most dangerous places to be. You demand
the right to move into our neighborhoods.
If one of us is attacked while visiting your
neighborhood, nobody notices. If you are
attacked in ours, the world is instructed to
hate, judge and condemn us.

The Crusades, Bataan Death March, and
other historic events during which White
Christians were tortured and massacred
mean nothing to you; yet you require the
entire world’s population to mourn the
Jewish "Holocaust" for time eternal.

You’ve manipulated us into helping you
steal Palestinian land at great cost to our
own safety and welfare. Now, instead of
moving there, you stay to ridicule and
berate our elected leaders for fighting the
wars that were started against us because
of our misguided alliance with you.

You denounce us for saying "Merry
Christmas" in public while you make a
fortune selling us your Christmas
merchandise.

Your borders are heavily guarded against
illegal immigration, but if we speak of
protecting our own borders we are again
called racists. You come here illegally to
flee your corrupt, diseased, poverty-stricken
countries but refuse to adopt our language
and lifestyle.

You have the United Negro College Fund.
You have Martin Luther King Day.
You have Black History Month.
You have the Black Caucus.
You have "Affirmative" Action.
You have Cesar Chavez Day.
You have Cinco de Mayo
You have Yom Hashoah.
You have Ma'uled Al-Nabi.
You have the NAACP.
You have Ramadan.
You have BET.

If there became such a thing as White
Entertainment Television it would be shut
down rapidly by the liberal Jewish media.

If we announced a White Pride Day we’d
be bashed worldwide for our arrogance.

If we created a White History Month, it
would be summarily denounced and
banned, just as our state flags and history
lessons are being censored and edited,
bit-by-bit, simply to avoid offending you.

If we maintained an organization for White
folks only, to "advance" our lives, we'd be
dismissed as the most incorrigible bigots.

If we had an Aryan Defense League, we’d
be cursed as Nazi scum.

What if our politicians formed a White
Caucus? How long would that last?

If we built a college fund that awarded
Scholarships only to White students, the
money would be confiscated and the
organizers would be publicly excoriated.

If we proposed legislation that required
business contracts to be offered first to
White entrepreneurs, we'd be soundly
ridiculed and punished for violating your
civil rights.

If we had a "Million Man March” for White
people, the world’s population would
angrily decry our insolence.

You rob, rape, carjack, beat and shoot us.
When a white policeman beats or shoots
a violent black or hispanic criminal you
call it a hate crime and demand justice.

Your exclusive special-interest groups
(Black Muslims, Black Panthers, Anti
Defamation League, NAACP, etc.) are all
perpetuated in the name of “pride and
safety” while ours are outlawed and
labeled as “hate groups”.

You consciously embrace racism and
preserve hatred while claiming to reject
them both. They have been your crutches
since birth, passed down to you from your
parents and grandparents. Without them
you are not special; therefore, you strive
to keep them alive and flourishing.

We don’t hate you for the color of your
skin or because you pray to a different
God. That is a myth of the confused
American liberal. Most of us would be
happy to live in a world where all human
beings are given equal opportunity to
succeed or fail according to their own
personal merits and flaws; however, we
will not ultimately submit to your desire
to dominate, rule and exterminate us.

I am White and unashamed. I am, in fact,
proud of my White heritage, the values
of my White Family and the outstanding
achievements of my Aryan Ancestors.

If that makes me a racist, then so be it.

But just this once, take a break from
slandering me long enough to look at
yourself in the above light. If you have
any moral conviction at all, you are
bound to see how much uglier is your
hypocrisy compared to my racism.