Being White in Philly

[cawacko]

Funny, he is a white people only interviewing white people...

"Being White in Philly" If that is the topic of your article white people are probably going to be the people you interview.

 

[Phantasmal]

Wrong... the fact that you knew it was a white guy writing the article is why you immediately jumped to the conclusion he must be 'lecturing black people'. Your bias against white guys tainted your view of the article from the start. You were going to see it as lecturing regardless.

You then put your inability to see through anothers eyes onto me with your stupid 'you can only see things through the viewpoint of a white guy'. You automatically assume the worst with this guy because he was white. Because you only see things through your feminist tainted glasses.

Oh, brother...

 

[Cancel 2016.2]

Funny, he is a white people only interviewing white people...

Which was the point of his article... to convey the issue from that side of the coin. We see time and again the race issue discussed by black writers/media/leaders... his point was to put forth what the other side was seeing. Because that side is not usually discussed outside of 'white circles'. His point was that many don't feel comfortable sharing their views because they don't want to be labeled by people like Darla as racists simply for being honest about how they feel. Anything derogatory about a black person by a white person automatically gets labeled as racist by people like Darla.

 

[Cancel 2016.11]

For the record Darla I believe we can have a discussion on this disagree and even have the discussion get heated yet still be cool at the end of it. I also don't mind you calling me out saying I think you missed something here or aren't looking at this right or this doesn't seem like you.

Having a discussion on this or any other (controversial) topic might bring thoughts or ideas to me that I didn't see the first time around.

I know, I was being a little funny about the hatemail, I don't really get that. Though I bet if I were going to get hatemail about anyone it would be about grind.

 

[Cancel 2016.2]

"Being White in Philly" If that is the topic of your article white people are probably going to be the people you interview.

You would think they would be capable of comprehending that point. But no, the guy is an 'asshole' for daring to speak on the issue.

Can't help but notice that no examples of what gives her that impression were used by her to convey why she thinks this guys approach was wrong.

 

[Phantasmal]

"Being White in Philly" If that is the topic of your article white people are probably going to be the people you interview.

Read SF comment to me.

 

[Cancel 2016.11]

Which is nothing more than another example of your hatred towards white guys who dare discuss anything. How about you show us what it is that makes you think he is an asshole. Point to an example. Then we can discuss your lunacy some more.

Nah, ask String. I don't feel like masturbating with you today, maybe he is the mood. Since you know, he pretty much said the same thing I did.

 

[Cancel 2016.11]

Wrong... the fact that you knew it was a white guy writing the article is why you immediately jumped to the conclusion he must be 'lecturing black people'. Your bias against white guys tainted your view of the article from the start. You were going to see it as lecturing regardless.

You then put your inability to see through anothers eyes onto me with your stupid 'you can only see things through the viewpoint of a white guy'. You automatically assume the worst with this guy because he was white. Because you only see things through your feminist tainted glasses.

Okay.

 

[christiefan915]

There was an article in Philadlephia Magazine entitled 'Being White in Philly'. The Mayor of Philadelphia, who is black, apparently didn't like it.

In a letter to the Philadelphia Human Relations Commission, the mayor claims:

[T]he First Amendment, like other constitutional rights, is not an unfettered right, and notwithstanding the First Amendment, a publisher has a duty to the public to exercise its role in a responsible way. I ask the Commission to evaluate whether the “speech” employed in this essay is not the reckless equivalent of “shouting ‘fire!’ in a crowded theater,” its prejudiced, fact-challenged generalizations an incitement to extreme reaction.

After seeing this I had to read the article. The article is long and the author interviews white people who live in Phily about race relations in the City. The Mayor's name in Nutter and seeing his response to article it may be appropriate. Race relations aren't an easy subject and I believe we often pretend there are race issues in only certain parts of the country but that clearly isn't the case.

The first link is Mayor Nutter asking for an investigation into the story. The second link is the story itself.

http://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/20...ne-has-mayor-nutter-asking-for-investigation/

http://www.phillymag.com/articles/white-philly/

Edit: I didn't post this from a 'white people are good or bad' perspective. I will say I'm surprised a magazine appealing to an urban audience published this. (And by urban I don't mean black, I mean city people regardless of race)

No wonder Nutter was angry, it's not a nice article and the writer's bias is pretty clear. He wrote an opinion and selectively fit in the facts that supported it. He didn't look at the whole picture or weigh all the variables. He talks about the crappiness of certain neighborhoods but doesn't come out and talk about poverty, and how no jobs, no earnings, and little education lead to poverty. And factor in the casual racism of the old man:

"He tells me about the time, a Saturday afternoon more than 10 years ago, when he came downstairs to his living room to find a stranger had come in through his front door— “It was a nigger boy, a big tall kid. He wanted money.” It’s a strange moment, not only because of the ugly word, but because of John’s calm in delivering it, as if it is merely fact, one that explains the vast changes in his world.

The writer talks about the "nice" black people in his own neighborhood which, coincidentally, happens to be middle-class, not poor. Yeah, that happens. People tend to be friendlier and more caring to others when they have enough money to take care of their own needs. The writer says "We need to bridge the conversational divide so that there are no longer two private dialogues in Philadelphia—white people talking to other whites, and black people to blacks—but a city in which it is okay to speak openly about race."

IMO they need a dialogue about how to fix society so the have-nots get the same chance to better themselves as the haves. Better schools, more job opportunities, less of the rarely-spoken but ingrained racism of the old man who threw out the "n" word so casually when describing the break-in.

 

[Phantasmal]

What a crappy article. I don't know if it is "yelling fire" but it is rather racist and a lousy piece of journalism.

The author starts with the apparent assumption that crime in and around Temple is only a problem or concern for white people. If his white son was not there it would not matter. He continues this throughout the article assuming all crime is the result of african americans and only harms white people or only matters when it does.

He uses several poorly sourced and/or investigated anecdotal incidents. In every one of them the perspective is only white and in negative encounters with blacks, the incident is blamed on the black person. If the depiction of blacks in the article is not of some shadowy criminal then they are too senstive of racism and there is no sign of empathy for the black person involved from the author. When his sources express empathy he challenges them and these are seemingly the only sources he did challenge.

Then he talks about his own racism and how he feels guilt. He tries, extra special hard, to be friendly towards blacks. Does he really think that's what they want? For him to act like a phoney? I have seen other white idiots play the I'm tough card. Why not just be yourself? Well, unless of course you are an asshole like the author.

You summed up the article very succinctly, thanks.

 

[Cancel 2016.2]

What a crappy article. I don't know if it is "yelling fire" but it is rather racist and a lousy piece of journalism.

The author starts with the apparent assumption that crime in and around Temple is only a problem or concern for white people. If his white son was not there it would not matter.

Thanks for again proving that you see what you want to see. He doesn't pretend that crime is only a concern for white people. You injected that into what he wrote.

My younger son goes to Temple, where he’s a sophomore. This year he’s living in an apartment with two friends at 19th and Diamond, just a few blocks from campus. It’s a dangerous neighborhood. Whenever I go see Nick, I get antsy and wonder what I was thinking, allowing him to rent there.
One day, before I pick him up for lunch, I stop to talk to a cop who’s parked a block away from Nick’s apartment.


“Is he already enrolled for classes?” the cop says when I point out where my son lives.


Well, given that it’s December, I think so. But his message is clear: Bad idea, this neighborhood. A lot of burglaries and robberies. Temple students are prime prey, the cop says.

Where in that does he imply that crime is only white people's concern in that neighborhood. Or are your racist views coming out and you assume that 'Temple Students' = 'White people'

He continues this throughout the article assuming all crime is the result of african americans and only harms white people or only matters when it does.

Show us an example of that.

 

[Phantasmal]

You would think they would be capable of comprehending that point. But no, the guy is an 'asshole' for daring to speak on the issue.

Can't help but notice that no examples of what gives her that impression were used by her to convey why she thinks this guys approach was wrong.

You are a moron, but "fair enough". Lol

 

[Bonestorm]

Which was the point of his article... to convey the issue from that side of the coin. We see time and again the race issue discussed by black writers/media/leaders... his point was to put forth what the other side was seeing. Because that side is not usually discussed outside of 'white circles'. His point was that many don't feel comfortable sharing their views because they don't want to be labeled by people like Darla as racists simply for being honest about how they feel. Anything derogatory about a black person by a white person automatically gets labeled as racist by people like Darla.

Isn't it funny how an article about "Being White in Philly" is almost exclusively about white people in a very small swath of Philly as victims of (presumed) black criminals and, horror of horrors, they can't even talk about it wihtout being labelled racists.

 

[Cancel 2016.2]

Isn't it funny how an article about "Being White in Philly" is almost exclusively about white people in a very small swath of Philly as victims of (presumed) black criminals and, horror of horrors, they can't even talk about it wihtout being labelled racists.

Yeah... imagine that... an article titled 'Being White in Philly' being about white people in Philly. Shocking.

 

[NOVA]

I wouldn't call that girl racist. I understand if you are one of the few black people at a school that is known for being mostly white it's not surprising she is more sensitive about perceived racial slights. But she obviously way overreacted by taking personally and perceiving a racial angle to a message sent to everyone in the class.

Temple's student population is about 55% white....hardly a bastion for white supremacists....
its one of the most diverse colleges in the nation....
So you need to find another excuse for that girls feelings being hurt over nothing.

 

[cawacko]

Temple's student population is about 55% white....hardly a bastion for white supremacists....
its one of the most diverse colleges in the nation....
So you need to find another excuse for that girls feelings being hurt over nothing.

The students went to Villanova where the incident took place. They reference in the article the school is often called Vanila-Nova.

 

[Bonestorm]

Temple's student population is about 55% white....hardly a bastion for white supremacists....
its one of the most diverse colleges in the nation....
So you need to find another excuse for that girls feelings being hurt over nothing.

Except the story was about Villanova, which has a slightly different demographic profile than Temple.

 

[NOVA]

Isn't it funny how an article about "Being White in Philly" is almost exclusively about white people in a very small swath of Philly as victims of (presumed) black criminals and, horror of horrors, they can't even talk about it wihtout being labelled racists.

Thats the very first thing the lefties do.....call you a racist.....seldom if ever actually discuss the facts and perceptions that matter.
Truth is the last thing anyone wants to face.

 

[christiefan915]

Thanks for again proving that you see what you want to see. He doesn't pretend that crime is only a concern for white people. You injected that into what he wrote.

Where in that does he imply that crime is only white people's concern in that neighborhood. Or are your racist views coming out and you assume that 'Temple Students' = 'White people'

Show us an example of that.

The example is that the theme of the article isn't about crime in the Temple neighborhood, it's about race in the Temple neighborhood.

 

[Phantasmal]

Thats the very first thing the lefties do.....call you a racist.....seldom if ever actually discuss the facts and perceptions that matter.
Truth is the last thing anyone wants to face.

My name for you, Vanilla Nova.