Roxbury and Racism (from MassArt Dorm thread)

[Shepard]

Jungle mentality in this instance refers to the the law of the jungle, an animalistic propensity toward violence and deviant behavior as a way of solving problems.

I know what the phrase means. I just want to point out that I wouldn't see you using these same words to describe the "white Irish folks" in the projects that you mention later in your post. I realize I'm making an assumption here, and I honestly hope that I'm wrong.

I said - "simply" twice

Chalk that one up to rushing and inadequate caffeination.

Did you think I was nitpicking at your diction? You only needed to say it once for my point to be valid: you simplify a complex set of issues down to broad generaizations about groups. In this case, the group is defined by skin color. Mein Kampf could be summarized as "The problem is simply the Jews." Your post could be summarized as "The problem is simply the blacks."

Shepard said - "If he had said outright "I have a distaste for certain groups of people based on the color of their skin which leads me to make certain assumptions about their neighborhoods"

My distastes for people are predicated entirely on their behaviors. Skin color has nothing to do with it. There are plenty of white Irish folks living it up in the Southie projects on my dime whom I hold in no higher regard because they happen to be white.

It's revealing that, wherever your argument goes, you feel compelled to identify groups and shower them with scorn. You could argue policy if you want - if you think that welfare, or projects, or any form of social services for that matter, are bad policies - then fine, I wouldn't mind hearing it. But instead, you go straight for "the blacks" or "the white Irish folks living it up." You seem to have a shocking ability to point your finger at groups or "types" of people before you actually consider any significant level of nuance.

 

[Mayor Menino's Crohn's]

Recently there has been a lot of talk about Bill Russell FINALLY getting a statue. But if you read the Boston.com pages, and if you read what racist shit people post, you'll see that the old South Boston Irish Catholics are still around. No wonder Blacks have had a reputation for hating this city. Has it gotten better? Yes. Does it still have a long way to go? Yes.

My College Cross-Country Coach was Black, and a former DI Basketball Player, and he told me that he never rooted for any Boston team because of how athletes like Bill Russell were treated. I wanted to say "well it's a lot better now," but he was right. What happened in places like Roxbury and South Boston with the 70's busing gives Boston its reputation. I obviously wasn't around in the 70's, but I know the whole backstory.

they're still hung up on the jungle mentality - robbing, shooting and stabbing people when things don't go their way.

Seriously? Have you ever been to a Black neighborhood? Have you talked to a Black person? I was at one point, a front-line canvasser for Greenpeace and we used to go into all sorts of places in Boston (including Roxbury), and they're wise, caring, and more evolved than some of these so called "teabaggers." I met a Special Needs Teacher for thirty years. Wonderful man.