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When we must stoop to lumping the intentional shooting of a black male in the process of severely beating someone with the accidental shooting of a black female making random house calls in the middle of the night then something just might be amiss.
I see two different points being made here 1) that blacks (especially males) are universally (even by other blacks) perceived as threats and 2) that mainly whites (alone?) must somehow change that.
I have seen ZERO evidence concerning the MI case under discussion that the gun was retrieved after the race, age or gender of the middle of the night visitor was known. Perhaps analysis of this shooting should wait for either a trial or a plea to decide the issue and for the "evidence" to come out. Comparing an intentional self defense shooting to an accidental discharge shooting (only?) on the basis of the race of the person shot is simply bizarre.
You miss the point.When we must stoop to lumping the intentional shooting of a black male in the process of severely beating someone with the accidental shooting of a black female making random house calls in the middle of the night then something just might be amiss.
That's not what I said.I see two different points being made here 1) that blacks (especially males) are universally (even by other blacks) perceived as threats and 2) that mainly whites (alone?) must somehow change that
I have seen ZERO evidence concerning the MI case under discussion that the gun was retrieved after the race, age or gender of the middle of the night visitor was known. Perhaps analysis of this shooting should wait for either a trial or a plea to decide the issue and for the "evidence" to come out. Comparing an intentional self defense shooting to an accidental discharge shooting (only?) on the basis of the race of the person shot is simply bizarre.
I know nothing of the McBride case, but sure. It is easier for white people to assume that blacks are more a danger than whites, but you cannot dismiss there is a basis for these perceptions. The black community needs to take ownership of some of the things that go on there that they dismiss as racism to even discuss.
If you read the OP you will see that I specifically address the notion of this being an excuse for anyone. I am rather, saying that we (white america) can also contribute to a solution by recognizing something that many of us are hesitant to look at or even consider in ourselves.
If you read the OP you will see that I specifically address the notion of this not being an excuse for anyone. I specifically state that we (white america) can contribute to a solution by recognizing something that many of us are hesitant to look at or even consider in ourselves.
When I see a black female stranger heading my way, I don't think twice about it. When I see an older black stranger heading my way, don't think twice about it. When I see a young black male stranger coming my way, I think about it if it is in a public place where it is likely that something could happen in the setting and they are not wearing a Spongebob Squarepants hoodie.
This is a very focused thread and not including it is not the same as dismissing it. It is simply not my focus. That's an assumption you make.It still dismisses it.
The point is, to use your distasteful analogy, many are calling all snakes rattlers and they are your garden variety. As opposed to a yard full of rattlers an innocent garden snake is taken out as collateral damage.I call it the snake syndrome. No matter how much you tell someone and know that a particular type of snake is not poisonous, when you encounter one, a defensive mechanism still kicks in. Lord only knows how many poor black snakes have been murdered in fear.
What the hell makes you think that "white America" (and you can feel free to capitalize 'America') is all of some kind of homogeneous mindset?
This is a very focused thread and not including it is not the same as dismissing it. It is simply not my focus. That's an assumption you make.
The point is, to use your distasteful analogy, many are calling all snakes rattlers and they are your garden variety. As opposed to a yard full of rattlers an innocent garden snake is taken out as collateral damage.
I don't. Obviously I am painting with a broad brush and speaking towards those for whom this applies. Whether or not you are one of them is your call.
If you read the OP you will see that I specifically address the notion of this not being an excuse for anyone. I specifically state that we (white america) can contribute to a solution by recognizing something that many of us are hesitant to look at or even consider in ourselves.
"we (white America).." seems pretty doggone presumptive to me.
People all perceive threats differently.
It is still basically a chicken and egg situation. As was mentioned by another poster; even though only 4 species of snakes (in the US) are poisonous many people still are still taken aback by any snake sighting. When black males are not far and above the most prevalent among crime perps then progress may gradually begin to occur. People also exhibit fear of pit bulls and sharks yet one can argue (correctly, but to little avail) that most pit bulls or sharks never bite anyone.
If all true, the message to blacks should be "You are perceived as dangerous enough to shoot so don't do anything to further that impression."
Instead however, we see almost daily news articles of sickeningly brutal black on white violence. So whites are arming themselves in record numbers in order to protect themselves and their families.
What are you (OP) recommending that whites do instead? Civilized people are always open to suggestion.
We all know that in discussions where you are addressing issues of this scale we tend to lump people in different groups together.
And yes, we do all perceive threats differently. But if we are given the power to shoot someone based on nothing more then that perception we must be responsible. What if I was robbed by a bald guy so I perceived every bald guy and a threat. One shows up at my door in the middle of the night because his car broke down and I shoot him in the face because I perceive him as a threat. My feel and my perceived threat are completely legitimate in my own mind. Is that really sound?
If all true, the message to blacks should be "You are perceived as dangerous enough to shoot so don't do anything to further that impression."
Instead however, we see almost daily news articles of sickeningly brutal black on white violence. So whites are arming themselves in record numbers in order to protect themselves and their families.
What are you (OP) recommending that whites do instead? Civilized people are always open to suggestion.
That's why we use reason be irrational fear.
If you look at the inequities in our legal system, as I posted in the OP, you can see how those numbers you use to justify your fear are based in a system that disproportionately arrests and incarcerates black men.
OK, when sharks and pit bulls are no longer suspected as being vicious then neither will be young black males as we will have learned to allow reason to prevail.
I have consistently seen an unwillingness to even consider the notion that race was an influence on the outcome in these incidents. (The deaths of these young people)
.
That is the rub of it. Little People freak me the eff out. I can't help it. My worst nightmare was in NYC and an elevator door opened and a legion of Little People came spilling out of it all around me. That is an irrational fear. Black males don't have much going their way statistically which makes the perception at least somewhat rational. We then each according to our experiences whittle the risk down or not. Women, older people, Nation of Islam folks, blacks in coat and ties don't bother me, but that is because life experiences/reason tell me the odds/probabilities of needing to be concerned for my safety among them are infinitesimally low. I am reasonable, but I am not stupid.
That's the point. Question your reasoning because it may very well be based on untruths.
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