The idea of race and culture is one the subjects Mark and I would debate. I like the idea of just differentiating people just by their behavior. If you're a good guy, you're a good guy; and if you're a bad guy, you're a bad guy. It doesn't matter what the race. But often, given the circumstance you don't have that luxury. I do believe there are behaviors that are unique to certain races and cultures. Rap music and blasting it in your in car with your windows rolled down didn't start with Whites or Asians or Mexicans. Sure they do it now but gangsta culture has become more mainstream. But it started with Blacks. There is a reason that young adult males commit disproportionately commit the amount of violent crime in our society. It endemic in their culture. A culture that just happens to be Black. A culture that has arose because of their unique circumstances. It's not their skin color per se that causes their behavior anymore than being Asian makes you eat with chop sticks. But it is something that is encourage in the culture. Doing bad in school is not treated the same in a Japanese family then it is in a Black family. But it is their race that allows us to make this value judgement as it is associated with their culture. You can just look at a Black by the way they dress and the way they speak to determine what part of the Black culture they are from. Just like you can look at a White, Asian, Mexican... whatever and also make some very accurate value judgements.
When I was working with at risk kids I noticed that first and second generation Mexicans were great. Hard workers, very humble and polite. Always stays out of trouble. By the third generation they start to go bad. You can tell by the way they dress, talk and carry themselves.
When I moved from Hawaii to Cali I had no preconceived notions whatsoever of Blacks. I lived on the part of the island where there were no military bases so I had zero experience with Blacks. When I saw them in Cali I just associated them with Hawaiians, Tongans, Samoans. Just dark skinned people with kinky hair.
Being 18 and on my own I looked for the cheapest place I could find. I was told later that I was in a Black neighborhood. It was in Inglewood about 3 miles east of Crenshaw Bl. I was unaware how on the mainland people naturally segregated themselves by race. In Hawaii everyone is mixed so there was no Hawaiian, Oriental (as we called it), Filipino..., areas. The only real segregation (and racism) was with Whites (Haoles). They tended to live in the rich areas and are the ones that get beat up in school. There's actually a "Kill Haole" day just before Christmas vacation where Haoles are targeted.
So I had no preconceived notions of Blacks when I moved to Inglewood. I do now. With inner city Blacks all of life is seen through the prism of skin color and racism. Much like the Palestinians, they are taught from birth this idea of Victimology and entitlement. How society is against them and how White people are always keeping them down and the White man owes them for past transgressions. I was especially taken at the keep seated hostility and anger towards Whites in general. It's always about how they will one rise and destroy the White authoritarianism. It's how they justify a lot of their crime. Taking back what was taken from them.
Sometimes one does not have the luxury to make a detailed assessment of the situation at hand and only has to go by previous knowledge and personal experience as well as the experience of others. If having a choice between petting an Alaskan Malamute or a Timber Wolf the choice would be obvious. And I've never yet met a Timber Wolf.
We can't give special attention to everyone going through an airport check out so we have to, or should, discriminate. A six year old child or a Swedish grandmother should garner less suspicion than a young adult Muslim wh9o just bought his ticket an hour ago. During the Cold War we had an Iron curtain in which no one from the Soviet Union and other Communist countries were allowed free entry into the U.S. Maybe we should have an Iron Veil and a similar policy against Muslim from the Middle East.
I don't think these police had a bias towards Blacks because they were Blacks per se. Just like I had no bias towards Blacks because they were Blacks per se. But it was through first hand experience and the experience of others that developed this bias in me and a lot of police and a lot of everybody who they are too afraid to admit it. That's why when living in Inglewood I wouldn't go into a fast food place, or any place, that were filled with Blacks. Even if there was no trouble they were always loud, boisterous, profane and utterly, just utterly, oblivious to the effect they were having on people around them. Not to mention I was afraid. I had to drive to Torrance (White/Asian) or Rancho Palos Verdes (White/Asian/Jews) to watch a movie in a theatre in peace.
Same reason why a Taxi Driver, White or Black, won't pick up a Black passenger late at night. It is the behavior of the group or culture that developed the bias.
Right now I'm sitting in a food court in Kahaluu on the North East side of Oahu. It's a mostly local area on the other side of the more touristy Waikiki area so everybody here is pretty much dark/Black skin with kinky hair. I really have no feelings one way or the other. This is normal. I figure some are good and some are bad but everyone just pretty much behaves themselves. I feel in my element here. Two people here stand out like a full moon on a cloudless night. They are Mormons. Short cropped blonde hair and pale as a bleached white t-shirt. There they stand in line waiting for their order literally shinning in their white dress shirt, bow tie, and black dress pants. I know nothing about them but the economic cost of determining detailed information about them is not worth it. I just go by past experience and the preconceived notions and bias I have regarding Mormons. It is exceeding positive. They have just got their order and are heading my way. I will do what I always do when I cross paths with Mormons. I tip them a nod and greet them with a "How's it going Elders." Even though I think they're theology is a bit wacky seeing young Mormons on their mission always brings a smile to my face. Not many 18-19 years are willing to be sent all over the world to spread their faith. These are the lucky one. Drawing the Hawaii gig. Must suck seeing "Angola" on your plane ticket.
Here they come...... "How's it going, Elders?"
Dear Pellius,
I owed you a response to your above copied premise and needed some rest and more coffee in order to give it it's proper time and energy with which to respond.
First, I think all rational persons would agree that when judged solely on behavior, race and culture are properly left in the corner. We are a better civilization when we
judge others by behavior as opposed to skin color or race.
However, you make a valid point in that there are behaviors that are "unique to certain races and cultures." We see that exemplified more in the orthodoxy of a culture but
we can at least start with that premise. Given the proliferation of social media, technology and the new need to know everyone else's business, there has been an inevitable
"exposure" of certain acts, behaviors and even rituals previously unknown to others outside that group's culture. When these are shared with others, there is a certain amount
of sharing, copying and assimilation between races and cultures. Rap music certainly didn't start in Madison, Wisconsin but you can surely bet that virtually every white 15 year old
there is aware of Chris Brown, Naz or whoever is the new rap king.
You wrote "There is a reason that young adult males commit disproportionately [commit] the amount of violent crime in our society. It endemic in their culture."
Here, I disagree. Violent crime by males is not as much a cultural phenomena as it is a biological, psychological and to some degree, sociological product. On this topic, may I
recommend a book that seriously changed my life: Robert Wright "The Moral Animal." It's tenet is that Evolutionary Biology is not only the best explanation for each gender's behavior,
predilections and flaws, but also its best predictor. I use that book ALL THE TIME in attempt to explain to women why they ARE different than men, why they NEED to be different than
men and why they NEED TO ACT AND BE TREATED DIFFERENTLY than men. The book fused traditional Darwinian principles with incredibly poignant research in sociology along with the hard
sciences.
I agree with your point in that any race that promulgates detrimental behavior (your example that Black culture treats education differently than does Japanese culture-- although I would've
cited Chinese culture given their over-representation at schools such as MIT and Harvard) merely perpetuates a culture that is doomed for failure and also sentenced to be despised by other
cultures and races who may have to not only support such tragic consequences but find themselves harmed by it as well.
As far as being able to "make some very accurate value judgments" by the way one dresses (and I understand you mean it as what I call an "Identity Badge" as to what part of the culture
they wish to ascribe) we would all be wise to exercise judicious cautiousness before making such conclusions in haste. I myself, dress in the polar opposite when I am not in court and have
been often accused of not having a job. I was once approached when filling my Ferrari with gas by someone who said, "you must have a great boss to let you drive his car." I replied, "the
guy is an asshole but he has abs, a 12 inch dick and fucks strippers by the dozens." The moron to whom I was speaking smiled and said, "Wow!!!"
I can't tell you how often the cops pull me over in any of my cars especially when I am with my friends, most of whom are Spanish or Black.
If anyone has interest, I can relate a true story involving me, a Dominican stripper with implants, the cops and Washington Heights (the most populated Dominican site outside of the DR itself).
But oh, how I agree with you on how some cultures are nurtured from the bottle of "Entitlement" and "Victim Status." My grandfather, when being hunted by Nazis, did nothing to stop any minority
living in America from attending public, free high school. Today's urban public libraries are empty. There is one on the corner by my office and it is used by bums to smoke cigarettes and ask me
for money when I walk by.
As far as which breed to pet, I concur in that our life's experiences must sometimes lead us to make quick and less than completely informed decisions. Those decision can sometimes mean
the difference between life and death and incorporating certain stereotypes must just prove useful in such situations. Perhaps there is an element of untrustworthiness when we make
those decisions but how often do you see someone rely on their "instincts" and avoid a potentially horrendous situation? The answer is, far too often.
As far as the issue of screening Muslims at airports, as far as I recall, there have never been any Blacks or Puerto Ricans who decided to fly airplanes into buildings thus killing thousands of
people. A certain amount of profiling is understandable under certain conditions. What the U.S. government did to the American Japanese after Pearl Harbor was reprehensible. Just read
U.S. vs. Karamatsu and you will be disgusted as to how the government put honest, decent Japanese Americans into camps. Truly another disgraceful chapter in American history.
As always, I appreciate your comments as they stimulate my brain and cause me to ponder on just how I examine life and in what manner.
Please send my regards to the next Elder, even if he is on his way to Angola (they speak Portuguese there so for me, it wouldn't be hard to read the news)
Harley
