I will read your entire post and promise to comment if there's anything left outstanding. But I saw the first sentence and it's like ... just hold up.
The historical racism thing, I do not disagree with. Numbers tell the story how in the 1890's there was a 'colored' school and how in the 1920's there was a near zero black population.
I agree that Granite City has a history of racism and it has clung to some current residents and has left others.
I can agree with you till the sun goes down...that Granite City has a racist history. How could a SUNDOWN TOWN not have a racist history? However, I will never call Granite City a 'Racist Town'. There are racists in this town, but 'Racist Town' is an insult to this community who has come together for people who are white, black, hispanic..etc.
Watch your words, and I'm not acting as 3Dee..but seriously trying to caution you. Words like 'Racist Town' really pre-suppose that Granite City is a racist place. You could not be more wrong!
But to say a town with a history of racism...yeah, that's probably closer to the truth.
But it all boils down to this... All of that conversation has NOTHING to do with the basketball courts at the park. NOTHING.
Some individuals decided to be arseholes and harass people who are walking and get in fights on the court. It's too bad if a lot of them are black.
Even if they have encountered racism in their life time, it does not give them a free pass to harass.
Liberal, there's one thing missing from this conversation. PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY.
I hate the hell out of racism and judging people by their skin.
However, people who commit acts of disturbance ARE NOT VICTIMS.
Where is the sense of personal responsibility?
Obviously it was not on the basketball court, or else it could be left unsupervised as it had been for the decades in which I grew up. I even played there a few times myself...
That's not racism...it's concern for public safety.
Now I'll go back and read the rest of your post and see if I left anything unaddressed.
Thanks for keeping the dialogue respectful...but please out of personal concern..please watch wording such as 'racist town.' Give the good Granite Citians the benefit of the doubt.
on June 24, 2011, 4:11 pm, in reply to "