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stonedfish
Stranger

Registered: 10/28/04
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Last seen: 16 years, 3 months
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Racism in Georgia
#5653238 - 05/20/06 12:46 PM (17 years, 8 months ago) |
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Let me start with a brief background of myself. I was born and raised in the suburbs of Denver, enlisted in the Army, and am currently stationed in Savannah, Georgia.
That said, here's a little anecdote. One day, I am walking in downtown Denver, late at night, alone. I pass a group of young black males, dressed like their stereotype (baggy clothes, gold chains, etc). I say, "What's up," they say, "What's up," and we continue on our separate paths. I never feel endangered. I'm sure they never think of mugging me. We're all just kids having a good time downtown.
Fast foreword a few years. I'm driving in downtown Savannah (home of the renowned Savannah College of Art and Design, and by all means a liberal haven in the red state of Georgia). I pass a group of young black men on the side of the road, dressed like the men in first story. I wave at them, because I haven't been in the south long enough to know better. A couple of the men give me the finger and one makes a motion at me, pointer finger extended, as if he were going to shoot me.
OK, not so much of an anecdote as a couple of actual events with no entertainment value.
There is a definite underlying racist tension down here, in what I have come to know as the armpit of America. When I go to Wal-Mart, I stand behind an overweight white family, wearing confederate flags on their shirts, who can't quite grasp the concept of a double negative, trying to work the self-checkout register. Working the customer service desk is a young black woman, who, despite looking over at the flashing light indicating that a customer needs her valuable assistance, decides to continue a conversation concerning who got more trashed at the party last night. I exchange glances with a local college student who shrugs and sarcastically whispers, "The south will rise again."
My wife goes to college here. Her current schedule puts her graduation date some 6 months after I get out of the Army, and about 4 months after I'm set to start my college education. The only thing standing between my wife, and a timely graduation, is a black counselor, who refuses to talk to my wife or myself, before even hearing our concern, and a waiting list for the next class. So I though that maybe this was a first come, first serve waiting list. However, new black students who seem to be on good terms with the counselor (who doesn’t even know the sound of my wife’s voice) are in the next class. Well, if time at the school doesn’t determine the list, I can only assume it’s based on grade point average. So wouldn’t it make sense that my wife, with a 4.0 would make it in, instead of an obnoxious young woman with a 2.5? Did I mention she is black?
That said, what will I do about this? Nothing. Ultimately, neither my wife, nor I have the time to make a big deal of this. No doubt if we did try something, my wife would be here for an extra year. The purpose of this post is merely to vent some frustration. If you read the whole thing, thank you for listening.
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OJK
Stranger

Registered: 06/08/03
Posts: 10,629
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Re: Racism in Georgia [Re: stonedfish]
#5653246 - 05/20/06 12:49 PM (17 years, 8 months ago) |
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why do you wave at strangers?
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Psilocyan
Humble Voyager


Registered: 07/13/05
Posts: 224
Loc: Atlanta...USA
Last seen: 13 years, 8 months
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Re: Racism in Georgia [Re: OJK]
#5653292 - 05/20/06 01:04 PM (17 years, 8 months ago) |
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I read the whole thing, and I have been in those situations.
Just part of living in Georgia. I'd like to get out, but I've sort of committed to at least a couple more years here.
I am lucky enough to have a group of friends that share my ideals and interests, but sometimes I'm up to my neck in racism/redneck-ism/ignorance.
Meh...
-------------------- I Psilocybe weilii... "I think of going to the grave without ever having a psychedelic experience like going to the grave without ever having sex." -McKenna
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Vvellum
Stranger

Registered: 05/24/04
Posts: 10,920
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Re: Racism in Georgia [Re: stonedfish]
#5653913 - 05/20/06 04:51 PM (17 years, 8 months ago) |
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the south sucks and red states suck too. duh
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tak
geo's henchman



Registered: 11/20/00
Posts: 3,776
Loc: nowhereland
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Re: Racism in Georgia [Re: Vvellum]
#5654491 - 05/20/06 08:39 PM (17 years, 8 months ago) |
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Tell me about it dood. I am from California and Utah, both places I had many black friends, and there were almost no racial barriers.
Now I am in Florida and black and white dont mix. White people are extremely racist against blacks, and vice versa. I have a few black friends who seem to get along both ways, but guess what...they are not from Florida either.
As far as I am concerned, the south is like 50 years back on the mental evolution timeline and its fucking stupid.
I hate racism on all levels, but its hard to tell white people not to hate the black people when they are calling them names, beating them up over skin color, and all these other things.
And I cannot tell the black people to get the chip off their shoulder because of what white men did to them a long time ago, because it still exists. I see rednecks in groups call single black men "niggers" to their face, and impose fear.
I really dont get it, its fucking stupid. If it were up to me, I would probably wipe out everyone down south here because none of them need to reproduce.
-------------------- The DJ's took pills to stay awake and play for seven days.
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kotik
fuckingsuperhero


Registered: 06/29/04
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Re: Racism in Georgia [Re: tak]
#5654921 - 05/20/06 11:19 PM (17 years, 8 months ago) |
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that sucks, i almost went to savannah for digital media last year.
-------------------- No statements made in any post or message by myself should be construed to mean that I am now, or have ever been, participating in or considering participation in any activities in violation of any local, state, or federal laws. All posts are works of fiction.
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Ekstaza
stranger than most


Registered: 04/10/03
Posts: 4,324
Loc: Around the corner
Last seen: 9 months, 23 days
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Re: Racism in Georgia [Re: tak]
#5656201 - 05/21/06 12:49 PM (17 years, 8 months ago) |
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Quote:
root-ninja-tak said: If it were up to me, I would probably wipe out everyone down south here because none of them need to reproduce.
That's rather ignorant to assume that we all are racist. I was born and raised in south Georgia. I live and work around people of both races that are indeed very racist. I have to deal with this kind of thing every day. Often, I tell people that I don't like to hear their racist banter. There are also good people living in the south like me that do not discriminate because of color.
-------------------- YOUR EXPERIENCE WITH ANY GIVEN DRUG ISN'T THE DEFINITIVE MEASURE OF THE DRUGS EFFECTS.
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Luddite
I watch Fox News


Registered: 03/23/06
Posts: 2,946
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Re: Racism in Georgia [Re: Ekstaza]
#5656785 - 05/21/06 03:35 PM (17 years, 8 months ago) |
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The irony is that the black robbers and car jackers blame the great bogeyman they call the whiteman for their crimes and bad behavior. But have no fear. If the white population decreases enough, plagues and epidemics will tend to have a balancing effect against the poor degenerates which won't have access to medicine after destroying the hands that feed them.
Edited by Luddite (05/21/06 03:39 PM)
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Vvellum
Stranger

Registered: 05/24/04
Posts: 10,920
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Re: Racism in Georgia [Re: Luddite]
#5657007 - 05/21/06 04:24 PM (17 years, 8 months ago) |
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Quote:
The irony is that the black robbers and car jackers blame the great bogeyman they call the whiteman for their crimes and bad behavior.
they do? most petty criminals I've met do so because they "dont give a fuck."
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tak
geo's henchman



Registered: 11/20/00
Posts: 3,776
Loc: nowhereland
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Re: Racism in Georgia [Re: Vvellum]
#5657355 - 05/21/06 05:49 PM (17 years, 8 months ago) |
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I wasnt serious when I meant that the whole south should be wiped out...I would be gone with you..
But it does exist, you said so yourself. It is so hard to explain to friends back home how it is here, its like a civil rights documentry from the 50's.
Luddite is one of the people contributing to the problem aswell, dont bring that shit here...please.
-------------------- The DJ's took pills to stay awake and play for seven days.
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Ekstaza
stranger than most


Registered: 04/10/03
Posts: 4,324
Loc: Around the corner
Last seen: 9 months, 23 days
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Re: Racism in Georgia [Re: tak]
#5662058 - 05/22/06 09:48 PM (17 years, 8 months ago) |
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I have friend from Iowa who worked for a short time in the south. He told me that he was amazed at the differences that he noticed. He went to school with very few black people he said. When he got to Alabama he claimed that he felt like the minority. Plus he also wasn't used to southern black/white attitudes. Where he grew up blacks and white got along with each other.
-------------------- YOUR EXPERIENCE WITH ANY GIVEN DRUG ISN'T THE DEFINITIVE MEASURE OF THE DRUGS EFFECTS.
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stonedfish
Stranger

Registered: 10/28/04
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Last seen: 16 years, 3 months
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Re: Racism in Georgia [Re: tak]
#5664932 - 05/23/06 03:03 PM (17 years, 8 months ago) |
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Actually, I notice that far more blacks down here in Savannah are racist against whites than vice versa. I'm not speaking for the rest of the south.
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Catalysis
EtherealEngineer

Registered: 04/23/02
Posts: 1,742
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Re: Racism in Georgia [Re: stonedfish]
#5665672 - 05/23/06 05:43 PM (17 years, 8 months ago) |
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Thats strange. I went to Atlanta last month and I was shocked at how polite both the black and white people were compared to Chicago. When I first got off the train, a black lady bumped into me and said "excuse me". I was amazed because in chicago, they tend to bump me on purpose as I walk by. I saw many black and white people socializing which I see far less of here. Maybe it was just the area of town I was in or something?
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Vvellum
Stranger

Registered: 05/24/04
Posts: 10,920
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Re: Racism in Georgia [Re: Catalysis]
#5666955 - 05/23/06 11:18 PM (17 years, 8 months ago) |
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I think that might just a southern thing - the whole southern hospitality. In my experience with Chicago, NYC, and LA, people arent as polite to strangers regardless of race.
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debianlinux
Myconerd - DBK



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Posts: 8,334
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Re: Racism in Georgia [Re: Vvellum]
#5670021 - 05/24/06 07:44 PM (17 years, 8 months ago) |
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Having grown up in the South I rather enjoy the fresh perspective of visiting other cities. The races get along but the lack of racial tension is more than compensated by everyone being an obnoxious ass to everyone indiscriminately.
It really depends on exactly where you are down South, too. Compare Knoxville to Chattanooga to Memphis. Amazing differences in racial interaction. Compare Atlanta to Savannah, same story. Compare Boone, NC to Winston-Salem, NC, huge difference. Altho, coming from Michigan or some shit I'm sure it all looks like Civil War all over again.
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Liquid_Dimension
Lighthousekeeper



Registered: 02/15/04
Posts: 4,413
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Glad I live in NJ,I went down on a road trip to FL and went down through I-95...stopped at a store in SC i believe and the white people were real nice to be (southern hospitality) and me and my family are dominicans! other than that I would never live down there man...I love my garbage state lol
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ReposadoXochipilli
Here, there, inbetween


Registered: 08/30/05
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southern hospitality is a good thing, but racial tension sucks. alabama sucks... i can't wait to move.
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Vvellum
Stranger

Registered: 05/24/04
Posts: 10,920
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Quote:
Altho, coming from Michigan or some shit I'm sure it all looks like Civil War all over again.
yes
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gregorio
Too Damn Old


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I have been to Alabama a couple of times and I love it down there. I was treated kindly by both blacks and whites.
But then again I am an extremely charming person.
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sirino
Stranger
Registered: 05/23/06
Posts: 11
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Re: Racism in Georgia [Re: Luddite]
#5675922 - 05/26/06 03:55 AM (17 years, 8 months ago) |
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Quote:
Luddite said: The irony is that the black robbers and car jackers blame the great bogeyman they call the whiteman for their crimes and bad behavior. But have no fear. If the white population decreases enough, plagues and epidemics will tend to have a balancing effect against the poor degenerates which won't have access to medicine after destroying the hands that feed them.
Sounds alot like South Africa, Zimbabwe in particular.
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