[Cubnut]

Wrong about then

[Cranford61]

Originally Posted by mtdjed

I was raised in a white middle class (Low) neighborhood in a suburb of Erie , Pa..

Went to a school system with a senior class of 133 in 1966 and only one black student. I remember her and recall that her name was Elizabeth XXXX( I vividly recall but don't feel right about revealing). She was there only for our senior year as I recollect.)

I never approached her to introduce myself or say Hi, but at the time I never approached many of the girls. Do not know how the other guys and girls treated her.

Now, if I saw someone outside the norm being unattended, I. would go out of my way to include.

Was I a racist in 1966?

If you had approached her only because she was black, you would have been pandering. The worst side of being a “Karen”.

[MandoMan]

Originally Posted by mtdjed

I was raised in a white middle class (Low) neighborhood in a suburb of Erie , Pa..

Went to a school system with a senior class of 133 in 1966 and only one black student. I remember her and recall that her name was Elizabeth XXXX( I vividly recall but don't feel right about revealing). She was there only for our senior year as I recollect.)

I never approached her to introduce myself or say Hi, but at the time I never approached many of the girls. Do not know how the other guys and girls treated her.

Now, if I saw someone outside the norm being unattended, I. would go out of my way to include.

Was I a racist in 1966?

Perhaps you were a racist, but we can’t tell from that story. More important is that there was a lonely, sad person you could have befriended, but you didn’t. We all do that. Racism could be part of it, but it doesn’t have to be. I was extremely shy when I was in high school, and I still remember several people who befriended me, included me among their friends, and filled my life with meaning and happiness I hadn’t anticipated. I still bless them for what they did. You could have been a person like that for that student. Part of remembering where we failed is regretting it enough that we do better next time.

Matthew 25:34-40. “Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.”

[WesMan]

Originally Posted by mtdjed

I was raised in a white middle class (Low) neighborhood in a suburb of Erie , Pa..

Went to a school system with a senior class of 133 in 1966 and only one black student. I remember her and recall that her name was Elizabeth XXXX( I vividly recall but don't feel right about revealing). She was there only for our senior year as I recollect.)

I never approached her to introduce myself or say Hi, but at the time I never approached many of the girls. Do not know how the other guys and girls treated her.

Now, if I saw someone outside the norm being unattended, I. would go out of my way to include.

Was I a racist in 1966?

NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!

[WesMan]

Originally Posted by JimJohnson

If you were a white male in 1966 and you were not racist, you were breaking the rules of 1966. We were all raised in a racist society then. The question is, are you a racist now?

Crazy talk!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Cranford61]

Originally Posted by Stu from NYC

I would bet that if you did a man on the street type interview with say 25 passerbys most will not know the difference.

And most of them couldn’t pronounce “constatuuuution”

[La lamy]

Originally Posted by Number 10 GI

I'm not aware of a true democratic government, in the US we are a republic.

I looked up "is the US democratic" and here is what I got:

Is the US Constitution democratic?
The Constitution is organized into three parts. ... The Constitution established a Federal democratic republic. It is the system of the Federal Government; it is democratic because the people govern themselves; and it is a republic because the Government's power is derived from its people.

The people govern themselves, so you are a democratic republic. But happy to learn something new every day!

[Swoop]

Sarasota makes them welcome, welcomes their big money. We do not. We try to run off anyone who is not a member of a certain political party. We really do not measure up to the type of environment the wealthy black people are looking for in ordere to retire comfortably and among like minded individuals.[/QUOTE]

Seriously? “We” try to run off people who are not of a certain political party?!? Please explain, because I’ve never seen anyone “run off” from The Villages.
And “we” do not “measure up” to the type of environment wealthy black people are looking for. What a bizarre statement. Are you a wealthy black person? Have you polled wealthy black people? Do you speak for the wealthy black community?!?

[Girlcopper]

Originally Posted by mtdjed

I was raised in a white middle class (Low) neighborhood in a suburb of Erie , Pa..

Went to a school system with a senior class of 133 in 1966 and only one black student. I remember her and recall that her name was Elizabeth XXXX( I vividly recall but don't feel right about revealing). She was there only for our senior year as I recollect.)

I never approached her to introduce myself or say Hi, but at the time I never approached many of the girls. Do not know how the other guys and girls treated her.

Now, if I saw someone outside the norm being unattended, I. would go out of my way to include.

Was I a racist in 1966?

Ok. So I didnt talk to everyone in school. I had my circle of friends as did everyone. If I didnt talk to a black student, it was because we didnt have the same i terests or I just didnt like their attitude. Same reasons that I didnt talk to some other white, cuban and Asian students. Only you would know the reason you didnt talk to this person. People need to stop with all this racism talk. It just causes more divide in already divided world. Yes, blacks were enslaved many many many years ago. Well, I didnt own a slave, couldnt care less if my ancient ancestors did. Thats not my rodeo. Move on people!!

[PanamaKim]

I grew up in SW Louisiana and looking back, there was a lot of racism. Our schools were not integrated until I was in 4th grade (this was in 1969 or 1970 - long after it was mandated by law). My third grade teacher prepared us well, telling us how things would be next year and to make friends with those that looked different from us because we were all the same inside. My paternal grandparents were horrible racists but my maternal grandparents were not. The maternal grandparents had worked along side blacks when they were sharecropping and saw first hand how they were mistreated and always taught us to be kind to all people. Today when I visit family in Louisiana, sometimes I still pick up on racists comments that I don’t think they are even aware of when they are speaking. Yet, I know if they saw a black person in need, they would help. It’s confusing to me. I haven’t lived in the south since I was 19 years old, and I think that has helped me see the racism I grew up with, though I’ve seen it in all places, just not to the degree I find in the south. I’ve have only one black friend and she is from Trinidad, so she didn’t grow up in US. I would like to be close to a black person and hear their thoughts and perspectives. I think we can all. grow and learn moving forward. By the way, a great book I recently read along these lines “Beneath a Ruthless Sun: A True Story of Violence, Race and Justice Lost and Found,” by Gilbert King. It is Lake County, Mt. Dora, Traveres and nearby areas. True story of a corrupt sheriff in the late 1950s. Appalling what he got away with. The local libraries carry this book. Curbside pick up these days.

[Girlcopper]

Originally Posted by Stu from NYC

It seems to me that we are all more comfortable with people who are like us and we are more comfortable with.

In NYC the best neighborhoods for raising children were predominantly Italian, Irish and Jewish. We all had family values and took care of each others kids.

Lived in Queens for many years and sold two co-ops. Had many people come and look when we sold but do not remember any Blacks coming.

Does that make anyone racist? I dont think so.

Let me ask another question. Why are there so few black families here?

There is a growing middle class among Blacks, and many could afford to live here. Why are they not here?

Right on target! When the italians landed in Ellis Island in the early 1900s, where did they migrate to. Little Italy in nyc. Same with orientals. Chinatown. They all stuck together due to cultural similarites and feeling comfortable. Many didnt want to go elsewhere. So, if theres no blacks in a predominantly white area or vice versa its either due to economics, or just personal choice. If they were denied a mortgage to an expensive house in a white area, its because they dont qualify. Same as if I applied for a mortgage out of my range.

[Jgbama1]

It is unfair to evaluate oneself by today’s (ridiculous) definitions, for life back in 1966. Life, and standards were different back then. Today’s definition of racist is “if you don’t agree with someone else’s opinion”! Just heard a man is a racist if he won’t date a transgender! How ridiculous is that?

[Ndomines]

Purchasing a home in The Villages is open to everyone who meets the age requirement. Beyond that all you need is cash or a good credit rating and the freedom to move here. You cannot force people to move here in order to achieve what you consider is an acceptable level of color. Living here is a choice.

Originally Posted by Stu from NYC

There are opposing view points in here and that is great as long as people disagree in a respectful manner.

In terms of the racial makeup of this place still do not understand why there are so few blacks while there seems to be quite a few other groups here.

[GaryKoca]

We had a black kid who was enrolling in our all white school of 4400 students - big school - in 1964. We all were thinking state basketball championship. It turned out he was 5'4", had pop bottle glasses, and played chess, not basketball. Not racism, but certainly stereotyping. We all had a huge laugh at the time.

[Bay Kid]

Not to worry. You will hopefully recover from your guilt.