Putting Myself on Trial
 

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?

Sounds like you treated all the girls, including Elizabeth, the same. Isn't that the exact opposite of racist?

kathy

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?

I was a lot of different 'ists' over 65 years ago, and probably still have a few 'ists' as todays society, seek, and find new 'ists' daily.
I just like to think I am a better person, as I learnt to accept difference, and change over the years.
I do not dwell on the past. I can't alter it, and sure as heck, I not going to beat myself up over it!!

It is interesting to look back. I asked some family members last week if they ever had African American friends. None of us had. One is a former Navy Captain and he said he had never known any black officers.

I went to high school in Cupertino, CA and there were no black students. There were Asians and some Hispanics (although the "beaners" as I unthinkingly referred to them mostly attended a school across town). The 60s were before the time when the wave of East Indians migrated to Silicon Valley.

Throughout my career, I worked with some minorities (but not a lot). I was friendly with them as co-workers, but not close.

I lived in Polynesia and Melanesia for a decade where only about 5% of the population was Caucasian. Even so, I primarily congregated and made friends with the other foreign contract workers in our compound. I still keep in touch with some of them but none of the Samoans, Tongans, Chamorros, Fijians, etc.

Throughout my life, I can honestly say I've never had a close friend who wasn't Caucasian. Never been to the house of an African American. Never lived in a neighborhood that wasn't overwhelmingly white. Certainly not in North Dakota.

Was any of that deliberate on my part? I don't think so, but it is a fact.

not in my book....you were just a kid, growing up in the 60's

Ignore all these 'self-righteous' folks that try to make you feel guilty for something that you never did

Won't find the answer here.

I would not say you were a racist. You did not bully her or call her names did you?

You were a product of your times.

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?

Very good advise. I would add, take a walk, go for a bike ride, go for a swim, play some golf, do some yard work, or find something else productive to do that will occupy your thoughts instead of festering over putting yourself on trial : )

[QUOTE=Stu from NYC;1812641]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 coops. 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?[/QUOTE]

This may answer your question A New Wave of Prominent African-American Retirees is Enriching and Changing Our City. | Sarasota Magazine

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=Madelaine Amee;1812653]You nailed it. I have been in The Villages for 20 years, and love it. But more and more it has become a haven for one party, and certainly not diversity. Not a welcoming place if you are not in the correct catagories

I do not think it is realistic to look back in time and measure the past using today's metrics.

It was a different time.

I am not sure why some feel the need to try to re-write what was then acceptable or not. An exercise proving nothing!

[QUOTE=Bucco;1812656]
I think that anyone of any race who is looking to find a diverse population in which to live can easily find it.

ALL people are intelligent beings fully capable of doing their own due diligence. They do not need to be rescued by the elite—or those who think they are. Don’t insult minorities this way.

The Sarasota article, which deals with the ultra wealthy, cannot be considered analogous.

Seriously? groan.

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.

For a number of reasons.

Reminds me how racist my family was in the 60's and still now. So many fears about people who didn't look or sound like them. I was so fortunate to leave my little city and go to school in Toronto when I was 10 so I could be exposed to a truly diversified society. The only fear of people I have now is of ones who are narrow-minded. That's what's really scary in a truly democratic modern society, in my book.

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

Interesting how so many people do not understand the difference.

In actuality, we are a CONSTITUTIONAL REPUBLIC, and "most" are well aware of the differences

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

:pray: Oh my God, what is going on with the Earth's Human Society?

No race wasn’t a big deal then. People were just people!
Today everything is race based not people based.
It’s used to divide America into groups to create envy & hate
Government & media need to get out of the race business
But they won’t

No, you were not a racist, you were young. I doubt the color of her skin even entered your thinking. You are now more aware, and what you do from this day forward, is what truly matters. Kindness is always welcome by everyone.

No, you were not a racist then and are not now so stop beating yourself up. I lived under a totalitarian form of government and came to this beautiful country seeking freedom and opportunity; I found it. Racism was prevalent there and it still exists. Those who play the racist card have that as their only weapon when they cannot support their argument. Treat yourself well and others the same. God bless our nation.

Possibly we all were. Different times and understanding.

I take total offence to this statement. As a business owner from age 22 I have employed almost every race and the only one I can really complain about was a fellow Greek. You may have been racist back in those days but you shouldn't put the blame on others without personal proof.

Birds of a feather flock together.

Nobody's past can meet today's warped "standards". I don't regret anything about my past. And even though I went to Vietnam, I would chose the 60's as the best generation.

Wrong about then

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

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.”

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

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

And most of them couldn’t pronounce “constatuuuution”

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!

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?!?

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!!

Many of us grew up around racism
 

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.