From: q2tj@vax5.cit.cornell.edu
Newsgroups: soc.culture.african.american
Subject: 1 in 4 Young Black Men.....
Date: 28 Dec 92 18:15:10 EST
Distribution: soc
Organization: Cornell University

Hasn't the LIBERAL media just about beat us over the head
with the following statistic:  that 1 in 4 young black man
is either in prison, on probation, waiting trial, or in some
way connected to the penal system....etc...etc...blah...blah...
And there will be further assertions that this is more than
go to college (no wonder the joke "prison is the black man's
university").
 
Even the New York Times frequently mentions this, and they are
so full of PITY and REMORSE at the TRADGEDY of it all.
Guess you might say I'm a bit cynical about the whole thing
because even though these reporters are obviously intelligent
and well meaning I can't help see the message coming throw
loud and clear:

	Once again, blacks have screwed up!

I think this might help fuel the NEW RACISM, that is prejudice
which can be supported with incontrovertible facts and statistics.
Lets assume the 1 in 4 is true.  The way people talk about it
can still be used to reinforce a denial of the collective *and*
individual humanity of the target (blacks in this case).
 
Here's just one recent example:

Has anyone else seen this recent (maybe rebroadcast) Richard Bey
talk show:  It featured Professor (Micheal?) Levin and Magora(?)
Kennedy, plus some others (like taxi drivers who openly state
that they won't pick up Young Black Men)

I hope someone will make a post to give us some background on
who these people are.  They all seemed pretty strident.

Anyway everyone is screaming and yelling.  Levin is stating that
since "1 in 4 young black men....blah blah blah then it is
REASONABLE to have (gut level?) fear of them when you (black
or white person) see a young black man walking down the street"

Well that's no big deal, I suppose (like, when in Colorado, I
often felt apprehensive of those biker dudes with the German helmuts
riding on their choppers, leather vests etc....  it's not uncommon
to observe clothing/mannerisms and make TENTATIVE judgements)

But then Levin goes on to assert that since 60% of certain
crimes (in certain areas) are commited by young black men
we ought to at least consider collective solutions.
(you see how collective measures can be dangerous....just watch)

Then he admitted that he had "floated" the idea of having
a seperate subway car in NYC for young black men, and it could
have extra security; and then all the rest of us (black and white)
might breath easier.  (Never mind the negative messages this might
send everyone about you know who)

He agreed then to a hypothetical situation, that if it was determinid 
that Jews had a higher rate of criminal activity, say as inside 
traders on Wall Street, then it would be perfectly reasonable for
the SEC to monitor activities of Jewish traders more carefully.
Well, I'm straying a little bit....sorry.

Anyway, Magora Kennedy (? seems to be an activist) started in with
the cliches "whites don't know what it like to be black", the taxi
drivers started sqeaming how much they hate blacks, a psychologist
mentioned that "blacks know more about whites than other way around,
and whites learn prejudice from parents, and have lots of guilt etc"

Oh boy, sounds like common decency has gone right out the window.

Steve Seidman