Your view/opinion on racism/diversity.

the gattchoon · Post by **the gattchoon** » Fri Jul 21, 2006 10:19 pm

Now, I really don't intend for this to burst into flames, but I know how controversial this issue can get. I'm currently working on an article on racism and diversity in Indiana.

For those of you who have lived in Indiana for a while, what is your take on the racism/diversity here? If you've been out-of-state, can you compare it? I would also like to hear from those attending college/universities in Indiana.

Please let me know if I can use your name for quoting, if needed. If you'd rather not post publicly, please feel free to PM me.

Thanks, your help will be appreciated. =)

Pheadra · Post by **Pheadra** » Fri Jul 21, 2006 10:27 pm

Well there is TONS of diversity in the city obviously. I mean its a running joke between Spazz, Ruin God, his gf, and me. It goes something like this: "So a Cracker, Asian, Black Girl, and a Mexican are all driving in a car..." We always joke like that. Tons of slurs are thrown around, but we really dont care.

I dunno exactly what kind of answer you are looking for though.

***WILLIS*** · Post by ***WILLIS*** » Fri Jul 21, 2006 10:53 pm

everywhere you go there is racism, you cant avoid it, sadly. Also, the US turned diverse a long time ago. There re a numerous anount of different ethnicities (sp?) around the US. Here is basicly the same thing as anywhere else, although I don't think racism is as bad here as it is in places like Detroit, NYC, or Chicago. And yes you can ous my name if you please.

Potter · Post by **Potter** » Fri Jul 21, 2006 11:07 pm

I personally hate all the jews, abbies, spics, niggers, wetbacks, mongrels, beaners, house niggers, buckwheats, blackies, crackers, whities, albinos, buckwheats, happy slaves, kanucks, hillbillies, tar babies, rastas, trogs, pasties, trailer trash, and vanilla beans I have ever had the chance of meeting. And you may use my name and my full address.

Intermezzo · Post by **Intermezzo** » Fri Jul 21, 2006 11:21 pm

I haven't seen any major racism around lately. Downtown is quite diverse, so if you start yelling out racial slurs, someone will probably be there to tear you a new asshole.

I have nothing against any particular race except the ones Potter listed.

malictus · Post by **malictus** » Fri Jul 21, 2006 11:37 pm

Gattchoon, good luck with your article. Here's my take on your topic:

I grew up in a small town in rural Georgia, and I've lived here in Bloomington for about 14 years. It is a sad stereotype of the South that most white people are racist there; this is not really true at all -- not 20 years ago, and certainly not today.

Bloomington is in many ways the stereotypical 'liberal college town', and as such there is quite a bit of diversity here. My daughter's elementary school contained a very large number of international students, and diversity was stressed quite a bit there.

Because of Bloomington's reputation as a diverse town, with a large international population and a large gay population, it is also sometimes the target of national hate groups. The infamous Fred Phelps has made several appearances here over the years, mostly to protest homosexuality, and back in 1999 Won-Joon Yoon was killed quite close to campus by a white supremacist as part of a multi-state shooting spree.

I have also witnessed at least one hate crime incident here first-hand. My first year here, back in 1992, the RA of my dorn, who was black, returned from class one day to find his dorm room door defaced and covered with racial slurs. I remember feeling a mixture of rage and bewilderment; I just couldn't understand how anyone could do something like that.

However, those kind of things are really quite isolated incidents; in day-to-day life here I see essentially no racism at all. My basic theory is that having a diverse population (such as the population here in Bloomington) helps eliminate prejudice and racism. If you are around people who are different than you, you begin to realize that they are real people, and not necessarily just the stereotypes you see on TV. If you grow up as a white person in an area that is 99% white, there's a strong chance that you'll be racist, simply because your only exposure to black people will be what you see on TV and rap music videos. The realization that you share much in common with people who don't look like you goes a long way towards eliminating prejudice.

Well, I guess that was kinda long; sorry!

PM me if you'd like...

the gattchoon · Post by **the gattchoon** » Fri Jul 21, 2006 11:54 pm

Thanks, malictus.

I wish Bloomington and Indy were closer!

Since I come from California, Indiana is no doubt really different, in my experiences. I'm really glad to here people's view who live in other areas of Indiana. The University of Notre Dame has a racism/diversity issue that is widely discussed on campus, so I'm glad I can hear otherwise in other places.

hascoolnickname · Post by **hascoolnickname** » Fri Jul 21, 2006 11:54 pm

Intermezzo wrote:I haven't seen any major racism around lately.

It happens

lgolem · Post by **lgolem** » Sat Jul 22, 2006 12:36 am

ok....I had to say this and now before someone were to bash my hometown.... I am going to bring this up...in my sociology class this last semester...we talked about racisim and the teacher said "Name a racist town near Bloomington" immediatly several people said Martinsville. I just have to say...Martinsville has had several incidents happen where racisim was involved...to name several off the top of my head... back in the 60s a black lady was killed here by some dumb drunk, during a basketball game back in 2000 there was an elderly man in the audience who was yelling racial slurs and a couple of red necks chased the Bloomington Bus out of town throwing stuff at it... those are the 2 off the top of my head....because of those people, most tend to assume sense I grew up here that I am myself a racist.....I just wanted to get this out now before someone says all of us are.....Yes there are racists in Martinsville as there are elsewhere....is everyone from this town a racist....No they aren't. Had to get that out now ^_^

the gattchoon · Post by **the gattchoon** » Sat Jul 22, 2006 1:01 am

lgolem wrote:back in the 60s

I'd rather here about most recent events. But thanks for your input. =)

hascoolnickname · Post by **hascoolnickname** » Sat Jul 22, 2006 6:10 am

its not always racism, its mostly ignorance or xenophobia
I can't count the number of times that I have seen someone a black person african american. This is assuming that 1. all black people are from africa 2. all black africans live in america
If you dont want to call them black you can call them a person of color. I have a haitian friend who is black and an african friend who is white.
I don't see indiana as a hotbed for racism, but it still happens. tell me you havent seen some caucasian person who likes hiphop and is into the scene and someone was like "quit trying to be black." I don't know what you guys think, but musical appreciation shouldn't be determined by the color of your skin. If someone likes hiphop, let them like hiphop.
I've also noticed that lately everyone's been pinning our troubles on the hispanic immigrants. Suddenly everyone from texas down is mexican. neither of those statements make any sense to me.
Jews arent a race. If you're from israel, youre israeli. If you practice judaism, you're jewish.
There is still much discrimination of native american indians til this day. Blacks were allowed in bars a good 30 years or so before native americans were, even after the civil rights movement there hadnt been a law allowing them in.

the gattchoon wrote:
lgolem wrote:back in the 60s
I'd rather here about most recent events. But thanks for your input. =)

world cup

Math · Post by **Math** » Sat Jul 22, 2006 6:19 am

There are some major racism issues in the Goshen/Elkhart area. With Goshen's recent (over the past few years or so) population increase of Mexicans a lot of racism has surfaced. Most of them have immigrated from Mexico to the area, and don't speak English (or "american" as the ignorant rednecks like to call it). And a lot of locals take this as an insult.
Also Osceola, a tiny town between Mishawaka and Elkhart, is strong KKK territory. The Grand Dragon lives there, I think that's what he's called. Knox is also Klan territory from what I've heard.
I would write more, but I'm tired and need to go to bed if I'm going to get up early enough for the tourny at Mega play today.

sam · Post by **sam** » Sat Jul 22, 2006 9:33 am

best fred phelps sign: "IF YOUR FATHER WAS GAY YOU WOULDN'T EXIST

" no shit!

having grown up in bloomington i have seen some racism but not a lot. the main area i remember having issues was martinsville. whenever we'd have basketball games or baseball games all the black kids would stay home while we went and played. the martinsville fans would take rocks and throw them into the stands to provoke fights with people. one time after a north basketball game the martinsville team attacked them and ended up getting suspended for a year from all sports.

edit: while bloomington is diverse, the further out of the local town and further away from the campus you get, the more racist people become. in martinsville the grand master dragon of the kkk or something lived there at one point. they also voted in a kkk member into their city council! my distant family sadly is racist. it's quite sad to go to reunions because they always rip on the hispanic community. i just sit there and don't respond.

the gattchoon · Post by **the gattchoon** » Sat Jul 22, 2006 9:37 am

Math wrote:There are some major racism issues in the Goshen/Elkhart area. With Goshen's recent (over the past few years or so) population increase of Mexicans a lot of racism has surfaced. Most of them have immigrated from Mexico to the area, and don't speak English (or "american" as the ignorant rednecks like to call it). And a lot of locals take this as an insult.
Also Osceola, a tiny town between Mishawaka and Elkhart, is strong KKK territory. The Grand Dragon lives there, I think that's what he's called. Knox is also Klan territory from what I've heard.
I would write more, but I'm tired and need to go to bed if I'm going to get up early enough for the tourny at Mega play today.

Thanks, I've been trying to search for closer areas to South Bend (Elkhart is just like half an hour away); I had already found out about Osceola (which is about 12 miles away from me) and I also read about Butler and Kokomo being strong KKK sites also (anyone from those 2 areas, I'm not hating, ok? ^^;;; ).

Arka · Post by **Arka** » Sat Jul 22, 2006 10:49 am

hascoolnickname wrote:its not always racism, its mostly ignorance or xenophobia
I can't count the number of times that I have seen someone a black person african american. This is assuming that 1. all black people are from africa 2. all black africans live in america

Yeah, I never know what to say to appease political correctness.

hascoolnickname wrote:There is still much discrimination of native american indians til this day. Blacks were allowed in bars a good 30 years or so before native americans were, even after the civil rights movement there hadnt been a law allowing them in.

THANK YOU! I was wondering whether someone was going to point this out. The civil rights movement started out by doing a lot for all racial minorities, but rather quickly changed into something which sought to treat the symptoms (discrimination against "blacks") instead of the underlying cause (discrimination on the basis or race).

I didn't quote all of nickname's post, because I didn't have much to add to it, but what he says really resonates with me. We associate almost everything with race in some way or another, and we shouldn't, because it cuts us off from so many of the good things in life.

My $0.02 on diversity and race (in Indiana, and in general) follows.

Personal comments excised. While my race leads to some... interesting issues in my life, my personal experiences are probably not something you're interested in. If you want, tell me and I can repost them.

That said, people around here still do a lot of annoying things to emphasize or de-emphasize their racial heritage. Black women who want to be seen as "high achievers" straighten their hair and diet and fret about their weight. I've had multiple friends who did this, and by their own admission, it wasn't so much that they thought they looked better (or even cared), it was that they thought it was important that they be seen to worry about the same things as their white peers. This is a huge contrast to my experience in Seattle, where (by large) people saw their ethnic identity as not impacting their professional or social roles. As a result, they were confident enough to explore others' cultures and traditions and invite others into their own.

In Indiana, people (of all races!) tend to get defensive when they see a "white" person wearing African clothing, or listening to "black" music. I think if I were to dare to speak in Ebonics in public, I'd be lynched. This is also a huge contrast to Seattle, where your Indian friends teach you scraps of Hindi and Tamil, your Arabic friends teach you words of Arabic and Persian, and you pick up bits and pieces of ten other languages from the signs downtown and the conversations around you.

So I guess the main thing I notice in Indiana (and my biggest pet peeve) is this sort of cultural provincialism. It's okay for "black" people to "act black," or for "white" people to "act white," or for "#xxxxxx" people to "act #xxxxxx," but those cultural signifiers and patterns of behavior are the sacred property of the people whose skin is the right color. We're not allowed to appreciate them as art, culture or just plain better than "our race's" way of doing things. If a black person likes celtic music, or a white person swears in Telugu, we look at them askance.

To me, this says that while we (most of us) avoid openly ranking people as superior or inferior because of race, we still have the same racial stereotypes, and we get uncomfortable when someone violates them. This means that while the behavior's changed, those changes are fragile. And as long as we have this notion that any given paradigm, be it the White-Collar Worker or the Aggressive Executive or the Studious Engineer or even just "listens to Afro-Celtic Revenge," belongs only to one culture, we'll have fights about which race gets possession of them. (Do we let ___ people work for us? Do we let ___ kids into the good schools? How about the nightclubs? Yadda, yadda, yadda.

)

Yeah, yeah, I know, huge as usual. I like... big... posts and I cannot lie.