Black refugees ask if Utah will really accept them

Reuters ^ | September 9, 2005

[Arizona Carolyn]

I know for a fact they were warmly greeted and people are bending over backwards to help them. Had a job fair at the camp yesterday. If they want to assimilate and have a decent life, this is the chance... just don't steal anymore TVs.

[andyk]

What if I find a Caucasian girl and decide to date her?

My dates don't materialize simply because I decide to date a girl.

[Arizona Carolyn]

That was the only thing that suprised me when OJ got off... black athlete with white woman does make black women angry.

[Gracey]

It's getting better everywhere, but there is something about the deep South that I don't think many of us can understand, unless we were from there

---

Thanks for sharing.

On a Monday morning several years ago, our boss at NASA announced that John(white) and Janice(black) had gotten married over the weekend (both worked in same office.) Everyone asked "Who did they get married to?" When he said, "each other" we all laughed. There was no discrimination shown by anyone and from then on were accepted completely. This was in Houston area. However, this couple felt secure with themselves -- and IMO, people reacted positively to their being proud of each other. I never saw any indication of backlash.

IMO, we are treated as we show respect of ourselves, no matter the race, (in most situations.) Feel sorry for yourself-- and the world will shy away. etc. Love yourself and show it... and the world will love you too. Have a chip on your shoulder and will not be liked.

[Gracey]

It's getting better everywhere, but there is something about the deep South that I don't think many of us can understand, unless we were from there

---

Thanks for sharing.

On a Monday morning several years ago, our boss at NASA announced that John(white) and Janice(black) had gotten married over the weekend (both worked in same office.) Everyone asked "Who did they get married to?" When he said, "each other" we all laughed. There was no discrimination shown by anyone and from then on were accepted completely. This was in Houston area. However, this couple felt secure with themselves -- and IMO, people reacted positively to their being proud of each other. I never saw any indication of backlash.

IMO, we are treated as we show respect of ourselves, no matter the race, (in most situations.) Feel sorry for yourself-- and the world will shy away. etc. Love yourself and show it... and the world will love you too. Have a chip on your shoulder and will not be liked.

[TontoKowalski]

I see a lot of non-southerners come to the south, and they see a lot of racism because they are reinforcing their prejudices that the south is a racist place. In other words, they see what they want to see to back up their preconceived notions of the south.

Excellent point, and I have an example. My family employed a black woman to keep house and help tend my aged and ill grandmother.

An uniformed race-hustler would see the stereotype of a black woman serving as servant to a white family.

The inside story was that she was a beloved member of the family. We cared about her and her family, too. The outside world didn't see that my grandmother's children saw to it that the maid's grandson got a college education and a stipend through their donations.

[brwnsuga]

Once they come out of the influence of the bankrupt Democrat way of thinking and see the fruits of hard work, I'm sure they will prosper because thats what we do. Katrina gave whole goo-gob of people might of just gotten their ticket out of the cycle of poverty and into middle class existence. That is the most positive thing to come out of this terrible situation.

[bethtopaz]

I've been participating in Free Republic for a year and have received more replies from the one comment I made on this post than any other comment I've made. I'm a little shocked at the content of these comments as some are very angry. I guess I hit on a sensitive spot and I apologize for that. I have never claimed to know all about the South - I'm only giving my opinion, which is very limited. I don't mind at all being educated, but please tone down the anger. Thanks!

[cripplecreek]

My little town has one black family. They've said that they're very content here after moving from Detroit. No concerns about gangs, the kids can walk the streets after dark and they can leave the house unlocked.

They were a curiosity in the beginning but are just neighbors these days.

[Clemenza]

You seem like a nice person, although you appear to have lived a very sheltered life compared to many of us in Freeperland.

[bethtopaz]

I'm being overwhelmed by comments on this subject. Sorry if I hit a sensitive spot. I should have said, "in my opinion," instead of sounding like I know anything about the South, because I personally don't. Sorry to everyone from the South who holds only love and acceptance for all races and peoples.

[Hendrix]

I did not mean my comments to have any anger whatsoever. I am expressing my opinion, but I am not angry at you or your comments. Sorry if any of my comments came off that way.

[Riverman94610]

"The slums of New Orleans"
N.O. is not one big slum.Theere are many nice areas-Gentilly,East New Orleans,and even parts of the Ninth Ward have nice houses that have been in those families for years.
I don't blame those blacks who have lived their whole life in a mostly black city to be reluctant to be transplanted to Utah.No doubt the majority of whites will accept them with kindness and warmth.Yet they will still be seen as "the other"in the same way a white family setting down roots in East St Louis or Compton would feel like a fish out of water.

[TontoKowalski]

Sorry to everyone from the South who holds only love and acceptance for all races and peoples.

We part as friends. And sorry to everyone in the North and West who hold only love and acceptance for all races and peoples that I may have offended.

[bethtopaz]

Thanks! But Tonto, why must be part?

[Milhous]

Were I an evacuee, I would take for granted the kindness of those who offered me a place to live, and put my focus on being worthy of those mercies.

I ask if black evacuees will really want Utah's acceptance.

[TontoKowalski]

Well, we when we part, we'll part as friends. I've got a few minutes, so I'll hang around for a while.

[Serb5150]

"What if I find a Caucasian girl and decide to date her?"

[Hendrix]

"You seem like a nice person, although you appear to have lived a very sheltered life."

I admit that I used to get a little mad when people in Utah would tell me how the south was when they had never been there or even lived among any minorities to speak of, especially blacks. A lot of them believed that the south was full of racists and that the blacks' problems were all because of racism. I used to get a big laugh when someone from Utah actually moved to the south (in my hometown) and had to work around the blacks that were racists (in government jobs, black colleges, etc.). Those people were in for a rude awakening. There are plenty of blacks who are good people, but that are also a lot who are racists (hate whites).

[bethtopaz]

I did have a very sheltered life. My parents and church conveyed no prejudice and were very strong on missions, so most of the exposure I've had to anyone different than myself (White, Anglo Saxon Protestant - that's a WASP, right) was in the form of being helpful. Also, until I moved to the San Francisco East Bay (and I don't live there - I live about 50 miles inland) I grew up in a pretty mono-cultural society. I've got a lot to learn. Thanks for teaching me, fellow freepers.