Clueless

I was discussing the world with my eldest daughter (age 31) this last weekend. She's fairly sharp and wise to the world. She works for NGOs, 501s, deals with civil rights issues, predominantly fair housing. She remarked, without malice or meaness, "mom, white people really are clueless." The discussion was too lengthy to go into here but the following article reminded me of the comment.

The Greens, the party name conjures up vegans and dolphins for me for some reason, issued a press release on the 16th regarding the Dissent, Freedoms, Privacy Under Sustained Assault by Bush.

The Greens, as are many on the "left", are also worried about those "detention centers" which Halliburton/KBR last month was awarded the contract to build. During the growth of the prison industry over the last 2 decades white (and Green) folks weren't making as much noise about the prison/industrial complex. In fact, many were fighting to have prisons (jobs) built in their backyard. But that was when it was a given that it would be poor Blacks filling those cells. Okay, granted, the idea that prisons are being built for white folks is a new idea for white folks. But if you're a non-white living in the 'hood one has to laugh at the accusation that dissent, freedom, and privacy are under assault. Where have white folks been?

Yes, white writers have lamented how so many of the nation's minorities remain on the bottom rung, the influx of drugs in the ghetto, etc., blaming 'the man' is indeed easy. The Man supplies the drugs – and manipulates the poverty that leads many to opt for dealing rather than sweeping floors . 'The Man' has always made it easy and alluring for minorities and lower-rungers to play the criminal role in society but it's still an individual's choice.

For decades whites have wept reams of words for the lot in life of Africa and America's Blacks (usually while collecting donations) yet the conditions worsened. Yes, some Black Americans have made "inroads" with acceptance in film, music, sports, political seats, movin' on up acting and singing and sporting, and from podiums repeating the DNC/DLC promises. And certainly there are a few areas in the country where monied Blacks live relatively unmolested; our family has lived in such areas which contributed to the culture shock of moving to the heartland (not much heart here by the way).

Here in the heartland small town Blacks make up 10 to 20 percent of the town's population, concentrated in one area of town. Local whites regularly break discrimination laws in housing and hiring – red-lining with ease – and through city codes, ordinances, steering buyers and sellers, hiring practices, our town is basically still segregated. I could buy in another area but choose not to. (Shaking his head #2 son says most people try hard to get out of the ghetto and I work hard to stay in it.) I have a comfortable big old home with never a problem in the 'hood, and I intend to stay thank you.

My daughter and I find some amusement in the fact that our phone voice doesn't match the physical image in the mind of white folks – we hear all manner of excuses as to why a deal on the phone was a certainty but upon meeting the landlord, agent, etc. the property had been sold, rented, without the foreknowledge of the red-faced flustered asshole stuttering his/her excuses. But what can we do. File a lawsuit? Sue against stupid? Discrimination is not easy to prove in a court of law. My daughter has recently notified the NAACP of the fact that the local paper published the town council's plan to "drive out undesirables" using zoning laws, bulldozing housing, etc. We couldn't believe they actually had the balls and/or stupidity to publish their intent.

My Caucasian family and friends fear my side of town, some refusing to visit after dark. The old sundown law sort of reversed. In fact, this part of town is named "Sunset." The whites fear this side of town, not because in reality crime is worse, or that drugs are worse (crime rates are higher per capita for whites here), but simply because of inherited ignorance and the local and national propaganda that convinces many whites that Blacks are dangerous. The whites believe that in Sunset life-threatening criminal activities go on after sundown, every night, all night long. I've been told by white folks that we kill one another on this side of town, bury the body, and no one ever knows. They cannot be convinced it's untrue. Apparently whites here find it easy to believe that murdered/missing loved ones doesn't mean much to colored folk as the crime can go unnoticed, unknown, unpunished.

It's a given that whites come to Sunset, daylight or dark, for only three reasons : 1) looking for drugs, 2) landlord collecting rent, 3) the law to capture dangerous Sunset residents. The cops know which whites are seeking drugs, and leave the offspring of judges, lawyers, doctors, town fathers alone but do occasionally bust the poor whites who venture to Sunset looking to party. Actually there's only one "corner" where the drug activity goes on but to hear the whites talk you would think the entire population (3000) of Sunset is dealing, buying, selling, manufacturing, using, or killing someone over illegal drugs. I find here most Black folks who do use anything are potheads. It's the whites here who prefer being strung out on heroin, crack, meth, pain killers, etc. There's the trailer park on the white side of town which has a drive-thru window for meth but apparently they run out on occasion and the white boys visit Sunset for whatever is available. If illicit drugs were legalized we might see wealthy Black businessmen in pharmaceuticals, and a lot more whites in prison for stealing and killing to buy a fix. The law of supply and demand, the "free market" could turn the entire drug war around.

My daughter has recently been employed on a venture with a white woman from out of town who represents another NGO. This lady mentioned how frustrating it was coming to the area because in two weeks she has been pulled over twice by the local police for absolutely no reason. She was shocked and disgusted this was happening to her. My daughter asked her to imagine having the experience almost daily.

Because of this generalized overall fear whites have the cops are given free rein to consistently and constantly abuse law and civil rights. Harassment is perfectly legal and the norm in the heartland.

A Black in Sunset knows if the police are summoned for anything – noise from neighbors, Tyrone Jr. beating up Terrell Jr., Lulamae throwing her no good grandson out of the house – at least 8 two man squad cars, a swat team in hi-tech gear, dogs, helicopters, and an armored vehicle will roll up.

Once, a neighborhood argument over something minor broke out with a couple of teen girls cat fighting in the street. The police were called and swooped down in full force eager as always to save white folks from the risk of spillover from out-of-control angry colored folk. Fed up with being treated as threats rather than served and protected Shanicka Watson threw a rock at robocop. The scene eventually ended with 8 Blacks arrested for disturbing the peace, resisting arrest, assault on an officer, trespassing, etc. and 1 robo injured with a rib contusion (sustained when he attempted to run backwards and fell on his own billyclub).

And it's a hi-tech wondrous sight to behold when the feds, state, county, and local lawmen descend on Sunset to bust Bubba for growing marijuana in his basement. The white folks over in Plantation Acres (I kid you not), tsk-tsk and discuss how colored folk are so miserable and making so much trouble for the law.

The police here need only probable cause to search your home, your car, your purse, your person, at any time - and believe me - "just be-cause" - is good enough in the heartland. Our town is not an aberration. I've not told of more horrendous legal abuses here and there are plenty. But, to the whites newly discovered fear of suppressed dissent, loss of freedom and privacy, and detention centers - if such fears are a reality for masses of white folks – all I can say, is where have you been.