Children, Fear and Racism

**drmomentum**[$] · #1 06-01-2001, 12:55 PM

Is there racism at work when a Catholic league does not want to allow a predominantly African-American parish into the league? Parents say they fear for their children's safety at away games in what they view as a dangerous neighborhood.

Justified? Unjustified? Racist?

-JP

wivabef · #2 06-01-2001, 01:08 PM

teskue · #3 06-01-2001, 07:36 PM

I agree with the decision. They offered the alternative that there would be no home games at that parish. It is sad that someone would intentionally endanger kids just to make their point. I think it is the African-Americans parish's chip not the White folks.

Of course, if the Church learders are so willing to rush into endangering childern, it makes me wonder what type of Christians they really are. It is no diiferent than these people that use kids as shields when faced by armed police. I think they better foget about sports, and reevaluate their relationship with God. I can't believe God would want such sinners.

magenta321 · #4 06-01-2001, 07:51 PM

This is very, very sad.

That neighborhood is so dangerous, that these awful people are going to hijack a soccer match if it is played there?

What is the danger? I don't get it. Is the danger in realizing that people who look different might have similar interests and similar goals? If it isn't racially motivated, I am sure it is at least financially motivated.

I wonder what the real danger is. This disgusts me. All kids deserve a chance to play, regardless of color or income level. And the black church has every right to be offended that the other churches won't come there to play games. THOSE PEOPLE LIVE IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD! And these white churches are so afraid that they won't even set foot into this neighborhood? That is sick.

My parents grew up in a prejudiced society. They did their best to raise me with less prejudice around me than they had around them. I hope I can give my children a society which is almost completely without prejudice. Examples like this are setting us back to the days when my parents grew up. This is just sickening. I realize these are private schools, but this really should be illegal.

wivabef · #5 06-01-2001, 09:06 PM

Teskue...

If it is so dangerous, then how come people expect the African-American children to attend school there?

What about home team advantage? And how horrible it must be to these students to be told their school is not good enough for a bunch of white catholic kids to play at.

Hate to point this out to those Oaklawn people, but the majority of school shootings occurred at suburban "safe" schools.

teskue · #6 06-02-2001, 02:26 AM

I don't want any child to have to live in that type of nieghborhood. But, that does not mean I will put more kids at risk. How stupid is that? Oh yes, since we already have at risk kids let's put a few hundred more at risk.

The thing that ticks me off is: In the 60's it was White's trying to stay seprated. Now, when I hear this stuff, it is the African Americans that are trying to stay seperated. If all ya'll are so intent on staying seperated, why don't ya go back where ya came from? I'm mostly American Indian. So, I'll tell all ya'll to get off my contenient!

magenta321 · #7 06-02-2001, 03:12 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by teskue
I don't want any child to have to live in that type of nieghborhood. But, that does not mean I will put more kids at risk. How stupid is that? Oh yes, since we already have at risk kids let's put a few hundred more at risk.

How are these kids at risk? That's the line of arguement I don't understand. Is this land contaminated with radioactive waste? Are there gangs coming onto the baseball field and beating kids up? What is going on that is in any way dangerous?

Quote:

The thing that ticks me off is: In the 60's it was White's trying to stay seprated. Now, when I hear this stuff, it is the African Americans that are trying to stay seperated. If all ya'll are so intent on staying seperated, why don't ya go back where ya came from? I'm mostly American Indian. So, I'll tell all ya'll to get off my contenient!

I am assuming we read the same article. I thought the article I read said that the black church tried to enter into this association, but that the white churches would not allow them to do so on the same terms as everyone else. And who should go back to where they came from? The African Americans who were brought as slaves to this country?

I am trying to stay as respectful as possible, but I think we are dealing with some very scary and sad issues here.

teskue · #8 06-02-2001, 04:23 AM

The article said that they live on the Sourh side of Chicago. Although, it does not specifically identify the safety issue, I took it to mean Gangs. Perhaps, we need the safety issue better defined. However, this column is so one-sided, I doubt we'll get anything else.

magenta321 · #9 06-02-2001, 04:33 AM

But what are these gangs going to do to a bunch of kids playing a game? They aren't interested. There are easier marks than a bunch of church kids playing baseball. Plus those kids, I am assuming, would be bused in and bused out. So when would these gang members have a chance to bother them? And wouldn't there be adults around? Do you think a gang member would even try to get at those kids? Gangs are real, and they do commit real crimes, but I think their presence is over-exagerated, and over-glorified. I think this is just an excuse. I mean, why are those black students able to play on these fields, and they are not in danger?

**drmomentum**[$] · #10 06-02-2001, 08:12 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by teskue
I'm mostly American Indian. So, I'll tell all ya'll to get off my contenient!

I'm mostly Lebanese. After breakfast I'm planning a trip to Lebanon to tell those lousy modern day Lebanese squatters to get the heck out of my country. Probably the whole continent of Africa is rightly mine, but I've got to start somewhere and work from there.

-JP

erik_kosberg · #11 06-02-2001, 09:25 AM

I’m mostly human. All of you best be gettin’ off of my planet.

frazzledspice · #12 06-02-2001, 12:59 PM

My children have played in Catholic leagues. And, because we lived twenty-five miles outside of St. Louis, we never played inner city church teams. I never thought about it and assumed it was a matter of logistics. There were black children on all their teams, but there was never a team which was predominantly black. I also know that children on select teams travel in a wider circle which would include teams closer in to the city.

We did adopt an inner-city parish, though. I was there a number of times to church, and for Christmas giving programs, etc. It was a beautiful church that said the Gospel Mass, filled with people who were generous, loving, and welcoming. They visited our church, too, and our choirs sang together. I would be happy to call the parishioners of St. Philip Neri friends.

patach · #13 06-04-2001, 04:03 AM

Ironically, religion is one of the sole places of the "fear factor". No matter if you believe in it or not, religion gathers its followers through the teachings of the existence of Hell (don't believe me? 80% of religious people who preach to non-believers mention the "Hell factor" many of times).

It's not surprising, these same people think blacks are going to come in and shoot up a sports game for kids. I've played tennis matches in ghetto areas, and nobody really came out and shot up my tennis racket.

However, from human stereotyping, I guess it's understandable people will act this way towards a more black dominated area. And who knows? Maybe out of some strange phenomena, some guy had the notion to take out an entire soccer field. Maybe these soccer-mom parents worry more about their expensive mini-vans since those are out there in the parking lot! Weird, but true possibilities.

Quote:

"Humans are worthless creatures. The only value that ever comes out is technically the emotional value we put on each other. The question is, how healthy will the Earth be without humans?"

teskue · #14 06-04-2001, 04:16 AM

I live in a ghetto area in my town. It isn't a 1/4 the population of Chicago. So far, we have had serveral break in attempts, a person tried to steal my car. My husbands car has been broke into. It seems the only thing that happened was the person/s did a few drugs while there. This inside of a year. Not to mention 2 shootings. So, I think it only right to be careful in such areas.

I know in St. Louis there are some areas where a white person does not enter. The city even hires white/black teams of police and ambulance crews just for these areas. The sad fact is that racism is alive and well. I may not be racist, but I'm not stupid. I abid by these barriers.

poseidon · #15 06-04-2001, 10:20 AM

I've got to agree here. Safety is an issue, and it has little to do with whites being racist.

When I lived in Miami (I lived there for 16 years), there were parts of Miami that you just didn't travel to after dark.

I just got back from Omaha doing hail claims. The hotel clerk and many of my clients warned me about certain parts of Omaha and Council Bluffs to stay out of if it got to be after 3pm.

In Denver, we have an area called Five Points. It's cleaned up now, but it used to be that the cops wouldn't even wander out there because it was so dangerous.

The problem is gangs. They come in all races and colors.

I'm sorry, but you can brand me a racist if you want if I won't travel to a dangerous neighborhood. My safety is paramount to your feelings.

**hadassahchana**[$] · #16 06-04-2001, 10:38 AM

The last time I went to Chicago, I had my youngest child with me(he was three). I was visiting a friend who lived near the University of Chicago campus- on the South Side.

I went for a walk after dinner, but got terribly lost- I walked further south, into the supposedly more dangerous area.

All of a sudden, a groupf of African-American teens started walking towards me. I walked faster. They walked faster still, till finally they were right behind me- and then, they split up so that some were in front, and some were in back. It was pretty obvious that they were all carrying guns (tucked into the waistbands of their shorts) , and the leader of the group walked up to me.

"Hey,"he said."It's almost night. What you doing out here with a baby?"

I explained that I was lost. He pointed out that a) it was a poor choice of neighbourhood in which to become lost (paraphrased somewhat) and that he had also seen me walking around campus with my friend Bill. Bill always hung out in blues clubs and shopped in the local stores, as he felt that it was important not to run away from the way those people in the neighbourhood had to live. As he was recognized as well as respected by the gangs in the area, I got an armed escort back to the apartment, and a warning to stay in at night.

Oh, and they also were all pleased that we were not disgusted or frightened by their neighbourhood- which was home to all of them.

I think that most of the time, the fear is driven by racism, whether or not we like to admit it. My initial response when I saw that group following me was fear, and I'll admit that it was probably greater than if a similar white group had approached me. I don't think I'm as much like that any more, especially after my 're-education' in the south side of Chicago.

Cindy