Racism alive and well in "blue" Northern VA & Washington, DC

[bertha katzenengel]

"I am NOT a racist -- I just don't believe that people like that deserve a brand-new condo living among people who can AFFORD to live there."

That's what she said. The condo in question is in Alexandria, VA, which requires Section 8 set-asides in all new housing. The building is a nice one. A VERY nice one, to hear this woman, "Linda," speak.

Her sister lives in the building and described the "family" -- Linda used air-quotes -- that just moved in down the hall: a black woman, with three kids, "all with different fathers I'm sure and she probably doesn't know who the fathers ARE. She's obviously on welfare, too, like all of them . . . ."

Nothing I said was of any use. Every comment I made was shot down.

Well, they have a right to go for something better. "Not in a brand new condominium. You know it'll be trashed in three months." And, "Not in Alexandria. They belong in the ghetto; they have no right living there."

We work with scores of black people, you think they're all on the dole, using section 8? "Well, not ALL of them are like this . . ."

If I tried to remember every round in this serve & volley, I'd just get as furious as I was during the conversation. But it ended this way; she finally gave up, although she conceded nothing:

"Oh, I forgot how liberal you are. I never should have brought it up."

(I posted this in GD but I'm sure it'll get more hits here.)

[progmom]

1. Oh. I've had conversations like that.

I'm sorry. :hug: That's really shitty.

[Shell Beau]

2. Some people are just ignorant and refuse to change!

It somehow makes them feel better about themselves. Let her think that she is superior. Whatever! It just makes her sound stupid. I wouldn't even justify her comments with a response!! Some people.... :(

On edit, it just goes to show that racism is alive everyhwere. What a shame!!!

[Zuni]

3. all I can say is

:eyes:

I love how bigots think everyone wants to listen to their shit

[Mutley]

4. Moran!

(not you, the "lady" -- airquotes -- you speak of)

They have no right to live there?!? :grr: I would have had to punch her!

[flvegan]

5. I'd have closed with:

"It's not that I'm that 'liberal' actually. It's that you're THAT stupid, you hate-filled, egotistical, vapid, bigoted fucking asshat dipshit."

"Oh, and fuck you."

Some folks, bk, you just can't reach.

[kick-ass-bob]

6. people like that I just say

"Never mind - I forgot what a hypocritical bigot you are, I should have never expected an intelligent conversation."

[anarch]

7. well, see, that's about class, not race....

I mean...uhhhh. n/m

:yoiks:

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

8. I wouldn't suffer her and her white privilege for very long

Furthermore, allowing people the opportunity of ownership allows for having pride in one's home and caring for it.

She has no idea how they will care for their home and she has no idea what the woman's history was or is.

Being given opportunities to rise above one's circumstances after generations before you have been oppressed isn't being DOLED OUT anything. We've paid more for fenderbenders and whiplash over the last 50 years than we have for the direct harm to African Americans via institutionalized racism if you added it ALL up.

[hunter]

9. Similar housing was built a few blocks away from where I live.

Many of my neighbors screamed bloody murder, tried to stop the project, and some of them actually sold their homes and moved away before the new tenants moved in. (Heh, that was their loss. The value of homes in our neighborhood has more than tripled since then...) I had no patience with them, I said so, and they never invited me to any of their meetings. I never even heard about these meetings until after they'd taken place.

Since this new housing opened up we've had a few rough spots, but all things considered our new neighbors are remarkable people. It takes a lot of hard work and motivation to get into housing like this -- it is not simply given away to people.

Everyone has to live someplace. This kind of housing allows well motivated parents to break out of poverty and send their kids to schools that are not war zones. Nobody belongs in a "ghetto."

Whatever compassion I claim for myself may arise from personal experience. When I was in college there was a time I found myself homeless and estranged from my family. I lived for a short time in my car, and was harassed nightly by the police. One night the pastor of a church noticed me and invited me to stay at his house. I was much too bitter to accept his offer, so he said I could park my car behind his church where the police wouldn't bother me. It only took a few nights for me to catch up on my sleep and get my bearings, and I was soon off and running again. A generous spirit is contagious.

Later, when my wife and I were newlyweds we never had any money. We know what it's like to juggle the electric bill against groceries. Hunger is certain, but the guy might not come to turn off the electricity before you get paid on Friday.

I can't imagine what it must be like to grow up in a "ghetto" but I do know that most people are not going to "pull themselves up by their bootstraps" and escape. Even people with money (maybe especially people with money) like "Linda" can't escape.

"Linda" is afraid she is living in a lifeboat, so she must pick up an oar and beat away all the people drowning in the cold water, and that she somehow deserves her place in the lifeboat because she "fought" for it. That's one bloody hell of a world to live in, it's more corrosive to your soul than living in a cardboard box.

[kwassa]

10. I'm surprised anyone in the DC Metro area could be this ignorant

Nearby PG County is the wealthiest predominately black county in the country. There is a very sizable black middle and upper class in the area, with some very highly educated people.

Aside from bigoted, this woman is really stupid.

[MountainLaurel]

12. Don't kid yourself

Virginia is still, well, Virginia. A former coworker once told me that he didn't feel comfortable or safe traveling with his Asian wife outside of Prince William. And Maryland's not exempt: Anne Arundel, Howard, and Charles counties have all had recent hate crime incidents, including the arson at the housing development last year. Plus, there are many transplants from less progressive areas who had to come to the big city to find jobs that didn't involve the phrase "Mart." I was once in a church led by one of Jerry Falwell's acolytes that was 500 yards from the Beltway where I heard that all welfare recipients are apparently doomed to eternal damnation (first time I ever walked out of a service).

In fact, perhaps it is the presence of the black upper and middle classes that draws out racism: When "those people" aren't conforming to stereotype, the racist's whole belief system founders.

[tjwmason]

11. I'm not racist, but I don't like black people.

Yes - I've heard that one many times.

The claims that "they" are getting better treatment than "we" are is a favourite of the British National Party (who are seriously nasty people).

[Midlodemocrat]

13. One of my neighbors actually said

"I am not a bigot", but they are just so loud".

I told her that was the single dumbest comment I had ever heard. They moved not long after. Good riddance.

[Gormy Cuss]

14. Not in Alexandria?

Oh yes, because Alexandria is just so special.
She actually said that she was sure this woman's kids had different fathers? I feel for you Bertha. "Linda' is a blithering idiot. If the condo was built with S8 set-asides, the woman and her family have a right to live there as long as they qualify for Section 8.

I would have enjoyed sparring with this nitwit when I was younger but with my new found California passive-aggressive attitude I'd be more inclined to simply chuckle, shake my head, and repeat "I never realized that you had such a vivid imagination, Linda" until she left the room or her head exploded.