Isn't it generalizations and assumptions that cause racism? Do you know Vicki, or are you just assuming she saw young African American males and thought they were gang bangers? I've actually hung-out in front of Block E before. I was with a CM, my AA wife and several other friends (some were white and some were AA). Maybe she saw someone that looked like us? Can you be sure that she didn't?
Dennis Plante Jordan
From: "Brandon Lacy" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED],[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: Re: [Mpls] Gang Members at City Center on a Rampage? (Was Downtown Mpls Holiday
Date: Sat, 29 Nov 2003 13:04:58 -0600
Dennis et al,
The folks that generally hang out in front of the City Center down town are indeed young black men. Vicki didn't have to state it explicitly.
-Brandon Lacy -Powderhorn Park
Chair National Lavender Green Caucus Green Party of the United States
Lavender Greens: www.lavendergreens.org BrownTones: http://galileo.spaceports.com/~brandonl/ YouthAction: www.youthaction.net
From: "Dennis Plante" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: Re: [Mpls] Gang Members at City Center on a Rampage? (Was Downtown Mpls Holiday Date: Sat, 29 Nov 2003 11:55:54 -0600
Brandon:
There's only one problem with your statement. I don't read anywhere in Vicki's original post where she referenced the suspected gang members as black, or African American.
Dennis Plante Jordan
From: "Brandon Lacy" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: [Mpls] Gang Members at City Center on a Rampage? (Was Downtown Mpls Holiday Shopping)
Date: Sat, 29 Nov 2003 08:13:32 -0600
I have a question. How does one identify the African-Americans that tend to hang out at the City Center as gang members? Where they all wearing t-shirts that said "I joined the Crips and all I got was this stupid t-shirt?" Were they engaged in territorial rumbles? Knives and Chains? AK-47s and Gloc 9s?Maybe they were collecting Toys for Tots in their gang paraphanilia much like the Hells Angels do each Christmas?
Or was it because they were young black men that they were ID-ed as gang members. And was it the bulge in your clothing that they mistook for a concealed weapon that saved your life, which I'm sure was in a very precarious position, or perhaps they had absolutely no interest in you whatsoever and had no more nefarious plans than...gulp...hanging out in front of the City Center.
Perhaps for Christmas we could ask Santa Claus for a serious anti-racist movement in the Twin Cities.
-Brandon Lacy Campos -Powderhorn Park
Chair National Lavender Green Caucus Green Party of the United States
Lavender Greens: www.lavendergreens.org BrownTones: http://galileo.spaceports.com/~brandonl/ YouthAction: www.youthaction.net
From: "Victoria Heller" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "Minneapolis Forum" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: [Mpls] Downtown Christmas shopping report Date: Sat, 29 Nov 2003 07:56:23 -0600
Even I couldn't face the crowds at Wal-Mart on Black Friday (Wall Street's jargon for the day that most retailers go from red to black on the bottom line.)
So I headed downtown Minneapolis for a crowd-free shopping expedition and general economic sleuthing.
Fortunately, the gang members who frequent City Center's first floor mistook one of my bulges for a concealed weapon (see www.thunderwear.com) -- so they left me alone.
There were lots of clerks standing around Saks and Neiman-Marcus, but not much buying going on. Franklin-Covey on the skyway level has posted a sign that they will be closing on January 24th.
Opening night for Hollidazzle drew some early birds setting up seats in the skyway over Nicollet, but the streets were pretty deserted, at 5:15 anyway.
The highlight of the trip was while having nibbles and cocktails with two of my sisters and one niece in the Mark VII lounge on the street level of the IDS: We bumped into Council Member Scott Benson. I must disclose that I really like C. M. Benson. We just exchanged pleasantries and introductions - Scott always cheers me up because he is so smart and good-natured, though I was pretty cheerful to begin with because Hal, the bartender, pours with a generous hand!
All in all, it was a fine shopping trip. We bought some Christmas presents and left with smiles on our faces and good memories.
Vicky Heller North Oaks
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