Dennis Plante Wrote:
If we as a society are really concerned about the tragedies like this that occur, than we'll do something about it. Maybe if larger numbers of individuals from more affluent neighborhoods in our fine City spoke-up more and came to observe what the real issues facing inner-city, imporverished minorities, we could stop this type of thing from happening again.
John Harris Writes:
could you expand on this idea? what difference would it make if someone from kenwood said this is a tragedy and went to jordan to take a look around? i am not sure i am following what you are getting at. I think you might be on to something but I can't get there myself.
Dennis Plante Responds:
With pleasure. White people (myself included) have no clue what it's like to be a minority living amongst white people. In my specific case, I at least know what it's like being a white person living amongst minorities. People living in more affluent neighborhoods (and rightfully so), only live their realities, as is all we can expect of anyone.
But, reverse the situation for a moment. Pretend that you're a single African American mother in your early forties with three kids living in Jordan. Let's say you're one generation-removed from sharcropping in Mississippi. And your mother, father, grandparents, aunts & uncles all knew of someone(s) that was lynched for some horrific offense like inciting blacks to vote, or looking the wrong way at a white woman.
Also take into account that your mother probably didn't even attend grade school and that your father died at a very early age from either overwork, or non-existent healthcare. Youyourself probably quit school at a very early age to help your mother support your younger brothers and sisters (birth control was pretty-much non-existent as well).
Over the years, your distant relatives that had "escaped" to the north (probably Chicago), finally talked your tired, near dead mother into moving up north, as things were easier. So of you went. About a dozen years later (Illinois has very bad welfare programs) you got smart and moved to Minneapolis. Only to find-out you weren't the only one that figured it out. Now realize that without an education (you didn't finish grade school, remember?), and no real job skills/experience, that it's really quite difficult to be a good single parent. You're probably (if you were fortunate enough to learn basic math and reading) going to be very lucky if you end-up as a cashier at Target, of SA. But what will more than likely happen is that if you truly care about your children, you're going to have to quit your job and go on welfare, as if you're gainfully employed you're either not going to make enough to own reliable transportation, and even if you did, you're probably not going to be able to afford both the car and the babby-sitter (it's tough to find a menial job that doesn't require at last some odd hours that are non-conforming to day care).
I am not saying that this fictional story of mine mirrors the average life of minority members in my neighborhood. Some have had it better, some I'm sure, have had it worse.
Are we more benevolent in Minneapolis? Certainly, compared to the landowner in Mississippi, or the welfare programs in Chicago. Do we REALLY understand what this class of our civilization has experienced and continues experience? That's where the personal involvement takes place. It's pretty tough to "fix" things, when you don't really understand what's wrong. It's taken me 8 years to accept that I know nothing. It's been a long journey.
dennis plante jordan
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