Crime Rate Down in Milwaukee? Yeah Sure!!
What’s With (Some of) Our Black Youth and Milwaukee’s New & Growing Black Mob?
The latest incidents in Milwaukee have gone viral and national. It shows once again a mob “wilding” of youth, mostly Black, looting a gas station on Humboldt and North and injuring a number of people during the July 4th holiday festivities. There is also a new video circulating and several reports that there was “mob-like” behavior at Summerfest last night after a “rap” concert-Wiz Khalifa to be exact.
Down the street and all along Riverwest’s North Avenue there were reports of armed robberies, looting, people hitting others with glass bottles, racial harassment and serious damage to people and property.
When victims called Milwaukee Police, officers did not take official reports, did not prevent further outbreaks and pretty much undermined the entire incident, thus leaving Chief Flynn to clean up the mess. Chief Flynn and Mayor Barrett, for whatever reason, attempted to clean up this “colored mess” by insisting it was an “equal opportunity” wilding incident. “Mob-like” was the term Flynn used.
No Chief Flynn it was a mob, a very dangerous and out of control mob of over 100 or more young Black people!
I am not sure they were angry as some media reports indicated. They seemed quite happy when they were on camera taking entire food displays and merchandise. This is also the 4th recorded incident in the Riverwest area of “mob-like” retaliation against the neighborhood.
So Why the Cover Up?
“He (Flynn) also said it was important to challenge commentary in some blogs and reader comments on news stories that emphasize the race of the victims and suspects.”
Journal Sentinel Online:
http://www.jsonline.com/news/crime/125073199.html
Really? Why let the Black community off the hook? Is this preparation for Elections 2012 for Barrett? Is he looking to secure the Black vote, thinking he is going up against Willie Hines? Well that does not make sense to me because these people do not strike me as potential voters.
We can clearly see, it was in fact Black youth and they attacked many people, but only the white people are recanting stories of Blacks using negative racial terms and phrases. Flynn gave stats that make people think this was not a racially motivated incident. How was it not? Who are you fooling Chief Flynn? Young Black kids out of control again; Summerfest, African World Festival, Mayfair, Juneteenth Day, Riverfest, Tech HS, and the list grows.
Is it because Summerfest and the city festival season is a critical source of revenue for the city and any inclination that people may be in danger would cause the city and namely Summerfest substantial loss financially? Not to mention the power and influence Summerfest has. Hell they got a closed parking garage open for business in a short time. Is it really safe? I wouldn’t park there. But less I digress…
Is it because crime is on an upward spiral and Flynn and Barrett are desperately trying to fool people into thinking Milwaukee is as safe as Mayberry? I would think most people in urban Milwaukee know better and those who live in Riverwest are fighting as much as they can to keep Riverwest a family-friendly neighborhood.
Just days ago police caught 4 suspects in a string of armed robberies in Riverwest.
WISN Chanel 12:
“Four people have been charged in connection to a string of armed robberies in Milwaukee’s Riverwest neighborhood.
Prosecutors said the group shot a man who fought back during a robbery at Fratney and Center streets on Sept. 24.”
http://www.wisn.com/news/25508749/detail.html#ixzz1RMCAlwwy
http://www.wisn.com/news/25508749/detail.html
Why are Chief Flynn and Mayor Barrett trying to keep us thinking these attacks on other Milwaukeeans not happening? What isn’t being reported, including reports of violence against our own? If this had been a group of law abiding Blacks, would the same outrage be reported? Would there have been a news conference and community meeting? I do not think so.
So that just leaves us with rising crime, a horrible economy, and the fact that in this most racially segregated community, the city has no clue as to how to solve these problems, no jobs to offer, no hope or change to believe in, no MLK to lead us from self-destruction. But is it their place to solve Black crime alone? Our Black leaders are mostly all for self and refuse to call out these incidents or deal with it, leaving us to deal with this in the streets.
When a white man pulls a gun out on a Black youth and shoots him point blank dead then what will happen? Seems to me this is a sad scenario in the brewing and if I were white and got beat down, I would be looking for a little payback too. However that payback is going to be the blood of an innocent kid and then all hell will break out. Am I wrong?
Are Our Kids Racist?
“Shaina Perry remembers the punch to her face, blood streaming from a cut over her eye, her backpack with her asthma inhaler, debit card and cellphone stolen, and then the laughter.
“They just said ‘Oh, white girl bleeds a lot,’ ” said Perry, 22, who was attacked at Kilbourn Reservoir Park over the Fourth of July weekend.”
Journal Sentinel Online:
http://www.jsonline.com/news/milwaukee/125027704.html
All across the country there is a new uprising of young people of non-Caucasian persuasion who are using social networking and other methods to meet and cause more harm than good. When is the last time you heard a news story about teens meeting up to clean a neighborhood or read to kids in the Black community? It is happening but that does not make a newscast. But this story does! And the whole city is watching to see how WE respond to it and make it better. They gave up on us a long time ago and now only hope to contain us and they are not inclined to give a hand up so now what do we do?
First, we need to be honest and say yes this issue must be addressed internally. Tom Barrett and Ed Flynn are not going to change anything for our people. They can help though.
Secondly, why are our kids attacking whites and tearing up white areas? For us older folks, there was a time when you did not enter certain parts of the city for fear of police brutality or worse white people. Now kids do not have any fear they just move about the city as if they own it. With conceal and Carry Laws in effect, they are armed again and best to prepare our kids to know that they may be staring down the barrel of a 44 mag Dirty Harry style.
In this latest attack whites reported their attackers were laughing at the blood dripping on their white faces and all types of nonsense. Have we raised racist kids and what kid thinks causing harm to innocent people is okay? Whose kids are these and other than Jason Fields who is on the front line to reverse this trend?
Well…
We have said all we can say, we have read all we can stomach and now it’s time for action. My fear is that the motivation for change will be in reaction to an action causing a real race war that has long been stirring in Milwaukee. Will it come to that to make change here in Milwaukee?
Willie, Ashanti, Lena, Tamara, Spencer, Barb, etc…where you at? We need you to be here and present.
Some of our Black elected are doing it every day; David, Milele and Jason. They are on the front lines, they need our support! There are other tired souls who never get recognition nor require it but they are waiting for those with power to come to their aide.
Peace Family,
WW
Raw Camera Footage:
http://www.jsonline.com/general/37714089.html?bcpid=23739055001&bctid=1039117824001
Chief Flynn Press Conference:
http://www.jsonline.com/general/37714089.html?bcpid=23739055001&bctid=1039444202001
http://www.620wtmj.com/podcasts/news/newstogo/125071234.html
And here is the link to the Summerfest Fights:
http://www.fox6now.com/news/witi-20110706-summerfest-fight,0,911785.story
One’s time and energy are finite. Wisdom commands us to carefully pick and choose those matters and issues we think warrant our attention from among the dozens that surround our existence as Afrikan people 24/7/365. No one said a word on TMD about the barbarian treatment we received at the hands of the MPD on Juneteenth Day. Stone faced cops walked in bunches of six or more like slave catchers roaming the old South as they patrolled up and down the street. Helicopters flew noisily overhead while snipers posted on roofs stood erect to make sure the celebrants knew of their presence. This is intimidation, terrorism, a show of force calculated to instill fear and remind us that we are not free, that the act of legal emancipation is only on paper and even that makes the oppressor angry and filled with cold resentment. “How dare you laugh, love and celebrate, ignoring me, disregarding for even a few hours that in my eyes you are nothing but a lowly animal. I can hardly wait until your miserable celebration is over so that I can sweep over you people with my officers, armed to the teeth in riot gear, with lines of horses from sidewalk to sidewalk herding your ignorant mass down the street and out of the area.”
Some of us are greatly bothered by this kind of barbarity inflicted upon us. A rage fills our being as we helplessly watch our people so cruelly treated on this day that is so special to us, a day on which we celebrate the end of two and one half centuries of chattel slavery. Is there perhaps some connection, psychological, subliminal, intuitive or rational, between our recent outburst occuring during the whites’ celebration of their day of liberation?
A black person’s choice to criticize the behavior of the “mob” in the face of so many, many more important injustices occuring in this city, state and nation is narrow-minded, myopic and self-defeating. This nation sits as the Goliath of the planet. It invades countries, slaughters their citizenry, sends our youth abroad to kill and die, installs rulers and governments, removes rulers and governments, bankrupts nations, causes death and destruction globally at will and without consequences, robs this nation’s treasury and gives it to the rich, mortgages our children’s future while hundreds of thousands of us go sick, homeless, uneducated and impoverished, and infuses drugs, disease, unnatural foods and contaminated drinking water into our people. Yet when a few young folk blow off some pent up anger and the oppressor’s nationwide media stokes white hatred and unfortunately some Black hatred, suddenly the “Black community” is on “the hook.” Yeah, we’re on the hook alright; the hook of oppression, and in some cases the hook of blindness to reality.
Sorry Russ but you should have taken one or two seconds more to review this articel/site in full. Not only do I and the other writers post news about said events yearly, June 22, 2011, I make reference to the treatment of Blacks in the following post:
http://themilwaukeedrum.com/2011/06/22/chief-flynn-invokes-chief-brier-to-curb-crime-in-the-inner-city/
We discussed Police Brutality at length and I gave direct and specific evidence.
However I do mention in THIS very article Juneteenth day and asked what are the police not reporting about crime inflicted on us and what might be happening to our own people that does not get covered? Did you not read about the part where I ask if this had been vice versa would it have been reported or would anyone but us be outraged?
You might want to reread and take notes, you missed a bit!!
Peace,
WW
WW, please quote for me the language in this post where you make reference to Juneteenth Day. Thanks.
“We can clearly see, it was in fact Black youth and they attacked many people, but only the white people are recanting stories of Blacks using negative racial terms and phrases. Flynn gave stats that make people think this was not a racially motivated incident. How was it not? Who are you fooling Chief Flynn? Young Black kids out of control again; Summerfest, African World Festival, Mayfair, Juneteenth Day, Riverfest, Tech HS, and the list grows.”
Also please do visit the link I gave you that specifically details police brutality against young Black men on North Avenue at:
http://themilwaukeedrum.com/2011/06/22/chief-flynn-invokes-chief-brier-to-curb-crime-in-the-inner-city
Since you have little time I copied a portion for you to read:
“What’s Going On?
In the last few weeks North Avenue from Sherman Blvd to RiverWest has looked like District 3 headquarters with squad cars, motorcycle cops, biking and walking beat cops all lined up to take you down (you being the young black man in most cases that I personally witnessed). That would be fine with me if the police were just doing their job innocently, but as I noticed and others have shared, it is beginning to look like a racial profiling pit stop with young brothers lined up all along on the curbs of North Avenue. I am sure other heavily traveled areas where young Black men are known to frequent are looking the same way. Yes I am saying it. It stinks of racism and racial profiling, just another side effect of living in a segregated society.
DWB (Driving While Black) is in Effect in Milwaukee!!”
My blogs are neither narrow-minded, myopic or self-defeating.
There is racism and dirt coming from both sides and one does not excuse the other.
Maybe you should study up a bit more before making such bold statements. Judge my entire body of work and then tell me I am myopic and narrow-minded or we can debate in factual evidence and reality.
Peace,
WW
WW, please quote for my edification the precise words where you specifically refer to our Juneteenth Day treatment by MPD. You know, the helicopters, the snipers, the scowling cops travelling in bunchs combing the streets, the heavily armed sweep followed by mounted horsemen that ended our Festival of Emancipation. What did you ever say about Juneteenth Day?
Show us, PLEASE!
Please review my previous issues. They are loocated under my gravatar link.
Thanks and happy reading…
Peace,
WW
Also please follow the link I provided you about similar treatment that i shared in the post above regarding MPD and racial profiliing of Black young men in the past weekends. I think we touched on similar points. If I am mistaken, please feel free to share how that story did not express the same sentiments.
I refered to Cheif Flynn using Cheif Brier tactics and envoking Milwaukee’s past history to deal with current trends. I think you will find that we are not disagreeing on MPD and their use or abuse of force regarding our community.
Let me try this again. First, the issue is treatment of Afrikan peope at the recent Juneteenth Day celebration and whether you have specifically spoken about that in particular, not similar occurances and not general Milwaukee police mistreatment of Afrikan people. JUNETEENTH DAY 2011. I am quite unwilling to plough through your prolific writings; neither do I purport to judge your entire body of work. My comment was addressed particularly to the post at issue here and those particular observations you made there were narrow minded, myopic and self-defeating. I offered no comment on anything other than your original post.
Since you allegedly commented on this year’s Juneteenth Day in your writings, you should be readily able to retrieve that. If you cannot or will not about repeat those words about Juneteenth Day, then there is but one logical conclusion. And, I’ll pay for your gourmet cup of coffee if you write back stating what that conclusion is.
No I did not write about this year’s 2011 celebration. I think I was pretty clear that the topic was covered in prior issues and did say I referered to Juneteenth day as a topic for concern for us and what was not being reported by media (i.e the things you mentioned, swat and hovering) and that celebration was covered in the past by myself and others. As you had mentioned that it had not been ever, if i am not mistaken.
None the less my writings were well thought out, I stand by them 100% and if they were so narrow minded and myopic why are you still here?
Please do find something worthy of your time and I will continue writing what I see fit. As a queen I respectfully acknowledge your freedom not to “waste” your time on my little mind and its rantings. However I am a queen and my writings are to be respected and challenged not demeaned or belittled so I bid you peace and fare ye well my king!!
None the less I wonder where we differ if you and I report to have similar experiences or were you just trying to win a debate and not engage on what the MPD is doing to our community which is the overall conclusion for me. Their interference is a detriment to our community especially our young kings to be. Am I incorrect?
Peace,
WW
OK, almost there. But the coffee is still on hold. Now, please reprint the words of your post that prove what you just wrote: “I referered to Juneteenth day as a topic for concern for us.” Show us those words.
Now you have suggested that I claimed that Juneteenth had never been covered by anyone. Your words were: “As you had mentioned that it had not been ever, if i am not mistaken.” If you would follow your own advice by re-reading carefully what I initially said you would not have to make such loose, ambiguous statements as, “if I am not mistaken.” Check and see. I re-read your relevent posts three or more times to assure accuracy. Try it! What I did say was that no discussion about the shabby treatment by the MPD at this year’s Juneteenth Day was posted on this site. If it was posted and you show it to me the coffee is still yours.
I do not challenge the value of your thinking, writing or principles. If something you write captures my attention enough to respond that means I find I find the content or the author both inviting and deserving some analysis and critique. Otherwise, why put it out there?
I neither dispute nor deny your royalty. That was never at issue. We royalty, however, are not above correction.
Peace
I do not drink coffee as I am allergic to caffeine but thank you. For the sake of getting back to this topic and not undercutting your most valid points I will concede and if you want to claim victory that is fine by me. I am concerned we are straying away on discussing/debating the topics to which I write that I deem as valid and discussion worthy.
How do we work on our own community problems and the events raised in this particular article?
With all due respect, you can submit an article on the Juneteenth Day Celebration and I am certain the editors would be happy to publish it as it is worthy of discussion as well.
None the less we have some people in the community who are begging for attention and seek negative activity to achieve it, some as I mentioned are positive and not needing attention. Our media focuses on the bad people and they love it, it is profitable.
We lack leadership and our kids are becoming products of a segregated society that does not seem to want to change ever. What happens when a young kid becomes the target of a “conceal and carry” freak? If our MPD continue to harass and profile DWB offenders how do we call this out?
What happened at Juneteenth is worthy of its own story. I also think this article and what you raise are focused on similar things, our treatment and major events, yet differing on the persons in question. I feel I cannot change the MPD other than to call out their racist behavior, but I can make a change in my own community starting with my own household. So there is what I am trying to tend to; the people around me and myself. Flynn, Barrett and the crew, we keep tabs on but we cannot make impact on them as deeply as in house. I am concerned about OUR kids and their mentality right now with this article.
There were many leaders, black and white alike who worked for and championed the “swat” mentality at Juneteenth and how we correct that is a conversation that seems not fit for this particular space respectfully. That is to me entirely different than my intended focus which is our kids. Juneteenth has long been plagued of bad business decisions, lack of appropriate policing, lack of sound planning and implementation of ideas, horrible boards, and void of the initial reason for what Juneteenth is all about. It seems to me that Juneteenth and the lack of its true meaning and what we have not instilled in our youth and possibly those 30 and under has a direct impact on why some of us don’t fight for it to be as respected as the other city festivals and why it has not even one part of the juice Summerfest has.
Milwaukee for its lack of movement towards diversity has one of the biggest Juneteenth day legacies nationwide. It is a state holiday! However if people around the country saw what it has become to what it once was, they too would be as outraged as us older folks who once cherished and looked forward to this event. It was a true holiday!! I remember in the beginning stages Juneteenth was something we learned about in school and then we saw it come to fruition along the streets. WE knew damn well how important it was and we knew it was not to be disrespected and we damn sure would not let the MPD or anyone else disrespect it either. We saw love and peace celebrated in the streets and preparation for it was done by all, not just businesses and a few community agencies. Hell at our house, we even made special clothing to be worn for the day, had a church service and other events linked to the day. But let’s be real, the white folks did not come and make it what it has now become. They did not give it its violent rumors and negative connotations. As much as it sickens me to death to see Juneteenth commercialized and whored out for profitable ventures, what piece of that is our own doing? No I don’t like what you experienced AT ALL!! I want the old Juneteenth back. I am not sure we are doing your story any justice in this space? This is a topic that stands alone, so is the above article so that they may both be fairly discussed and dealt with. Neither incident should be trivialized or shorted its due conversation.
My article asks are our kids are becoming racist or callous to violence and hurting innocent people to send their message, if they even know the message they are sending? How do we save OUR kids? Some of the mob said they did it for fun or to fit in. Their reasonings are my concern here. There is a national outbreak of these mob like attacks and as a community how do we confront this? This was (still is)my focus for this particular Wednesday.
How does that sound as a resolution for both of us my king?
Peace,
WW
And I do still suggest you spend your time on our site, we do cover such topics and we do discuss quite a bit every day as it happens. So though time is short, it is not wasted here. I can promise you that.
And if you want I would be happy to have that conversation about Juneteenth day at “Coffe Makes You Black,” and I will buy you a great cup of coffee and I will find a non caffienated beverage and we can chat it up! Juneteenth is indeed worth saving, but so are our kids. I think we can agree there.
For Milwaukee’s Community Jounral editorial on the event…
http://www.communityjournal.net/?p=14234
The Community Journal predictably joins the chorus of sheep in the Black community who allow the majority community to do their thinking, analysis and form their perspective. Even the usually clueless NAACP made a more intelligent and informed comment. Chief Barbarian Flynn lacks any moral authority to describe Black people as barbarians when he commits adultery with another man’s wife openly and defiantly, a much smaller man who has no gun, no taser, no nightstick and no badge. Furthermore, if anyone thinks Milwaukee cops are not rude, disrespectful and barbaric in their treament of Black men in the City of Milwaukee, just ride through the city at night, especially on weekends, and view the wholesale profiling, intimidation and other cop lawlessness inflicted on our community. Finally, for the Community Journal to label our people as “savages,” claiming that word best describes our people’s behavior constitutes a forfeiture of any legitimacy the paper’s editors may have had, in my opinion.
Below is the statement of the Milwaukee NAACP:
Statement of NAACP – Milwaukee Branch
Concerning July 4th Incidents in Riverwest Neighborhood
Similar incidents have been occurring recently not only in Milwaukee but around the Nation. The conduct exhibited by the youths in these incidents is unacceptable and intolerable. I do not know anyone who would condone such conduct, including several parents who, to their credit, have come forward and reported their children to law enforcement. To the extent that racial slurs or epithets were used during the incidents or individuals were targeted on the basis of race, the NAACP reiterates its strong objections to such race–based conduct whenever it occurs.
We believe that these incidents reflect the circumstances and conditions discussed in a recently released NAACP report, “Milwaukee Today”, and largely speak to the societal problems we as a community need to address – specifically the huge disparities that exist in our communities and manifest in the high level of unemployment, isolation, segregation, joblessness, lack of economic opportunity, extremely high levels of incarceration of African-American males and so forth. Actually, we must recognize (as stated in our report), that these types of behaviors are specifically related to the fact that the African-American community in Milwaukee has been destabilized and family structure has been decimated. Further, (again as indicated in our report), unless the root causes of these societal problems are addressed, it is likely that there will be more of these types of incidents. We are witnessing the symptoms of deep rooted problems.
None of this is meant to be interpreted as an “excuse” for the behavior. Rather, it is meant to suggest that our response as a community should not be to use these types of incidents as an opportunity to drive further “wedges” of separation based on race, class or otherwise. Instead, we need to come together as a community and identify, develop and implement programs aimed at addressing the problems. The NAACP is prepared to work with others toward that end. In addition, we have talked with law enforcement, including the Milwaukee Police Department and specifically Chief Flynn, about ways to facilitate better relations between the community and the police. We would like to work with citizens of Riverwest and other communities and with other organizations to face these challenges.
James Hall, President
NAACP – Milwaukee Branch
Thanks for adding that peice. I could not find a direct link to Milwaukee NAACP branch but found this as well on Facebook.
I hope that they have a site coming or maybe I have not found it.
Please do visit my link:
http://themilwaukeedrum.com/2011/06/22/chief-flynn-invokes-chief-brier-to-curb-crime-in-the-inner-city
Which specifically details some of the tactics our MPD are engaging in on weekends and who it affects, which from what I witnessed is young Black males.
Thanks,
WW
So then my question is…Is the Community Journal “in” on the polarization of Blacks? I am not a fan of the paper, only Mr. Holt’s writings pretty much, but can we afford not to have a paper of our own? I supoprt Black media, but when they get in bed and recite the company line, I always pause. This is no different.
WW
The Community Journal predictably joins the chorus of sheep in the Black community who allow the majority community to do their thinking, analysis and form their perspective. Even the usually clueless NAACP made a more intelligent and informed statement. Chief Barbarian Flynn lacks any moral authority to describe Black people as barbarians when he commits adultery with another man’s wife openly and defiantly, a much smaller man who has no gun, no taser, no nightstick and no badge. Fyrthermore, if anyone thinks milwaukee cops are not rude, disrespectful and barbaric in their treament of Black men in the City of Milwaukee, just ride through the city at night, especially on weekends, and view the wholesale profiling, intimidation and other cop lawlessness inflicted on our community. Finally, for the Community Journal to label our people as savage
Please disregard the repeat post above.
WW I did review your post re the MPD as suggested and agree 100%. You have hit the bullseye dead center. You express the kind of righteous indignation that is in short supply in our community. Instead of protesting our oppression we all too often join in the attack on our own people.
I would not go so far as to toss the entire Community Journal in the trash, as they sometimes feature guest editorials and commentary that enhances the conversation. Their inhouse comment, though, must be scrutinized and questioned very closely because often it just misses the mark.
No I do not think the CJ is something we can afford to do without. Thank you for reading the other article. I do think people need to know what is going on. Others who emailed or contacted me do not seem to think this is happening without reason, meaning we are asking for it. So I have been fighting that myth because the treatment, the stops, the unsually high number of Black young men stopped, ticketed, and towed were something that is not coincidence. It was racial profiling without question. And then thoes young men become part of a system that refuses to let them achieve a normal existences.
I think the CJ is worth having but th use of the term “barbaric,” the very same term Flynn used, makes me question who is writing the article? I do not condone violence of any kind, but the reporting could have helped us reach solutions and entered into fruitful conversations instead of been a mouth piece for the mayor and the chief.
Peace,
WW
Here is Eugene Kan’s article:
http://www.jsonline.com/news/milwaukee/125392298.html
One week later, Riverwest is returning to daily life
Back in town after a weeklong vacation, it felt good to hear from some readers I was missed.
“I’m looking forward to your next column,” and “I can’t wait to hear what you’re going to write about this one!” was a common refrain.
Clearly, something big happened while I was away.
It didn’t take long to discover a bunch of rowdy African-Americans in Milwaukee decided to celebrate our nation’s independence last week with some uncivilized and unlawful behavior after the lakefront fireworks on July 3.
One group decided to loot a Riverwest gas station while others formed roving bands that attacked and robbed residents just out for a peaceful night of summer fun.
It was a crime story, but because of the people involved, it was a story about race, too.
Even though I wasn’t in town, some victims apparently reached out in the immediate aftermath.
A white woman from Riverwest left a message that night talking about what she and a group of friends experienced during an attack in a nearby park. She said the encounter between her white friends and a group of threatening black people left her shaken in significant ways.
“At this point Mr. Kane, I do not see how you can possibly tell me or my neighbors that it is our shortcoming to have some prejudices or stereotype or perhaps choose not to ‘integrate,’ ” she wrote about the experience.
“It is the actions of these individuals that contribute to the negative perceptions – not us,” she said.
Others sent similar emails or phone calls last Sunday night lamenting the fact black youths had once again ruined it for everybody.
Some also blamed a lack of police presence for the violence while others questioned media reports that seemed anxious to downplay things.
As usual, some got right to the point.
“What the hell is wrong with your race?” said a regular reader.
“I have to tell you I am really getting tired of hearing about this crap and wish all the black people would just leave Milwaukee!”
A week later, it’s gratifying to note that time seems to have brought some perspective to a sensational news event as most residents returned to their daily lives.
The city’s still standing. The police chief admitted the cops could have responded better; some black parents reportedly called police to turn in their children as suspects in the looting of a gas station.
Riverwest is still the same challenged neighborhood it has been ever since I lived there back in the late 1980s, a funky place filled with the kind of optimistic homeowners who represent the best hope for real diversity in a city like Milwaukee.
The kind who don’t deserve what happened early on the morning of July Fourth.
I think part of what happened in Riverwest was the result of racially segregated neighborhoods, which can breed a fear of blacks by some whites, and some young black people regularly exploit that fear to feel more powerful in public settings.
The sad irony is these same young black people actually have little power in this society; in the end, they are just hurting themselves and don’t realize it.
Out of all the messages I received while on vacation, the one from the woman who wanted to know why she shouldn’t become more racist in her attitudes toward black people resonated the most. I believe she was sincere but, frankly, I just can’t let her off the hook that easy.
If she truly wants to find the answer, she has to look within herself. Just like the rest of us.
Contact Eugene Kane at (414) 223-5521 or ekane@journalsentinel.com. Follow him on Twitter @eugene_kane
I find this APPALLING. It is a form of EXCUSING the behavior of these black mobs when some warped individual says, “Yeah, but look how the cops treated us on such and such a date!” You are saying that it’s okay to beat up white people in retaliation for “perceived wrongs” – as you point to a “perceived wrong” and say, “Well…”. There is no excuse for what these young people are doing. And when you try to deflect attention and point blame elsewhere, you’re making excuses. It is just these excuses which produce this behavior. I suggest that all people from the neighborhood become fine, upstanding members of community. Then I DOUBT you will have cops roaming through your streets treating you in a manner you find to be “racial profiling”. And I suggest you route out those who so misrepresent you and take a strong stand against all forms of evil separating yourselves from them. Because when you say, “Well….”… this white woman looks at you and says, “You support violence against white women because you are a black racist — and this whole nation has degenerated into a cesspool through all of this black self-pity.” I’m done with it. I want all welfare programs eliminated. I want all leftist programs eliminated. It’s producing wickedness and justification for wickedness. Get off your asses and start supporting a free market, and don’t just “get a job” — open a business and get in the real life of living in a land of opportunity. Because your self-pity has destroyed this country — along with all the programs it has produced — as it perpetuates the cycle of self-pity, self-aggrandizement that goes along with self-pity – and extremely poor character. Either become a person who believes in freedom and the free market and earn our respect through your entrepreneurialship as you take leadership through hard work and achievement like the rest of us — or we’d prefer that you of WHATEVER RACE got off American soil.
Dutch American, here by the way — RAISED FROM YOUTH TO BELIEVE WE DO OUR WORK AS UNTO THE LORD NOT MAN!! And we treat people with RESPECT – and WE DON’T SIT AROUND FEELING SORRY FOR OURSELVES ORGANIZING AS MOB GANGS OF THIEVES WHO THINK THE WORLD OWES THEM A LIVING AND OWES THEM THE “PAYBACK” FOR THEIR MOB GROUP SELF-PITY. And, the fact is, I am looking at leftist BLACKS MORE AND MORE AS A GROUP OF LYNCH MOB COMMUNISTS who want nothing more than to destroy this nation in their self-loathing they think is “deserved self-pity as a class”. YOU WONDER WHY GANGS OF BLACK YOUTH ARE WILDING?? WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU ARE DOING AS A LEFT-WING POLITICAL GROUP OF COMMUNISTS??? THEY’RE FOLLOWING YOUR EXAMPLE — AND THEY’RE JUST BEING MORE HONEST THAN THE PACK OF THIEVES YOU’VE BECOME AS A VOTING BLOCK!!! NO, I DON’T RESPECT YOU AS A GROUP!! YOU HAVEN’T EARNED MY RESPECT!! YOU HAVEN’T INTEGRATED AS AMERICANS AND ADOPTED THE VALUES OF HARD WORK AND RESPECT FOR OTHERS THAT APPRECIATES THE FREEDOM OF A FREE COUNTRY!! AND YOU ARE MOVING AS A BLOCK TO ENSLAVE THE WHOLE NATION UNDER COMMUNISM.!! THE INDIVIDUALS WHO STAND OUT FROM AMONG YOU AND STAND UP FOR FREEDOM AND LIBERTY — I RESPECT. SHOW ME WHY I SHOULD RESPECT YOU COMMUNISTS?? YOU’RE TRYING TO DRAG THE WHOLE NATION INTO SLAVERY!!! AS YOU WHINE ABOUT YOUR PERCEIVED SLIGHTS — INSTEAD OF PULLING YOURSELVES UP BY THE BOOTSTRAPS AND WINNING BY THE MEANS WE RESPECT!! HARDWORK AND ACHIEVEMENT IN A FREE COUNTRY!!! AND DOING EVERYTHING YOU CAN TO MAINTAIN THAT FREEDOM FROM COMMUNISM FROM WITHIN!! YOU ARE SETTING THE EXAMPLE AND RAISING CHILDREN TO BE LIKE THIS WITH YOUR LEFTIST COMMUNIST IDEOLOGY!! WHAT DO YOU THINK IT PRODUCES?? LOOK AROUND AND YOU’LL SEE!!! I don’t CARE ABOUT RACE — UNTIL YOU SO SEGREGATE YOURSELVES IDEOLOGICALLY ABOUT YOU RACE YOU BECOME COMMUNISTS AS A GROUP BY AND LARGE VOTING FOR THE ENSLAVEMENT OF THE WHOLE NATION!!!
And that is how I really feel as a conservative, Christian “Dutch American” who doesn’t give two hoots about your skin color until YOU MAKE THE BIG DEAL ABOUT IT!!! AND LOOK WHAT YOU ARE PRODUCING!!!
Well I am a Black conservative and based on what you wrote, you do not speak for us conservatives AT ALL. You do not take into consideration those of us who do exactly what you mention, yet we get no attention for our good works and moral living. You shame all of us conservatives who fight the good fight working together not falling for the “they all are like that” foolishness of the left. You might as well join them. We try on this website anyway to educate and discuss, but when a person is so closed-minded where do we start? You seem to want to tie bad and good together. Well not all Blacks are bad people as I am sure you would agree not all Whites are bad people. Yet some of you committ terrible acts. Should I judge you by the acts of another? Well then that same rule applies here. Do not judge me by the acts of bad people, PERIOD!!
We can look at why these things are happening but throwing us all under the buss will only create more problems.
Yes racism is a factor because some of us based on how we look do not get the same accomodations as you would. This is fact.
However there are those of us who move forward despite this and do not use excuses but work even harder to get over obstacles.
I could go on but I would need to address an open minded person to even begin to have rational conversation. Much can be learned but when you pour out your anger onto an entire segment of the population, you are part of the problem and not part of the solution.
When you want to talk minus the hate and anger, let me know. From one conservative sister to another, this is not the conservative movement. That is just blatant racism and DO NOT ever tie conservativism to your hate!!!!!!!!
And what makes me sick is everyday I fight to get respect for our conservative movement and then we get someone that writes hate like this and you take our advances all the way back to Jim Crow. Thanks much!
Peace,
WW
You know, you are absolutely full of YOURSELF AND PRIDE AND SIN when you say, “my people”. REALLY?? SO NOW YOU ARE A SPECIAL “PEOPLE” AND YOU ARE SEGREGATED FROM THE REST OF US ON THE BASIS OF YOUR BLANKING SKIN COLOR!! YOU RACIST!! Don’t you even try to try to make anyone feel sorry for you or guilty for calling you out you hateful self-centered narcissist!!!
Now, when you want to be CONSERVATIVE… please, let’s leave out the skin color. Let’s go with what we BELIEVE — not what we look like. Seriously. Why do you think I am angry?? Don’t you think I have every right to be angry?? We are sick and tired of the racist segregation of the black race in this nation. We don’t want you to continue to segregate yourselves – and look what it produces?? Furthermore, the facts state that the vast majority of blacks are voting communist as a block. I stated that those who step outside of communism, and walk in conservativism — I respect. But it is not conservatism to segregate yourselves by race. I do object. And, when you call me your sister — that I can respect. Because family is not about skin color. It’s about the heart. And it’s about JESUS.
Matthew 17:2 And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.
John 3:6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
Now, when we transfigure as we shall -when the reality of who we are in Jesus shines through — and we are shining like the sun as the light of Heaven not of skin but of spirit — what color are we?? We are the color of the very Spirit of God. That color is from within and obliterates and ends all color of skin.
Revelation 12: 1And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars:
Why shouldn’t I be angry that what is within is counted as nothing, as there is this focus on skin??
Don’t you realize that all saints are the same color of spirit… in the light of Jesus… inside… and that this is our true IDENTITY?? And that we are not of this world… we are not of this flesh.. but we are of God from Heaven in Jesus??
Why shouldn’t I be frustrated and hurt?? Don’t you think the Spirit of God is grieved so long as we refuse to cast our eyes upon Jesus to become who we are truly in Him and one by the same Spirit??
I cannot bear any more of this talk of “peoples” based on skin color and ethnicity who claim to name the name of Jesus.
I am of Paul. I am of Apollos. I am of Holland. I am of Africa. It is all the same and it is division in the body of Christ based on false measures and standards that have nothing to do with Jesus and who we are in Him.
1 Corinthians 1: 11For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you. 12Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. 13Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?
1 Corinthians 3: 3For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men? 4For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?
Are you not still carnal, worldly, devilish in wisdom of this world as you still walk as mere men?? As you talk about “my people” on the basis of identification with “Africa” or the color of men’s skin??
James 3:14But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. 15This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. 16For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.
It is earthly, sensual, devilish. It produces envying, strife, confusion and every evil work.
It produces WILDING.
We must turn to JESUS and KNOW WHO WE ARE IN HIM and LEAVE ALL OF THIS EARTHLY CARNALITY BEHIND!!
If you want to discuss Christian and conservative principles and dynamics — then do so free of race identification and the racism of false identification with this world and this flesh.
When it’s about Jesus, it’s right. We are all the same color of glory in Him — and this is who we really are. And we must see Him, ourselves and one another solely in Him and the light of His glory as our identity.
Then, among the saints, MLK’s dream will come true.
And no such dream could ever come true apart from Jesus.
God bless.
Laura Lee.