Food & Drink1 min ago
Subconcious Racism Or Valid Precaution?
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Nothing subconscious about it. The woman believed that a black man with white children in tow could only be up to no good.
Would she have called the police if the man had been white? I doubt it very much.
Now the real problem is how to change the attitudes of people. That is a lot harder to do.
I think if a true and honest account of crime statistics were reported it would go some way to change perceptions. In the past year 100 crimes were committed ten thefts, 2 by black people, three Asian people, 5 white people. 15 murders by drive by shooting 10 by black people, 3 Hispanic and 2 but white people. That sort of thing then people would at least see that their perceptions are wrong... or perhaps right who knows.
Would she have called the police if the man had been white? I doubt it very much.
Now the real problem is how to change the attitudes of people. That is a lot harder to do.
I think if a true and honest account of crime statistics were reported it would go some way to change perceptions. In the past year 100 crimes were committed ten thefts, 2 by black people, three Asian people, 5 white people. 15 murders by drive by shooting 10 by black people, 3 Hispanic and 2 but white people. That sort of thing then people would at least see that their perceptions are wrong... or perhaps right who knows.
Spath - // the safety of children is more important than how a potential kidnapper feels about how he doesn't look like his potential kids. //
I suggest that the gentleman has already reconciled himself to the fact that he doesn't look like the children, and they in turn don't look like him.
His issue is with the fact that the woman targeted him because he was a black man with white children.
Not a black man with white children who were distressed, and clearly with him against their will, but just a black man with children.
I suggest that the gentleman has already reconciled himself to the fact that he doesn't look like the children, and they in turn don't look like him.
His issue is with the fact that the woman targeted him because he was a black man with white children.
Not a black man with white children who were distressed, and clearly with him against their will, but just a black man with children.
/// The woman asked if the children were OK, and requested to speak to them. When Mr Lewis refused, the woman followed him home and called the police. ///
I think we are only being told part of what actually took place, between the man and the woman, which consequently prompted the woman into deciding to follow the man home and call the police.
I think we are only being told part of what actually took place, between the man and the woman, which consequently prompted the woman into deciding to follow the man home and call the police.
Andy-hughes, //her decision was motivated by the notion that a black man with white children must be up to no good.//
We can’t say that. She questioned something she thought unusual – and rightly so. Her first thoughts were for the safety of the children and I applaud her for that.
Adfa, //Would not have caused any concern if he had been white and the children black//
I would question that too. Just imagine if you didn’t – and the worst happened. I would never forgive myself.
Had the man not immediately taken umbrage but instead thought about it logically, how easily this could have been resolved.
We can’t say that. She questioned something she thought unusual – and rightly so. Her first thoughts were for the safety of the children and I applaud her for that.
Adfa, //Would not have caused any concern if he had been white and the children black//
I would question that too. Just imagine if you didn’t – and the worst happened. I would never forgive myself.
Had the man not immediately taken umbrage but instead thought about it logically, how easily this could have been resolved.
Naomi - // Andy-hughes, //her decision was motivated by the notion that a black man with white children must be up to no good.//
We can’t say that. She questioned something she thought unusual – and rightly so. Her first thoughts were for the safety of the children and I applaud her for that. //
If you saw a white man with two white children walking along, and the children were clearly not distressed, not crying, not pulling to get away, not looking round in a fearful way, you would proceed about your business, anyone would.
If you saw a black man doing the same thing, then the only difference in the situation is the colour of the man's skin. If you act on that basis, then that is racism.
You can dress it up in the notion that she was 'concerned for the children's safety' if you want - but why would you do that?
The only flag for 'concern' is the differing ethnicity of the man and the children - nothing else at all appears to have alerted this woman to the notion that 'something may be wrong'.
Let's offer the benefit of the doubt - she could follow them for a few minutes, she would soon be able to tell if the children were being taken against their will, but she didn;t do that. She acted on her suspicion based on her racist attitudes - that a black man with white children means something is wrong.
We can’t say that. She questioned something she thought unusual – and rightly so. Her first thoughts were for the safety of the children and I applaud her for that. //
If you saw a white man with two white children walking along, and the children were clearly not distressed, not crying, not pulling to get away, not looking round in a fearful way, you would proceed about your business, anyone would.
If you saw a black man doing the same thing, then the only difference in the situation is the colour of the man's skin. If you act on that basis, then that is racism.
You can dress it up in the notion that she was 'concerned for the children's safety' if you want - but why would you do that?
The only flag for 'concern' is the differing ethnicity of the man and the children - nothing else at all appears to have alerted this woman to the notion that 'something may be wrong'.
Let's offer the benefit of the doubt - she could follow them for a few minutes, she would soon be able to tell if the children were being taken against their will, but she didn;t do that. She acted on her suspicion based on her racist attitudes - that a black man with white children means something is wrong.
"he woman asked if the children were OK, and requested to speak to them. When Mr Lewis refused, the woman followed him home and called the police."
Why didn't Mr, Lewis just politely say to the woman, Oh its ok I'm babysitting them? Then let the kids tell the woman this was true?
That would have been more sensible but hey that approach doesn't make a point, or get a write up in the newspaper does it?
Why didn't Mr, Lewis just politely say to the woman, Oh its ok I'm babysitting them? Then let the kids tell the woman this was true?
That would have been more sensible but hey that approach doesn't make a point, or get a write up in the newspaper does it?
Andy-hughes, You can take this around the houses all you like but the simple fact is these children clearly didn’t belong to that man and that’s why the woman questioned it. A white man with black children would also arouse suspicion – or at least it should. The children are the important factor here.
God knows how distressed the children and babysitter may have been. This woman may well have been a child abductor herself!
As we have come to see recently - not all women can be trusted with children.
The whole situation may have been extreme distressing for the kids, to have a stranger questioning them, and then following them home...
...from a place covered with CCTV which an abductor is unlikely to visit.
As we have come to see recently - not all women can be trusted with children.
The whole situation may have been extreme distressing for the kids, to have a stranger questioning them, and then following them home...
...from a place covered with CCTV which an abductor is unlikely to visit.
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