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Is the improvement in black/white relations permanent?

Is the current thawing in black/white relations in Metro Detroit (as measured by a January Detroit News/WDIV poll) likely to be permanent, even though many social scientists say such a scenario would be unprecedented? Why or why not?

Yes 33% This poll has closed but your feedback is still welcome
No 66%

Add your comments on this topic by clicking here

Posted: Wed. Jan. 23, 2002 at 8 :04 AM
From: Andrea
City: Southgate, MI
Subject: segregation_easing
Comments: I am sick and tired of being blamed for all the problem in the world simply because I happen to have been born white.

People need to be responsible for their own actions. I am not saying that their are not white people that do wrong but black people are not totaly innocent either. I have friends of both races, but I do not view them as being of a different race. I look at the way they treat me and other people.

I can not help being white anymore than a black person can help being black, and I refuse to be blamed for actions that I did not commit or have any control over. Use your life to help the people you know and care about not hating people you don't.


Posted: Tue. Jan. 22, 2002 at 1:17 PM
From: Annie Dantzler
City: Detroit, MI
E-mail: dantzlere
Subject: segregation_easing
Comments: No. Until we find out why Whites are so hostile and angry in this area Blacks and Whites will never become close. When I arrive at 20 years old 30 years ago, I told people I believed it was the most hateful, evil, area in the Nation. Thirty years later, it appears I was ever so correct at such a baby age.

I had never seen such wicked people before in my life and such passive Blacks who wouldn't stand up for the own people. I did and I am glad I did.


Posted: Mon. Jan. 21, 2002 at 5:06 PM
From: Jerry Pavlov
City: Trenton, MI
Subject: segregation_easing
Comments: Can be summarized by saying... There is the right way, the wrong way, and then Detroits way.......

Coleman Young destroyed Detroit with his bias, always using the race issue as a final excuse for problems the city cannot seem to solve......

Folks are sick and tired of hearing how racist white folks are. (the backlash is always present).

When will Black Detroit start paying for better schools, clean-up the city, etc (sacrificing some of their income to make things better)......

Why do those who sacrifice for something better, have to accept being forced to accomodate those who are always looking for a free ride........

WHERE IS THE ACCOUNTABILITY IN DETROIT?????


Posted: Mon. Jan. 21, 2002 at 2:26 PM
From: dave
City: wetland, mi
Subject: segregation_easing
Comments: Are we really to talk truth based on facts?


Posted: Mon. Jan. 21, 2002 at 12 :40 PM
From: mark
City: Canton, mi
Subject: segregation_easing
Comments: Blacks are too resentful, and will continue to carry their grudge. As for the Retailer issue, many have left Detroit due to low sales, can't get reliable help, high pilfering, etc. Many stores won't take checks, returns are difficult, stock is in disarray, etc., yet go to their counterparts in other cities and these problems DON'T exist.

Case in point; I no longer shop at the Home Depot in Southfield, for all of the above reasons ( including the fact that the help is generally rude and or doesn't care), but just a few miles away at the Home Depot in Livonia, its an entirely different story.


Posted: Mon. Jan. 21, 2002 at 10 :54 AM
From: jason rozman
City: wyandotte, mi
E-mail: jseries60@aol.com
Subject: segregation_easing
Comments: there is nothing wrong with segregation. Individual histories and customs get lost in the melting pot and segregation is the law of nature.


Posted: Mon. Jan. 21, 2002 at 10 :36 AM
From: Mr.D Green
City: washington, mi
Subject: segregation_easing
Comments: My comment, is that you can build houses,buildings,structures,skyscrapers,government,politics,make babies. the fact of the matter is people must change their attitudes towards one another.An put off the skin color issue an get out of their comfort zone an accept one another.


Posted: Sun. Jan. 20, 2002 at 12 :14 PM
From: ML Queen
City: ThtUnu, MI
E-mail: elrojo1@aol.com
Subject: segregation_easing
Comments: If you compare the behaviour of African Americans to European and African blacks, a startling contrast becomes apparant. Only in America do blacks behave/think this way.

When over in Europe and Africa, blacks are respected and share a place as equal members of society with all other races. They are educated, intelligent, respectful and very nice people. But when you return to the United States, you see such a drastic difference in behaviour and attitude. I think it comes from slavery and the stigma of century old class impoverishment.

I don't think the problem resides with the black population. I think it resides in the White American mindset. America, in all it's glory, is light years behind Europe in culture and humanity. White America h as along way to go. So to all you blacks out there, don't despair. Look at your European neighbors. There is hope. And you will realize that this is a white America problem, not a black one. Rise up and respect yourselves, get educated and kill the whites with kindness.

You catch more flies with honey than with vinegar.

A White Metro Detroiter.


Posted: Fri. Jan. 18, 2002 at 10 :53 AM
From: Tired of the black vs white issues
City: Detroit, Mi
Subject: segregation_easing
Comments: I am so tired of all these race issues. I think that the people who voted no are white ameicans. I truly believe that the reason there is such an uproar with this segregation issue is because of the white american population. The majority of other races are willing to get along. Detroit just has alot more affordable housing for lower income people. That total just not consists of black Americans. They would have a lot more ran down houses if they had affordable housing because their own kind would move out their with them. How come the world just can not get along. Alot of the reason that you do not see a lot of diversity because the minorities are treated so bad the whites. Some people just do not want to be bothered with such ignorance.


Posted: Fri. Jan. 18, 2002 at 10 :14 AM
From: Lee M.Christie
City: Livonia, MI
Subject: segregation_easing
Comments: As long as Racial Bigots, like Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton, etc. are around to keep things stired up , there will never be Racial Harmony. If you don't believe this, just look at the incidences that took place in the Metro Detroit area, that involved security guards and the death of a store customer. Forget about that they caught in the act of commiting a crime,the tables were turned around to made it a racial issue.

Now I see that racial profiling legislation is being considered. It is amazing that Blacks seem to holler the loudest about racial profiling, but don't seem to have a problem with affirmative action, which is nothing more that a different type or racial profiling, in their favor. But when they commit crimes, they want to toss in the race card to divert attention away from the real issue. There will never be Racial Harmony, as long as Jackson, Sharpton and others like them, are allowed to continue to spew their racial rhetoric. All of us (all races)need to start speaking out against them and their pratices.


Posted: Thu. Jan. 17, 2002 at 4 :40 AM
From: clemmie frierson
City: Detroit,, MI
E-mail: clemmie_frierson@dpsnet.detpub.k12.mi.us
Subject: segregation_easing
Comments: Can you imagine coming to school every day as a young person realizing that many of your teachers are there for the "paycheck" only? Can you imagine coming to school every day to be told, that you cannot learn? Can you imagine being taught as though, you truly will never learn? Can you imagine, watching teachers sit in the lounge, and discuss how much parents do not care? Can you imagine a segregated lunchtime in a Detroit Public School? This has been happening for years? Can you imagine entering the teachers lounge where the bathroom facilities and whenever any African American educators enters into the room, all conversation immediatly stops?

It is ironic that these educated people that teach our children do not have clue about how stressful that has been come. This has been going on for years. Can you imagine being a youngster and you hear teachers screaming at the children on a daily basis? Can you imagine walking into a classroom where the room looks like a pig pen every day? Can you imagine being a young person, and you are talked "down to" on a daily basis? Can you imagine the hurt and despair that is felt by children when as a smallchild, they realize that they are going to get a word search to keep them quiet instead of the"real curriculum? Can you imagine being in a school where there is more concern about "school union politics? as opposed to educating children? Can you imagine, being in a situation where it is standard practice to assume and predict that the children will fail the MEAP,MAT, and ESAT TESTS, AND THEY HAVE NOT EVEN TAKEN THE TEST YET? cAN YOU IMAGINE BEING YELLED AT IN THE HALL OR IN THE CLASSROOM ON A DAILY BASIS? pARENTS AND OTHER EDUCATORS KNOW THAT SOME TEACHERS ARE THERE FOR THE"PAYCHECK " ONLY. cAN YOU IMAGINE TEACHERS RUNNING OUT THE BUILDING TWO STEPS AHEAD OF THE CHILDREN. cAN YOU IMAGINE A SITUATION WHERE IF AN EVENING PROGRAM IS GOING ON,YOU WILL SEE THE SAME PEOPLE ASSISTING AND HELPING THE CHILDREN TO PERFORM AND IT IS USUALLY MANY aFRICAN AMERICAN TEACHERS AND THEN ONLY ONE cAUCASION TEACHER. sHE IS THERE BECAUSE SHE TRULY BELIEVES IN EDUCATING ALL CHILDREN AND YOU MUST SUPPORT THE CHILDREN'S EFFORTS TOWARDS EXCELLENCE. cAN YOU IMAGINE MAKING STATEMENTS THAT PERHAPS IF i OFFER $20.00 TO THE PARENTS THEY MIGHT COME OUT? hOW CALLOUS CAN ONE BE TO SAY SOMETHING LIKE THAT? wE ARE HERE TO EDUCATE ALL CHILDREN REGARDLESS OF SOCIO ECONOMIC LEVELS,ETHNICITY, ETC. eDUCATION IS FOR ALL PERSONS.


Posted: Thu. Jan. 17, 2002 at 2 :30 AM
From: Ben Tilley
City: Eastpointe, MI
E-mail: anvil2_99@yahoo.com
Subject: segregation_easing
Comments: It is likely to be permanent because the relationship didn't need "thawing" in the first place. We get along just fine, person to person, and have for years. Millions of every-day black and white citizens know this to be true, but those whose livelihoods depend on black/white animosity (Jackson, Sharpton, etc.) have convinced the major media outlets that hatred and bigotry rule our every interaction.


Posted: Wed. Jan. 16, 2002 at 2:24 PM
From: Audrey Lane
City: Oakland, MI
E-mail: A@aol.com
Subject: segregation_easing
Comments: You are right Jane Meadows. I live in Oakland Township. You've made the most sense of them all.

The reality of it all is that no one can control where anyone else chooses to buy a home. That's the myth that keeps certain people in a psychological hold. People of color here have figured it out, and they live on the "million dollar mile" like everyone else.

Besides, Is someone going to tell an African American man who just bought a 600,000 home, he's not qualified to live here? I don't think so. He obviously did something right. Thats the way real socially educated people think. That's why we prosper and can live together, and accept each other if nothing but on a hello basis. Yes they are moving in. May as well say hello than stare.


Posted: Wed. Jan. 16, 2002 at 1:53 PM
From: jimmy
City: detroit, mi
E-mail: jimtop99@yahoo.com
Subject: segregation_easing
Comments: I have lived in Detroit my whole life and I have seen racism and segregation gradually decline the whole time. People are wising up over the years and realizing that life is too short to hate. My appearance is of caucasian decent although im half chaldean, and Ive spent countless hours remodeling homes in the innermost parts of the city of Detroit, without any problems. Ive done good business with people of all races, as well as made many friends with people of all races.

As far as discrimination goes, its just the ignorant people who seem to be fewer and fewer the more time goes on.. that are the disbelievers. Wake up people, this is a great city full of great people. All it takes is a positive attitude and a warm smile to help the community lose the hate. Allow time to continue to heal the wounds of the city, and you will see change for yourself like I have over the years.


Posted: Wed. Jan. 16, 2002 at 10 :53 AM
From: Jane Meadows
City: Grosse Pte, MI
E-mail: J@aol.com
Subject: segregation_easing
Comments: I have lived long enough to have seen it all. The largest lesson that I have learned is that you really don't have any control over where someone else moves or chooses to live, only your own family. Therefore, where ever you land in life, there is obviously going to be other people living with you, whether you accept it in your mind or not.

That in itself dispells the myth of an all Black or all White neighborhood, regardless of number. It is up to you the individual to take responsibility for your personal surroundings.

Economics has nothing to do with cleanliness. It costs nothing to pick up trash, clean windows, respect fellow citizens, smile, show goodwill. I have seen it on both sides. Cleanliness has nothing to do with race. Educated Black Detroit has emaculate neighborhoods. It's the people who don't care about the way they live mentally or physically, that pulls the hard working Blacks down.

That's why they too are leaving the city at an alarming rate. People forget also that there are whites living in the city also, not just blacks. I have also seen white "poor" areas in suburbia that no one talks about because it may dispell the myth of "white perfection."

I have seen African Americans in beautiful million dollar homes on the Shores such as my neighbors, striving like everyone else, just getting along with everyone. I have seen brand new integrated subdivisions, where if you drive through you wonder if you are still in Michigan because there is every color in the rainbow living, working , and playing together, learning the truth about each other.

So you see, you can't paint a broad picture and categorize people. You can't asked a blanket question "Will it ever change?" It is changing, right before our very eyes, and in our lifetime.

If we do our part to make this a better place, we won't have to worry about anyone else, it will fall into place, all colors for the good of mankind.


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