[rankrank55]

Any person, any gender, and any race can be loud and obnoxious! I know plenty of black people who are totally opposite from the family your are describing. I also happen to know a lot of white people who act the SAME way you describe your neighbors. Food for thought... they do not act this way because they are black, they act that way because that is how they were brought up!

[Squiffy]

Its not because they are black, its because they are disrespectful to others. The two do not go hand in hand. Trust me I have met equally irritating white people in my life (used to live next door to some!)

[philly4458]

Whow you got a lot of response,

Hey, I am not angry with anybody, I'm a christain black male, 49 years old and have had plenty experienced in life with regard to racism. Listen a dead black man lying besides a dead white are equally dead and hell and heaven are unequally divided with all races of people, that is if you believe in God.

Yes I say , there are evil black people as well as white and neither one are better than the other. I've had problems with both. It sounds like you live in a rather tough neighborhood apartment complex. Maybe some where on the East Coast? What ever I just want to say I feel bad for your grandmother I wish you didn't have to put up with the nonsense, all I can say is try and do your best to report them to your landlord.

There is no reason for you to put all black people in the same category, I served in the Marine Corp, I work hard, have a family and like most people I want to live a good successful Godly life.

Enough with the name calling , you may not know it but many white people in the United States you think are white have black ancestry and would not be born had it not been for slavery why because Mr. Charley half black babies mostly decided to reenter the white race by marrying whites to eliminate there black blood, so be carefulthe very ones you hate the most maybe your distant relatives.

God bless,
Philly

[Emm Lura]

Living in the south all of my life, I totally understand racism. (I'm in no way saying that all southerners are racists, let there be no misunderstanding) My dad also tends to be a bit of a racist. For example, he's got a daughter that I've never met before because he disowned her for marrying a black man.

Now just because I understand racism, I DO NOT support it. I've got a sister that is half mexican. I've got a niece that's half vietnamese. I've got two amazing brother-in-laws that are black.

People do have a right to their opinion, but sometimes it is better for their opinion to not be voiced. You should hear some of the things I get called at my job. I am a sales manager of a cell phone store that's inside of a truck stop. These guys have called me every name in the book. Like I said, sometimes people just need to keep their opinion to themselves.

Yes this is a great place to vent but, you've got to remember that this is online. There are a lot of people that can be very hurt by the things that you say.

I know in your heart you really aren't a racist, you are just confused.

All the best of luck sweetheart.

[philly4458]

Hello Emm,


You may not know but I was responding to another persons letter (Ad) etc; anyway, I am sure of myself not confused. Your dads father grew up when white men could have a black woman but you where the forbidden fruit, so don't act like you understand how it is to be black because of your sister.

Your to young to understand what life is all about life.

THank you,
Philly

[N0help4u]

Emm wasn't necessarily saying she understands the black race. She is saying she understands how the racist attitude is in the South.

[philly4458]

Hello Nohelp,

I know in today's society not only black people exsperience racism as a whole, but some whites do too. Emm understands that part because her own father disowns her sister for marrying a black man.

What I am pointing out is, I am not confused my parents are from Alabama and Texas they grew up in the deep south in the 1940s-50s. I know Emm means well although, I have a problem with her advising me to keep my opinion to myself.

I have men relatives who married white women, the truth is my family learned to respect and except there decisions where some of the families on the other side didn't.

Check out you tube about the Louisiana creoles to white to be black and to black to be white.


THank you,
Philly

[N0help4u]

Hi philly
I didn't catch the part where she told you to keep your opinion to yourself.
I have had limited time on the computer lately.
I have heard the South is still very racist and that is a real shame.
In Pittsburgh, Pa it is quit opposite for the most part. Everywhere you look white girls have babies to black guys and white grandmothers are pushing the baby stroller rather than disowning them.
I live in a very poor neighborhood where there are black, white and mixed. Many of the whites deserve the 'low life' labels more than blacks do.
The one community next to where
I grew up was predominately upper class blacks who I deeply admired as I was growing up. So while I can't claim I understand the black culture as much as I would like to I can say I do have an admiration for the people that have touched my life.

[bushg]

Phill, nohelp I took it she was speaking to the op when she told him maybe it would be better to keep his opinion to himself... in other not to make problems worse with his racist remarks.

[Emm Lura]

All right, I guess I've caused a bit of ruckus here and I should further explain my answer. I was not telling Philly to keep his opinion to himself nor was I asking Jason to either. That was not the case at all. I should've explained a little better. I was saying that Jason's racist thoughts should not be voiced to his neighbors because it could really hurt them. I apologize for the misunderstanding.

Also, I NEVER said that I understand how it is to be black. I don't at all. I said that I've seen first hand a lot of racism and that is something I know a bit about although I do not under any curcumstances agree with it.

And as far as I can say about Philly saying that I am too young to know anything about life, I very strongly disagree. I know a lot about life. Be it because of all the things that I have been through as a child with my mother who was a severe alcoholic and a crack head that got her kicks out of beating my brothers and myself to the point where we could barely walk. Or maybe it was me getting my GED at the age of 15 and working full time as a professional painter until I turned 18 and then joined the Army. So instead of passing judgement on someone because of their age, maybe you should stick to giving your friendly great advice to people it can help and stop putting people down that are also trying to help.

I apologize for the harsh words but this really offended me. I have done a lot of things for myself to overcome the hand that I was dealt and for a perfect stranger to criticize me because of my age is uncalled for.

Best of luck to you Jason.

[philly4458]

Hello Emm,

I understand clearly now why this subject gets so much response, it is a very sensitive issue in the U.S.A. Hey, I admire veterans because I am one myself. I apologize for saying that you are too young to know anything about life. I don't know you or what youv'e been through in life and I should be careful about what I say, it is not my intention to hurt anyone's feelings.

You must be a strong woman to endure so much abuse and still have your sanity. God bless you, I can't say how much I do appreciate your replies. As for your friend Jason he let his frusrastion get the best of him, I just don't want him to maybe see me on the street someday and think that I am like his ignorent neighbors.

Nohelp seems to be a generous lady and I thank her for seeing the better side of people of color. I am not trying to open a dialog on racism, its been around before I was born and will be when I die.

Thank you,
Philly

[Emm Lura]

Well thank you Philly. Your kind response was just what I needed this morning.

And I in no way understand what it would be like for you being an understand and very kind African American in a world with so many judgemental people. But I do know what it is like to be judged, because believe it or not, you aren't the first person to believe that I know nothing because I am a successful 20 year old woman. Not quite as successful as I'd wish to be but I've got all kinds of time to make up for it. ;)

The world is not a fair place, but I am so thankful everyday for the hardship that I endured when I was younger and the hardship that I still endure because it has made me so much stronger. Some people let things like you and I go through get the best of them and fall "victim" to the circumstances, but a few of us rise above and make a life of happiness for ourselves.

Good luck to you all that understand what I mean and even more luck to the ones that don't.

Thanks and have a great holiday season,
Emily

[KBC]

Perception, what a concept.

How we perceive others,their words and actions.

Still we have a preconceived notion that somehow we are being misinterpreted,misunderstood,misrepresented,misjud ged.

Does the op really have an issue, oh yeah, he sure does, his neighbors are out of line with the 12:35am BS. Is he right to complain? Oh yeah,he sure does. Is his comment of race off,oh yeah(in my world anyway) it sure is.

Then the question is, Do I judge him for his views, actually YES I do!(I also sympathize to an extent, not on race,or even class,but on being decent HUMAN beings, respectful of not only their own, but their neighbors comfort)He has little else to blame except ?them? I guess.

Anyway, this is such an old post I am probably not going much further with it, just here to support a friend.

Ken

[Emm Lura]

It wouldn't let me rate KBC's response but I totally agree. You give the best advice Ken.

Anyway you can see how touchy of a subject racism is because of all the responses this question has gotten, and how long it has been going on. And that is really sad. People can't expect to get respect if they don't give it. And that goes for his loud neighbors as well. Also it goes towards all races of people, not just whites being racist towards black but also the other way around, there is all types of different racism and a lot of different prejudices.

But I think that this will be the last I say about this subject. I seem to be the only one reading it. Ha ha.

[talaniman]

No your not the only one reading this, and for a fact, it does good to see that younger folks see hatred for the poison that it is, and being against it. Kudos to all.

[ttara81]

It's almost 2008... when are people ever going to change? The man upstairs (whomever you may believe in) created us all equally; just made us different colors... there's no one person who's better than another... yeah, some may have a little more money, or a better education, or a nicer car or house, but when it all boils down to it... WE'RE ALL THE SAME! It just makes me sick to read and hear stories like this... (Mr. Anderson's original post, that is)

[Fashionista55]

It don't really think it has much to do with race, it's just how people are educated-- or lack there of. My neighbors downstairs are so disrepectfull and they are mexican. They are always throwing things up on the ceiling so I feel it when I'm sitting on my couch. They bang on the wall and when I do dishes they are banging on the ceiling! Very annoying. So ignorance comes in all colors as I have learned.

[templelane]

I don't think it has anything to do with education either. I think some people are just selfish jerks.

The university educated guys (white if it matters) below us used to keep us up late into the night/early morning with really load music and karaoke. They wouldn't listen to requests to turn it down, or complaits made to their landlord.

Then we called the police on them. Haven't heard a peep since!

[Fashionista55]

Templane, I meant education of manners. People lack etiquette, class and courtesy. So very sad.

[CinnamonComplexion]

The only way some $hit like that will make you racist is if you were already racist. If they were white would you be racist against your own kind? Heck no, you'de take the time to single the a$$hole ones out. But because they're black, the hell with all of them. But I must say, that's typical for your kind, no surprise, no stress, no worries. To 90% blacks anyway, you guys are all racist to us even when it hasn't come to you yet.