Why do people confuse racism and common sense?

Question

This is something thats always confused me. I've been called racist for saying that I didn't want to drive through a minority neighborhood late at night- I don't think its racist at all. Low income neighborhoods have much higher crime rates, and they tend to be made up of mostly minorities. So just statistically, you ARE more likely to get attacked in a minority neighborhood then a white one. I have nothing agianst any race, but as far as I'm concerned, its just common sense. So you get left with the choice of being 'racist', or putting yourself in a situation that could be dangerous by being politically correct. Of course you probally won't be attacked, and of course all minorities aren't out to steal my car. What do you think? Would you drive through the neighborhood or go around? Do you think I'm racist for going around?

Obviously, not ALL crime happens in minority neighborhoods, and not all dangerous towns are minority neighborhoods. I live outside Philly, and thats how it is around here, so thats what I know. I'm not trying to say that every minority neighborhood is a bad one- statistically, thats just what it tends to be, at least according to my sociology, government and psychology classes. Who knows, maybe college is wrong. Obviously there are exceptions.

Informat, you're right, I'm sorry it came out sounding like that. No, I don't care who lives in the neighborhood, I just don't want to be in a low-income area late at night by myself. Around here, the low income areas tend to be mostly minority. I'd have no problem being in a minority area that wasn't low income, and I'd be just as scared of a low income area that was all white people.

Answer 1

You identified the problem as being with crime rates in low income neighborhoods. But you said you don't want to drive through a minority neighborhood, not that you don't want to drive through a poor neighborhood.

By identifying the problem as the race of the people you are sounding racist. That is you are drawing conclusions about the danger of people based on their skin color. To do that is to sound as if you would be worried driving through a high income area that had a lot of minority people in it. Or that you wouldn't be concerned about being in a run-down part of town as long as there were poor, white drug addicts there. (I'll give you the benefit of the doubt that you DON"T think that way but one might draw that conclusion based on your statement.)

It is common sense to be worried by driving through a run-down neighborhood with empty abandoned buildings. But if you make assumptions based on the race of the people there, THAT is racist.

Answer 2

Your not a racist. I do the same thing, i live near Allentown and Bethlehem and its a fact that theres A LOT of crime in those cities (which are mostly low-income) I know several areas that i wouldn't even drive through in the day. One of them i know the police don't even like to drive into and if they can help it they don't. That neighborhood is low-income and from my understanding a minority neighborhood. Its common sense to not drive through an area with high crime statistics. If it happens to be a minority area well then 2 things are gonna happen. 1. you might be thought of as a racist. 2. That group of minorities is just re-affirming public opinions.

Answer 3

First of all do you think a white neighborhood is better? I am black and I have lived in a lot of white neighborhoods( and still currently in one) and I have seen a lot more worse things go on then in lowerr income neigborhoods. I think that your not using common sense, you are being rasist bc you feel that a white neighborhood is better at night, which is not true, you are going by what the media presents to you. Sweetie I'm not trying to be rude but really need to get a clue bc I realize you know nothing about a lowcome neighborhood. And to be honest I miss my olde neighborhoods, we had way more culture and a lot more fun than what I have now. I really think that you are just rasist and don't want to admit to it.

Answer 4

This is not racist at all. I would do the very same thing. I will say that low income neighborhoods aren't always made up of minorities. I have been through plenty of trashy neighborhoods made up of mostly white people. This has nothing to do with being racist, but rather being concerned about your safety. If you know that a particular neighborhood is dangerous regardless of who lives there, you have every right to say that you don't want to go into that neighborhood. Whoever is telling you that you are racist needs to get another perspective.

Answer 5

It is perfectly simple. People who yell racist at any given opportunity are totally void of common sense.
You are very wise to avoid danger. You are correct with your statistics. I fail to understand what they are trying to prove.
I am a man and I would prefer not to drive in a minority neighborhood. There are times when I have to. The reason being, I am in the service business. To date I have not encountered any problems. That does not mean that it never will. If and when a problem occurs I am and will be prepared.
I am not seeking trouble, however I would rather be a live racist than a dead bleeding heart. I will add that if the same situation (trouble) occurred in a white neighborhood I will react in exactly the same manner. Screw political correctness.

Answer 6

Some of the richest neighborhoods in surrounding Atlanta are made up of mainly minorities- would you still be afraid to drive through there? Or are you worried about driving through less affluent neighborhoods where drugs and gangs are rampant? In those areas- the mixture of people is greater than in any other areas. They include black, white, foreigners. So they aren't specifically one neighborhood.

you dont sound like you are racist- but you do sound confused. Mainly because you are confusing poor areas with minority areas which can be two different places.

I dont go in any area that i feel unsafe in- no matter who is there. i dont care who lives there- i just wont go there.

So if you go around you are only being smart as to avoid potential problems but to say that you avoid them because of the idea that it is minority dominant with the assumption that they are all out to get you- well that's just plain silly...

Answer 7

You should do what your instincts tell you to do. There's no reason to put yourself in a potentially dangerous situation because you are trying to prove a point of not being a racist. If it makes you feel better I am a black women that will not go into a low income minority neighborhood at night, especially by myself. It's not because I think poorly of my own race or other minorities, it's because low income neighborhoods are under unprivileged, and being under privilege leads to resentment, and resentment leads to taking actions against others that may be harmful. And trust me, it's a select few that are criminals in the ghetto, but personally I don't see a reason to be a target if I don't have to.

Answer 8

Blacks are more likely to commit crimes than whites. THIS IS A FACT. However, facts and reality offend many people. Therefore, if you have common sense or speak the truth in todays society you will likely be called a racist. I now wear this term as a badge of honor.

Jesse Jackson has even admitted that he feels more comfortable in all white neighborhoods after dark than all black neighborhoods. So I guess Jesse Jackson is racist against blacks according to some of the answers you have recieved.

Answer 9

well if you knew the meaning of common sense you would probably try to use an ounce. Where I live the most dangerous neighborhoods happen to not be minorites but i wouldnt say i wouldnt go through there because crime is usually around the whites, i would say that neighborhood is a high crime area and im not comfortable driving through because its known for crime. so start using some of that common sense you claim to have, maybe if you used it in those "minority neighborhoods" they won't attack you lol

Answer 10

Well not all "minority" neighborhoods are low income. Maybe where you live it is. Here where I live we have affulent Black, Hispanic, and Asian communities. Instead of saying that you didn't want to drive through a minority neighborhood late at night because of the crime you should have said a low income or poor neighborhood.