Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!uunet!aplcen!uakari.primate.wisc.edu!brutus.cs.uiuc.edu!psuvax1!psuvm!auvm!BROWNVM!PH408014 From: PH408014@BROWNVM.BITNET (Tim Johnson) Newsgroups: bit.listserv.politics Subject: Re: Something That Hits Home... Message-ID: <90039.0335.PH408014@BROWNVM> Date: 8 Feb 90 03:35:09 GMT Sender: Forum for the Discussion of Politics Reply-To: Forum for the Discussion of Politics Lines: 31 Approved: NETNEWS@AUVM Gateway [stuff about blacks attacking whites, and class differences deleted] >What were you trying to say, Larry? > >--david Not to speak for Larry, but it seems that what he was trying to say was what you expressed ever so well. Whenever there is an attack on black students by white students, it is labelled as racially motivated without a second thought. However, when we find blacks attacking whites, instead we try to hide the fact that race could have been an issue. We are uncomfortable accusing blacks of racism. As to class differences and Fox Point; you should be aware that there is a very large Portugese community in Fox Point. They share with the blacks the same class distinctions. Yet the rash of attacks we are experiencing are black against white and not portugese against white. Finally, there are many poor whites in this city. And there are many financially well off blacks at Brown University. The same class distinction. Yet, when black students are attacked by whites, we are eager as a university to stand up for these victims of racism. Why are you so uncomfortable with the thoughts of whites as the victims of racist attacks. Why are you so eager to explain (if not excuse) the black attackers. Would you voice the same doubts about the racial vs. class motivations if the races were reversed. I think that this is what Larry is trying to say. I think these are legitimate questions. Particularly as you have done him the favor and given the response he was looking for. -Tim