So, then she asks me: "Is that a safe place for a white woman to come?"

[LuckyTheDog]

I work for a non-profit organization that has offices near downtown Detroit -- in a really great neighborhood near Orchestra Hall (http://tinyurl.com/4u535w5) and the Detroit Medical Center (http://tinyurl.com/4heao2d) and not far from what I think is the best bakery in Michigan (http://www.avalonbreads.net).

We held a luncheon event in the suburbs this week for a prominent member who just launched a new book. It was a great event -- a sell-out with more than 400 people in attendance. Everyone who came got a signed book (it was included in the ticket price) and, of course, there was one person who left her book behind and we kept it for her.

Today, that ridiculous bitch called and demanded (not asked for, but demanded) her book back. I told her we were glad she called and that we had it for her. I started to give her our address so that she could pick it up.

So, then she asks me: "Is that a safe place for a white woman to come?"

I told her that we were in a very nice area. And then she said something about how she was not comfortable in "that part of town," by which I am sure she meant the entire city, as opposed to the suburbs on Oakland County. I could have reached through the phone and choked her -- tight-assed racist troll that she was.

Luckily, we have a staffer who will be in one of those nice, boring Oakland County suburb tomorrow night. She will take the book to Ms. Racist and Ms. Racist will miss the chance to experience one of Detroit's best communities.

Bitch.

[Orrex]

1. Click here if you were expecting a sexually inappropriate punchline to the OP

[Tuesday Afternoon]

2. with an OP like that a sexual punchline would have been totally appropriate

:crazy:

[Phentex]

15. was thinking perhaps not in church or at a funeral...

otherwise, it's none of my business. :)

[Dr. Strange]

23. I have no idea what you're talking about.

No idea at all. None.

[Iggo]

32. Click.

[rbnyc]

42. Here (nt)

[Liberalynn]

3. Truly sounds like an ignorant woman

People sure can be jerks. Back when I used to work as a historical researcher, a woman called saying she was writing a novel and wanted to base her characters on immigrants. She asked which immigrant groups were the most prominent in our local area. I said "Irish and Italian." Her response was "boy there must really be a lot of hot headed arrogant people around where you live. Weren't there any Germans?" I wanted to ask her if she always relied on "ancient sterotypes so much?" If so her characters were no doubt lifeless cardboard cutouts.

I also wanted to say "you happen to be talking to someone who is mostly of Italian ancestry, with Irish and Scottish, thrown in, so why don't you just go to hell after I hang up on you," but I didn't. I remained professional and said, there were some Germans they just weren't the majority which was what she had asked for and told her she was welcome to come use our library. She didn't thank heaven.

[Withywindle]

51. Because no one has ever stereotyped Germans as arrogant....right?

:rofl:

[TreasonousBastard]

4. Only if she doesn't make too much noise...

(somebody had to actually do it)

[elleng]

5. Too close to Orchestra Hall, I guess.

:rofl:
:thumbsdown:

http://www.detroitsymphony.com/calendarlistview.aspx

[david13]

6. DSO is on strike. They been on strike for 22 weeks. No concerts. dc

[elleng]

7. But some concerts are going on.

http://www.detroitsymphony.com/calendarlistview.aspx

[david13]

17. I don't think so. That usually isn't the case with strikes. In

fact here is a quote from the Daily Tribune (Southeast Oakland County) from March 9, 2011.
"But if the orchestra remains silent until who knows when, many people might decide the orchestra isn't all that necessary."
I think they just didn't change the website.
dc

[elleng]

39. Maybe, but website doesn't only refer to DSO concerts,

and that was my point, other 'things' going on at Symphony Hall. SORRY about DSO, of course.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

43. The DSO is not having any concerts, but

a group calling themselves "Musicians of the DSO" is performing concerts around town. It's just the striking musicians trying to keep in touch with the community. And keeping the public aware of the strike issues.

:hi:

[david13]

50. Yes. But not at Orchestra Hall? Yes, I guess that was what I heard.

But I think the word on Orchestra Hall was that it is dark and quiet. At least as far as DSO is concerned.
They may be running other things there.
dc

[nolabear]

8. WHERE is Mel Brooks when you need him?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=493pL_Vbtnc

(You know without clicking, don't you?)

[Iggo]

33. Yep.

[MountainLaurel]

44. That was my first thought as well. n/t

[ellenrr]

9. I agree with your anger at what a racist she is, but

I also blame the media which is always playing up any place that has a majority or a lot of Black people or other non-white people as being "dangerous".

Not taking her off the hook. She is responsible for her own stupidity and she is missing a lot of life if she confines herself to "white-approved only" places.

Detroit has become the butt of so many racist "jokes" in recent time, with no compassion for the real men women and children who live there and who want what we all want - a better life.

I went thru the same thing when I lived in Newark NJ - one of the best experiences of my life, and had to listen to the same kind of idiocy.

[Steerpike]

10. she may be a predjudiced...but...

"...crime in Detroit, Michigan has declined significantly since the 1970s, in 2007, the city had the sixth highest number of violent crimes among the twenty-five largest cities.<1> FBI reports for 2008 show that the numbers of violent crimes dropped 11.6% in the city of Detroit,<2> continuing a downward trend: overall, crime in the city of Detroit dropped 23 percent from 2000 to 2004.<3>

Crime is unevenly distributed throughout the city. A 2006 study showed crime in downtown Detroit (CBD) is much lower than national, state and metro averages.<4> However, accurate statistics can be difficult to find; according to a recent report, the Detroit Police Department routinely under-reports homicides through omissions and incorrect classification of crimes. The department admitted that it excluded justifiable homicides classified as self-defense in its initial 2008 report, but that is consistent with how the FBI reports homicide numbers.<5>

Detroit recorded 308 criminal homicides in 2010, a 15.4% drop from the previous years count of 364. Non-fatal shootings were also down 10.5% from the previous year.<6>"

it's still not peaches and cream in the motor city.

[marmar]

18. And what does that have to do with the very safe Orchestra Hall neighborhood......

or the racist-ass question?

[Steerpike]

20. lol

you sound a little angry there fella...be advised that i'm not white...and I'm not trying to provide excuses for racists...I'm just saying people are being murdered in Detroit...numbers are down, but you really need to be aware of your surroundings. I feel sorry for the poor racist lady, living in her little world of fear. But, how do you know she hasn't been assaulted or even worse? She could have PTS from an event in her past that we don't KNOW ABOUT. I'm a brown man who has inadvertently scared the shit out of white people by just walking behind them at night. It's a tough row to hoe, but I've gotten past it.
Really I try to sympathize with people even though it may be me that inspires their unfounded fears.

[Demoiselle]

52. You have a big open heart, Steerpike.

I am white, and sometimes I have an awfully hard time sympathizing with white people. This is one of those times.

[REP]

54. Totally agree on both points

Steerpike showed a lot of kindness in his post, and the woman in the OP is probably a jerk.

[REP]

53. Thank you for the understanding reply (not that i'm agreeing with the woman in question)

I've been the object of a kidnaping/ attempted rape and several muggings (I used to walk everywhere in a big city). Afterwards I would involuntarily startle if I saw someone who resembled who had most recently attacked me. I felt bad about it, because it had nothing to with race, age or anything else - but how do you explain to a stranger that I'd been attacked by someone the same height, build and coloring but I see you're not him? Even more awkward! And anyone coming up behind me suddenly - toddlers, ladies with walkers, anyone - would make jump for a while.

You're right - not everyone who acts like that always does or is a racist ... but the woman in the OP may be a racist and a jerk.

[LuckyTheDog]

35. All big cities have crime

That is not a reason to avoid setting foot in any parts of them.

[Steerpike]

36. Is that what people are saying here?

Or is that just you positing a statement that is unreasonable on it's face...

[kwassa]

56. I disagree with you. I value my life.

I have pretty good radar for safe/unsafe situations, there are sharks out there, like Steerpike said. Most of my urban experience has been in LA, and while there are not too many places I wouldn't go in the daytime, there are a few I wouldn't go anytime.

Because I value my life, I wouldn't set foot in many areas after dark, to be sure.

I was born in Detroit, I have been all over the metro area, though we always lived in the suburbs. Detroit is a mess, and will stay a mess until an alternative economic source is created. There is no likelihood of that for many many years.

[cbdo2007]

11. While I think she was rude to ask the question that way....

it isn't racist to be aware of your surroundings and to think that crimes are not committed against people because of their race, both white and black.

I have been harrassed many times and seriously threatened a few others in neighborhoods that are predominantly African American because I am white.

[LuckyTheDog]

12. No, she was being racist

She made it clear that, in her view, the entire city was off-limits to her based on her race. As a white person somebody who lives and works in the city, I can tell you that is nonsense.

I have been all over this city. I have never been "harassed many times and seriously threatened" because on my race. Have I been "harassed many times and seriously threatened" based on the idea that I looked like I might have money in my wallet? That's a different thing. But, sure, that has happened.

A lot of suburban racists justify their racism by asserting that the black folks "don't want us down there" and will harass or even attack any white people they catch site of. That is utter and complete nonsense -- even in the worst parts of town.

[Steerpike]

13. I grew up in Los Angeles

Lot's of great people in all the races! Beautiful, talented and sexy people...black, white and brown. But, baby...watch out for the sharks cuz they will eat you alive.
If you are white...you could get in big big trouble wandering around Inglewood or Compton in the dead of the night. If the gangs don't get you...the cops will. I always carried around a big fat joint, just in case. More than once that joint saved my ass.

[NoGOPZone]

21. Maybe it's you and not your skin color? nt

[cbdo2007]

31. ha ha, try telling that a black person in the same situation.

No, I was one of a handful of white kids in my entire high school. Trust me, I've been the victim of plenty of racism and can recognize it easily.

[NoGOPZone]

40. That's nice. I have a sister in law who's one of the handful of white

people in her neighborhood, and she's had no problem, with high school kids or otherwise. I've never known her to cause any trouble, either So I guess we'll have to reach our own conclusions based on our own anecdotal evidence. ;-)

[Bucky]

14. Keep in mind that people are making money off of scaring the shit out of white people

It's very profitable. Back when I rode the bus to work, I had a number of colleagues, black white & brown, ax me if I felt safe. Their assumption was it wasn't safe to be on a Houston city bus. Seriously. I wonder where they got that idea.

[Steerpike]

16. yeah

but a murder a day? Isn't that statistic a little telling. How many murders a year does Houston have? The statistics don't cover justifiable homicide either. I'm not one to get overworked about these kind of things, but it's not wise to ignore them either.

[marmar]

19. And most murders are committed by people the victim knows, and .....

..... are typically linked to something going on in a victim's life. Anyone with half a brain knows that. And only someone terribly ignorant of Detroit would think the Orchestra Hall area was dangerous.

[Steerpike]

22. I have an IQ of 140

But I know this...numbers are shit...and anyone can be killed at anytime...any dumb shit knows that.

[Bucky]

25. Most murderers target high IQ victims. You should keep that sort of thing under your hat.

No pun intended, of course. But seriously, from what I see on TV & the movies, most killers are turned on by the challenge of killing smart victims. Stupid folks usually get knocked off in the first act.

[Bucky]

24. Houston's murder rate is 13 per 100,000, a bit above national avg. But you know....

It's mostly just druggies killing each other or domestic violence. An alert person isn't really in much danger in the US.

[Steerpike]

26. hey

I was a crack addict in compton and lots of my fellow druggies and barflies were High IQ knuckleheads. Even though I was relatively non violent...I still scared the shit out of the white people in the area...well...not the cops...but the local gentry. I really felt offended by that for a long time. But, now in my twilight years I could see their point, justified or not.



hey I don't even think I was particularly scary looking. It's not really that people may or may not be in actual danger. Maybe that area is not dangerous at all, but you need to help people face their fears with some love...not anger or derision.

[REP]

55. I'm sorry to say this but

That's not a scary photo. Actually a rather nice-looking young man. Maybe the fangs don't show or something ...? :-)

[Lydia Leftcoast]

27. Clue No. 1

If you automatically think that any place that has dark-skinned people in it is "unsafe," you're a racist.

[CBGLuthier]

28. I love watching the folks here defend her racism

I wonder if some of them realize how racist they seem.

[Steerpike]

29. Bouy

That shore is inciteful...

[Deep13]

45. "Seem" or "are?"

If it is a legitimate concern based on fact, it's not racist regardless of how it seems. If she is just assuming because it is a majority Black neighborhood, it's racist no matter how reasonable the justification sounds.

[MiddleFingerMom]

30. I was going to leave this alone, but I don't think I really want to do that.

Let's see...
.
YOU
.
"that ridiculous bitch"
"tight-assed racist troll that she was"
"take the book to Ms. Racist and Ms. Racist"
"Bitch."
.
.
HER
And then she said something about how she was not comfortable in "that
part of town,"
.
.
YOU
"by which I am sure she meant the entire city.
.
(you presumed "she meant the entire city"?)
.
.
YOU
She made it clear that, in her view, the entire city was off-limits to her
based on her race.
.
.
HER
... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
.
(I repeat)
YOU
She made it clear that, in her view, the entire city was off-limits to her
based on her race.
.
(Did you FORGET to tell us -- or did I miss this -- exactly when she said
"because I'm a White woman"or "because Black people live there"? Were
you presuming this? Could she have had a mistaken impression that it
was simply a high-crime region of the city?)
.
.
.
.
She sounds, based on everything you posted, like at worst she may just
be ignorant (in the true sense of the word -- unknowledgable) and have
some unfounded or exaggerated fears. (EDIT TO ADD) She may (or may
not) even BE a racist -- but what you included in your accusation of that
does not seem to me to doubtlessly support racist thoughts, statements
or behaviors.
.
IMneverHO. (END EDIT)
.
I might even like her (although I might not). I might or might not have
the inclination, ability and/or opportunity to educate or even SHOW her
how she has misconceptions.
.
.
.
And, based on all the name-calling and the angry, insulting, possibly
self-righteous, seemingly presumptuously judgmental and condemning
tone of your post... I'm not sure that I could say the same about you.
.
.
.
.
.
Sorry. I'm not sure this issue is (no pun intended) as black-and-white
as you appear to believe and would like us to believe it is.
.
.
.
.
.

[LuckyTheDog]

34. I did not keep a verbatim transcript of the call

But I stand by my characterizations of what she said.

As somebody very familiar with Detroit, I tried to reassure her that the part of town she would be going to was perfectly alright. But she kept cutting me off and then mentioned that she something about how she was "scared" one time when she went to the Detroit Science Center.

She also specifically said that she does not like to go to any part of Detroit.

[Steerpike]

37. Even if all that is true

How are you being part of the solution? Ridiculing her fears and holding her up to derision is not the most constructive way to handle any disagreement. Perhaps you could have offered to meet her and show her around the area. Put a human face on her fears...

[LuckyTheDog]

38. I was venting here on DU

With her, I remained calm. I tried to tell her about the cool stuff she could see while she was here (I wanted to suggest a trip to Avalon International Breads), but she kept cutting me off and would not listen.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

41. It's your fault for having the luncheon in the suburbs

That will attract the wrong kind of people.

:hi:

Did you get any paczki from the Avalon Bakery yesterday?

[Fire Walk With Me]

46. Tell her she's safe to have an orgasm anywhere she wishes.

[NMDemDist2]

47. well.....

that might be debatable

:rofl:

[pitohui]

48. while she sounds like a bitch she may have been a crime victim

a relative of mine was a victim of a home invasion, i won't try to change her mind or discuss the issues of class and race when she asks repeated questions about "safe" places to go, you just have to understand that some people are terribly damaged by violence that has happened to them in the past

of course it sounds like in this woman's case she might just be a cheap, lazy bitch angling for you to mail the book to her, so she wouldn't have to be arsed driving over to pick it up...

considering she DID attend yr non profit event, i'd give her the benefit of the doubt...once

[backwoodsbob]

49. lived there for 22 years and ran into that a lot

I traveled the lesser traveled road for the suburbanite :)

MANY times my suburban friends wouldn't go with me because of fear of Detroit proper.

[curiousabout...]

57. Oh well...

Her loss then. Best to just let her be a bitch and be thankful you aren't like her.