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Politics : Politics for Pros- moderated -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: gamesmistress who wrote (554709)	4/16/2014 12:21:47 PM
From: Zakrosian	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 794837

Red Bank's population is much more eclectic than the surrounding towns, which are 90-95% white, have much better school systems, and consequently more expensive housing. If Red Bank's schools were on a par with the other school systems, though, some people would still move, because of the large minority populations. I have had people tell me so. When I moved to Takoma I knew that I was moving into a predominantly black neighborhood. Before making an offer on the house, I went out on a weekend and walked around, chatting with whoever was outside working on their yards. Took me about an hour to feel really comfortable there. If I were uncomfortable being in a minority, I wouldn't have moved in. Were those people who left because of demographics longer term residents who moved in when it was all white? Kind of ironic, but as a right-winger, the only neighbors with whom I had pleasant political discussions were black - on some racial issues I was to their left. For example, one of my black friends was offended by the MLK academic awards for black students. His attitude - "it's pathetic that we have to have our own achievement awards because we can't compete with white kids". My response: "But even if these black kids getting the awards aren't as academically accomplished as white kids who get the Westinghouse awards, they're still smarter than 98-99% of other white kids, so why not give them some recognition, especially considering that they've done it without having gone to private schools that cost 18k a year?". I got involved in some local education issues - I was the chairman of the Education Committee of Neighbors, Inc. neighborsinc.org I had monthly meetings at my house - I was the only white neighbor involved but we were all trying to find some way to improve the local schools so that the "5 and out" syndrome ended. At one meeting, a local liberal white activist minister showed up; he was kind of offended that we were all focused on improving "neighborhood schools"; he thought we were trying to initiate a busing program so that the "East of the Park (us)" kids would exchange places with the "West of the Park (white kids)'' in classrooms. There were times when I was the only white in a social setting of 30 or 40 other folks. I could not believe some of the things I heard - they were all very contemptuous of how "black culture" had degenerated since they were kids in the 50's and 60's. It's too bad conservatives haven't been able to tap in to that sentiment.