I heard someone talking about the inner cities of the United states. He spoke of the crime and other negative happenings that occur in American cities. As he spoke, his attention seemed to focus on Black Americans, giving them the blame for the fears he felt when he thought about the dangers one feels today if one strolls through the inner city neighborhoods where many dark skinned families live. He spoke of the danger encountered when one is robbed, beaten, carjacked, kidnapped, or gang raped. I stopped him when he began using desultory names to describe the African Americans who he felt were responsible for the crimes. One of the names he used was Spear-chuckers. I had never heard that word so I asked, and he explained it to me. He said, “You know, in Africa they chucked or threw spears.”
I interrupted his complaints about black people and explained to him that I had been reared where we didn’t have inter-racial rivalry because in Anaheim we didn’t see any blacks. Then I told him of my own experiences with black people when I was in the Navy. All my contacts were positive. The black people I met were well behaved, and I was impressed by their interest in literature, art, and music. Compared to the average white sailors I knew, the black ones were more friendly and more interesting. Most of the black fellows I met were good athletes. So, after hearing a lot of hate and prejudice voiced against black people, I am now pondering.
I ask, why are black neighborhoods dangerous places to walk. The best reason I can think of is widespread poverty in a large neighborhood where people do not work. In order to get ahead, some people resort to illegal professions, join gangs, sell dope, steal and rob from others, etc. It is human nature to survive even using illegal methods to do so. It has nothing to do with the color of their skin or nationality.