Years ago at a KC Chiefs game some American Indian protesters were demonstrating (in the parking lot by the entrance) against the use of Indian names and themes in professional sports. At first it started out fairly benine but then the protesters turned the American flag upside down and started throwing out insults to the people wearing semi-indian costumes and things got ugly. Thing is alot of people in this area have Indian blood and were sympathetic until the insults started.
A question for those who quickly pointed out a few disjointed racist taunts: if a large group of mostly white people showed up to protest where there were mostly black people, do you think there wouldn’t be at least a few racist taunts? I’m not sure what point is being made, other than some people are racist. Or is it the trope of the noble, downtrodden blacks against privileged whites?
For the record, I’m not automatically supporting the police in Brown shooting. I don’t know what happened, and I don’t automatically give the benefit of the doubt to either side. I’ve read various possible scenarios vindicating either side, but haven’t seen any video or other proof of what happened.
St. Louis is a highly segregated city. I could draw on a map wide segments in town which are 98% black and again white, but where income levels are pretty similar. So we aren’t talking about income disparity, just racial disparity.
Also, the metro area is really sprawling, with a good size of the population living outside the city and even StL County, into the surrounding counties and Illinois.
I realize you’re are providing your opinion, but let me reply with my own.
As someone with a mixed race extended family (nieces & nephews), and coming from my own ethnic background. St. Louis is no more a rascist town than any other city in America. We all have our issues to deal with, and hopefully resolve.
Well that’s mighty white of you to allow.
Just to absolutely clarify what happened at the symphony: it didn’t happen during intermission; it happened just before the downbeat, after the house lights had gone down, the orchestra had tuned, the conductor and soloists had come on stage, and the chorus had stood. It actually started more or less exactly as the chorus was given the signal to stand. There is no doubt that it “disrupted” the performance.
That said, it was, on the whole, a well done and tasteful affair. The disruption was ultimately a mere delay; it didn’t affect the performance in any way (I don’t think). I do wish they had stayed, as I think it would have been a far more poignant “Requiem for Mike Brown”.
Source: me. I’m in the St. Louis Symphony Chorus.
Moved to the Game Room.
No need to draw a map.
I’ve got one here. It’s only race, not income, but gives a good sense of St. Louis segregation.
I clipped it from the Racial Dot Map of the United States, based on 2010 census data. St. Louis is not exactly unique; even cities with reputations for being multi-racial melting pots still often have heavily segregated neighborhood patterns.
Fans produce Darren Wilson-themed Cardinals shirts — Darren Wilson Cardinals t-shirts: Supporters of policeman, team sell merchandise.