# Living while black in America **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [July 9, 2018, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/living-while-black-in-america/817611 "2018-07-09T21:17:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 13
**Author:** ![Ruken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f475e1/32.png) [@Ruken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruken)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2018, 12:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/living-while-black-in-america/817611/241 "2018-07-13T12:15:46Z")
> [@Slash1972](#): > > I might have heard of that. What I haven’t heard of is thieves driving around a neighborhood dropping their kid off to walk up to a house in broad daylight, stealing a package, and then getting back in their car to go to the very next house. Perhaps you can link to some news stories where that has happened? Take your child to crime day: > **[Brazen package thief and child caught on security camera](https://wgntv.com/news/brazen-package-thief-and-child-caught-on-security-camera/amp/)** > > CHICAGO – Police are investigating a brazen package theft that was caught on camera and features a very young suspect. Late last week, just after 4 p.m., two strangers came a calling to the Brown f… Not that you can necessarily tell that a twelve year old is a child from a distance. Driving house to house: [https://www.mv-voice.com/news/2018/03/09/three-arrested-for-multiple-package-thefts](https://www.mv-voice.com/news/2018/03/09/three-arrested-for-multiple-package-thefts) Not necessarily the very next house, but your story doesn’t say anything about going to the very next house. Package theft is a very common crime: [Package theft: 30% of Americans say they've had a package stolen](https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/news/2017/11/20/package-theft-hits-nearly-one-third-americans-video-surveillance-answer/874554001/) Driving around in a personal vehicle and legally removing items from multiple doorsteps, not so much. ---
**Author:** ![Ruken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f475e1/32.png) [@Ruken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruken)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2018, 12:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/living-while-black-in-america/817611/242 "2018-07-13T12:18:45Z")
> [@andros](#): > > Sure. _Multiple doorsteps. Not the case here._ “We had delivered to the wrong houses,” his mom said. “So he went to go grab the newspapers to make sure everything was okay.” Houses. The s makes it plural. ---
**Author:** ![Slash1972](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slash1972/32/6461_2.png) [@Slash1972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slash1972)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2018, 12:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/living-while-black-in-america/817611/243 "2018-07-13T12:20:22Z")
> [@Ruken](#): > > Take your child to crime day: > [Brazen package thief and child caught on security camera | WGN-TV](https://www.google.com/amp/s/wgntv.com/2017/04/04/brazen-package-thief-and-child-caught-on-security-camera/amp/) > > Not that you can necessarily tell that a twelve year old is a child from a distance. > > Driving house to house: [https://www.mv-voice.com/news/2018/03/09/three-arrested-for-multiple-package-thefts](https://www.mv-voice.com/news/2018/03/09/three-arrested-for-multiple-package-thefts) > > Not necessarily the very next house, but your story doesn’t say anything about going to the very next house. > > Package theft is a very common crime: [Package theft: 30% of Americans say they've had a package stolen](https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/news/2017/11/20/package-theft-hits-nearly-one-third-americans-video-surveillance-answer/874554001/) > > Driving around in a personal vehicle and legally removing items from multiple doorsteps, not so much. Ok, fair enough. But damn, making a child go with you to steal stuff? That’s low. ---
**Author:** ![andros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e480ec/32.png) [@andros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andros)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2018, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/living-while-black-in-america/817611/244 "2018-07-13T13:01:50Z")
> [@Ruken](#): > > “We had delivered to the wrong houses,” his mom said. “So he went to go grab the newspapers to make sure everything was okay.” > > Houses. The s makes it plural. Thank you! I misread. (I stand by my original gripe, however, re words and the using thereof.) . ---
**Author:** ![ZPG\_Zealot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e47c2d/32.png) [@ZPG\_Zealot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZPG_Zealot)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2018, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/living-while-black-in-america/817611/245 "2018-07-13T13:46:40Z")
> [@RTFirefly](#): > > Say what the fuck?! > > Look, a person going up to houses empty-handed and walking away with stuff - that’s inherently suspicious. Selling candy isn’t. That’s why calling the cops on a black kid doing the former isn’t necessarily racist, but calling the cops on a black kid selling candy IS. Please keep in mind some people would call the cops on any kid black, white, or brownish selling something just because they are misanthropic curmudgeons. ---
**Author:** ![andros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e480ec/32.png) [@andros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andros)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2018, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/living-while-black-in-america/817611/246 "2018-07-13T15:13:23Z")
> [@andros](#): > > Thank you! I misread. > (I stand by my original gripe, however, re words and the using thereof.) > . Wait. No. The person who called reported seeing the kid at one house only: “the caller reported seeing someone going up to a porch empty-handed and leaving the porch with something in their hand.” Retraction retracted. ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2018, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/living-while-black-in-america/817611/247 "2018-07-13T16:23:12Z")
> [@Asuka](#): > > Woman who beat the 92 year old hispanic man with a brick, told others to help her beat him, and then told him to “Go back to Mexico” not charged with a hate crime. > > Uh, while hate crimes laws are very subjective even if the initial crime wasn’t motivated by bigotry, saying a racial slur or any other bias statement in the commission of a crime can lead to a hate crime charge as seen in other cases. I mean the entire reason why that story became national news was because of her statement of “Go back to Mexico”. Why else is it even in this topic since it pretty much is a hate crime? Don’t know why it’s not a hate crime, but [the lead perp has now been charged with attempted murder.](https://www.cnn.com/2018/07/13/us/elderly-man-beaten-attempted-murder-charge/index.html) The [victim’s GoFundMe campaign has surpassed $300,000.](https://www.gofundme.com/3ctqm-medical-bills-for-my-grandfather) Hopefully once he heals he can live very comfortably for the rest of his life. ---
**Author:** ![Ruken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f475e1/32.png) [@Ruken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruken)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2018, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/living-while-black-in-america/817611/248 "2018-07-13T16:44:35Z")
> [@andros](#): > > Wait. No. The person who called reported seeing the kid at one house only: “the caller reported seeing someone going up to a porch empty-handed and leaving the porch with something in their hand.” > > Retraction retracted. From the original WSYX-TV report: “I noticed they were walking up to the house **s** ” ---
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2018, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/living-while-black-in-america/817611/249 "2018-07-13T16:46:35Z")
> [@Ruken](#): > > From the original WSYX-TV report: “I noticed they were walking up to the house **s** ” Who is “they”? I thought it was just the kid, and the mother was in the car. ---
**Author:** ![Ruken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f475e1/32.png) [@Ruken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruken)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2018, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/living-while-black-in-america/817611/250 "2018-07-13T16:56:01Z")
> [@k9bfriender](#): > > Who is “they”? I thought it was just the kid, and the mother was in the car. I can only read the same words you can read. FWIW a 17 year old son was also along for the trip in some capacity. ---
**Author:** ![74westy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/74westy/32/3950_2.png) [@74westy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/74westy)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2018, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/living-while-black-in-america/817611/251 "2018-07-13T18:45:04Z")
> [@Ruken](#): > > FWIW a 17 year old son was also along for the trip in some capacity. His job was to steal the Amazon packages while little brother decoyed with the papers. ---
**Author:** ![SlackerInc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slackerinc/32/275_2.png) [@SlackerInc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlackerInc)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2018, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/living-while-black-in-america/817611/252 "2018-07-13T21:17:32Z")
The thread about the Netflix exec fired for uttering the N-word twice under ambiguous circumstances was closed in GD with moderators inviting people to take it to the Pit if they wanted. I am doing so, not out of a desire to continue the name-calling that derailed the thread, but because I didn’t see anyone who defended his firing answer the question of whether they would consider the firing justified if the facts were as described in the first scenario here: [https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=21056494&postcount=166](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=21056494&postcount=166) To me, firing him in that scenario would be really fucked up; firing him if it was more like the second would be totally justified. And, I mean: is Netflix never going to air programming in which white characters (in period pieces, or who are nasty pieces of work from the present day) use this word without euphemizing it? If they do, will white producers, directors, etc., not be allowed to say what’s in the script verbatim? I understand this is a frought issue, and I’m not sure if I have ever said this word out loud in my life, but I don’t work in those kinds of circumstances. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2018, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/living-while-black-in-america/817611/253 "2018-07-13T21:25:03Z")
Didn’t read that thread. So what scenario was the scenario that actually happened? ---
**Author:** ![Huey\_Freeman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/huey_freeman/32/251_2.png) [@Huey\_Freeman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Huey_Freeman)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2018, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/living-while-black-in-america/817611/254 "2018-07-13T22:45:18Z")
\ More pain today. [Two 26 year old white twins](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6G9KFbEAto8) attacked Carlos Ruiz and his family. Two young women started screaming “racist things” across the street, questioning how it was possible that Mexicans could have enough money to afford a home in that neighborhood as well as the cars that Ruiz and his family own. When his mother started walking back to her home, Ruiz says the two women ran across the street and began physically attacking her by punching her and pulling her hair. His sister saw what was happening and came outside to help her mother. That is when the two women began attacking his sister as well. His sister was actually able to physically defend herself, so of course, the two seemingly drunk and/or drugged out white girls began playing the victim. They informed Ruiz’s family that they are going to call the police and taunt them by saying “Who do you think they are going to believe?” You can see Carlos Ruiz’s posts[here](https://www.facebook.com/juan.ruiz.52035/posts/1963775123655180) and the Youtube video [here](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6G9KFbEAto8). Black man,[Kevin Brooks](https://vineyardgazette.com/news/2018/07/12/vta-fires-bus-driver-following-racial-incident), denied entry to Martha’s Vineyard “because you’re black”. The driver was fired but we know how white folks act. He’ll be rewarded with a better paying job in the next district over. White man, [Glenn Halfin](https://dfw.cbslocal.com/2018/07/12/north-texas-man-pleads-guiltyl-hate-crime/), hangs noose outside black neighbors house. [White male thot](https://nypost.com/video/white-men-built-these-streets-man-goes-on-racist-rant-in-seattle/)screams at minorities that “White men built these streets”. [White woman in airforce says she is “hunting niggers” while on a hunting trip](http://www.nydailynews.com/news/ny-news-waitress-booted-air-force-20180615-story.html) Honorable Mention: White folk decide to re-open the[Emmett Till case](https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/12/us/emmett-till-death-investigation.html). Given these hoes actually thought[Frederick Douglass is alive](https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-nation/wp/2017/02/02/trump-implied-frederick-douglass-was-alive-the-abolitionists-family-offered-a-history-lesson/), I suspect rape charges against his corpse will be filed next week. ---
**Author:** ![Measure\_for\_Measure](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/measure_for_measure/32/557_2.png) [@Measure\_for\_Measure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Measure_for_Measure)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2018, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/living-while-black-in-america/817611/255 "2018-07-13T23:56:00Z")
> [@Huey\_Freeman](#): > > \ More pain today. > > [Two 26 year old white twins](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6G9KFbEAto8) attacked Carlos Ruiz and his family. Two young women started screaming “racist things” across the street, questioning how it was possible that Mexicans could have enough money to afford a home in that neighborhood as well as the cars that Ruiz and his family own. When his mother started walking back to her home, Ruiz says the two women ran across the street and began physically attacking her by punching her and pulling her hair. His sister saw what was happening and came outside to help her mother. That is when the two women began attacking his sister as well. His sister was actually able to physically defend herself, so of course, the two seemingly drunk and/or drugged out white girls began playing the victim. They informed Ruiz’s family that they are going to call the police and taunt them by saying “Who do you think they are going to believe?” You can see Carlos Ruiz’s posts[here](https://www.facebook.com/juan.ruiz.52035/posts/1963775123655180) and the Youtube video [here](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6G9KFbEAto8). Happily the cops arrested the 2 racist women for the May 7th incident; the 2 racist women are now under a restraining order. NowThis compiled footage: [https://twitter.com/TheRickyDavila/status/1017554091063595008](https://twitter.com/TheRickyDavila/status/1017554091063595008) Article: [2 White Women Attack Their Latinx Neighbors, Call the Police on Them, and End Up Going to Jail Themselves](https://www.theroot.com/2-white-women-attack-their-latinx-neighbors-call-the-p-1827559735) > **[Tables Turn On White Women Who Called The Cops On Latinx Neighbors Just To...](https://www.bet.com/article/mvw91w/sisters-call-the-cops-on-latinx-family-only-to-get-arrested)** > > The women went on a racist tirade about how the family couldn't afford the neighborhood before they were charged with assault. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2018, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/living-while-black-in-america/817611/256 "2018-07-14T00:46:53Z")
> [@andros](#): > > Sure. _Multiple doorsteps. Not the case here._ The story I read said multiple doorsteps. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2018, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/living-while-black-in-america/817611/257 "2018-07-14T00:55:03Z")
> [@ZPG\_Zealot](#): > > Please keep in mind some people would call the cops on any kid black, white, or brownish selling something just because they are misanthropic curmudgeons. Yes, I’m aware of that. These things happen, as almost all the incidents cited in this thread amply demonstrate. In just about every link I’ve clicked on, it’s pretty damn clear that there was no good reason for the cops to be called, other than the race of the person they were calling the cops about. I just happen to think that in this one instance, that’s not necessarily the case. The fact that white people call the cops on blacks all too often simply because they’re black in a public space that whites apparently think is a ‘white’ space, doesn’t mean that’s what’s going on every time a white person calls the cops on a black person. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2018, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/living-while-black-in-america/817611/258 "2018-07-14T00:59:31Z")
> [@Slash1972](#): > > Selling candy without your business license prominently displayed is suspicious. She was right to call the cops. Just like selling lemonade or loose cigarettes. If black people want to sell things, they need to follow the established business rules. If not, they deserved the cops called on them. > > I have started being vigilant in my neighborhood and calling the cops whenever a black person looks suspicious, like being black or selling lemonade. Of course, since I’m the only white person in my neighborhood, I make a lot of phone calls. But hey, we whiteys have to stick together lest black children steal my doorbell button or whatever. On the whole, I think you’re a pretty intelligent poster. But here, rather than attempting to deal with the distinction I’ve been drawing in a rational way, you’re just throwing shit at the wall. ---
**Author:** ![Slash1972](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slash1972/32/6461_2.png) [@Slash1972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slash1972)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2018, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/living-while-black-in-america/817611/259 "2018-07-14T01:42:56Z")
> [@RTFirefly](#): > > On the whole, I think you’re a pretty intelligent poster Really? Well, that makes one of us 🙂 > [@](#): > > But here, rather than attempting to deal with the distinction I’ve been drawing in a rational way, you’re just throwing shit at the wall. Yeah, stuff seems more cogent sometimes when one has been drinking. My bad. I am, however, the only white person in my neighborhood. And I admit to looking suspiciously at strange white people I see walking around. Not sure what that means. ---
**Author:** ![SlackerInc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slackerinc/32/275_2.png) [@SlackerInc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlackerInc)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2018, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/living-while-black-in-america/817611/260 "2018-07-14T04:00:39Z")
> [@bobot](#): > > Didn’t read that thread. So what scenario was the scenario that actually happened? It’s unclear, which is frustrating. But nothing has been revealed that is inconsistent with it being the milder one. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/living-while-black-in-america/817611.md?page=12) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/living-while-black-in-america/817611.md?page=14)