How Quickly They Learn the Negatives!

The headline spread across four columns of the local Herald-Sun newspaper in Durham, NC chills the blood: "Robbers shoot man preparing to go to work" The one column sub-head summarizes th editor's perspective on this news story: "Black-on-Hispanic crime leaves neighbors fearful. The first paragraph summarizes the story: "Residents in the tightly knit Hispanic community at the northernmost part of Driver Street were still jittery Wednesday night after a well-respected neighbor was shot twice in the torso by two robbers as he was preparing to go to work shortly before sunrise."
In my judgment, the racist observations of a woman quoted in the story overshadows the robbery's tragedy. This woman, identified in the news account as Veronica Hernandez, described as having moved here six years ago from Monterrey, Mexico is quoted as saying: "People here know each other and help each other. The problem is with other people who come from outside," Hernandez said. "The problem in this neighborhood is with the blacks."
As a 65-year-old native of Durham, who is African American, I can't tell you how many times I've heard people describe the character and integrity of a group of people, based upon the actions of a few, in this case just two.
Let's examine Ms. Hernandez's statement, particularly in light of this nation's sorrid race relations.
"People here know each other and help each other," she declared. Translated that means: "We who are Hispanic know and help each other." But Ms. Hernandez, consider the obvious; many of "the blacks" you now label as " . . .the problem in this neighborhood . . ." lived there six years ago when you arrived. Of course, the neighborhood likely remains the same it was then. Houses that need repairs six months ago very likely need the same repairs today. So what's different? One thing Ms. Hernandez, you seem to have absorbed the racist attitudes that permeate this nation's history. Consider what else Ms. Hernandez allegedly said: "The problem--despite the socio-economic conditions, the political myopia--"in this neighborhood is with the blacks." Now remember, Ms. Hernandez responds to questions from a news reporter, reporting on a robbery. Does every African American living in that neighborhood commit crimes? If Ms. Hernandez knows this for a fact after just six years here, then maybe she and her "together" neighbors should get with city elected officials and the Durham Police Chief to do something about this entire neighborhood of African American criminals?
Absurd? Absolutely! I am going to this neighborhood next week and interview as many African America residents as I can, and I will report to you in another editorial just how many known criminals I uncover.
Yes it's tragic that two men robbed and shot the injured man. But I assure you that these men commit crimes because they abscribe to a way of thinking that justifies harming others to gain for themselves, not because they are two of "the blacks."
That's not all.
The reporter--Dan E Way--wrote: "According to the police, Wednesday's shooting was committed by two black males. It is the latest in a long string of black-on-Hispanic robberies and shootings stretching over the past month." I find it interesting what Mr. Way stated in that paragraph specifically, and what he generalized. For example, he wrote specifically about the time frame--the past 30 days--but he generalized about the number of robberies--a long string. How many robberies constitute "a long string?" A long string as compared to what? Black-on-black robberies? Black on white robberies? White on Hispanic robberies, etc. In other words, what is the benchmark that identifies this specific number of robberies as "a long string?"
Following that imprecise paragraph, Mr. Day quotes another Hispanic resident: "'It's a lot of racism,' said Roberto Majia, a Honduran national who has lived in 1200 block of Driver Street for four years.
Wow! How quickly immigrants learn negative lessons when they come to this country. I hate to prick your bubbles Ms. Hernandez and Mr. Majia, crime is a way of thinking that justifies harming others to gain for self. Criminals don't do crime because they are African American, etc. Criminals do crime because they become addicted to instant gratification and crime is the most effective 'drug,' if you will, to satisfy that addiction. Additionally, criminals don't target potential victims based upon a type of racial profiling. Criminals usually select their victims because they believe each victim has money or other valuables that can be sold on the illegal underground.
So don't get it twisted! There is no grand crime scheme where criminals have collectively decided to target Hispanics. Criminals target anyone they believe they can harm and not get caught.