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Is the improvement in black/white relations permanent?

Is the current thawing in black/white relations in Metro Detroit (as measured by a January Detroit News/WDIV poll) likely to be permanent, even though many social scientists say such a scenario would be unprecedented? Why or why not?

Yes	33%	This poll has closed but your feedback is still welcome
No	66%	This poll has closed but your feedback is still welcome

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Posted: Wed. Jan. 16, 2002 at 9 :56 AM
From: James Hart
City: Detroit, MI
Subject: segregation_easing
Comments: Although I was raised in the Detroit area, I have lived in Chicago for the last fifteen years. I have recently moved back to Detroit and am amazed that so little progress has been made in the way of resolving racial differences for the betterment of the region.
It seems that this area, in many ways, is still living with a 1950's type of mentality . I have spent time in most of the big cities in this country, and metro Detroit is, in my opinion, the most racially segregated. The different racial groups in the Detroit area seem to have demonstrated little interest in working together for a common good. Until they do, redevelopment in the area will continue to suffer, and the nation's attitude toward Detroit will remain negative.

Posted: Tue. Jan. 15, 2002 at 3:06 PM
From: Pradeep Srivastava
City: Detroit, MI
E-mail: pradeepscool@hotmail.com
Subject: segregation_easing
Comments: The thawing in the black/white relations in Metro Detroit is an aberration, defying history, for the birds of a feather will always flock together. What needs to be addressed, therefore, is not racial segregation, but economic segregation and the disastrous outcome thereof.

Posted: Tue. Jan. 15, 2002 at 2:15 PM
From: Lesley
City: Detroit, MI
E-mail: lrgnag@
Subject: segregation_easing
Comments: Segregation will not go away, unless people are taught that we are all the same. Education is the key. More social studies programs talking about the accomplishments of all groups of people, the cultures and ways of different people, and teaching tolerance.
I believe that the attitudes since 9/11 are temporary. People come together in times of strife, and when it's over, they go back to their old ways.
It is definately not over for Black Americans, but now there is a new group to target. In a couple of years after this has been put on the back burner, the old ways will all come back.
I see more Black people in Detroit displaying flags on their homes and on their cars than I do in suburban areas where I have travelled. We show our patriotism because we feel we should be a part of this country. Black Americans have been here nearly 400 years, through slavery, which by the way helped build much of this country, through segregation and Jim Crow and so many things meant to hold us back.
The U.S. fought Germany and Japan, they are fast friends now, but the majority of Black Americans are basically in the same positions. People still look at us with mistrust and distain. We have not fought the U.S., we fought with it in every war, but we are not treated with respect.
I believe that after the war in Afganistan is over, that many of the people will immigrate to the U.S., and before you know it, they will become trusted members of this society, but Blacks will be in the same position.

Posted: Tue. Jan. 15, 2002 at 1:54 PM
From: Thinksmart
City: freemind, MI
E-mail: cu@AOL.COM
Subject: segregation_easing
Comments: To the writer from Troy. Ok, already. My real name is Common Sense. Even if I said Bill, or Jane, you still would'nt really know me. Therefore focus on the message. Thats what we do in Michigan. We focus on frivilous poppycock to show each other up, instead of the message. It doesn't matter who I am. A free mind has many faces. Is your mind free from poison? Somebody? Anybody?

Posted: Tue. Jan. 15, 2002 at 12 :33 PM
From: R. L. Stelzer
City: Rio Rancho, Nm
E-mail: nmlawman@hotmail.com
Subject: segregation_easing
Comments: The trouble with Michigan is the preoccupation with skin color. I don't miss that at all. Until people begin to ignore their race and the race of others, there will be more conflicts. It doesn't help either, when leftist politicians race bait both sides for political gain with no regard for the consequences on everyday folks who wouldn't give race a second thought otherwise.

Posted: Tue. Jan. 15, 2002 at 11 :40 AM
From: anti skinhead
City: D, MI
E-mail: cu@aol.com
Subject: segregation_easing
Comments: To the Angry Aryan Band from Centerline, Be happy. You have nothing to fear. Who wants to move to Centerline. Trash like yourself?

Posted: Tue. Jan. 15, 2002 at 10 :46 AM
From: Thinksmart
City: Freemind, MI
Subject: segregation_easing
Comments: To all of you narrowminded cowards, who hide behind the secrecy of the computer to spout ignorance{both black and white people), I have but one question: What color are the remains being plucked from ground zero? Black from being burned? White from turning to ash? Doesn't matter does it. Because THEY ARE ALL DEAD! Killed by someone with a poisoned mind. Just like you will end up. I'm not talking about dead bodies, but dead minds. Some of you have already allowed the poison to enter via old stereotypes, "the way we were raised", self-serving statistics, dwelling on an ugly past that you are not willing to improve on, but further use to divde. The poison that was allowed to pour down from generation to generations children. It gets in the brain and slowly consumes, until the brain is held captive from morning til dusk. Til the mind is no longer free to accept others, even if it wants to. The ghosts won't let the mind be free. The ghosts of the riots. The ghosts of folklore about other people. The ghosts of evil dead people who taught us everything we know to protect us from "those people." The ghosts that refuse to let us have free minds of acceptance. You are cowards. Both black and white. You spout things about each other that may or may not be true. Thats not the point. The point is that hardly anyone will mention that in their daily business they have interacted with someone of another race in a positive manner. That happens everyday. Guaranteed. Don't let the poison take affect on your mind. Be truly free!

Posted: Tue. Jan. 15, 2002 at 10 :39 AM
From: Abdul (Kwesi Ohene) Aquil
City: Detroit, MI
E-mail: heruseye@ascac.org
Subject: segregation_easing
Comments: Until the attitudes of whites and the environment which creates them change, it would be unrealistic to expect any preceived improvement between the so called races to be anything but temporary.

Posted: Tue. Jan. 15, 2002 at 9 :00 AM
From: Philip LaRonge
City: Warren, MI
Subject: segregation_easing
Comments: How can there be an improvement in Black/White relations when, for the most part, such relations barely even exist?
The two groups have mostly avoided each other since time immemorial, and the culture gap shows. Most Whites I know don't know what the Dozens are, what Kenny Burrell is famous for, or what your grandmother really wants when she asks you for "a little sugar." Worse yet, these same Whites don't want to know. They couldn't care less.
Blacks probably have fewer cultural deficiencies of their own when it comes to Whites, thanks to the White dominance of the media and American culture in general. I won't presume to speak for them, but you cann notice that you rarely see African Americans playing or watching ice hockey or dancing the Polka. And I'll bet most of them couldn't care less either.
You can't expect two groups to really care about each other unless get to know each other at least to some degree. The failure to do so is the main reason why the American racial/ethnic divide is so dismally wide.
Sincerely, PL
Warren, MI

Posted: Tue. Jan. 15, 2002 at 8 :13 AM
From: Tom
City: Commerce, MI
Subject: segregation_easing
Comments: One would hope that race relations will remain improved, but we still have some large hurdles to jump over. Racism still exists and will continue to exist, but we can minimize it. The first step is for everyone to realize that racism comes in all colors. Blacks, Whites, Hispanics, Asians, Christians, Jews and Muslims all harbor racism. Some of the worst racism is supported by so called religious leaders like Pat Robertson, Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton and others. What we need to do is take personal responsibility for ourselves and our families, minimize the opportunities to point out how different we are and stop allowing these hate mongers to affect our communities. I'm an American pure and simple, no hyphen, no asterisk, no excuses.

Posted: Tue. Jan. 15, 2002 at 0 :32 AM
From: robert williams
City: detroit, mi
E-mail: robhwill@yahoo.com
Subject: segregation_easing
Comments: Who says there's a thaw??? One point made many times during the hours/days immediately following the event,and certainly via interviews was that various subjects or participants were thought to be "nice all-around guys, good,quiet people" etc., etc. My *FIRST* comment is: The Black Man Didn't Do It!! However, so much of America's economy is and has been predicated upon interference/rule of others for so long that without certain "marketing devices" and global politicking that any perceived "thaw" will soon wilt, if for no other reason than money *must* continue to be made to support those devices already in place: such as redlining of neighborhoods and home sales, inflation of prices in stores ---even large chains--- in low income or black neighborhoods,or other such tactics. What white America doesn't realize is that fully two-thirds of the known world ---white or black ---is readily waiting to see America fall,and fall hard!! As for the Detroit metro area, and in fact America as a whole, how can security be such a frequent issue,when those who would perpetrate such acts have general and specific access to the system than does a twice honorably discharged veteran who happens to be black. Those people travelled around with impunity,ran stores: sold food, liquor, garnered local gun permits,and sold gasoline all around this and other areas. But those of us who don't look like the so-called majority,but may have things to say that are not frequently welcome,anddon't wish to patently endorse anything white as being essentially and properly *American* are the targets upon which all the wrath is showered. I cannot assimilate,I can never ---nor do I wish to --- look white. But about this I am certain: It is easier and eminently moreeffective from the standpoint of evasion to hate me than to face me and deal with the lies, the benign neglect,and the original "sins of the father". Many today use the excuse that they never enslaved anyone, etc. Hey, leither you are actively correcting, or you are actively continuing. Out Here!

Posted: Mon. Jan. 14, 2002 at 10:52 PM
From: Orion
City: San Francisco, CA
E-mail: Orion14@pacbell.net
Subject: segregation_easing
Comments: You cannot make natural what is unnatural. Stop the hate...separate

Posted: Mon. Jan. 14, 2002 at 10:12 PM
From: Joseph St. John
City: Clinton Twp., Mi
E-mail: joestradamus@att.net
Subject: segregation_easing
Comments: Yeah I think it's permanent and I think we owe a big thank you to people like Mike Ilitch who brought us Detroit entertainment facilities along with a new ballpark. His wife Marian also invested heavily in Motor City Casino. We can thank all three casinos and the Ford family for thawing relationships by inviting all those white ticket holders to Detroit. Places the like Detroit's future Compuware complex on Woodward Ave and the revitalization along the southside riverfront should pay even higher dividends in diversification.

Posted: Mon. Jan. 14, 2002 at 9:30 PM
From: Floyd G. Walton Jr.
City: Ypsilanti, MI
Subject: segregation_easing
Comments: Blacks have spent to time trying to earn the respect of Metro-Detroit Whites by educating ourselves taking care of our property just to see too many Whites blinded by their predudice.

Posted: Mon. Jan. 14, 2002 at 8:22 PM
From: james irvin
City: lynn, ma
E-mail: kingjamesi@hotmail.com
Subject: segregation_easing
Comments: One would think that this country would unify and galvanize in the wake of 9-11 but the same divisive rhetoric remains. Pat Buchanan is toting his book "Death of the West" and faulting non-Whites for destroying America while he bemoans the slower birth rates to prop up his understanding of race and who is American.
He points to balkanization when he himself is the balkan chief. Conservatives and Newsmax are propping him him up. What a shame. This same rhetoric has been around since the Emancipation Proclamation on maintaining racial superiority. Let's consider fellow citizen's as Americans and stop the balkanization.