Git da Hell out my neighborhood, you got damn white devil!
Git da Hell out my neighborhood, you got damn white devil!
Posted by: Jim W
on Sep 30, 2009 
It has been 10 years since I experienced racism while passing through North Mpls. I lived off of Lowry in Nordeast 10 years ago and I drove Lowry on my way to work. During the summer of 1999, I had a woman yelling at me at a stoplight on Lowry, calling me a "White Mother Fu**er" and telling me to get out of her neighborhood. I obliged and went on my way home.
So last night, My kickball team had a game, and a number of us decided to meet at our home bar (the 1029 bar in Nordeast) for a quick drink prior to game time. From my work, I can drive down Broadway (through North Mpls) and it's a straight shot to the 1029 bar in Nordeast. I have driven this route many times, but last nights drive was especially interesting, and quite humorous.
As I drove along, minding my own business, I came upon a red light. I can't remember the cross street (might have been Penn Ave), but it's the one by the old coffee shop that is now closed (a former Burger King location). I could hear a man speaking loud to my left (I had my window cracked). I looked over to see a black man dressed in a black suit, wearing a hat and a bowtie. The look was familiar (reminded me of Louis Farrakhan). This man was speaking to a group of 5 people and handing out literature. As I glanced over, the man locked eyes with me (I was one of 4 vehicles sitting there). He stopped talking to the group, and (wagging his finger at me) he yelled:
"Git da Hell out my neighborhood, you got-damn white devil!"
Not "god damn" but "got damn". So, what happened next couldn't be helped. I laughed out loud and shook my head and as the light turned green and traffic moved, I could hear this man admonishing me as I drove away. Ah yes, racism is alive and well in the US, and boiling over in North Mpls. I had thought that all this racism stuff was gonna go away with the election of our President, but apparently the memo hasn't made it to North Mpls.
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written by Margaret , September 30, 2009
I would add a few observations here. One is that race baiting crazies always show up after a big crime happening in North. And this guy was definitely plowing the field after the murder that happened this weekend. The same thing happened 5 years ago when there was an arson on my block (a one off thing, fortunately) some lunatic showed up to rant in front of the cameras about babies dyin' when nobody died (nobody was home)and my neighbors and I looked at each other like who the hell is this guy and where did he come from?
I can tell you that the poverty pimps and race baiters are feeling threatened because as foreclosures have hit North, there has been substantial turnover in the composition of neighborhoods. There are a lot of teardowns and with the cheap prices, although there are a lot of homes going rental, there are also a fair number of owner occupant sales including 2 on my block. These have tended to be young white, asian or hispanic families. Not black. There are some people who see North as "black minneapolis" but it hasn't been that way for awhile except in a few areas of North. When we moved here in 2003, the latest Census data had our neighborhood, which was historically considered a "black neighborhood" at 60% which is a majority but not like Detroit, Chicago or other large urban AA communities.
When I say "feel threatened" I mean in terms of some of the traditional power structures, like who runs the neighborhood associations (and gets city money and grants) and in contested elections for city council. Our councilmember Don Samuels (who is black) has taken a tremendous amount of heat for facilitating some of this new development that has displaced some of the old guard and the ways they formerly used to benefit from things as they were. Jordan neighborhood voted out their neighborhood leadership in favor of a new team which is multi-racial and the old leaders tried to stage a coup, which included removing all the office equiptment and files and setting up in another building. Until the city told them to hand the stuff back or be prosecuted. Yes, that's how desperate they were. The gravy train is over for these people and they know it.
written by Kermit , September 30, 2009
It should be obvious that the election of Obama has made racism in this country worse, not better. Both on the Left and the Right.
Last December I was talking to a very liberal member of my church, and I told him that I hoped Obama's election would lead to a post-racial America, but I didn't think it would. Things are going to get worse.
written by Jim W , September 30, 2009
I did notice a ridiculous amount of homes boarded up, and have also noticed a number of homes completely gone (that use to be there). It's funny you mention this, as I was talking with a gentleman at teh 1029 last week that works at HUD and he was saying that he is swamped with work stuff right now because of all the foreclosures in North. I hadn't noticed it last week while driving through, but I took a hard look last night, before my "altercation" and it was pretty surprising.
Also, the changeover in the racial mix in North is affecting other areas of the cities. The foreclosed properties are pushing problems out of North into other areas. I am friends with a guy that works at Mpls city hall who was telling me the other night about a sharp increase over the past 12 months in Northeast. As much as some areas are looking and getting much better in Nordeast, there are pockets where there are some very serious crime issues. Brooklyn Center and BP aren't getting any better either... Columbia Heights and Coon Rapids have seen some increase as well.
written by Jewhawk , September 30, 2009
North has gone down hill since the damn Jooos left back in the 50's. It's true ya know?
I'd would be interested in hearing and seeing some links to how racism on the right has gotten worse since the Most Transparent And Smartest Admin Evah took over? I don't buy it.
written by A Non Y Mouse , September 30, 2009
Kickball-Awesome! Takes me back to my childhood in the burbs.
written by Sequel , September 30, 2009
We have the new "code" words, that once meant what the words meant. Now apparently much of the dictionary has been reinterpreted.
Socialist or Liberal now really means the "N" word.
Our motivations have changed too. Many round here have been working for conservatism, and against socialist creep since Reagan, and we did these things because we believe in them. Now we oppose socialist creep because of the skin color of the socialist in chief.
written by notpcenuff4u , September 30, 2009
This is all so FUBAR!
I read somewhere the other day what might be the best answer to the leftist charges of racism.
"Of course conservatives would embrace massive spending on bailouts and gov't ownership of companies, if only the president were white" and I'll add how conservatives would cheer the WH taking over the census if only the president were white.
Yes those damn conservatives and their desires for nanny statism and gov't intervention in everything including the softness of their asswipe are exceeded only by their unbridled hatred of darker skinned people.
