Take it back
Jun 28th, 2009 by Rick Arms
I don’t know how many people watched the program on PBS last night about an organization that puts homeless people in foreclosed homes. I did and I really believe that although the law is being broke that this is actually a humane and sensible response to homelessness and properties sitting empty and vulnerable to vandalism. So I found the organizations web site and from information on the site, it seemed to be an organization only focused on homeless black Americans rather than the whole of America. And while I think that’s great to focus on black issues, I wanted to know why the focus wasn’t more race inclusive. While my assumptions may have been incorrect, I also wanted to get more information so I could be more informed as to the why’s and how’s. So I sent an email which I have copied along with the shocking response I received. Please read and share your comments because I truely believe my question for this organization was legitimate and NOT based on WHITE FEAR as was stated in their response. Please also note the obvious capitalization of black and lower case spelling of white in their response…GODDAMN I”M PISSED!!!
My initial email:
Hi
I just saw a program on PBS about your efforts to put the homeless in foreclosed homes. I have always thought the same thing! Why let a perfectly good home sit empty and vulnerable to vandalism? People without homes who can pay the utilities SHOULD be allowed to live in these homes, it’s simply the humane thing to do. I applaud you for what you are doing, it is the right thing to do. I am glad you were profiled in a public forum.
I checked out your website and while I understand where you’re coming from where it concerns black Americans, i wonder why you don’t help ALL people in the same situation? I checked out your website to see how I could also get involved but I must be honest, while I do understand the discrimination black people have suffered and think it’s reprehensible, I just wanted to know why only ONE group and not all can receive your help?
I would like to help in my area like you have done, but I can’t see helping only one segment of society. I appreciate your time and response. Thank you
RESPONSE FROM TAKE BACK THE LAND:
Greetings:
Thank you for writing. I wish you would have watched the PBS show because then we could talk about how to work together instead of having us waste time addressing your own insecurities. We are a Black organization with alot of white volunteers. Mary Trody, featured and interviewed in the PBS story, is white, as is her mother who owned the house.
One of the reasons we are a Black organization is because so many whites are fixated on race to the point that they cannot engage unless they are in charge or there is no race element, which, invariably, means it is predominantly for whites. The fact that so many whites are threatened by Black political leadership or attempts to organize the Black community, even addressing problems disproportionately impacting Black communities (Black communities were disproportionately impacted by the the crisis of gentrification and now foreclosures- check it out for yourself), is seriously impacting the social justice movement’s ability to grow and free ALL people.
As a consequence, PBS runs a story about our organization which features and interview with one woman- who is white- and shows pictures of two families who were moved in- one of whom is white- and instead of talking with you about how we can help people who need it, you are emailing demanding to know why we are not helping more white people, because 2 out of 3 is not enough for you.
Thank you for taking the time to write and I hope you find people in your area who help only white people so that you can feel more comfortable with them.
And my final reply:
While I appreciate your response, I do not appreciate your insults. I am not insecure, I made an observation and while it may not have been entirely accurate, or even educated, I sought more information from you in order to have a complete understanding of the program. I’m surprised at your response, you assume that my “insecurity” as you put it is because of a generalization you made about white people needing to be in charge. That is an inaccurate assumption and one that is stagnating as well. I also made NO demands, I asked a question, I did not demand anything. The work that is done through this organization is wonderful, but your lack of professionalism and hateful statements do NOT help to improve any race relations. In fact, you took it upon yourself to assume many things, one of which I’m assuming is that I’m white. Well, I’ll tell you I’m neither black or white and I’m really disappointed that instead of using my question as an opportunity to educate, you chose to insult. Too bad really…wow..just unbelievable.
If you’re interested TAKE BACK THE LAND can be contacted via the following:
takebacktheland@gmail.com or you can go directly to their site: www.takebacktheland.org
The biggest racists nowadays are black themselves. not white.
and no, whites dont need to be in charge they in fact havint been in decades.
Note the democrats & etc who control most stuff are in part black related anyway.
As it is, its the black & hispanic persuasion that are the most racist.
As far as empty home, its not as simple as saying ‘pay the utilities’ and you can stay.
That sounds a lot like acorn.
If i did in fact own extra homes, it would be cheaper to let the house stay empty than to rent to a utilities only renter.
Reality is, owning or renting a home is a full deal of being able to pay the basics. Nothing else.
Having had both white & black renters myself (both for a room in my own home, and rental homes in the past) I can attest that there are bad
renters in all races..
Personally too many of both races are getting a bit nuts of late about what they are due.
I am really sick and tired of blacks calling whites racesist. Facts are that they are the rascist. Think about this, Miss “black” america pagent. I have yet to hear of a Miss white america pagent, and ya know why? Because the naacp would be crawling up our asses is why but by no means should we say anything about their miss black america. Lets not forget the national negro college fund,or any of those all black schools or colleges. But just try to start a national white college fund or an all white college and see how fast the law suits fly. But we are the predijuice ones? 60% of black are on welfare, not because of white oppression, hell blacks get preferential treatment when it comes to jobs. They just don’t want them because its easier to get welfare and sell drugs. White people have a hell of a lot harder time getting food stamps or any kind of goverment assistance because we are white. A friend of mine was actually released from a job that he had just got and was far more qualified for because a lesser qualified black man applied for the same job. Black guy found out that this company had no blacks working there so he got a black attourney who threatened to sue so my friend got fired and the black guy got hired. Its ok for them to call us cracker or snow flake but let us call a nigger a nigger and automatically its a racial slur. I call a nigger a nigger and that can include anyone yes ANYONE who depends on my tax dollars for support while driving a caddilac wearing gold when its all i can do to support my own family. You want my respect “black man”? Then get off of your nigger ass and earn it. Make no mistake. I have no problem with a black man who works every day and earns his own way, I have many good friends who just happen to be black, it means nothing to me bacause they earn the respect they ask for. It’s you lazy, crack smoking,welfare stealing bastards ( yes many whites are included) that I have a problem with, Get off your nigger asses, get a honest fucking job and quit your sorry little candy ass crying. I as a white man owe you nothing and if that makes me predijuice then I guess that I am so.
The idea of trying to connect America’s heartland to Africa is about as absurd as trying to connect America as the chosen homeland of Jesus and Christianity
Both groups are nuts.
That is disgusting! You should seriously forward those emails to the news or at least PBS. They need to know the type of people they are dealing with.
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