It's OK to Smoke Marijuana - So Long As You're Not Black or Latino

[align=center]A plague of over-policing has swept up

Blacks and Hispanics and sent them to jail

for misdemeanor marijuana offenses at rates

far greater than those of whites,

even though whites use more marijuana

per capita than Blacks and Hispanics

Why is it that poor Blacks and Latinos have to miss work,

lose jobs, miss school, be away from their families,

pay fines, do community service, sometimes get criminal records,

spend a day or night (or both) in jail,

for possessing marijuana, yet middle-

and upper-class whites throughout the city

smoke marijuana routinely, or carry it on the street,

or have it home delivered, and never face the same consequences?[/align]

Most whites are not even concerned with such consequences, since they never face them.

If the police patrolled Columbia University and NYU the way they patrolled the South Bronx (i.e., stopping people on a whim, unconstitutionally searching them, sending undercover officers to perform marijuana transactions, etc.), they would fill the Manhattan jails so quickly that the system would screech to a halt.

But that is not going to happen. White college students can continue behaving exactly as their Black and Latino counterparts in other neighborhoods, breaking the same laws, as they sit back laughing at silly movies while eating Doritos

Yet throughout the city poor people of color sit in roach-infested jails for hours waiting for a lawyer to get them out of jail, even if it means paying a hefty fine, or cleaning the subway, or receiving a lifelong criminal record.

There is only one reason why the police under-enforce marijuana laws at Columbia University, where marijuana possession and use is abundant, such that the marijuana arrest rate is one of the lowest in the city, and over-enforce the same laws in adjacent communities like West Harlem:

The former is predominantly white and well-off, the latter is overwhelmingly minority and poor. Talk about two Americas.

Racism & Drugs

With the NYPD facing difficult challenges such as combating terrorism and stopping the flow of illegal handguns into the city, what are the police arresting people for at a rate ten times greater than before 1997?

But they aren't arresting everyone who possesses marijuana; only poor people of color. When confronted with statistics demonstrating the grossly disproportionate arrest rates of African Americans, often conservatives are quick to respond that African Americans commit more crimes.

But then how would they explain the epidemic of marijuana arrests in New York City over the past ten years, a plague of over-policing that has swept up poor people of color, sending Blacks and Hispanics to jail for misdemeanor marijuana offenses at rates far greater than those of whites, even though, according to the U.S. government, whites use more marijuana per capita than Blacks and Hispanics?

If you don't think such arrests ever happen, you might be surprised to learn that in the last ten years, New York City has arrested more people for marijuana than any city, not just in New York State, not just in the Northeast, not just in America, but in the entire world.

How would conservatives respond to Professor Harry Levine's testimony in May 2007 before the New York State Assembly Committees on Codes and on Corrections (regarding proposed legislation to expand the DNA databank by requiring anyone convicted of a misdemeanor marijuana offense to give a DNA sample)? Marijuana.

For two years. Professor Levine has researched marijuana arrests and convictions in New York City. Here is some of what he found:

Between 1997 and 2006, 360,000 people were arrested and jailed for marijuana offenses in NYC, ten times more than had been arrested the decade previous.

That means 100 people a day in NYC are handcuffed and thrown in jail, where they sit, for at least 24 hours, sometimes 36, sometimes 48, waiting to appear before a judge to answer for their "crime".

To figure out who is getting arrested most frequently for marijuana offenses, you might just figure out who possesses and uses marijuana most often, right?

Among high school students and young adults, for instance, a higher percentage of white people use marijuana than Blacks and Hispanics.

Since the majority of those arrested in NYC are between the ages of 16 and 26, it follows that whites must be bearing the brunt of NYPD's marijuana arrest mania, right? Wrong.

In fact, 85% are Black and Latino (55% and 30%, respectively), 15% are white.

Put another way, for every 100,000 whites, 124 were arrested. For every 100,000 Hispanics, 430 were arrested. For every 100,000 Blacks, 975 were arrested. So blacks were arrested at eight times the rate of whites.

Even without the statistics, does that sound representative of the percentage of marijuana users in this city if categorized by race?

Does anyone think that blacks possess marijuana at eight times the rates of whites? If so, then you haven't been into white homes across New York City, from the two-bedroom apartments on the Upper West Side to West Village lofts to parties in Chelsea to Williamsburg walk-ups to Park Slope brownstones to residences in Astoria and Jackson Heights.

And yet, the NYPD arrest blacks at a rate more than double the percentage of their overall population in every borough other than the Bronx.

Are people arrested moving pounds of marijuana across state lines?

Hardly. Most of those arrested were not event smoking in public; rather, they were in possession of a few grams or a small plastic bag the size of a quarter, or simply standing near someone in possession.

As a public defender, it was inevitable that in any given 8-hour arraignment shift, I would encounter a pile of marijuana cases.

All misdemeanors, all for possessing a bag, or maybe two bags, or for smoking a marijuana cigarette, and all those arrested Black and Latino.

Why is it that poor Blacks and Latinos have to miss work, lose jobs, miss school, be away from their families, pay fines, do community service, sometimes get criminal records, spend a day or night (or both) in jail, for possessing marijuana, yet middle- and upper-class whites throughout the city smoke marijuana routinely, or carry it on the street, or have it home delivered, and never face the same consequences?

Most whites are not even concerned with such consequences, since they never face them. If the police patrolled Columbia University and NYU the way they patrolled the South Bronx (i.e., stopping people on a whim, unconstitutionally searching them, sending undercover officers to perform marijuana transactions, etc.), they would fill the Manhattan jails so quickly that the system would screech to a halt.

But that is not going to happen. White college students can continue behaving exactly as their Black and Latino counterparts in other neighborhoods, breaking the same laws, as they sit back laughing at silly movies while eating Doritos.

Yet throughout the city poor people of color sit in roach-infested jails for hours waiting for a lawyer to get them out of jail, even if it means paying a hefty fine, or cleaning the subway, or receiving a lifelong criminal record.

There is only one reason why the police under-enforce marijuana laws at Columbia University, where marijuana possession and use is abundant, such that the marijuana arrest rate is one of the lowest in the city, and over-enforce the same laws in adjacent communities like West Harlem:

The former is predominantly white and well-off, the latter is overwhelmingly minority and poor. Talk about two Americas.

Why does NYC have such an outlandish and discriminatory policy regarding marijuana arrests?

Professor Levine notes that with so little media coverage on the issue, and silence from the NYPD and the Mayor's Office, it is difficult to pinpoint the reason. But here are a few of Professor Levine's educated guesses:

1) Marijuana arrests are generally easy, clean, and safe.

2) Police officers are underpaid, and marijuana arrests are a way to build overtime hours, hence increase their pay (not to mention increase their chances for promotion). This also helps supervisors build overtime hours.

3) Marijuana arrests are an easy way for the NYPD to gather information on young people of color in poor neighborhoods, as each arrest involves the acquisition of pedigree information, fingerprints, photographs, etc.

Regardless of the twisted purposes behind such policies, marijuana arrests are so common in certain communities that they have simply become part of everyday life, and almost everyone involved, from the police to the residents to the judges to the lawyers, are so accustomed to them that they hardly take notice.

Where is the outrage? How can I, at one moment, be staring at a jail cell full of young Black and Latino men arrested for marijuana possession, and in the next moment, after a short subway ride, be at a predominantly white dinner party where marijuana (among many other things) is being delivered, possessed, and used with impunity?

My solution is not to increase arrests of all marijuana possessors and users (although arrests en mass of white college students would be the quickest way to grab the attention of wealthy and influential white people and spell the policy's quick demise).

Rather, the police and the Mayor should shift their money, resources, and tactical priorities to more serious matters, such as violent crime, domestic violence, gun selling, and terrorism, for example, and leave poor people of color alone on the marijuana issue.

As it is today, one has to wonder, what on earth are the police and the Mayor smoking?


It's OK to Smoke Marijuana - So Long As You're Not Black or Latino [edstrong.blog-city.com]

I found the best thing abt this thread is the girl tokin it up.:jointsmile:

^ I strongly agree... who the fuck is that?

Don't disagree with you.But I've known some honkeys that have been busted for both misdemeanor and felony possesion of pot.Pot is the issue not rascism.Lets just all work together and get it legalized.
The other thing all races need to do is register for jury duty. If you set on a drug case where it looks like rascism is involved just say not guilty. Nothing wrong with voting your conscience in a jury box.

Yea, it's a bummer. There are probably bigger and worse drug deals going down in brooklyn as compared to the NYU and manhattan area. This isn't being racist, I've lived in NYC and I know what shit happens. Manhattan is full of undercover cops as well. Ever been to Washington Square Park? Again, it is a bummer, but you can't blame the users. Toking does unite.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by killerweed420

Pot is the issue not racism. Let's just all work together and get it legalized.

---

Pot may be the subject here, but racism is rampant in our law enforcement and legal system. Blacks and Latinos are arrested and prosecuted at a much higher rates than whites for all sorts of crimes, not just cannabis. Sentences are much steeper for people of color, too, and qualified legal representation is harder for them to obtain. It's appalling and unfair, and more people need to be aware of these facts. True justice in this country is much more within reach of wealthy white people, sadly, and it ought not to be that way.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by killerweed420

The other thing all races need to do is register for jury duty. If you set on a drug case where it looks like racism is involved just say not guilty. Nothing wrong with voting your conscience in a jury box.

---

Everyone needs to register to vote. If you're registered to vote and/or licensed to drive in the United States, those are the systems from which juries are summoned. People don't generally "register" for jury duty; they register to vote, or for a drivers' license, or they are listed on a tax roll. Courts in nearly all jurisdictions summon potential jurors from those groups.

It's fine to "vote one's conscience" during political elections, but jurors are tasked with something else entirely: listening to judges' instructions and seeing that justice is served by determining innocence or guilt. The much more appropriate time to make strong feelings about racial bias known while serving on a jury is during the voir dire.

So the Latino crowd is pissed off coz were here token it up, huh?


come in to my home and tell me Im wrong for smokin pot? walk in my shoes!

Ive seen a few families yes white folks 'familys Destroyed' because of hick town ideas that 'pot smoker's are 'evil people' we are 'not EVIL'!
I knew a family that got pulled/jerked, out of bed at 5AM by the hic town DEA in this area .THE COPS BUSTED the front door in with a long pipe, KIDS IN THE HOUSE asleep in their beds, the parents 'sold weed' to make ends meet. Now tell me what 'white folk' asked for that treatment? what about the dammage done to them children?
I knew a whole family destroyed, they lost eveything including a home thats been in ' the family for over 100 years, acres of land taken by the government all for growing and selling pot! To keep the farm, the family struggled for so long to keep their own land now its gone,


over pot!!
paleezzee!!!!

legalize it!

:(

ps

Is that Paris suckn on a blunt?

<>< <>< <>< <><

Quote:

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Originally Posted by silkyblue

ps

Is that Paris suckn on a blunt?

<>< <>< <>< <><

---

Yes it is.

I believe rascism has become I minority in the US. Are there still rascists out there? Absolutely and there always will be.I think you would find there are a lot of white people that come forward when they see rascism first hand. I've seen my fair share of reverse rascism too. You just consider the source and move on.

thats fucked up!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by killerweed420

You just consider the source and move on.

---

Contemplate on the problem, then pass it by.

That's the way my girlfriend deals with things. I'm not saying that you should try and change anyone.

But, if there's a problem, fix it. That's what they told me about cars.

blah blah blah :rolleyes:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by kingk4life

It's not paris She has Long hair and her boobs are bigger.

---

Longer hair, but nah, her tits aren't bigger. Seen the vids :pimp:

this speaks the truth...

Get over yourselves! I don't disagree that racial profiling doesn't exist, but come on. Your taking this way too far. Think about where a large majority of the crime exist (down in the rougher areas where gang violence is high). Its know wonder why cops bust more people in those areas, there the ones committing the majority of crimes.

Blacks and latinos need to quit feeling so sorry for themselves.

i wish i could get out of trouble because im white never seems to work for me,i got sent to prison for weed, just if i would of said hey you cant do that im white.:wtf:

Most of you idiots didn't even read the thread

sheesh

You notice Paris Hilton ffs - talk about deep dark irony

This is partly because a lot of homicides occur when drug deals are made in the projects/slums. Mostly over other drugs though, I would think, not weed. It still has a little to do with racism. I agree.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by OLDE ENGLISH '800

i wish i could get out of trouble because im white never seems to work for me,i got sent to prison for weed, just if i would of said hey you cant do that im white.:wtf:

---

i live in the ghetto and there are few white people.. we are all poor and the cops are oppressive to everyone regardless of color... if only hate in any form would cease to exist....

this is some realness....

I am not gonna say that race doesn't have anything to do with it, because that would be wrong.

My own personal observations are these... 90% of the people(regardless of color) who get busted for weed, are busted because they did something stoopid. Standing on a street corner, toking up or selling, toking while driving, just blatent open use, or runnin your mouth. The other 10% are busted for weed as an "incedental" offense.

If you keep it private, don't draw attention to yourself, and stay away from vehicles, that will seriously reduce the chances of getting busted.

to think that cops dont arrest white people for smoking weed is very ignorant and completely false.....

My god, it seems as though about a quarter of the people on this thread have actually read the article, black people are not "whining" about being arrested more often, it was written by a public lawyer saying that according to Gvt statistics, 8 times more black than white people are arrested for marijuana use, even though on average, white people smoke it more. How can you possible say that isn't a problem? How can you say that racism is not completely ingrained in the US legal system when black people and Hispanics receive sentences far, far greater than a white person convicted for the same offense or not convicted at all?

Oh, and to the poster above, "to think that cops dont arrest white people for smoking weed is very ignorant and completely false....." is not what he was saying, he is saying that 125 out of 100 000 whites are arrested for mj use, whereas 970 out of a 100 000 blacks are.

Anyway, it seems that most of the people on this thread have their head in the sand, get off your asses and have a god damned revolution already!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Bongoman

My god, it seems as though about a quarter of the people on this thread have actually read the article, black people are not "whining" about being arrested more often, it was written by a public lawyer saying that according to Gvt statistics, 8 times more black than white people are arrested for marijuana use, even though on average, white people smoke it more. How can you possible say that isn't a problem? How can you say that racism is not completely ingrained in the US legal system when black people and Hispanics receive sentences far, far greater than a white person convicted for the same offense or not convicted at all?

Oh, and to the poster above, "to think that cops dont arrest white people for smoking weed is very ignorant and completely false....." is not what he was saying, he is saying that 125 out of 100 000 whites are arrested for mj use, whereas 970 out of a 100 000 blacks are.

Anyway, it seems that most of the people on this thread have their head in the sand, get off your asses and have a god damned revolution already!

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I don't know why your trying to stir the "racial" pot, but thats just plain wrong.

People of color get busted more often strictly because of lack of common sense.

Circumstance doesn't fly either... Nobody *HAS* to live in the projects. With the training, education, and the drive to excel, you can do or be anything you want to be.

Cops have to have probable cause before they can search, bust somebody. You gotta ask *WHY* they are getting busted. Who is gonna be more likely to be watched by the cops... the average, middle class "John Q Public", that drives an unobtrusive vehicle and minimal jewelry?? or somebody that lives in the projects that drives a 15 year old car with rims and tires worth more than the car, wears LOTS of bling, and high dollar threads, has the 60" plasma TV.

It makes a person wonder how somebody living in section 8 housing, getting welfare and food stamps can afford all of that bling. What are they doing to subsidize their income to be able to afford all that??

Like I said earlier.... who is more likley to be busted... the middle class stoner that flies under the radar, or somebody that appears to be living WAYYYYY beyond their legitimate means.

Its got nothing to do with race, its all about common sense.

As a side note, IMHO, Jessie Jackson and Al Sharpton are both the worst two-faced bigots/racists in the country. Their entire purpose in life is to stir up racial hatred.

Your point would be valid, if all the people being arrested were dealers. Most of the arrests were for possession according the original article, not dealing, and it would be safe to assume that the majority of people in possession of MJ are not dealers.

Regarding the drive, education thing, don't you think that your level of education, training etc is a damned sight worse in the "projects" or whatever they are than in burbland? In fact, almost all of the people living in the projects do "have" to, due to previous arrests for things like possession, lack of a decent education, poor family environment etc, resulting in their children having to live in the same circumstances. Its a vicious cycle. And by the way, the argument about the gangsta and the middle class stoner is a classic strawman, your going to have to provide evidence for it before I can take it seriously.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Bongoman

Your point would be valid, if all the people being arrested were dealers. Most of the arrests were for possession according the original article, not dealing, and it would be safe to assume that the majority of people in possession of MJ are not dealers.

Regarding the drive, education thing, don't you think that your level of education, training etc is a damned sight worse in the "projects" or whatever they are than in burbland? In fact, almost all of the people living in the projects do "have" to, due to previous arrests for things like possession, lack of a decent education, poor family environment etc, resulting in their children having to live in the same circumstances. Its a vicious cycle. And by the way, the argument about the gangsta and the middle class stoner is a classic strawman, your going to have to provide evidence for it before I can take it seriously.

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If you don't like your environment, then change it. You present so many excuses....you keep telling me what folks *can't* do, tell me what they *CAN* do.

The only thing that stands in the way of doing or being what they want is themselves. With all of the various free or low cost educational and training programs in place, there is no reason that somebody can't improve themselves, to find a better job, and improve their circumstances.

I have had to work my way up from absolutely nothing to having a decent home to live in, and food on the table, no less than 4 times. I am constantly getting more training and education to improve my skills and increase my personal marketability.

I didn't start out as a business owner with a masters degree in mechanical engineerin, with a nice home on a full acre, inside the city limits. I started out sweeping floors, cleaning commodes, and taking out trash, and worked my way up through job experience, training and education to earn my Journeyman Machinist papers. Then I enlisted in the military and again started out sweeping floors, cleaning commodes, and taking out trash, and worked my way up to having a Masters Degree in Mechanical Engineering with a minor in Environmental Science. When I retired from the military, I was the head of Public Works and Facilities Engineering for a 2200 acre military installation in South Lousianna.
A year before I retired, I ended up getting divorced, and lost everything, plus had over $19,000 in consumer debt from my ex, and had to deal with some serious legal issues that she created to keep me from seeing my kids.
I had to start all over again... when I retired after 22 years in the military, I started my business, and not being from here, it took many years and side jobs to build my company, make it profitable. I have now been in business for 11 years and make a comfortable living, and am able to put both of my daughters through college.

I know what trials I have endured, I know what can be done. I am not big on excuses, only actions..... make them positive.

FWIW, I am second generation in this country, my Father couldn't speak a word of english until he was in grade school. I don't *EVER* remember him speaking with an accent. I do remember him working as many as 3 jobs at the same time just to make ends meet. The one thing he instilled on me was "All good things come to those who work like hell, while they wait"

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Mississippi Steve

If you don't like your environment, then change it. You present so many excuses....you keep telling me what folks *can't* do, tell me what they *CAN* do.

The only thing that stands in the way of doing or being what they want is themselves. With all of the various free or low cost educational and training programs in place, there is no reason that somebody can't improve themselves, to find a better job, and improve their circumstances.

I have had to work my way up from absolutely nothing to having a decent home to live in, and food on the table, no less than 4 times. I am constantly getting more training and education to improve my skills and increase my personal marketability.

I didn't start out as a business owner with a masters degree in mechanical engineerin, with a nice home on a full acre, inside the city limits. I started out sweeping floors, cleaning commodes, and taking out trash, and worked my way up through job experience, training and education to earn my Journeyman Machinist papers. Then I enlisted in the military and again started out sweeping floors, cleaning commodes, and taking out trash, and worked my way up to having a Masters Degree in Mechanical Engineering with a minor in Environmental Science. When I retired from the military, I was the head of Public Works and Facilities Engineering for a 2200 acre military installation in South Lousianna.
A year before I retired, I ended up getting divorced, and lost everything, plus had over $19,000 in consumer debt from my ex, and had to deal with some serious legal issues that she created to keep me from seeing my kids.
I had to start all over again... when I retired after 22 years in the military, I started my business, and not being from here, it took many years and side jobs to build my company, make it profitable. I have now been in business for 11 years and make a comfortable living, and am able to put both of my daughters through college.

I know what trials I have endured, I know what can be done. I am not big on excuses, only actions..... make them positive.

FWIW, I am second generation in this country, my Father couldn't speak a word of english until he was in grade school. I don't *EVER* remember him speaking with an accent. I do remember him working as many as 3 jobs at the same time just to make ends meet. The one thing he instilled on me was "All good things come to those who work like hell, while they wait"

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Thats impressive, and kudos to you sir, but your personal situation is not necessarily representative of all people living in these "projects" or who are poor. Anyway, the point of the article is not about social mobility or whatnot, its about the ridiculous fact that black people are 8 times more likely to be arrested for MJ possession than white people, even though white people are more likely to smoke it. I can see no justification for this, and even if poor and/or black people have the capability to move out of poverty, it still does not justify the grossly disproportionate number of arrests of poor and/or black people. The law is meant to be just; how can those statistics possibly be interpreted as just?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Bongoman

Thats impressive, and kudos to you sir, but your personal situation is not necessarily representative of all people living in these "projects" or who are poor. Anyway, the point of the article is not about social mobility or whatnot, its about the ridiculous fact that black people are 8 times more likely to be arrested for MJ possession than white people, even though white people are more likely to smoke it. I can see no justification for this, and even if poor and/or black people have the capability to move out of poverty, it still does not justify the grossly disproportionate number of arrests of poor and/or black people. The law is meant to be just; how can those statistics possibly be interpreted as just?

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They put themselves in a position where somebody has to *DO* something about it. They flaunt it, and flash their bling. They sell openly on the street, they toke up on the front porch in front of GOD and everybody. Its almost like they are daring the cops to bust them. I don't know of anybody else thats out on the streets at all hours. Maybe its a cultural thing, I can't say. What I can say is that a lot of the black populace like to play the race card, because they can. They raise all kinds of "red flags", then piss and moan because they get busted. If they were to fly under the radar, instead of being so blatent about it, they wouldn't have the problems.

I can only tell you what I *SEE* first hand... I go in and out of all of the different neighborhoods and homes in 9 counties at all hours of the day and night, as I drive a heating and a/c service truck.

you cant say that...because 'they' dont all flash and put on a show, saying they want the cops to do something, I dont care how many neighborhoods you been through...if 'they' flaunt and flash with their bling, isnt that their right what crime is being committed? what about white people who buy brand new cars, or dress in expensive brands such as ed hardy and christian audigier... and what not is that flaunting and flashing, if you have it you should be able to reward yourself so wearing a diamond chain should not send a red flag as bother me officer...but it possibly does just depends on the cop...white people smoke in parks and on the streets just like black people I've seen both races do that, you say it like its a problem to toke up on your own porch, if you own the property you should do as you please...as long as you dont affect the safety of others around you...and im sure they dont split a blunt down, break green up and smoke right in front of cops i mean whoever does that..does want trouble, but you make it seem as if blacks bring all the statistics on themselves by putting on a show and its not like that, just maybe how you interpret what you have seen...your generalizations are just that they are stereotypes...not true for every individual...I have a perfect example of how you are wrong or how you havnt seen what the white guys do, I've seen them hotbox and smoke on college campuses in patrolled parking lots on a weekly basis, that sounds like putting on a show to me...while the black guys walk down the street to a park...at night and smoke...I mean different people do different things and whatever their vice is, but I think you do have things a bit twisted...

What about second offenses? Is it okay to be charged with a second pot-possession, as long as you're not black or latino?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by yungjay

you cant say that...because 'they' dont all flash and put on a show, saying they want the cops to do something, I dont care how many neighborhoods you been through...if 'they' flaunt and flash with their bling, isnt that their right what crime is being committed? what about white people who buy brand new cars, or dress in expensive brands such as ed hardy and christian audigier... and what not is that flaunting and flashing, if you have it you should be able to reward yourself so wearing a diamond chain should not send a red flag as bother me officer...but it possibly does just depends on the cop...white people smoke in parks and on the streets just like black people I've seen both races do that, you say it like its a problem to toke up on your own porch, if you own the property you should do as you please...as long as you dont affect the safety of others around you...and im sure they dont split a blunt down, break green up and smoke right in front of cops i mean whoever does that..does want trouble, but you make it seem as if blacks bring all the statistics on themselves by putting on a show and its not like that, just maybe how you interpret what you have seen...your generalizations are just that they are stereotypes...not true for every individual...I have a perfect example of how you are wrong or how you havnt seen what the white guys do, I've seen them hotbox and smoke on college campuses in patrolled parking lots on a weekly basis, that sounds like putting on a show to me...while the black guys walk down the street to a park...at night and smoke...I mean different people do different things and whatever their vice is, but I think you do have things a bit twisted...

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Let me guess, your very young and live in the big city. You are probably still living with mommy and daddy. Am I close??

When was the last time you went cruisin the projects in the city and actually paid attention to your surroundings?? When was the last time you went cruisin through middle class and upper class neighborhoods and paid attention to your surroundings?? did you notice a difference?? Did you notice a difference in the people??
Did you notice a difference in cultures?? did you notice any difference in which homes occupants were obviously living beyong their means?? Have you ever *SEEN* any of this first hand?? Keep in mind that I am speaking from first hand experience.

In the projects, its not unusual to see deals go down in the street, its not unusual to see a new or late model $50,000 SUV parked in front of a 6 room shack because its owner lives there. Its not unusual to go into a home that has a 70 inch plasma TV but all the lights are off to save electricity so they can afford to pay the bill. When I get called to fix their broken furnace or air conditioner, they scramble through the neighborhood to collect cash to pay the bill. The exception here is find a home that is spotless clean and neat as a pin.

In the middle and upper class neighborhoods, you see much more moderate vehicles, you don't see deals going down in the streets the stuff in folks homes is much more moderate. OTOH, the exception here is that there is always the white trash too...

If you still want to argue, maybe you should come down here and ride in my service truck with me for a couple of days so you can *SEE* for yourself. Time to put up or shut up there sport.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Mississippi Steve

Let me guess, your very young and live in the big city. You are probably still living with mommy and daddy. Am I close??

When was the last time you went cruisin the projects in the city and actually paid attention to your surroundings?? When was the last time you went cruisin through middle class and upper class neighborhoods and paid attention to your surroundings?? did you notice a difference?? Did you notice a difference in the people??
Did you notice a difference in cultures?? did you notice any difference in which homes occupants were obviously living beyong their means?? Have you ever *SEEN* any of this first hand?? Keep in mind that I am speaking from first hand experience.

In the projects, its not unusual to see deals go down in the street, its not unusual to see a new or late model $50,000 SUV parked in front of a 6 room shack because its owner lives there. Its not unusual to go into a home that has a 70 inch plasma TV but all the lights are off to save electricity so they can afford to pay the bill. When I get called to fix their broken furnace or air conditioner, they scramble through the neighborhood to collect cash to pay the bill. The exception here is find a home that is spotless clean and neat as a pin.

In the middle and upper class neighborhoods, you see much more moderate vehicles, you don't see deals going down in the streets the stuff in folks homes is much more moderate. OTOH, the exception here is that there is always the white trash too...

If you still want to argue, maybe you should come down here and ride in my service truck with me for a couple of days so you can *SEE* for yourself. Time to put up or shut up there sport.

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I'm young, own my own transportation and my own apartment, and I am attending college. No I dont live with mommy or daddy.
I go crusing through the projects daily, not a big deal. I go through middle and upper class daily also just going to and from and other various places. Obviously there is a difference in the two very different areas because they are two very different types of people living there and the two different types of people have totally different incomes. The projects is known to be filled with gang and illegal drug activity. If this plagues the area then it has no choice but to look of lower quality and of the streets because street transactions are occurring on every corner, walls are being tagged with grafitti, and crime is occurring throughout. So when I go through the projects and low end areas I notice the homes dont look well kept, and the streets are filled with trash but the people are living...I see expensive SUV's in front of a town house that is most likely leased, I see rims on every car that are most likely rented, you see big screens and plasma screens in homes that are most likely rented, or purchased off lay a way...these people just want nicer things but cant afford them...but everything you see daily is whats KNOWN to go down and happen in the projects on a daily basis, that is the lower end area where you see crack heads walking the streets and people getting served illegal substances, that is what happens because of where you are at, in those areas the kids grow up knowing that is the shit they just do around there, I've see it all and been through all the different level areas, from low end to half a million dollar homes, of course the environments look different but the people arent giving a choice really when they dont make the same type of money, the people in the projects are struggling to move on and move and get away from threre, the upperclass neighborhoods who's children are pretty much set and taken care of as long as they dont get caught up in any major crimes...they have cds, stocks and bonds, and trust funds invested in their names....the things you name about those project houses are for that home, you dont know about Martin St Homes, Oakwood Homes, Washington Terrace, Walton Terrace, St James homes, those areas where residents are poorer than average but take pride in their homes, i've seen homes and know places there that are always spotless and well kept....

You see moderate vehicles as well as Lexus's, BMW's, Mercadez, and many other expensive makes and models...it depends on the particular persons taste if you like flashy things you will buy them, if you are moderate you wont, but you cant say the white people in the upper class neighborhoods with money dont buy Mercadez at all or they dont buy large projection screen tv's for their home, if they can afford it and like it they will...You may not see deals going down in the streets or on the corners in the upper class areas, but best believe the kids have cars and there are just as many transactions going down in their cars and inside their homes, and bedrooms...i've been there with many different cultures of people, black, white, indian, iranian, all different walks of people, the same shit goes down everywhere just in a different fashion, I see a lot of weed deals going down in the projects, and in Preston Forest I see rich high school kids spending large amounts of money on weed, coke, X many hardcore drugs they can afford it...so dont be so naive to think that because the neighborhood is well lit, well off and well managed, that drugs are floating throughout because they are....im done talking because just by reading your last response you have some ignorant statements so you can take what I said for what it is....and thats all I have to say on it...

i think its in the areas that people are getting arrested in and the police in those areas that take it seriously. im my town (90% white) if a cop find a gram on you you do a night in jail. that it. then you go home. in nyc or other places that whites are a minority, the police may be more stern on pot users, whether their white black or blue. it just so happens that more blacks get arrested in that area because the cops are more stern and theres a larger percentage of blacks ect. white will still get arrested but there are less to be.