It Doesn't Matter if You're Black or White.....

It's unfortunate, but most people want to work and live with others who are similar to them.  Many times people see the "ski" in my name and begin acting like we're brothers or something.  I could care less where my ancestors came from.  I'm an American and I really don't care where your ancestors came from.  I'll show you respect until you give me a reason not to and I expect the same in return.

I've seen whites try to avoid black neighborhoods and Blacks try to avoid Hispanic neighborhoods and Asians try to avoid Black and Hispanic neighborhoods and every combination in between.  I guess it's something we all have in common.  I think we all habor some racism deep down.  Some are just more honest about it than others.  I really don't care.  I'll  sell them a home wherever they feel comfortable. 

I only encountered this once...I'm sure its alive and well in NY - but its just more insidious.  Few will SAY it - but many think it.

That one encounter was memorable.  It was a listing presentation in an area that I call the "wild west of Westchester real estate."  Its a small geographic area and it appears to have a "bubble" over it where the usual rules of conduct do not apply.  Not only wouldn't they sell to people who didn't "belong"  they also expected at least $100k of the money to be in a briefcase in small (unmarked)  bills!  I hightailed it out of there as fast as I could!

It's so easy for people to add a "but" to anything they want to say but are in fear that soemone will not like. It's as if they believe that the but erases any wrongdoing that they say or do. It's disgusting.

Racism, prejudices, diversity, equality, bigotry etc. Vessels to steer social constructs to predetermined destinations by a selective minority of special interest groups. Way over-rated and extremely destructive to society as a whole while we're pushed down the path to social justice.

I'll work with that redneck, with that racist with that bigot, with anyone I choose. There's a difference between allowing ones prejudices and philosophical opinions to interfere with our lawful duties to the point where we jeopardize our livelihoods and simply allowing people to express themselves in the manner they choose. This is still America where people are free to choose how to act, how to behave and how to live. God help us all if we build an apparatus that confines freedom to such a narrow corridor.

As far as it (heritage) "mattering" Just ask a black person, an Asian (me), a Hispanic, etc etc if it "matters". Bet'cha dimes to dollars it matters to them. In the realm of the real estate world and in terms of treating people fairly and equally under the law and according to the law we are all equal. But in terms of personal and or emotional beliefs systems put in place through familial social structure we are not and never will be equal. Every culture has pride in who they are. Go to Japan. To China. Russia. Australia. Are they watering down their heritage in a melting pot?...

Gene

I remember when I was around five years old, the men in the community would call my dad a "honk or honkey" for Hungarian.  As coal miners, they had names for everyone.

BTW...Brian..What a hilarious photo....love the photo of you with new hairdu and what's with the teeth...please ...LOL

What does TLW think of the photo....I am still laughing.

I love living and working in South Florida because it's huge melting pot.  My children are exposed to all walks of life and I love it.  So far I've been fortunate enough not to have, what I feel are, ignorant comments or questions from a client. 

Would you please stop with the Michael Jackson stuff already!  Enough is enough!

Bucky...!  :)  LOL

We are all afforded the luxury of money being GREEN!  It all spends the same miracuously!

D

Good point, I recently had a mortgage broker that I was friends with on Facebook post a racist joke - he promotes himself as a mortgage broker online with racist jokes? Seems like it might call into question whether or not he would follow fair housing guidelines. That was a quick "unfollow" on my part.

I have to share this article with this post!! Apparently a white supremicist ralley was over powered by a group of clowns - no literally!

Malita...I LOVE that!!!  TOO funny!   White Flour!!!  :)

Thanks, for this great post ( and the picture is priceless).  All too true and we have to set some folks straight. I was told in a class at the board of Realtors here years ago, to say I only see one color, GREEN and that is for Money!

It is interesting how many people say things like, "Please don't let ________________ people buy your house. We are such a great neighborhood and ..... " People don't even care if they are racist. Some wear it as a badge.

Nothing makes my skin crawl more or makes me see red more than this. I wasn't brought up that way, and I refuse to participate in this type of behavior.

I am proud to be from a wonderful blend of cultures, Irish, Jewish, Latvian, RC, Swedish, Scottish and Canadian, you name it, I have it.

Great post BB, really. Thank you for being so honest and in your face with this.

Well, I guess I'll just say hello since you won't be back (but I enjoyed your post and the ensuing comments).

Hi BB,

This is a very important topic.  I was thinking about this - again...In NY this type of prejudice is far more subtle and insidious. But it definitely is there - lurking under the surface. In some ways, it makes it worse - because although it exists - it does so in the shadows. It's elusive and fleeting - but it still does its damage. 

Like Andrea, I too am a mix.  My family is mostly German - with some British and Spanish/Cuban thrown in.  I look very German (sans the blue eyes) so every once in a while someone will say something anti-hispanic to me.  Guess they didn't notice my middle name (Garcia - my mother's maiden name.) OOPS!!

Will we move beyond it?  I don't know.  Whatever your politics - I have thought that having an African- American Secretary of State during the Bush years and an African American President now shows that we are at least headed in the right direction.  Ten years ago, I wouldn't have thought it possible that a  man with a name like Barack Obama would sit in the Oval Office in my lifetime.   Yet here we are.

Perhaps the more baltant nature of prejudice is the result of "fear." Despite pockets of deep resentment and prejudice, protected minorities are taking their place at the upper levels of government.  The movement forward has been relentless if slow - and fear becomes desperation.

When I look back at what things were like when I was a youngster - I must admit that we've come a long way - even though we still have a very loooooong way to go!

As much as people try to defend it (I recently had to take a post down because of it) there is something known as reverse racism! I couldn't get a showing on a house because I was white and so where my clients. Really, really sad! But, I promise people we all bleed red and our tears are all the same! If we want to connect with other countries we need to fix our own first!