Is it politically incorrect to be wary of large groups of minorities at the park I job at after dusk?

Question

I feel bad about this, but there's a track I run at in a somewhat lousy part of town and sometimes I run at dusk because it's cooler and I can go faster, but sometimes I find my antenna up when there are large groups of minorities using the park. I'm not sure how I would feel about a large group of whites, because they aren't there after a certain hour.

I still run anyway. I'm bigger than your typical jogger, so don't get intimidated.

That said, I really have no prejudices -- quite the opposite, as my own lineage can be considered mixed to a certain degree.

How could I get over my liberal guilt for feeling this way?

Answer 1

You don't need to feel guilty for feeling this way. It's called common sense and self preservation. You're not a racist or a bigot - you're not going overboard, just being aware of your surroundings. There is so much hate in the world, and a lot of it is racial oriented - and it doesn't matter if you're white, brown, black, yellow, red, white or any other color. Not only that, but any large group hanging out after dusk is just something that is wise to keep in your radar. If you didn't have any concern at all, I'd think you were an idiot (no offense). I think there is so much worry over feeling a certain way, whether it makes you a bad person. Just stop feeling guilty and be glad that you are street smart and savvy enough to care about personal safety.

Answer 2

I don't think you have any idea what politically incorrect means.

Answer 3

I sort of know what you mean, and i think it has a lot to do with how racial minorites get portrayed in the media etc. You hear about some asian or whatever stabbing some white person and its made a fuss of in the news, no matter if race was the reason for the stabbing or not (which i think in most cases it was not, more a case of wrong place, wrong time).

Obviously recent terror attacks have made people more wary of others, but say if it had been white people behind those attacks then how would we feel then? Would you feel uneasy around every other white person you came across after dusk? To be honest probably not.

I think you just have to not worry about it, look for other signs that you should keep away from groups like that, are they looking at you weirdly or something and dont just assume/worry that because they are not white they are out to get you.

Enjoy your jogging =)

Answer 4

There's a reason your "antenna" goes up.  It's called instinct.  Humans are the ONLY animals to disregard their instincts for fear of insulting someone, being wrong or being politically incorrect.  Animals in the wild run for their lives all the time because "something" tells them.  Whereas, humans stand there in their political correctness and get mowed down.  

I'll bet if you took a poll of women who've been attacked, most would admit that they sensed something was wrong prior to the attack but didn't want to offend someone if they were wrong.  And I'll bet those same women wish they could turn back time so they could run and scream like h**l.