Michigan, part of the Underground Railroad. Why racists now?

Question

I grew up here, left here to be "patriotic". To serve my country, promote "our" ideologies. Sacrifice for the right of every "human being" to be free in thier choice. After all, this is America. But with my being African American, I often find myself puzzled. Ouestioning why I served. Was it evident, so "Americans" could remain "racist", in this "Melting Pot"called "America". Could someone elighten me, anyone in 'MICHIGAN"?

Answer 1

Do you feel that the African Americans are free of bigotry ? Have you heard of the Reverends Jackson and Sharpton ? Tell me they are not racists!! Look at the incidents where blacks were destructive in Detroit, no less. This was the city that gave them jobs and they burned out all the parts where colored lived. Have you read where the colored kid stole a n off the road bike, broadsided a moving van and killed himself and what did a bunch of black young men do? Beat up the van driver !! So don't go blaming Americans for all your ills for you are an integral part of the system and you don't escape it by claiming to be otherwise.

Answer 2

Are they 'racist?'  Or are you assuming that they are 'racist?'

IMO - if black people want to fix the problems of racism, they need to start with themselves.

Answer 3

Head south, you will find that you are treated better here than there.. Check out Atlanta..

Many people from Mi have gone there and love it.

Soon, you too, will be saying d**n Yankee and whistling Dixie..

And thanks for serving.. You will find that we are grateful for our people in the military..

Answer 4

Just because Michigan was part of the Underground Railroad doesn't mean the entire state was sympathetic to slaves, and just because some people in Michigan are racist does not mean the entire state is racist.

It sounds like you are confusing yourself with this black and white (pardon the pun) thinking.

Edit to the post above:  I grew up in Howell, and the town is not the home of the KKK.  Howell is the nearest real town to where a grand dragon (now deceased) set up a home and tried to indoctrinate some local hicks in the 1980s.

Answer 5

I don't know.  The two Prop 2 passages, the home of the KKK in Howell, YFA at MSU being declared a hate group.  It's no wonder the state is failing, it's not exactly welcoming.

Detroit and its housing policies that date back to the 50s are part of it.  Livonia is so white it's written about in sociology texts.

Answer 6

The home of the KKK no longer resides in Howell - so you need to check your sources.

I don't consider Michigan a racist state at all. Afterall, if Mr. Kilpatrick was white he would have been in prison long ago.

Perhaps you are living in a non-melting pot area...try Ann Arbor - every race is welcome there!

Answer 7

First - thanks for service to our country. We owe you and other patriots a lot.

As far as your question, I've talked to many people who served in WWII or Korea who had the same questions. Overseas, blacks are Americans - with no qualifications. When we get back to the US, we're considered "those people who aren't good enough to be Americans".  You are told that you need to get others of your race to shape up before you can be treated as a human being. These people who have to shape up are not people you know, or people in your neighborhood, or maybe not in your city. But since they are "non-white" like you,  your respect will be withheld until "they" have met with standards.

As you can tell, I'm frustrated with this thinking. I've done everything expected to be a good citizen for 50 years. Most of the 45 million blacks have done everything expected of them. But it's a package deal - none of us get in.  Worse yet, I don't have a say in getting them education or healthcare or jobs or anything.   Yeah, right to be free.