N.C. Mayor: black kids dress like gangsters
by Tironius, created Saturday, July 14, 2007, with permalink
North Carolina mayor my new hero
… He understands his remarks offended some people, but he cited statistics that more than 60 percent of Charlotte’s gang members are black.
—AP
Mayor Pat McCrory, who is white, said he was accurate when he wrote that “too many of our youth, primarily African American, are imitating and/or participating in a gangster type of dress, attitude, behavior and action.” —TBO.com / The Associated Press
The NAACP denies statistics (and pragmatic observation):
”Mr. McCrory’s comments reinforce that stereotype especially to those inclined to hold on to racist thinking and behavior,” 1.i·ro·ny: n. 1. an outcome of events contrary to what was, or might have been, expected 2. Ken White, president Charlotte chapter of the NAACP [Ken White(1), black president of the Charlotte, N.C. branch of the NAACP] said.
Wonderfully, the good mayor had the testicular fortitude to—get this—stick by his guns and did not retract his statement. Way to go, North Carolina.
Also, on stereotypes: How many times does the stereotype have to be reinforced by the actual blacks themselves before we can all admit that gangster dress and behavior isn’t stereotypical, but rather just typical?