Racism - Classism by JS Columnist Pam Adams

Adam’s is correct when she says in her column today “Intro to Racism, Classism 101” that “Some of you are saying: Oh. My. God. Does she have to go there again? Haven’t we said/read enough about that already?

Yes, Pam, we have read enough of your bigoted columns in which you continue to promote the “great divide” between black and white in Peoria. Almost any tragedy involving a black person brings forth a racial discrimination column from you.

Adam’s is picking up on PJS column writer Luciano, when she writes about the two sad tragic cases (one where white kids in an act of stupidity kill a white friend and a black kid who allegedly beat up and robbed a jogger, set fire to one or more cars and threw a brick that killed an innocent driver) opened what was, for her, a fascinating public dialogue on race and class, mainly among white people. She continues, "Bradley would do a service promoting it. Merely comparing the intentions of two very different types of defendants and the criminal charges filed against them qualifies for a pass out of the introductory course, Race 101. If this continues, we’re heading toward the public version of a graduate seminar on the racial signals and symbols in everyday life, the hidden structure of racism.”

She continues writing that history tells us how Peoria reacts when the smallest questions of or race and racism, money and status collide and break through colorized comfort zones. She says, “There are a thousand ways to deny that race matters.”

If race does matter to a few; then I can say there are a thousand ways in which race doesn’t matter, but the culture of a hateful individual or groupings such as destructive gangs, does.

Adams is the black female version of Don Quixote. Her imagination runs rampant every time she gets an opportunity to tell this community how racist we white people are. Some of my friends of any color, the vast majority don’t care about people’s color, are as tired of Adam’s perpetual racist whine. In fact, many who are classed by our government as “minorities” are not only embarrassed by her ranting but also of the damage she is causing to the growth of the certain areas of the city; in fact, the entire City of Peoria.

Some accuse realtors of allegedly steering new residents to other communities in which to reside. If they are, it could be for many reasons including but not limited to the culture of the some or the residents; not because of the color of the community.

All new residents want to feel safe in their surroundings and most all want to separate themselves from those who have been told so many times that they are “victims of the white man” that some have come to believe it. (I refer you to my blog “Victimization” dated 9/19/05.)

Most potential new residents want to be part of a neighborhood where they feel reasonably safe. They also want to live in a neighborhood that challenges kids to accept the opportunity to get an education, to develop a work ethic and who keep their homes and yards looking neat. They want their neighbors to be responsible citizens.

The new owners of the Journal Star may think these constant accusations of white racism by far left leaning and bigoted writers makes for good copy and sells papers but they may misunderstand; promoting a racial divide in Peoria does not sell the entire community to outsiders considering the Peoria area as a place to start businesses and to reside.