Gregory Freeman: Frustration With Those Who 'Cause Nothing But Trouble' Knows No Color. P-D 10/25/1994

Headline: FRUSTRATION WITH THOSE WHO `CAUSE NOTHING BUT TROUBLE' KNOWS NO COLOR
Reporter: By Gregory Freeman
Publication: ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH

Last Printed: Tues., Oct. 25, 1994
Section: WAR PAGE, Page: 13B, Edition: FIVE STAR

I COULD HEAR the frustration in her voice.
   "Mr. Freeman, " she began on my answering machine, "you write all this stuff about the races getting along and everything, but I am getting so tired of what black people are doing." That was enough to catch my attention. From her voice and by her comments, I assumed that she was white. I listened, as she proceeded to tell me how her son's car had been vandalized by two black men and how her son would now have to spend a week's salary to make the repairs.
   She said she was tired of having taxes taken out of her paycheck to pay for black people who refused to work and instead terrorized others around them. "The only black people I know have caused nothing but trouble, nothing but crime, " she said. "And now my son is going to have to work all week, just to pay for his car. It's not fair . . . ."
   She didn't leave her name or number, so I couldn't call her back.

What may have surprised her is that I share part of her frustrations although, obviously, for different reasons.
   I can empathize with her as she finds herself as a frustrated victim of crime. I, too, have been a victim of crime.
   Years ago, I was held up at gunpoint by someone who wanted everything I owned, including my jacket in the middle of the winter. He got it, along with my high school class ring, which I had treasured. I somehow managed to survive it, but I'll never forget the look of that silver gun pointed at me.
   My first job at a daily paper was in Pontiac, Mich. Once, about four weeks after I'd arrived there, I came home from work one night to find my door unlocked. I had very few possessions at the time and at first noticed nothing missing. After I went to my bedroom, however, I found that one item was gone: a clock radio. It wasn't worth much, but knowing that someone had been there left me feeling violated - and angry. I never felt the same way about that apartment again, and soon moved to another place.
   Twice, unsuccessful attempts have been made to steal my car. I've awakened in the morning to find my car window broken. I once found graffiti painted on my house.

So when it comes to being frustrated about crime, I want to assure her that I'm just as frustrated about it, as are the people who live behind bars on their doors and windows because they fear that someone might come in at any point and do them harm.
Or the woman I know who refuses to leave her home because she's afraid that someone might break in and take all of her possessions.
All of those folks are frustrated.

But their frustration, just as mine, is not directed at someone because of the person's race. If a guy shoots me after robbing me, does it matter whether the robber who kills me is black or white? Either way, I'm just as dead.
What I'm trying to say is this: being black, having known plenty of black people over my 38 years, having met blacks of all hues, all classes and all types, I think I can safely say that most black people are not "trouble, " as she stated. I think that I can also safely say that most African-Americans - like most people in general - are law-abiding, hard-working folks who don't want the crime and don't want the trouble any more than the caller does.
I don't know who she knows - and I suppose it's none of my business anyway - but if the only blacks she knows are criminals and criminal wannabes, I suspect she's hanging out with the wrong crowd of black folks.

I don't mean to be flip, because I know the frustrations of being a crime victim. It's not fun, and it evokes lots of anger.
   I only ask that the caller try to think rationally when considering what she has experienced, and direct her anger where it should be directed: at people who commit crime, whoever they may be.
   It's quite possible that where she lives, many of the people are involved in criminal behavior.
   I just want her to know that it's a big world out there, and that most black folks - like the white folks and yellow folks and brown folks and red folks - are good people who work every day and pay their taxes and raise their kids and would just like to be able to live their lives peacefully.
   They would like to get through each day without having to worry about whether they'll be burglarized, vandalized, mugged, robbed or shot.
   That is a desire that transcends race.

Daniel Schesch - Webweaver

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