
WDSU-TV
'People are just sick and tired of the crime,' said Mark Traina, a psychologist with the Jefferson Parish, La., Public Schools.
A school psychologist in suburban New Orleans blames "the liberal media" for a complaint filed by the federal government accusing him of having made numerous racist online comments.
![]() M. Alex Johnson is a reporter for msnbc.com. Follow him on Twitter and Facebook. |
The psychologist, Mark Traina of Slidell, La., is a psychologist with the Jefferson Parish Public Schools in the suburbs of New Orleans. He works with students in the district's so-called alternative schools, where elementary and middle school pupils "with difficulties in learning and, in some cases, in adapting to the rules of school or community" are sent, according to the school district.
Traina is the subject of a complaint filed with the U.S. Department of Education by the Southern Poverty Law Center, a liberal-leaning civil rights advocacy group, which said it had found "a number of very, very hostile racial comments" on his Twitter account.
The SPLC cited tweets like this:
- "Angry young black males with no respect for life destroying the U.S."
- "Serpas should be warning people to stay the hell out of New Orleans! These black dudes will kill you!" (The reference is to Ronal Serpas, the New Orleans police superintendent.)
- "2 New Orleans policemen shot, 1 suspect dead, another injured. UPDATE|NOLA Quick Someone call David Duke before the NAACP gets here."
Writing under his own name, Traina has posted similar comments on the website of the New Orleans Times-Picayune, the newspaper reported.
Watch US News videos on msnbc.com
Msnbc.com also found similar sentiments on Traina's Twitter account, which was still active as of last week, like this:
At the same time, other tweets suggest a more nuanced view than the SPLC ascribes to Traina:
Traina, who in his Times-Picayune user profile describes himself as a "civil rights activist," called the complaint "unfair" in an interview with NBC station WDSU of New Orleans
"Whenever someone speaks out, the liberal media just wants to demonize you," he said.
Traina expanded on those remarks in a long comment posted to the Times-Picayune website last week:
The Southern Poverty Center knows that these allegations are ABSOLUTELY NOT TRUE! This is just another way to harass the Jefferson Parish Public School System. One only needs to read the Times Picayune to see who the real trouble makers are. Sadly, it is disproportionately young black males. Everyone knows that our jails throughout the United States are disproportionately filled with black people. Why would the rate be any different in an educational environment?
Traina said he isn't a racist, telling WDSU that he made the online comments "out of frustration."
"There's too much killing going on," he said. "There's just too much crime in the country, and it's not all black on black.
"It's got to be put down. It's got to stop," he added. "People are just sick and tired of the crime."
But Eden Heilman, a senior attorney with the SPLC, which is based in Montgomery, Ala., said Traina's comments were troubling because he's in a "position of authority."
"When students of color are being brought up on discretionary offenses, they're being unfairly sent to the alternative schools," she said.
More content from msnbc.com and NBC News:
- 'Lucky' teen plucked from waterfall credits rescuers, Pendragon book
- Motorcycle deaths stay at same level despite overall safer roads
- Video: 911 dispatcher caught snoring as woman pleads for help
- Grandmother allegedly shoots grandson eight times
- Could you be sued for texting with a driver? Experts say, 'maybe'





SPLC full of LIBERAL RACE BAITERS !!! Long outlived it's usefulness !!!!
And Conservative Bigots come here on MSNBC to whine when people reject their racism.
Actually I would have to agree with his posts. There is some truth in what he says although the liberal media does not want to admit it.
However, this is a school official and he should be setting the example for his young students. He should be influencing them, not allowing them to influence him.
Not just an "official" but a psychologist, which means his job includes conducting assessments of kids who appear to have issues. School psych assessments include both formal testing and more subjective components such as interviews by the school psych. I don't see how his expressed views could NOT affect him on the job, plus it is certainly going to affect the students' ability to trust this guy, which in turn will affect school psych services for him. I would not be surprised if his insistence on making these statements publicly (talk about race-baiting) came to the attention of the licensing entity in LA and put his license to work as a school psych in jeopardy.
SRMcMahon, you are right. The problem isn't with what he wrote. It's the dreadful combination of his job with what he wrote. Let's say he's not racist, then he's too stupid to hold his job. Did he really believe that as a school department employee who oversees children, many of whom would be minority, that he could post such statements and not cause comment? If I were a mother of a minority child, I would never want my child evaluated by this man knowing what I know now. His effectiveness as a school psychologist is shot. So, even if he's not racists, he's an idiot and shouldn't be working in the school system. By the way, a lot of people who think they aren't racists are, they simply don't acknowledge it, because everyone wants to be the hero in their own lives.
FOr alll the white folk who try to equate black racism with white racism a small History lesson - White people enslaved and exploited black people for 3000 years - even building a sick culture on their labor (The Confederacy) - not vice versa - to ignore or deny the significance of this fact is like pretending that last year's rainfalll has nothing to do with the water in the pond in back of my house this year. As far as the Black Panther Party - it has not been a force since the 1960s, when the government was so out of control as to conscript young people (especiallly black oNES) to fight in their war of anti-liberation in Vietnam. SO, alll you white crybabies who claim they're being discriminated against because of their color - get over it and acknowledge reality.
By the way, in my experence the bigest diffference between white people in the SOUth and white people up north is that the white people in the SOuth are much more open about their racism. (Even the ones who shold know bettter.
Ronald Hussein Reagan
Most of what came out of your mouth is garbage, or at least smells like it.
No one claims that slavery was right or still is right (because yes, we all know it still is going on), however who put them into slavery? It was their own people, other tribes for the most part from their own country.
Get your facts straight.
White people as you call them, in those days, english, irish and such, did not go SLAVING, yes they did purchase slaves but they did not enslave them.
Now the big question, what did that have to do with his comments? Not a bloody arse thing jackson. This "argument" is the same reply that comes from most who have no real answers. "The blacks suffer because our ancestors where slaves." Right, like people are walking around with whips and chains to remind them of an era that has passed. This is NOT a legit argument for the subject at hand but just some form of transferring todays issues to something that is DEAD.
It is with sadness that Mr. Traina is correct in his statements. It is even sadder that in todays world, a man as educated and trained as he is, can not express his thoughts and opinions without being attacked and labeled a racist. From all that I have seen he has not stated one UNTRUTH.
Last but not least, I take offense as being lumped "White People", I am USA citizen, AMERICAN. My ancestry is Melungeon, folks at the bottom of the barrel and thought even less of than the SLAVES of the era.
Care to discuss past wrongs, our people have a ton, but it is in the past.
Um...Ronald, where did the "white" people get their slaves? Just asking. Not saying it's right, but Europe was the biggest "owners" of black slaves. When I lived in England for one year in 1992 I witnessed more racism than I ever had living in Texas for 21 years.
BTW - Irish decent here. The Irish were actually treated worse than blacks when they came to America. They did the most dangerous of jobs that even the blacks woudln't/didn't do. Since we're discussing history, thought you might like a lesson.
Kris is right. Ronald is the voice of the culture Mr. Traina is tweeting about, and it isn't just in New Orleans.
He has a right to feel anyway he wants and to say whatever he wants. Are his comments statistically correct? Maybe.. I've never checked them. Have you? If he were a true racist, he would never have made those comments about the Tulsa shootings... just another media attempt to make a mountain out of a mole hill.
Wrong. The majority of the Irish immigrated to the US during and immediately after the Irish Potato Famine, 1845-1852. At that time, black people were still held in slavery. Being told "No Irish need apply" is tough, sure, but it sure beats seeing your child sold down the river or your wife raped with total impunity by a slaveholder.
And where did the white people get their slaves? After the 1820 US Law on the Slave Trade made slave trading illegal, the way people got more slaves was from enslaving babies born of slaves.
As far as Europe goes, since it is an entire continent, it would be no surprise that they would have held more slaves than the US; that didn't stop most European countries from banning slavery in the 1820's, well before we got around to it.
And are you really defending Mark Traina? Really? Here's a guy who describes himself as a "Wallace man", and therefore is presumably in favor of going back to segregation, a guy that calls for bringing in David Duke, so he's a KKK fan, and a man that thinks "Young black thugs should be put down instead of incarcerated". I guess if they're young white thugs, it would be different (sarcasm). Such a man does not belong anywhere in the school system, much less being the person that decides whether or not a kid should be sent to an alternative school.
Ronald Hussein Reagan
It is true that we whites did own slaves, but what you fail to grasp in your ignorant rant is that other black people in Africa were rounding up other black people and selling them to the whites. So, if your arguement is correct them black peopl;e have been enslaving black peiople for the last thousand years and it still goes on in Africa. You and people like you are the reason racism still exists.
this guy is no more racist than Al Sharpton or Jesse Jackson
....why pick on him? Is it because of his skin color?
Your poor understanding of history is why racism still exists
Are you an idiot? Are you trying to justify European and American slavery by blaming blacks in africa? Christ, you people never give up in your racist tripe, do you?!!
i am sure that the african knew what the europeans and Americans planned to so with their slaves. BTW Mr history Buff, In African slavery, slaves were sold from tribe to tribe after a war and often returned to their former homeland within a few years. Hardly the American model . was it. dip@hit!!!
This person is a LEGAL U.S. CITIZEN AND CAN POST WHATEVER HE WANTS ON HIS TWITTER ACCOUNT !!! The SPLC can voice their opinion. Facts are Facts, Black Males commit the overwhelming majority of ALL CRIME in the U.S.. And they do the crimes with the full support of the NAACP, SPLC, Jessie and Al who always try the deflect the real issues rather then accept the reality. If it walks like a duck, quack like a Duck and looks like a Duck - it must be a duck but the SPLC is blind. They are the most violent segment of the population and the SPLC should be doing something to address this continuing problem and not try to act as though it doesn't exist. Public Officials have a duty to report which groups are responsible for Crimes and warn people of areas that are not safe. The NAACP, Al and Jessie are the most racist group and individuals in the U.S. as they have always been. If the Government is not willing to put the animals in their cages then Citizens will put them in the ground.
You are correct you CAN post whatever you want, but that DOES NOT mean there are no consequences for your actions, or voice.... I can post on facebook all the things I don't like about my boss.... but I wouldn't expect to come back to work the next day... at least not for long...
Oh, well in that case, I guess we're exonerated. What? No. Jeebus! That's like when you're five, and you throw something at your little brother and say, "Well he told me to!" Yeah, it didn't fly then, either.
Ahem, America, pretending racism is gone, doesn't actually make it gone. Anyone see the movie the "Usual Suspects"???
"The greatest trick the devil ever played on the world was convincing it he didn't exist."
By denying the fact that we still have racial bias in our country we don't have to CONFRONT the racial bias within OURSELVES.
And really, white men, you AREN'T a persecuted minority. In fact, if you're whining now, you wouldn't last a day, as an ACTUAL minority.
Moonbaby, the vast majority of slaves were captured. It was easy to hit the West Coast of Africa on the way to the New World. When Condi Rice made the statement you are referring to, she should have justified it and validated it.
Further, racism has traditionally referred to the denial of access by one group toward another, in which case not even affirmative action was "reverse" racism.
Now, as for African Americans. We commit far too many crimes. We are not just singled out all of the time (and incarcerated unfairly). Many of us are never caught. And we really do know that. We know where to walk and where not to and where we prefer to live and where we don't and we know that it is not white guys who are shooting up our neighborhoods. But when someone points those things out to us we go into denial and defensiveness sets in, perhaps because the problems are so overwhelming. Cutting the crime rate in our own neighborhoods, which only we can do, would be a proactive way of changing our image. However, we somehow think that everyone has the time to get to know us as individuals, as if every city is a small town, and that everyone should treat us as such. Dream on. Life doesn't work like that for anyone.
Both African Americans and European Americans are paranoid when it comes to racism. Both thinks they know all about the other. Its interesting listening to each group's take on the other. If whites want blacks to be less paranoid and to not "play" the race card, then eliminate racism. If black men want to be taken serious as intelligent and responsible human beings, then cut the crime rate, stay in school, parent responsibly. Offer no excuses. You often sound whiny.
Both whites and blacks and everyone in between are the problem.
To: Moonbaby,
Where do I start? When other cultures enslaved those who look like them but of a different tribe or territory, would you describe those slaves as "their own people" or would you make a distinction, by tribe or territory? In other words, if Vikings enslaved Fins, would you make the statement that they enslaved their own people. When I looked at Northern European people, they basically look the same to me; therefore, are they the same people? Do you get my point? The same would hold true in Africa, if one African tribe had slaves from another African tribe or territory, then they are not enslaving "their own people." That is a nasty way of trying to shift guilt and blame from the American Slave holders to Africa. Also Africans gained respect based on how WELL they treated their slaves. This was not the case in America. Until slavery in the Americas, slaves were usually captured as spoils of war, or were because they were enemies. Slaves were not catagorized as less human, solely based on the color of their skin.
While it is true that the prison population is largely black, it is also true that blacks are more likely to receive a more severe punishment i.e. longer sentence, for the crime, than his white counterpart.
All human life is sacred; therefore, any deadly act of violence should not be tolerated, whether black on black, white on black, black or white etc...
Mr. Traina voiced his point of view; however, I did not read where he made any suggestions for viable corrections to eliminate those problems. In Mr. Traina position, what has he done to make a difference in some of the young people's lives? Perhaps if he mentored a few, they would become productive citizens. One of the goal of schools should be to prepare students to be productive contributors to society. Most people would love to be self sufficient. As a society, instead of citing the problems, we should do our part to help elevate each other. If we all rise together, America would be unstoppable.
Maybe Sarah needs to walk in a black mans boots , through his own neighborhood , to see the REAL WORLD !
Johnny,
Only if you come with me. Perhaps you'd stop whining then.
Mr. Traina should, especially given his position of authority in posychology, realize that it is the so-called "liberal media" that allows him to express his views freely. And so, Mr. Traina, why should you wish to disparage or restrict those who would criticize your views?
But in a larger sense, this scenario is representative of the kind of dialogue which actually should occur, as a means to bring race issues out into the public sphere instead of festering in "frustrated" individuals, as Mr. Traina admits to being in his own situation. The good thing here is that he is honest enough to express his frustration. The not-so-good-thing is that someone supposedly trained in counselling and psychology would hopefully have a deeper understanding of the problem than he appears to have as expressed in his posts.
blue tarp,
Don't you realize that it's the Constitution that allows him to express his views freely?
Do you think he was hired by the school district, one of the worst in the country, to tell kids they are hopeless?
No, it is not the Constitution that allows him to express his views in the media, it is the media that chooses to publish those views that has the Constitutional protection. They could certainly decide to screen out his diatribe. I imagine the service that transmits his tweets could do the same, although since I am not a twit I wouldn't know. Now, if he set up his own web-hosting or carried his own soapbox to city hall or handing out his own printed flyers he would be benefitting from Constitutional protections.
SRMcMahon,
The media that he used to express his views was Twitter, the soapbox of the day, which did not exist when the Constitution was written. Neither did radio, television or the internet exist when the Constitution was written. The Constitution protects freedom of expression for the individual first and the media of the day (the press) second:
I rest my case. Unless, of course, your comment means that every person who carries their own soapbox to a street corner becomes a protected medium of one, in which case I agree.
denver bill 2...guess you missed a little something in this..only the media and politicans can say whatever..us folks, working middle class do not have that right..according to how the media plays every thing said by anyone other than their own personal friends or owners.
No, Ivan, we do have freedom of speech. No one is suggesting this man go to jail for his racist tweets, because they are protected free speech. What we don't have is freedom of consequences for our free speech. He can be fired because of what he said, as it would seem he is not suited for his job. The Constitution does not protect him from that.
When you take off the white robe and hood and let the world know who and what you are. I guess the only defense is to blame the media, jeeezzzzzz I thought ignorance was dying? We have the Internet and still so much ignorance, Typical Faux news watcher to be sure
"When students of color are being brought up on discretionary offenses they're being unfairly sent to the alternate schools."
None of which has ANYTHING to do with Mr Traina. I'd like to know if any of the SPLC members have any posts on the web regarding the Trayvon Martin case, or the recent Tulsa case, or the recent Baltimore case...
It seems like Mr Traina is being blamed based on the SPLC's "discretionary" interpretation of this "employee of light color's" comments. When people are risking losing their jobs over the SPLC's "interpretations" it sounds like they are guilty of the same behavior that they are criticizing!
sezmeuwhacko-
Is the same true for a hoodie? I know he mentioned David Duke in one of his posts (I ga-vomit just typing this prick's name!), but he is using it as an ANALOGY for the NAACP. He's saying the NAACP is as racist as David Duke.
Product of the New Orleans School District? Just in case: "The word analogy can also refer to the relation between the source and the target themselves, which is often, though not necessarily, a similarity."
The Racist Reflex: Blame the media for exposing them.
If you look for racism it is everywhere. It is in the White House. It is on the street. It is in the media. It is in the schools. It is driven by both inequity and over compensation. Limit both inequity and over compensation by recognizing individuals instead of groups - which is promoted ad nauseum by the federal government's need for control and influence for political gain and has been and continues to be the root of much of injustice. Liberty for all is regarding all 'individuals', not special interest groups 'used' by the government to promote their ever changing agendas of power mongering.
@ Pugiron, you sir or madame (whichever) are an idiot. As with the idiotic statement above from mr hussein reagan, you have no concept of reality or truth for that matter. According to you both it is ok for "minority groups" (btw, whites are now the minority) to spout off their hate speech against any other race and have no consequences, but when white people have something to say, we are crybabies, and racist??!! How does that make any sense? Get a grip and quit being a crybaby about something you have no clue about. Were you alive during slavery? Do you know what it was like for slaves, were you a slave? Then have a coke and smile, while your at it shutup :)
Hey Alda... WTH do you know about being a slave?? nothing... then you STFU!
We're all slaves to this racially divisive attitude (both ways).
@alda
Intentions. The operative word of the decade.
I try to give people the benefit of the doubt and look at situations, facts, and even speculation, from all sides.
However, in this situation...looks like a duck, sounds like a duck, acts like a duck. WTF - must be a duck.
A grown adult 40+ person in a position of power, teaching, and influencing, with responsibilities to his occupation and professional license, such as this man, KNOWS EXACTLY WHAT HE IS SAYING, HOW HE IS SAYING IT, THE REACH OF THE MEDIUM AS WELL, AND NOW HE'S BACKPEDALING.
Anything else is BS. But sure, go ahead, clean it up.
Let's not forget we're also talking about a city (among others) that medicated a lot of "problem" kids (mostly minorities) in school, and here we are 10 years down the road.
All in all, this man knew what he was doing. If he wants action, then get off the computer and go the school board, or be a mentor or something.
"Liberal Media" sounds like this twat can tweet but can he read? Maybe one more pass by K2 to finish the flush.
Ok I'm sorry his comments were wrong. It would be one thing if hewas just an average guy posting it but he works in a position of power with black students so gee lets think about this, if you already made up your mind that blackmales are trouble then every student that comes your way isnt going to get a fair shake your going to just pass judgement before you even speak with them. Plus look where he lives of course there is a lot of crime, Guess what I live in a predominantly black neighborhood and we have an average of two deaths a year. More blacks are in jail partly because a unjust legal system throws them i jail for minor offenses more then whites. Where i live pot is legal so you go to some colleges and there are white dudes in dreadlocks getting high right in the middle of campus and people think its funny but if you go some where else and its black guy he is a thug and he gets locked up. Call me liberal and all other kinds of nastly things but you can look it up yourself. He needs to loose his job. You dont say call DavidDuke then turn around and claim people misunderstood you. If it was a black teacher doing it to white kids I'd say the same thing
Thanks to Jesse. I couldn't have said it better!
Conversely, Jessie, if all he sees all day are "youths of color" who disregard authority (in the school, not behind a pair of sunglasses and a badge) then he's not being racist, he's merely being observant. He said David Duke in the same sentence in which he references the NAACP. He's not saying he supports David Duke anymore than I am supporting Jesse Jackson for writing the term "NAACP."
You are jumping to conclusions about this man's INTENT. That's an assumption, and we all know what happens when we "assume."
Whats wrong people, The truth hurts.
Nothing is wrong. One truth led to another... Some truths set you free, some get you fired, some get you locked up. In this case, yes, the truth is going to hurt Mark Traina.
Not nearly as bad as it will hurt the students. He'll find another job... something that a lot of these students will NEVER do.
I would like to know why someone is not bringing up Bill Maher's name. If you want to talk about 'race baiting' and liberal b.s., no one is worse than him. It appears to me that anytime anyone with conservative views 'tweets' or does a facebook update that upsets someone, there's a lawsuit filed. Bill Maher has been doing 'his thing' for years and no one has the stones to slap his ears back. It's true the media is very one sided. That said, Mr. Traina is in a position to where, like someone of political office needs to watch what he says. That was wrong and he should be punished for it.
Bill Maher is a comedian. You know what those are, right?
Navy: "Conservative views"? His views are at least borderline racist, which is one of the reasons "liberals" have a problem with conservatives. A lot of conservatives share his "views," liberals not so much.
Bill Maher doesn't work for a school dept. and you can always change the channel if you don't like what he says. People that work in schools are necessarily held to a higher standard.
BTW, Maher would dispute your characterizing him as a liberal. He's a libertarian, BIG difference.
I'll tell you why, since you did ask... because he was not part of this story and because he is not a school psychologist. That's the last help you're going to get. As a conservative you need to be more self reliant...
Did he make the posts and sign with his name, title, department, etc? Or did he post as a private citizen? If he doesn't mention his position in the school in the posts then his posts are no different than mine or yours...
"a complaint filed with the U.S. Department of Education by the Southern Poverty Law Center, a liberal-leaning civil rights advocacy group, which said it had found "a number of very, very hostile racial comments" on his Twitter account."
Why is the SPLC monitoring peoples Twitter accounts? What happened to the 1st amendment?
According to Mark Potok and the SPLC-along with Janet Napolitano and DHS-anyone who is a member of the GOP is a racist,and a threat-as are returning service members,and anyone who buys camping/outdoor gear,or ammo with cash,or from surplus stores.
Apparently anyone who doesn't agree with Mr. Potok,or our current gov./ admin. is a racist.
Twitter accounts are, by definition, public.
The comments are clearly racist, and Traina admits making them. He obvioulsy did not want to be anonymous, or he would have chosen an anonymous name.
Usually when someone agrees with David Duke on racial issues, that person is generally racist.
However, if he is not acting as a racist in his professional capacity, and if his personal opinions are shown to not affect his job performance, then it should be a non-issue.
Paranoid much?
Not affect his job performance? If you take a look at the school psych professional conduct rules for Louisiana--this guy has to maintain his license in order to work in his field--there is good reason to think his performance might be affected.
www dot lsponline dot org look for Professional Responsibilities
primate guy - not racist comments - realist comments.
"Angry young black males with no respect for life
destroying the U.S."
hat is racist because it scapegoats one segment of the
population and blames them for the overall decline of the Nation. I would argue
that poor trade policy has done more damage to the U.S. than angry young black
males, even ones that do not respect life. Additionally, the fact that his
imaginary demographic (which somehow
sees into the motivations of an individual) includes racial
characteristics is irrelevant. If I
argued that young white males who cooked methamphetamine in rural areas were destroying the U.S., the
racial aspect of that statement is equally irrelevant.
In both cases, however, the relative lack of employment opportunities in both inner city
and more recently, more rural areas, has more to do with the increasing crime
rate than personal motivations.
A racist will claim that black culture glorifies violence
and crime. That may be true, but the culture that created the Western film and the
gangster film, the cowboy ballad that glorifies banditry and dueling, and has
romantized the prohibition era, one of the most violent periods in history,
really should have difficulty making the claim that glorification of violence
leads to actual violence, since those making that claim generally do not claim
to be violent themselves.
"Serpas should be warning people to stay the hell out of New
Orleans! These black dudes will kill you!"
This is racist, again, because the race of potential
criminals is irrelevant. Serpas, as a police official, should be providing
security in New Orleans, instead of instituting a policy of segregation there.
”2 New Orleans policemen shot, 1 suspect dead,
another injured. UPDATE|NOLA Quick Someone call David Duke before the NAACP
gets here."
This is racist because primarily because it equates David
Duke with the NAACP. David Duke, as a former KKK leader, was involved with a
terrorist organization responsible for numerous documented killings and acts of
violence. The NAACP has never advocated or engaged in violent actions. Making
public statements that annoy a segment of the white population is in no way
comparable to burning down entire neighborhoods with the people still there, hanging
people from trees, or dragging them until dead.
Have you been there? You may not like the truth, but the truth is, if you see a black in this area, run!
Yes, I have been there.
I have spoken to blacks, and am alive.
I also spent a year as a social worker. I was told by locals in the area to be afraid of "the projects"
I went in there at least twice a week, unarmed, and I am still alive.
I went into people's houses, occasionally asked them if they beat or molested their children, and am still alive.
I find that if you walk into an area acting fearful, you will draw agression. If you treat people like they are people, even otherwise violent people will be unlikely to assault you.
Of course, if a person goes into any inner city neighborhood looking wealthy, they may risk robbery. That still has nothing to do with race, but with the psychological concept of opportunity cost.
It should be apparent that looking out of place in any neighborhood can be dangerous, ask Trayvon Martin, or James Byrd, Jr.
Besides, the crime statistics spouted by the right are generally black on black crime, so a white man in a black neighborhood is statistically safer than any black man in the same neighborhood.
Statistics out of context can be really elegant, sometimes.
Primate guy. Well said. It's proof that there is nothing to fear and there is no attributable difference identifiable by race.
The black to non black ratio in prisons I am sure is a typo or something else entirely. I posit that it is probably the government placing more money in predominantly white neighborhoods, which increases the chances of a good education, and allows the non white population extra ability to get away with their crimes scott free.
The real demon here is the Government, for being racist. White people are just not looking up the ladder far enough. Government needs to funnel a lot more money into black communities so education is lifted, and more black people can get away with their crimes.
That's the only thing I can think of. One would jump to the conclusion that more black people commit crimes that white people, but as I have proved, that is not the case. Clearly all races commit an equal amount of crimes, blakc males just have a difficult time getting away with it. I suppose, this could also be racism on behalf of the Police force, or Judical system.
this guy is so right, negros should be inslaved again
Well, let's see. I would like to suggest that you first learn how to spell. The word is "enslaved". Number two- it would seem that you are enslaved to your own ignorant thoughts and views regarding minorities. I would like to invite you to get out and see the world, broaden your horizons, get an education, stop running off at the mouth and offer some real suggestions on how to improve first yourself and then others. Get a life!
Your misspelled ignorance says it all.
You reinforce the stereotype that most bigots come from the ranks of the uneducated.
u wish.. people can say what they want, when they want.. if you tried inslaving negros today, it would only be a war within ourselves.. Americans make me sick.. Land of the Free.. yea right.. America is full of it.. they want this oh so lovely name for themselves "white people" but then they want to treat black people like crap.. why do you think negros do what they do? They dont have the lifestyle or could ever get the lifestyle of the average white people.
Gerry - the word used as an adjective is correctly spelled, ignorant. Your comment to Maryann displays your own ignorance.
Oh, if only all the far right conservatives today could somehow migrate to another Earth in a parallel universe, leaving us alone, the U.S. would become a great place to live. Think of it...no more Dick Cheneys, no more George W. Bushs, no more Sarah Palins, no more Koch brothers, no more A.L.E.C.s, no more Rush Limbaughs or Glenn Becks, no more FOX News, no more free market/cuthroat capitalism & unrestrained apocalyptic investment banking, no more false wars or wars for corporate interests, no more hypocritical hate-filled religion, much reduced bigotry & discrimination...
Instead, we have self-proclaimed 'great' Americans like Mr. Smith calling for the reinstatement of slavery, and now Nazi psychologists like Mr. Traina. Wanna know how the Nazis became popular in the Weimar Republic? Just take a look at today's growing conservative movement...
13.6% of black men are currently unemployed.
Marv, I'm fairly certain Gerry's remark was addressed to to the sub-human Billy J. Smith.
Marv -- but the word wasn't used as an adjective! Learn your grammar rules before you start correcting others.
Whats wrong - the man is telling the truth !
People on here say 'the man is telling the truth'. Last time i checked 'black' is not a nationality. The word happens to be english and am adjective...therefore making it impossible for this group to exist without uttering fabrications. Study Dominant and recessive genes and your superiority complex will disappear fast
Truth720, I think they are referring to a "race", not a "nationality".
Liberal media??????? The guy is an out and out racist. Full stop. What he's really upset about is getting caught,
I'm a liberal kind of guy, in the general sense, and I've always wished someone could tell me where to find this so-called "liberal media." If people think that ANY corporate media, including MSNBC, is "liberal" we're in a world of hurt....oh, wait, we ARE in a world of hurt.
nobody wants to see what's patently obvious. They call him a racist but don't asrgue facts.........
What's obvious is that most bigots lack spelling and grammar skills. Lack of education often breeds resentment and fear that " those people " will take your job at Wal Mart pushing buggies.
You realize David Duke was a Klan member?
Nectarine: ABSOLUTELY CORRECT!!! Ignorance and fear!
"Angry young black males with no respect for life
destroying the U.S."
That is racist because it scapegoats one segment of the
population and blames them for the overall decline of the Nation. I would argue
that poor trade policy has done more damage to the U.S. than angry young black
males, even ones that do not respect life. Additionally, the fact that his
imaginary demographic (which somehow
sees into the motivations of an individual) includes racial
characteristics is irrelevant. If I
argued that young white males who cooked methamphetamine in rural areas were destroying the U.S., the
racial aspect of that statement is equally irrelevant.
In both cases, however, the relative lack of employment opportunities in both inner city
and more recently, more rural areas, has more to do with the increasing crime
rate than personal motivations.
A racist will claim that black culture glorifies violence
and crime. That may be true, but the culture that created the Western film and the
gangster film, the cowboy ballad that glorifies banditry and dueling, and has
romantized the prohibition era, one of the most violent periods in history,
really should have difficulty making the claim that glorification of violence
leads to actual violence, since those making that claim generally do not claim
to be violent themselves.
"Serpas should be warning people to stay the hell out of New
Orleans! These black dudes will kill you!"
This is racist, again, because the race of potential
criminals is irrelevant. Serpas, as a police official, should be providing
security in New Orleans, instead of instituting a policy of segregation there.
”2 New Orleans policemen shot, 1 suspect dead,
another injured. UPDATE|NOLA Quick Someone call David Duke before the NAACP
gets here."
This is racist because primarily because it equates David
Duke with the NAACP. David Duke, as a former KKK leader, was involved with a
terrorist organization responsible for numerous documented killings and acts of
violence. The NAACP has never advocated or engaged in violent actions. Making
public statements that annoy a segment of the white population is in no way
comparable to burning down entire neighborhoods with the people still there, hanging
people from trees, or dragging them until dead.
Guess this dude couldn't wait for the next klan meeting to let out his frustration.
I see so many goofy comments here I don't know where to begin... All you have to do is tune into any TV channel any where and see what is the problem and who is causing them...
The problem with that comment is perspective. For example, if you view black people as criminals, you can find ample evidence to prop up this claim (many black people commit crimes). On the other hand, if you look for evidence that white people are criminals, you can find that as well (many white people commit crimes, including a whole group of white-collar crime that is predominantly done by white skinned folks). If I want to blame immigrants, I can turn on the TV and find stuff to blame them for. If I want to blame politicians, liberals, conservatives, environmentalists, etc. there are plenty of examples on TV to point out "that is the problem and who is causing it". All that proves is that any bias you want to push is readily facilitated by television. Next time, make a comment that actually states your position: Richak28 doesn't like black folks. Grow some balls people, if you want to make racist comments do it in the open like a real man (or woman), and use your real name rather than hiding behind an anonymous moniker.
Shane: Nailed it!!
I would think the liberal media would be hesitant to show blacks in a poor light?
Black people make up 12.9% of the population and commit 56% of all murders. This is come the website for the Justice Department. The facts can't be racist.
It's division of labor. Like, Jews do the accounting, and Mexicans do the yardwork, etc. Not that complicated.
Do they "commit" 56% of all murders or are they convicted of 56% of all murders? Big difference.
"This is come from the website..." Speak English much?
Doug, I'm going to assume you're being sarcastic, no one could be so stupid.
Blacks are convicted of 56% of all murders, because they commit 56% of all murders. People of all races are sometimes wrongly convicted of crime. There is not a national conspiracy to convict a random black person of each murder. Blacks are also convicted of 54% of all robberies and 44% of all rapes. These are statistics from the Justice Department. Blacks in the United Kingdom are 9 times more likely to murder than whites. Just facts.
Since blacks in the UK have less anglo admixture, it should follow that they are more violent than African Americans, according to that logic. Considering that conservative studies place the average percentage of european ancestry among african americans at 20 to 30 percent, I would suggest that the conviction rate for rape for whites has always been a little low. There simply is no scientific biological definition of race.
In the City of Dallas, there were sufficient unjust convictions to support an entire television program to releasing wrongfully convicted felons.
The differential murder rate is skewed for several reasons besides the example above. The crime statistics are counting race, but they do not count other demographic information. Inner city youth are convicted of more murders. Without data that provides the percentage of other races in similar socio-economic circumstance it is impossible to determine causation. Additionally, does it no seem odd, that in areas that have inadequate in police patrol, the violent crime rate is higher? It is almost as if criminals are more likely to kill someone if it is unlikely they will be immediately caught.
"Just facts"
I agree, those statistics are facts. The conclusions suggested by the arrangement of those facts disregard the bulk of factual data concerning the issue, and are in the whole patently misleading, unscientific, and by their definition, racist.
Blacks are convicted of more crimes. They are also exonerated more often. They are also falsely accused more often. Blacks are victims of police brutality at the highest rate in this country as well. Blacks get harsher sentences historically. What is wrong with that picture?
Hoodie-2290570
I suppose you might be right. Maybe they actually commit more than 56%...
One-man think tank-
Excellent post. Minorities are sometimes (in some cases, frequently!) victimized by "the system." That doesn't change the fact that the students Mr Traina deals with on a daily basis are predominantly troubled, and predominantly black.
If you work as a prison guard in a maximum security jail, you're going to have a different opinion of inmates than a defense lawyer. Common sense really, and not (necessarily) a result of RACISM.
Funny!
::head shake::
So, his tweets are quoted and it's the 'liberal media' that's making him look like a racist.
If you're going to say things like that, at least have the balls to stand by your statements, not point your finger at someone and cry 'unfair.'
I am an animal lover, and i belong to animal rescue! There was no reason for that cat to die like that! What a bunch of idiots! Trigger happy jerks! That poor cat was terrified and felt trapped, then they hose him and pepper spray him???? I wish i could do that to them! See how they would have felt! I hope they do investigate this and do something about this! They should be fined!
ummm...wrong thread.
I guess you would have to from the area to understand ... but it's just an ignorant butt wipe from Jefferson Parish trying to make New Orleans look bad. Obviously he doesn't understand that without New Orleans, Jefferson Parish wouldn't be so "great." LMAO.
People need to realize that you can think what you want, but you have to be careful of what you say (or write or tweet). ESPECIALLY if you work for the public.
if white people would stop being racist and black people stop their violent behavior maybe this would not inflame each others stereotyped beliefs. this is just for starters and each need to reach out to the other other.
The liberal media isn't so much liberal as it seeks sensationalism and what better way then to raise the level of social controversy then to report from a position of "supposed institutional social acceptance and trust" storys that in fact have no bearing on any really important issues. This guy's e-mails and IM's are made into a "story" about what? the real story here and a a ironic one at that, is the same media and groups fighting SOPA and other citizens privacy issues somehow overlook a individulas right to his own opinion. This guys opinion is far from a radical nazi and is probably held by many as a realistic observation. Is it now a crime to express your observations and opinions? must we all participate in group think? or be exiled from the kingdom. The dangerous and totally facist social bullying is what WILL cause extreme white groups to organize as they have no place to express themseleves as a race, and culture in the media as other races,peoples,cultures enjoy freely without the hater label, nazi, labels. it appears this is a moot point as many have interests to say " see I told you so white people are just racists".
Sound like this guy in LA is seeking sensationalism, otherwise why making provocative statements such as the David Duke reference? All told, the NAACP has a LOT better record than the KKK.
Well said! It has come down to: as spoken by others: "White folks" are not allowed to voice their opinions if it offends minority, period! Yet it is fine for the terms, whitey, honky, cracker and White Boy, to be used freely in the minority community.
Race issues will always take place, nothing will change that, what should be changed is in the way we deal with them indays society. What is good for one is obviously not good for another.
Black College and Black College funds...great....White College or whit only college fund=racist
million man march by the black community=solidarity/all for one million man march by white people=racist
black folk using the N word=fine, its about them white folks using the N word=racist and a beat down coming
arguments of support or denial expected but the facts remain as they are, there are no equal rights but rather "Who can start the most CRAP" and get the biggest mouth piece and press coverage.
If this man was in the same position and he was spouting revisionist Afrocentrist history, I doubt Moonbaby would be protecting his right to speak his mind. He would be instead pointing out that it was another public education pushing the liberal agenda.
Taking away someone's monopoly is not the same as taking away their rights.
You know what? Freedom of speech means just that! Doesn't say you aren't suppose to offend anyone, or make people mad. It angers me that people claim we have freedom of Speech but we really don't. He has the right to his opinion and regardless of who in upsets it is his right. People need to lighten up! I'm a liberal, can't say that I agree with him, and that is my right. No one can take it away! For now... until I offend someone that is.
He does have the right to his opinion. Nobody is saying, for instance, that he should be thrown in jail for what he said. But the school board also has a right to fire him as being unqualified for his job because he is a racist, as is obvious from his own comments and tweets.
Print something on the real racists and those committing treason msnbc.
http://www.theblaze.com/stories/ahmadinejad-farrakhan-new-black-panthers-shocking-new-details-on-their-meeting-the-beast-alliance-that-was-forged/
Is there a EPIDEMIC of violent crime in the black commuinity? YES.....absolutely! I will never say there is not. I as a black woman am constanstly disgusted by the rampant vilolence that our community displays on a daily basis. It's not ok that young men and women do crazy stupid things without thinking of the true consequeces of their actions.
I could go on a rampage about the things young white youth commit, look at all of the shcool shootings that have been commited. There has been numerous occasions where white youth have committed HIDEOUS & HORRIBLE crimes that will make anyone fear for there safety.
Idiots are born everyday he is no execption to that rule. Everyone has the right to his or her opinion, however in his line of work as a school offical he shouldn't be so loose with his words. Why would any of his students want to believe that he has their best interest at heart when at the end of the day he feels that they aren't worth the skin that they are in??
The sad truth is that there is rampant violence in the LOWER INCOME areas both black and Hispanic. It is a crying shame to see the High School dropout rates and the incarceration rates that far surpass middle income and upper income areas. When people defend this issue and try to stifle the conversation they eliminate what Obama calls "a teaching moment". Obama turned to this after Jerimiah Wrights racist comments were brought to light with Obama supporting the comments.
It is time to help end this violence not sweep it under the bus, I mean rug.
End poverty and push education and perhaps the violence will end.
if you type it on the internet, facebook, twitter, or whatever, its now in print. you now are liable for it and can be sued for damages. Yes we have freedom of speech, freedom of the press, but you can be sued for it. What cannot happen is the government putting you in jail for expressing your opinion.