Posted on September 11 at 4:52 p.m.Suggest removal

I am deeply saddened to have read this post. Being a young African American, from Oklahoma, who absolutely LOVES my state, it saddens me when my own ethnic group continuously victimizes themselves, and expects the world to join in.

As I stated on the previous article, "Learning From Our Mistakes," I do not at all believe that West was intending to be racist. I have the same feelings about that area of Oklahoma City, and it has nothing to do with race, but everything to do with crime.

It's sad to me that because it is a predominantly Black area, people assume the world is racist. Why is it that every time the world disagrees with a Black person (or group of people), it's thought of as racist? Rather, why aren't we taking responsibility for our actions? I feel my community is making little progress because we have a tendency to victimize ourselves for what happened to our ancestors. By the way, what happened to our ancestors, happened to every other ethnic group on this planet.

How an article about a young, obviously naive student, feeling unsafe in a very unsafe neighborhood turned into a Black/White issue is beyond me.

On

Posted on September 7 at 7:34 p.m.Suggest removal

"Tbrown23" - What kind of crime do the statistics show in these areas that you've detailed? While numbers may be the same, or higher as you've mentioned, they don't reflect the same types of crime.

For example, Bricktown may have a high rate of petty theft, but a low rate of violent crime. What is the rate of violent crime for the area in question: Bobo's? You tell me.

Also, I agree that there are several other unsafe areas in OKC, but to say that that part of NE OKC isn't one of them is just foolish.

Let's be real.

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Posted on September 3 at 8:02 p.m.Suggest removal

Hmm... I was notified of this column today, and had it forwarded to me. I read it, and I was not offended at all. Mind you, I am a young African American, and I assume this is the race we are talking about.

Why do I have to assume? Well, the column Mr. West wrote, never once mentioned race. Sure, he said "thugs and gangsters," but how is that racist?

I personally have been to Bobo's several times in my life, and I can confirm that it is in fact a DANGEROUS place to be. Period.

This has nothing to do with race, but everything to do with crime. Unfortunately, an area that is plagued with crime also happens to be an area that is predominantly African American. These are the facts. This does not make someone racist.

I personally don't prefer to be in any area that is crime ridden, for the sake of my own safety. I could care less if it is predominantly Black, White or Hispanic. Crime is crime.

So for those of you who got upset and said that this was a "racist" column, you fueled the stereotype when you took it personal.

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