I Have Random Thoughts
"People in america who are black or Mexican are more likely to engage in criminal acts than people who aren't black or Mexican." - That's the sort of line that people read and often instinctively have strong, fiery opinions on, because it hits close to home for a lot of people. It's also something that I happen to agree with - but not because I'm racist. I know what you're thinking: this guy is making negative blanket statements about entire races, and now he's saying that he's not racist, what a deluded bigot he is.
But for those who are actually willing to hear me out and consider my reasons for believing this before passing judgement and deciding who I am: the average black/Mexican family in america is much poorer than the average non black/Mexican family.
For black people, it's because only a few generations ago our very unethical society's racism made it virtually impossible for black people to make any real money - a racism that has moved to the fringes, but which still has a real effect on how many opportunities black people get in the work-world. Most black families haven't had long enough to climb out of that particular bit of ugly american history. I suspect that the way certain music genres directly glorify being a criminal has something to do with it as well, but that part's just my opinion, not something that's supported by hard economic statistics.
For Mexican people, it's because Mexico is a poor enough country that very few families there have any real money, and most Mexican families in America haven't been here for more than a handful of generations. So again, most Mexican families haven't had enough time to be able to climb out of their pasts either. On top of that, a lot of Mexican people are in America illegally, which further limits their ability to make money by forcing them to only work jobs where they can get paid under the table. I think that living in a place illegally and having to avoid the authorities at all costs puts people closer to a criminal mindset, but again, that's just my opinion, not something that's supported by hard economic statistics.
I don't think that you can look at the numbers with any degree of rationality and not agree that the average black/Mexican person in America is noticeably poorer than the average non black/Mexican person. Some black/Mexican people in America are rich. Some are middle class. But the percentages are considerably lower than for other races.
But being poor doesn't automatically make someone a criminal. But it does make someone more *likely* to engage in criminal behavior. I think that the best way to frame it is in terms of Maslow's Hierarchy of needs - that until someone has a steady supply of food/water/shelter/aPlaceToSleep, they're going to put an incredibly low priority on safety and security. They'll risk their safety much, much more than someone who has enough to eat/drink/etc. That's why literally every third world country is racked with violence and danger - because until people have food for themselves and their families, they're going to do whatever it takes to survive and put food on the table. Oftentimes, that means doing legal things to make more money - but sometimes it doesn't. I don't think that that's something that a rational person can disagree with, at least as far as it goes.
I believe that if you look at the evidence, it's clear that black people and Mexican people in America are more likely to engage in criminal behavior than people who aren't black/Mexican, not because of any inherent flaw or genetic difference like some bigots like to think - but because of cold, hard economics, and the basic psychology of needs. So if I'm a racist for believing what I believe, and for saying it out loud, then so be it.
But for those who are actually willing to hear me out and consider my reasons for believing this before passing judgement and deciding who I am: the average black/Mexican family in america is much poorer than the average non black/Mexican family.
For black people, it's because only a few generations ago our very unethical society's racism made it virtually impossible for black people to make any real money - a racism that has moved to the fringes, but which still has a real effect on how many opportunities black people get in the work-world. Most black families haven't had long enough to climb out of that particular bit of ugly american history. I suspect that the way certain music genres directly glorify being a criminal has something to do with it as well, but that part's just my opinion, not something that's supported by hard economic statistics.
For Mexican people, it's because Mexico is a poor enough country that very few families there have any real money, and most Mexican families in America haven't been here for more than a handful of generations. So again, most Mexican families haven't had enough time to be able to climb out of their pasts either. On top of that, a lot of Mexican people are in America illegally, which further limits their ability to make money by forcing them to only work jobs where they can get paid under the table. I think that living in a place illegally and having to avoid the authorities at all costs puts people closer to a criminal mindset, but again, that's just my opinion, not something that's supported by hard economic statistics.
I don't think that you can look at the numbers with any degree of rationality and not agree that the average black/Mexican person in America is noticeably poorer than the average non black/Mexican person. Some black/Mexican people in America are rich. Some are middle class. But the percentages are considerably lower than for other races.
But being poor doesn't automatically make someone a criminal. But it does make someone more *likely* to engage in criminal behavior. I think that the best way to frame it is in terms of Maslow's Hierarchy of needs - that until someone has a steady supply of food/water/shelter/aPlaceToSleep, they're going to put an incredibly low priority on safety and security. They'll risk their safety much, much more than someone who has enough to eat/drink/etc. That's why literally every third world country is racked with violence and danger - because until people have food for themselves and their families, they're going to do whatever it takes to survive and put food on the table. Oftentimes, that means doing legal things to make more money - but sometimes it doesn't. I don't think that that's something that a rational person can disagree with, at least as far as it goes.
I believe that if you look at the evidence, it's clear that black people and Mexican people in America are more likely to engage in criminal behavior than people who aren't black/Mexican, not because of any inherent flaw or genetic difference like some bigots like to think - but because of cold, hard economics, and the basic psychology of needs. So if I'm a racist for believing what I believe, and for saying it out loud, then so be it.
