Elmer Smith wrote more extensively about this video but I figured it might be interesting to use it as a jumping off point for a discussion about race relations in Philly. [Warning: Please keep your comments at least somewhat productive.]
Setting aside the made-up statistics being thrown around in the video, many questions are raised in this confrontation between a older black man, who claims that he can never get a cab to pick him up, and cab drivers, who themselves are overwhelmingly persons of color.
Do the cab drivers have a point when they say that their safety an experience are factors in their decisions to pick up certain riders in certain neighborhoods?
Should a young black male be essentially penalized for dressing according to a style that is often associated with the gansta-shiek culture that glorifies crime and violence? In other words, if a young black male wants to increase his chances to get picked up by a cab, especially, it seems, by these cabbies, should he just change his style of dress?
If the city wasn't currently, in the words of one of the drivers, the "murder capital" where most the crimes are instances of black-on-black violence, would this be less of a problem?
Essentially, it gets down to this - do you think that the burden of proof (or whatever) falls on the cab drivers or on the prospective customers? Should the cabbies pick absolutely everyone up no matter what the circumstances or should cab customers do what they can to conform to an appearance or style of dress that is less frightening (for lack of a better word) to the cabbies?
I realize that asking these questions pretty much assumes that what Joe Sam says - that many cabbies are less likely to pick up black customers - is true. But many of the cab drivers in the video seem to be agreeing with him while also claiming that he's wrong. They seem to be saying that they all pick up everyone BUT if a young, black male is wearing sagging pants and affecting a tough-guy look at 3am, he's not likely to get picked up.
Issues of race have always been difficult in Philadelphia, traditionally between whites and blacks. This video demonstrates that there's also some intraracial strife going on.
Oh and here's the obligatory question: What can the next mayor do to fix this?
(Special thanks to Jonathan Tannenwald at philly.com for suggesting the video.)
Comments (7)
I loved the post! really enjoyed it, If you need a hand with your SEO just let me know
Posted by link building service uk | November 13, 2011 8:05 AM
Great post really enjoyed it mate :) If you ever need some help with SEO let me know
Posted by using duplicate content | November 23, 2011 11:02 AM
I loved the post! really enjoyed it, If you need a hand with your SEO just let me know
Posted by hyfr lil wayne | November 27, 2011 12:07 PM
I loved the post! really enjoyed it, If you need a hand with your SEO just let me know
Posted by songs by lil wayne | November 27, 2011 12:42 PM
I have read much about without charge blogging web pages, but I have no clear idea on the topic of that, can any one tell me which one is best for free blogging?
Posted by best carinsurance | January 18, 2012 1:01 PM
I have read much concerning without charge blogging websites, but I have no clear idea about that, can any one inform me which one is best for free blogging?
Posted by cheapcar insurance | January 19, 2012 7:57 AM
Hello, for Search engine optimisation real contents are actually needed, if you just copy and paste then you can not ranked in search engines.
Posted by cheap car-insurance | January 19, 2012 8:36 AM