Mayor complains to Human Rights Commission about "Being White in Philly" article
Controversy over that problematic Philadelphia magazine March cover story called "Being White in Philly" continues to simmer. In the latest development, Mayor Michael Nutter has sent a letter to the Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations decrying the "disgusting" tone of the piece.
Mayor complains to Human Rights Commission about "Being White in Philly" article
Jenice Armstrong, Daily News Columnist
Controversy over that problematic Philadelphia magazine March cover story called “Being White in Philly” continues to simmer. In the latest development, Mayor Michael Nutter has sent a letter to the Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations decrying the “disgusting” tone of the piece and accusing the magazine of having “sunk to a new low even for a publication that has long pretended that its suburban readers were the only citizens civically engaged and socially active in the Philadelphia area.” In the piece, based on anonymous interviews, Robert Huber makes the claim that white people are afraid to talk about race for fear of being called racist.
“That the magazine thought a collection of these despicable, over-generalized, mostly anonymous assumptions rose to the level of journalism is unfortunate enough,” the mayor wrote. “Worse, some of the residents of the nation’s fifth-largest city who are quoted in the piece seem to have ignored every positive anecdote they might otherwise have shared about a positive experience with African-Americans in favor of negative stories, many of them not even clearly attributable to African-Americans at all, to allow the author to feed his own misguided perception of African-Americans – notwithstanding his own acknowledged daily experiences on his own block – as an ethnic group that, in its entirety, is lazy, shiftless, irresponsible, and largely criminal.”
Nutter asked that the Human Relations Commission “consider specifically whether Philadelphia magazine and the writer, Bob Huber are appropriate for rebuke by the Commission in light of the potentially inflammatory effect and the reckless endangerment to Philadelphia’s racial relations possibly caused by the essay’s unsubstantiated assertions.”
Commission head Rue Landau has already responded saying, “The Commissioners and I share the concerns of the Mayor regarding the racial insensitivity and perpetuation of harmful stereotypes portrayed in the Philadelphia Magazine piece. We will take up the Mayor’s charge and, as a matter of fact, we are already looking at intergroup relations in the city, particularly in changing communities.”
The commision will take up the topic at their next public meeting which will be in the Fairmount/Brewerytown community, the geographical focus of the Philly mag piece. The meeting, which is open to the public, is scheduled for 6 p.m. April 18 at a location to be announced.
Meanwhile, in a related development, Philadelphia magazine editor Tom McGrath sent me an email on March 15 confirming details about a March 18 panel discussion called “Can We Talk About Race?” McGrath will moderate the discussion at the National Constitution Center which will be followed by a town hall session. Robert Huber, author of “Being White in Philly,” will be on the panel as will writer Solomon Jones, activist Chris Norris and Farah Jiminez , who heads up the People’s Emergency Center.
On March 19, McGrath is scheduled to meet with members of the Philadelphia Association of Black Journalists. Norris, along with some Temple University, has organized a “Being in Philly” gathering for March 20, the first day of spring. There’ll be music and free water ice giveaways. Norris, the founder of Techbook Online, says he wants to show a positive side of black life in Philadelphia. According to Norris, Huber has agreed to attend.
Mayor Michael Nutter earlier this week. (AP)
Comments (116)
This is sure to get the TeaBeggers in a tizzy.— daxtremesolja- Dax is a professional victim...just like most liberals.
Article is correct and the fact that so many that are minorities are up in arms over it...proves it.— Professor1982 - Typical of racists..."if we dont like it...label it racist".
Sounds an aweful lot like censorship here.— Professor1982 - Bill Cosby was right...
http://www.today.com/id/7681419/ns/today-books/t/responding-controversial-debate-about-race-america/#.UUOk4zdVq9Y— Professor1982 - Cuddles - another professional victim — Professor1982
- Hey look! It's the professor! What a surprise. Looks like he's having another cranky day!
Philly.com's token Grumpy Old Man.— daxtremesolja - Dax = Philly's resident professional victim — Professor1982
- Typical liberal complains about people calling them names but uses a derogatory term about people who want to follow our Constitution (imagine that!)
But if conservatives would use any of hundreds of terms they labeled as racist, sexist or homophobic we are the ones who are the problem.
When in reality liberals are the biggest racist, sexist, homophobs on the planet. If you aren't exactly like them they hate you.
Your posts proves it yet again.— 1776.Liberty.Bell - Hey Mayor, stop wasting your staff's time typing of meaningless letters, and start collecting property taxes from the deadbeats. This guy sure loves press releases and bombastic press conferences. All talk, little action.— Vince70
- Wow sure is nice the Mayor has an opinion about a subject he obviously knows nothing about. Mr Huber stated what alot of white people feel. I for one am tired of the race card, the poverty card and the stereotype that white people are bigots. I could go on but I'm sure the racebaiters and white apologists will be commenting soon.— MWW-54
- Theres a long line of people standing behind you on this one my man. — hipdaddy
- I dont understand all the uproar over this article. the author was simply pulling back the curtain on unspoken feelings that white people have. If anything, the article was an indictment of white people, not a criticism of blacks.— Yogi Spinoza
- You are right about the whites in the article. Sadly it made those who live in Fairmount and Spring Garden out to be from the back woods of dixie.
— Earl J - Earl - People "from the backwoods of dixie" dont shoot each other and act like professional victims. — Professor1982
- The problem with the article was that it was portrayed in a way that made it look as if all Whites believed those things. I'm white and I don't have those same feelings as the article described.
Just as the article generalized blacks in the city, it generalized whites.— daxtremesolja - This is going to be better than I thought.— Cuddles
- Nutter is right on this. Sensationalism at its best to sell mags. Advertisers and Subscribers should continue to send the message and hurt them in their wallets.— Earl J
- The sistas and brotas running (ruining) the city isn't enough for Nuttman.
He wants to continue stirring the pot until it boils over....stay tuned.— dogman5 - Cultural (not used to that word from a Black guy are you) Cultural pride, with a capital "C" is valid.
— Cuddles - I would call it "culture" when certain groups have rampant promiscuity, women with multiple baby daddies, "men" siring children out of wedlock, shooting each other and random victims in broad daylight, whose mantra is "stop snitchin' "
But that's just me— hannibal barca - We, one of the top ten racist nations in history where EVERYONE is racist have yet to even agree on the very definition of "racism" (perhaps with a small "R").
I, myself, do not see the word "racism" as synonymous with "evil".
— Cuddles - And let's look at that...in no other nation around the world have minorities had so much handed to them and done so little with it.
European Blacks are appalled with the behavior of Black Americans. Dont hate the message...hate the truth behind it.
We dont hear Asians complaining all the time about "what they dont" get or "what they dont have"?!?— Professor1982 - "no other nation in the world"
You do realize that for whatever reason America is the greatest nation in the history of the world and that these "minorities" you speak of comprised as much as 60% of the population in some 1776/1787 colonies that now claim to be of god.
You do realize that the "European" you speak of was in the midst of killing each other's children for the right to speak a language and plant a flag from Rome Zero BC, to March 15, 2013...Any French-Canadian will tell you this.
You do realize that the most stable nations of the New World in North and South America respectively just so happens to be the two nations with the most Blacks.
You do realize as you curse the ground you walk on that America, for whatever reason, is the greatest nation in the history of the world.
PS: Please move away from the land of Roosevelt.
ie: Go back to Europe.— Cuddles - This comment has been deleted. — hannibal barca
- @hannibal
1) Respectfully, Haiti is not in South America
2) Both The USA and Brazil have more "Blacks" than Haiti, respectively.
3) Apparently you just missed Black History month. Shucks you have to wait almost a whole 'nother year. Better luck next time.
— Cuddles - You do realize that 100% of all slaves that were brought to this nation were sold by their own kind out of Africa?
You do realize that 100% of the Constitution which gives you the rights you have were written by old white European guys?
You do realize that the US is in jeopardy of not surviving another 100 yrs b/c of fiscal collapse?
Cuddles - a professional victim
— Professor1982 - You do realize that America accepted Slavery with open arms far before July 4, 1776.
You do realize that the 3/5's Clause was a (thee) key part of the final compromise in September, 1787 giving birth to The United States of America...in order to form a more perfect union.
You do realize that when the top tax rate was 91% America had the strongest Middle Class AND Civilization in the history of the world.
You do reralize that Rural America loved (LOVED) socialist Roosevelt democrats until July 2, 1964.— Cuddles - Cuddles - keep cryin' and proving our point.
And by the way, when the "top tax rate was 91%" there were massive write offs available AND NONE of the other Federal Payroll Taxes (FICA, Medicare/caid, etc...) existed plus the US had a fraction of today's national debt.
And NO "rural didnt love Roosevelt". In fact his Agri. policies bankrupted many family farms resulting in the big corp farms of today.
Make sure you present ALL the facts...not just part of them.— Professor1982 - I have a very long fuse when it comes to bigots like yourself "Professor". but I think you push our limits. Go back to the Day Room and take your medications, please.
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- Tammy the only "bigot" here is you and the rest of the liberals who are nothing but professional victims.
Even Bill Cosby acknowledge such nearly a decade ago...— Professor1982 - The article was worthless dribble and shows how cowardly the racist suburbs are. I am white. I am simply not afraid. I live in the city. Will always live in the city. And Philadelphia magazine will not be renewed this year.— jonline
- "the potentially inflammatory effect and the reckless endangerment to Philadelphia’s racial relations"
Are "racial relations" that fragile?
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“Being in Philly”
Does it have to be ANYTHING like 'them' at all?— Cuddles - I wonder if the Mayor will write similar letters to the HRC whenever the Phila. Gay News or the PW writes a hit piece calling Catholics or the Boy Scouts "agents of hate."— everydayguy
- The mayor is afraid to talk about the ugly fact that 70% of Black men walk away from their children and that almost every murder and violent crime in Philadelphia is committed by a Black man. Why pretend these are racist comments?— farley
- ...or how every neighborhood in Philly goes downhill after Blacks take over. Look whats happening in NE Philly thanks to subsidized housing. Section 8 is killing Mayfair, Tacony, etc.
- Ya'know the 'burbs ain't holding up so well either after but a generation of White Flight from an aging housing stock sold literally to the lowest bidder from a time that major urban industries like manufacturing were dying...but a generation ago.
Lawnside, NJ is a more accurate measure, though Yorktown has been in front of your face for 50 years.
But back to your original point there is one institution that thrives in the so-called ghetto (hope I'm allowed to say that): 100% Human Hair Stores.
...Read it as you may.— Cuddles - I'd like to write a Being a Democrat in Philly article that the mayor could read to remind him of who he's supposed to be representing. the working class is who. support the working class Mr. Mayor.— high water
- JOnonline, Wow! You are so impressive unafraid to throw 5% of your income into the black hole of Philadelphia city government How righteous and fierce you are!— gjd741
- I love how all this uproar just proved what the article was about. Everytime some white person talks about a black person, all hell breaks loose. I read the article and I took it for what it is worth, other people's oponion. Since when are oponion worth so much press? I think Mayor Nutter is the absolute WORST mayor ever to walk the streets of Philly, but that won't make the news. How about an article about how there is almost 500 million in uncollected taxes? Even better yet, how about Nutter getting as worked out about those uncollected taxes as he is about this article?— annoyed79
Comment removed.- Its unfortunate that an entire race can be brought down by their own self infatuation with being victims.
Its everyone's fault but their own.
Bill Cosby's speech from a decade or so ago rang hollow.— Professor1982 - Look at the articles written not just in Philly, all over America.
The journalists are not anonymous and have to give real effort at being impartial even if they do live in a city.
But the anonymous comments.
Telling.
The recent Traffic Court 'scandal'.
Stories with a White (judge) face on the cover, few comments, little emotion except for sometimes sympathy.
Stories with a Black (judge) face, massive comments full of emotion offering reasons for eliminating everything from PUBLIC Buses to Big Bird...anything with a "B" up front.
"No matter what Bill Cosby or any first Black mayor says it cannot stop the so obvious and self-evident American commentary"...Anne Frank, 1945 on the birth of Bill Cosby....She was that good.— Cuddles - I have an abandoned house next to me. It has garbage all over the place, raccoons go inside, and the inspectors come but do nothing. They give some excuse about some phony judge that has to give a clean and seal order, but that hasn't happened after all this time. Mayor stop talking about this nonsense and clean up this filthy city!— meowmix99
- T could care less of people think of me as racist. They over used words and it is now useless. Black people have cost this country billions and billions of dollars. They give back absoultry nothing. Most white people oare the providers and most black people are the takers. Now you can call me racist.— smokehouse56
- I am glad he said something about a blatantly racist article. I hope he mentions that kid yelling "That's Racist" too in the piece that purported to it.
- Another Professional Victim here, lol... — Professor1982
- Comment removed.
- There is something wrong with you too. "Dirty, smelly weave" and you are saying there is no racism here? Are you that unbalanced?
- Sorry, you just can't understand unless your white.— smedlybutler
- Mr. Urkel, you do know people have freedom of speech in the US don't you?
— ricciaje - Got any Cheese?— ricciaje
- Did you realize that no one in American history (respected outside of their neighborhood) has ever admitted to being racist. This holds up surprisingly well even on a google search.
Not George Washington or Benamin Banaker
Not Abe Lincoln or Frederick Douglas
Not George Wallace or Malcolm X
Not Pat Bucannon or Jesse Jackson
Imagine that.— Cuddles - SURELY , THERE IS MORE RACISM IN PHILADELPHIA TODAY THAN THE 60'S.— collegestudent
- Professor1982 must have finished his dinner because he is back on the computer and posting amok again.
- Nobody likes ugly truths.— DanielNeagley
- A good mayor speaks up on behalf of his citizens no matter what color they are.
- Philly Mag was right...racists cant stand being called out...nothing but a bunch of professional victims.
Paid by the Govt to continue their plight....— Professor1982 - We need to have an open and honest discussion about race. But if you talk about it, we'll label you a racist and turn the Democrat party Grievance Commission and media loose on you. Forward.— b,ill a,tkins
- Bill Clinton tried and got impeached.
With that being said, I agree with you 70%, which is passing.— Cuddles - An article saying whites can't talk about race without being racist...gets blasted as being racist. Way to Play your role Mayor Nutt— MayorNutt
- I also give my respect to Jenice for being able to deal with all the racist backlash whenever she tries to enlighten people. This is a terribly racist city like New York is. Jen, you need to cover the murder of that 16 year-old boy in East Flatbush, Brooklyn last weekend and the protests and arrests that followed all this week. They have a media blackout there and no reporters are allowed to cover events. Bloomberg is keeping it quiet, as per usual.
- The Mayor has nothing better to do than deflect from his failure as a mayor and a leader. People get along or they dont.
The real issue is crime and the economy and generations of households without strong families and respect for others (= no fathers in the house)Oh yes and also easier to be a peer hood than be a student— Steelmanpa - This guy might be the Biggest Yutz in America. He can't collect taxes, he can't give a speech in City Council, he's too dumb to be hired by Obama, and now he's being played by Philadelphia magazine. Would somebody throw a towel over him?— eaglescali
- More black men killed by other black men every year than in 10 years of 2 Wars in the Middle East. 1 in 4 local tax dollars in Philadelphia are spent on violence. And the policies cannot even be questioned without the smear squads going on the offensive .
Police Chief Ramsey is allowed to say it---But because the "disease" afflicts African American males - who more often than not are victim and shooter - we respond with silence.
'Where are we going?'
"I'll give you my police radio and let you listen to the descriptions," Ramsey offers. " Male black, male black, male black, male black. One after the other. All day long."
As a black man and father of a son, "it makes me feel bad," Ramsey admits. "It makes me feel like, 'Where are we going?' "— tr88 - Someone let Nutter know that Ramsey is listening to a racist police radio. — FreddyNits
- I have read so so many article written by black men and women that are overtly racist. Nobody ever says anything, especially in the black community. The whites just suck it up and move on. Now, someone writes an article about how some whites feel, and there is a massive uproar. Chill people. I guess we will see demonstrations, black church leaders condemning the white devil, and increased welfare benefits. Mayor Nutter, a quiet telephone call to the magazine to voice your concerns would have been the best approach. Now just drop it, leave it alone, and move on. Breathe deep, just like we have to when we see what is happening to our property tax and wage tax dollars, and move on.— misterpond
- "The Jesse Jacksons and Al Sharptons of the world will be in Philadelphia tomorrow if a cop shoots some kid, especially if it's a white cop and black kids," Ramsey fumes, "but where is the outrage when you have black-on-black crime that goes on constantly in these neighborhoods?"
Ramsey notes that while hundreds of Philadelphians marched for justice for Florida teen Trayvon Martin, a West Philadelphia teen, Yasin Harvey, 16, was senselessly gunned down while walking to the store.— tr88 - Huber interviews some whites in Philly about their interactions with blacks and because it wasn't filtered through rose colored glasses, it's racist.— FreddyNits
- Philadelphia Magazine actually sunk to a new low when it had the cover that said something like "baby boomers please die already". Why didn't Nutter say something about that?— The_Unknown-Poster
- I'm white and grew up in the city and think that was the most irrelevant article I've come across. It says nothing, has no real point, and left me cold. If anything it was ameteurish and naive.— Filly5
- Classic racism. The angry, old, white men just don't get it. Time to pay up.— BOOKKA
- It doesn't matter WHAT the article is about, his rights to publish have existed since 1791 - period.— OhIsThatTheCase
- Lets not forget when the Fox reporter revealed a city worker was getting paid overtime, when she wasn't even on the clock. She held up the KKK sign. It seems like when blacks have issues with whites, nothing seems to be done. But heaven forbid a white person upsets the AA community, racist chants can be heard throughout the city. The city of Philadelphia is a JOKE !!!!!— TheRealDeal
- Seems to me with the reaction this article is getting from the mayor's office, it has done everything it set out to do and that is focus attention on a subject that needs it. Of course Mayor Nutter doesn't take this opportunity to start a conversation, but rather is attempting at squashing it which is rather shameful.— CTL
- Seems to me, the Mayor's over-reaction proves the point of the article.— Comedy
- I haven't read the article but from what I understand they interviewed people in the Fairmount section where I grew up in the 60's and 70's. The neighborhood is a little differnt now then back then, not as many families. But I remember when there were racial confrontations, the police said that the blacks had a right to walk through the neighborhood even though they didn't live there, which is all well and good. However, when the opposite happened, and whites were attacked in the surrounding black neighborhoods, the police said, well you didn't belong over there. Move the clock up 40 years, my son goes to college in Camden, and he heard the same from an instructor that he didn't belong in the crime ridden surrounding area. This way of thinking is apparently accepted by those in charge. So when there is a written opposite point of view, cries of racism are thrown at those who agree with this premise.— watsonmr
- Hey Mayor Bozo, if you don't like this then why don't you have a similar problem with Black History Month? When is White History Month? A: Never. I haven't read this so I don't know if it sets race relations back but I do agree whites can't discuss this or we're quickly labeled racist. No question.— PhillySubsMac
- Nutterbutter has never liked the truth!!!!— WCJRJR
- The article is right on. Section 8 is detroying the NE.— dim-5
- Who since 1970 is selling out to the lowest bidder and pocketing the maintenance money and begging to buy into the surprising value of North Philly? — Cuddles
- Who in 1970 sold out to the lowest (first) bidder, pocketed the maintenance money, begging to buy into the surprising value of the "great" Northeast? — Cuddles
- @ Dim - Just like it did Camden, Chester, Norristown, etc... — Professor1982
- Hey Philly.com, Jenice here is your 'A-A columnist' whose job it is to present the 'black perspective' - so who is your 'white columnist'? Oh yeah, there isn't one, is there?— PhillySubsMac
- When blacks stop telling whites to stop assuming to know what blacks think and believe I'll give these kinds of diatribes some credence. Black people, don't tell us white people what we should think and believe about feeling safe in black neighborhoods. After all we're just voicing what Jesse Jackson and Juan Williams have voiced and are taking note of the fact that blacks commit fifty percent of the crime in this country, lead the country in illegitimate births, and drop out of school at prodigious rates. And Mr. Mayor, try focusing on things under your aegis like collecting taxes and making us safe instead of wasting time writing ridiculous letters like this one.— JohnnyB.
- "Silence is the ultimate weapon of power." Charles de Gaulle— Pugh
- Hey Cuddles, next week between 3-10 murders will occur in Philadelphia and EVERYONE will be committed by a Black man. Any bets?— farley
- Urban crime has been a fact since the Mafia, Jack The Ripper and The Ides of March. Just this year there was a movie 'starring' Mickey Cohen.
Ya'know when the Mafia was shooting Bruce Wayne's mother and father at that very instant, Blacks were literally cowering in the Rural South.
In 1963, literally as reflected in movies, "a Black man" was seen as a cowering RURAL sap ala Stephin Fetchit and Rochester in the Movie "It's A Mad, Mad, Mad World". Little more than ten years later (and after the key date of July 2, 1964) John "Shaft" was a justified thug: Takin' it to the man.
On one side of that one decade, the 60's (a birth of mass media) you have Stephin Fetchit on the other John Shaft. To a modest degree these stood as self-fulfilling caricatures for decades...and in the case of Stephin Fetchit, centuries.
Some call it lowered expectations. I call it locking up daddy on a reefer seed.
POINT IN FACT I saw my father get busted at a key moment in my life for the pocession of a gun...He was released the next day but the moment had passed. POINT IN FACT.
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Superior as you may be, let me let you in on an open secret: When the trees go...we go.
— Cuddles - Hey Farley, you put a racial spin on an inaccurate theory that perpetrates White Flight and a self-fullfilling prophecy...Almost like not feeding an isolated dog and being surprised when you get bit....As a matter of fact it's exactly like that.
As far as your utopia...move back to the Europe, Moscow with a crime rate that makes North Philly look like the Swiss Alps.
— Cuddles - Cuddles....I feel sorry for you man.... — Sammy from Macungie
- Get real! The article only scratched the surface of truth & let's face it the truth hurts! Doesn't it Mr Mayor ? Stop singing to the choir . Do you not realize most reasonable people know of the double standard of race? The windows aren't barred, the doors bolted, the streets empty after sundown due to "White" thugs roaming the streets raping, robbing & killing. One could only imagine what you & yours would have to say if that were the case.— Starr6
- LBJ may have been able to provide the necessities but he couldn't teach you how to be a man. Jumbo shrimp or black father?— FreddyNits
- By the way, the very day this article came out, 3 Temple students were tied up and robbed by three black guys. The point of the article was mainly about the authors son and the authors trepidation about him living around the school. Why is it that only Black folks can complain about race? When Whites do, it's racism....the entire point of the article.— Servo
- If Whites get too comfortable talking about Race they're likely to say "sub-human" by mistake.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al_Campanis
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You can't say N and we can't say "Good Hair"
...It's an American thing, you wouldn't understand.
— Cuddles - I think all this comments arise out of the fact that there are some really scary kids out there these days, like never before, and that needs to be voiced and communities need to hear it and clean up their communities.— high water
- Good for the Mayor. Someone has finally had the guts to take on Philadelphia Magazine and its publisher. They have been a stench in our nostrils for long enough.— passavant
- Before filling up with anger over the piece, maybe folks should read it:
http://www.phillymag.com/articles/white-philly/— MaggieL - Why don't whites talk about race? The Mayor provides an answer.— ATL-iggle
- Being White article was dead on— Nezhy
- Get back to work Nutter, taxpayers don't pay you for opinions on magazine articles, we pay you to make our city a better place to live for ALL PEOPLE!!!— Philly Dom
- I've read Philadelphia Magazine just a few times over the years. I find it to be a liberal, elitist publication much as described by Mayor Nutter - who is also a liberal elitist. That's what I find so damn funny this week as the goonions threaten the Democrat Mayor of The Animal Farm. It's like a rebellion of the chickens against the Pigs. All I can say is maybe this will give more weight to conservatives and libertarians within the non-white community. I'd love to see an embrace of folks like Shelby Steele, and Allen West rather than Cornel West. Tom Scott rather than Al Sharpton. I don't have an ounce of white guilt in my bones because I never did one bad thing against anybody because of their color. Now I HAVE been attacked several times in my life by black men and nearly killed twice. That's the simple truth and if I had any one those suckers in my sight today, I'd Smith and Wesson them without blinking. If that makes me racist - oh well.— TheMonk
- The article was at best stupid, but it does prove a point, have the nerve to even mention that there might be a racial problem in Philly and we will have the Human relations Committee down on you, Joey Vento is up there smiling.— Thelonius Monk
- Strange to have the mayor weigh in like this, but the article's crummy. Of course most of the crime in the city is committed by black males. I can give my own negative anecdotes, worst when I was jumped by four cowardly black teenage boys. But the people who stopped to help me were black, and I can give plenty of other positive anecdotes, too. The article included none, and also neglected to include any black (or latino, or asian) voices in an article about race!— Tedyuscung
- was in shoprite in overbrook last week in the self checkout line..i saw an open register and stepped towards it..out of nowhere a black woman comes up, screaming at the top of her lungs..she was going on about "people like you thinking you are special" .. i am white..then she says "this is OUR shoprite" .. ill be moving out of philly at the end of the month to a more white friendly area..i hear it everyday on septa.im the only white person who rides the bus i ride, and everyday black people talk out loud about how much they hate whitey..ive never heard white people talk about black people in the same regard..the hypocrisy of it is ponderous..— monkeybrains
- That is what they do in North Korea or Iran. Try to suppress opinions that differ from theirs. We have the freedoem of speech so go Nutter go jump in a lake. Phila. Mag., I am renewing my subscription!— patty b
- Mayor Nutter is entitled to express an opinion about the article in his capacity as a citizen, but he is not entitled to ask the PCHR to do anything about it, and the PCHR has no authority to do anything either. Why? Because the magazine had an absolute First Amendment right to publish the article, regardless of how hurtful, inaccurate, or insulting it seems, and no government official has any authority to do anything about it.
I have yet to read the article, but from what I have been told, it seems to be rather off base. I know a lot of black people, I often discuss racial issues with some of them, and I don't pull my punches. In fact, I will have the article read by next Wednesday, when I will be discussing it with a black person with whom I go to lunch every week.— srappoport - And Nutter thereby proves the point of he article.
— PhillyNetTaxPayer 
I don't see what Nutter's issue is. I thought it was a pretty lame article written by a hack with "white guilt syndrome." If the article was a brutally frank assessment about "Being White in Philadelphia," Nutter's head would've exploded like that scene in the movie "Scanners."- Nutter says that now, But remember what he said about the flash mobs?
A refresher from Nutter,
If you walk into somebody's office with your hair uncombed and a pick in the back,your shoes untied and your pants half down, tattoos up and down your arms and on your neck, You wonder why someone won't hire you?
They don't hire you cause you look like you're crazy.
You have damaged your own race.
Mayor Nutter is just deflecting from the whack-a-mole he received from the the unions in council on Thursday.— justmesaying - All the hype over a stupid article that could have gone deeper?
How about an article, Being black in Philly.
Oh excuse me, How many black journalists are there at the Inquirer and Daily news?— justmesaying - Talk about unfounded and annonomous attacks, the White male is subject to that all the time often being called in general: racist, sexist, homophobic. Nobody makes a human rights issue out of that, but maybe they should. Get a life folks. But we all need to come down on the high rates of crime in Philly. We have seen too much random violence in this city of "brotherly love". The daily new stories of seemingly common random violence have discouraged us from coming over to visit from New Jersey, especially at night.— mostberg
- Wow Jen and Mike, let me know when you both get back to planet Earth.— jkane
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About this blog
What’s up, everyone? Welcome. Let's discuss whatever's on our minds - pop culture, relationships, politics, even the latest fashion trend. If you read my Daily News column, you know I like to mix it up: One day, it's the state of hip hop and the next, the latest political race. Also, it's always fun to try to figure out the opposite sex and check the latest trends. It’s all about learning from each other, exchanging ideas and hopefully making some changes for the better. Nothing is off limits - just keep it clean and civil.
Jenice Armstrong
Daily News Columnist
Read more from Jenice Armstrong at Earth to Philly, the Daily News blog on anything and everything "Green."
Reach Jenice at armstrj@phillynews.com.
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