One of the pages on their site has this thing called "The Hate Map" showing, state by state,how many active Hate groups there are in each.
Some of the states statistics were unsurprising to me - either because of what I had seen/read/heard ( like that fact that Florida has 55 active hate groups, Georgia 65, Alabama has 35) or from personal experience - (Michigan 26, Mississippi 41, Texas 45).
But what WAS shocking, is that free-wheeling California has EIGHTY-FIVE (Proposition 8 may not only have failed because of its counter-intuitive wording "vote no for yes" which I always thought was the case), that New Jersey has 47 active hate groups (why so much hate for others, New Jersey?) and that Oklahoma "only" has 13.
Little Rhode Island and huge Alaska have 1 each, and some big states like Maine (6) Iowa (4) and Wyoming (2) have surprisingly low activity. (Maybe all that space means that people can live and let live.)
And did you know about this? One example of how hate works...
Finished piece on Friday and then something "light\' next week. *phew*
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Woah! I did not for one moment think those numbers related to that.
ReplyDeleteAs for the link... I am sure in this country that would be an offense for insighting racial hatred. Good for you for bringing this to our attention.
there was a comment here by someone disagreeing with the stats in the Hate Map. I did not delete the comment because it disagrees with the statements, but because it was anonymous.
ReplyDeleteIf you're going to make strong statements (such as "hate groups" don't exist by any credible defintion), be available to engage about said statements.
Definition of "hate" group on Wiki: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hate_group
Gah! I can't believe, yet somehow I can, that that guy did that! What a moron! I didn't know about the Poverty Law Centre, but I'm not surprised at the number of hate groups out there (okay I am a little surprised about California!). I studied the history of racism in university and I am disappointed that the numbers are still so high. We still have a LOT of work to do clearly... Really looking forward to seeing your piece on Friday, Kit!
ReplyDeleteRichard,
ReplyDeleteI still have no idea who you are as your "identification" is merely your name with nothing attached to it, so as far as I'm concerned, it's still anonymous.
I don't agree with any of your points, and I can assure you that in my 50 years on this spinning orb I have more than once encoutered people who "think differently" than I do, and though it has been "useful" on occasion, and sometimes VERY useful, I'm not finding our interaction falls into that category.
I am an artist, with a point of view that is my own, and my art is the platform from which I express it.
You on the other hand, have never commented here before, and have only done so now to disagree with said point of view and make inflammatory statements such as "Dr. King was a highly paid Klan member" so I am once again deleting your comment - it's my "house" so to speak, and I don't want you making the other guests uncomfortable (as in your comments to M-R.)
If you want to continue the conversation, please feel free to email me.
Cheers,
Kit
If some *anker is giving you grief then Im really sorry... so many can be brave and vociferous, when stood behind a wall out of sight.
ReplyDeleteIts appalling that there are organised hate groups at all...........let alone so very many.
And yes over here a sweatshirt like that would be considered a racially inciting item and bloody right that it should be too.
What a sick, sick individual.
Sad but true. My partner Brian and I were long time supporters of the Southern Poverty Law Center. I say "were" because we are both retired now and living on a fixed (low) income.
ReplyDeleteOh my! That last bit is truly shocking and disturbing! I grew up in Louisiana, so I know about the Southern Poverty Law Organization. The college I attended had a law school that is active with it. It sure looks like it should be renamed. I have told many people I discuss this with (in Michigan and Oregon where I have also lived) that racism is not just a Southern problem. I've seen it everywhere. There are many places in California now that have large Hispanic populations, who are often victims of hatred, and I unfortunately have heard racial slurs against Asian and Native American people after moving out West as well. Hatred extends in many different directions besides race as well (sexual orientation, socio-ecomonic situations, religious affiliation...) :(. I think it's important to expose children to many different social situations to dispel the fear and ignorance that breeds hatred...
ReplyDeleteAlso those numbers seem to mirror a general population. Places like MI and CA have huge numbers of people in general. It'd be interesting to see it as a ratio of population vs groups.... Again, unfortunately, it's present everywhere...
ReplyDeleteI am black, an Artist and I live in Georgia. Number two in the nation for the sheer number of hate groups. I can tell you that this place is hell. Racism is rampant and black males are pretty much agreed upon as being the thing to hate. I am stopped sometimes as much as 3 times a day by police and searched. The arts here are pretty racist and almost absolutely exclude black males from galleries. There are many two faced racist in this state who pretend to be open and 'liberal' but they are deep racists. For me there is no difference between 'liberal' and conservative. Its all the same thing. Though I will say that those on the left side of things are much worse. Women tend to be greater racists here also but it is to be expected given that women control and dominate southern society in this area. Men in general have been disenfranchised. But that is another story. The sad story is that the quality of life here is horrible so I am leaving this society as soon as I can. Racism is an illness that this country has at the root of its core.
ReplyDeleteI travelled through Georgia last year about this time and was shocked an appalled at what I encountered while I was there - I can't even imagine how difficult it must be to live there as a black male.
DeleteI understand what you mean about "liberals" being worse I think - the expectation is that leftists will be on your side, so when they're not, the betrayal feels deeper - I've certainly had that experience, even up here in Canada.
I hope you do find your way out. I'll be in Charleston in about a month to attend the opening of a show in which one of my pieces is being hung, and I understand from the curator that there have been some negative rumblings already because of the content. I am looking forward to it, but NOT looking forward to driving through Georgia!