OT: FIU Football Player stabbed to death on campus
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=5029605
MIAMI -- A Florida International football player has been stabbed to death in an on-campus incident. University president Mark Rosenberg says in a news release that Kendall Berry was stabbed and that the school is "shocked and saddened." Berry was a reserve running back for the Golden Panthers from Haines City, Fla. Police say the stabbing took place near the rec center on FIU's main campus, and the school confirmed Berry's death shortly after 11 p.m.Unreal how these violent deaths keep happening against student athletes.
March 26th, 2010 at 12:26 AM ^
Maybe im just starting to notice it but it seems like this stuff is happening much more lately than ever before, it truly is sad.
March 26th, 2010 at 12:30 AM ^
All we can do is wish his family our condolences...
March 26th, 2010 at 12:42 AM ^
Thoughts are with the family.
March 26th, 2010 at 12:46 AM ^
Never leave the house without your nunchucks.
So much anger, so much hate...
That's two players in under a year (UConn's). Ugh
Sadly, it's actually worse than that. A recruit who would have been attending Vanderbilt this fall was killed in an apparent murder-suicide just last month.
I'm not sure that violent crime is up -- different statistics seem to indicate that nationwide, it isn't -- but every case is one too many.
Where do you have to come from that you value human life so little?
I am sure there are a multitude of races represented on this blog. I have an honest question. I realize that there is violent crime occuring in all demographics of our country. However, what is the reason that there is such a higher rate among blacks? Honestly. I think that we are so afraid of being considered racist that we won't admit there is a disparity and ask why. I read that a football player was killed and am assuming he was black and was stabbed by another black kid. That is embarrasing to me. It bothers me that if I am walking back to my car from a Tiger's game and there are two white teenages walking one way and two black teenagers walking the other, I am more concerned about the black teenagers for no other reason than that they are black. I am equally frustrated by having to fight an assumption that all mosques and islamic centers are recruiting extremists. I am wondering that if someone like me, raised by a family that told me to respect everyone as equal, who attended one of the most liberal schools in the country and was exposed to many different cultures in an atmosphere that encouraged pride in diversity, still struggles to fight racist impulses, what is the majority of the country really thinking? Maybe if we can figure out the real reason that there is so much violence among young black kids and why there is so much hatred among young muslim men, we can stop being afraid of it. I feel like watching the news every night is turning me into the worst kind of person. The one who couldn't be more open to the minority people I know individually but subconsciously scared of everyone else.
but that post might end up axed in the spirit of preserving the peace.
Some cultures and subcultures put extremely high emphasis on the concept of 'respect'. 'Disrespecting' someone can be a mortal offense, especially when that person fears it may affect their standing in the larger community.
I applaud your honest questions man. I wonder if you've looked into any anti-racism training or maybe even into some kind of class that deals with these issues. I think the biggest problem this country has lies in the fact that these conversations are not easy to have, they require us to become fully engaged, and they take lots and lots of time. America, sadly, wants and expects results immediately. I think part of your answer revolves around the realities of poverty in this country and who it affects and why. Either way, the loss of any person (be it a student-athlete or not) in such a tragic and pointless way should encourage us to speak up about violence and (dare I say it) do something about it.
I don't hink I need anti racist training. The problem is that most of us logically understand equality among people, it is the illogical part of us where the fear resides. My thought is that we need a better understanding of what DOES cause these social issues instead of letting ourselves think that they are somehow caused by someone's race alone.
I completely agree with you, but one thing that anti-racism training offers (and of course this is speaking generally) is a platform to begin thinking about and addressing these very questions. I wasn't attempting to say you were racist, it's just something that I've gained alot of perspective from and one of those things I hope everyone would avail themselves of. It's good stuff.
Why don't you try spending time with some "black" teenagers? It would allay your fears.
Ah, but that is my point. I think we could all say that we are not racist because we know a black guy, or have black friends. (and I use the term black because not all people we would classify as 'african american' are actually decended from africa) I do not live in a bubble. I have several black friends and friends of other minorities as well. I think you are missing the main thought here. I am saying that even the supposidly non-racist people in our country have some subconscious racism that they fight because of a deaper lack of information on social issues.
I think your post is a crock of shit. You are missing my point. This is not something you learn in a book, these kids are real people, not something you need to study in a book.
Black teenagers are not some arcane subject you have to gather information about in a book. Spend some time with young people who frighten you and you will lose your fear.
I am saying that even the supposidly non-racist people in our countryI have no idea WTF that is supposed to mean
you're having a bit of a knee jerk reaction here. I understand, but it's still best to sit back a minute.
I think what he's saying, and it goes back to what I said about respect and disrespect, is that we have a bit of a chicken and egg thing going on here.
There IS a higher violent crime and homicide rate among African Americans than there is among Caucasian Americans. It's true. I think the point/question was, is it the perception that that's true that is DRIVING that statistic? Is it that young African American men are saying to themselves, "Society thinks I'm a dangerous man, and it gets me respect, or a certain type of respect, so that's just what I'll be"; or is it that that they are being violent on their own, and that's driving the perception?
I definitely think the former, and it is unfortunate, because that means that those that are the most afraid are the ones that are driving it the most, and it doesn't have to be that way.
It is not that deep with me. If you leave a Tiger game and shit your pants when you see a couple of "black" teenagers, you have some issues.
It sounds like Gordie is trying to make the point that most of us exist in homogenous communities. The point I think he's making is that much of that irrational fear comes from little to no exposure to difference.
I think Gordie, rightly, also just really hates racism.
It's good to hate racism. Just don't hate on the racist. Hate of any type against a person breeds more hate, and that is the enemy of tolerance.
I wasn't speaking in general, I was speaking directly to the posters "irrational fear" of black teenagers.
I totally agree that is an irrational fear. (I think distrust is a better word than fear, though.) I absolutely know better. DO you honestly think, though, that I am the only one who has those feelings? I am willing to bet that if you had two 23 year old black males stand on a streetcorner a couple of blocks from Comerica park after a game, and then watched people walking down the street towards them, a large majority of people would cross the street rather than walk by them. For no other reason than that they are black. Sad, but I think true.
But even in a homogenous community is is hard not to see an imbalance of violent crime. Without putting thought into why there is that imbalance, racists views are reinforced. My point is that until we put more thought into these social issues we will never truly dispel racism.
March 26th, 2010 at 10:17 AM ^
The bottom line in life is that "you can't judge a book by its cover". Every race has bad apples, and you won't be able to distinguish between good and bad without actually getting to know the people in question.
This issue can discussed/thought about for hours/days/years, but unless someone actually takes the time to acquaint with individuals he/she has undesired preconceived notions about, these notions will not fully go away.
March 26th, 2010 at 10:41 AM ^
It is also about another color. The "Have nots" have always frightened the "Haves". Unfortunately this will continue.
Calm down. First of all, I never said I wanted to read about anyone in a book. Secondly, I am not shitting my pants. I am just admitting that when I am downtown somewhere I have more of a distrust of the black kids than the white kids. I was trying to point out that despite being what I would consider an open minded, educated adult who interacts personally and professionally on a daily basis with people of other races, I still have a negative reaction that I fight against. I do not think I am the only person here who would have that reaction. I just think that most people would rather pretend they don't have those thoughts than put any real time and effort into correcting them. Mostly I think people are afraid that by discussing things like that someone like you will call them a stupid racist.
I was just giving a suggestion to help rid you of your irrational fear when confronted by black teenagers when leaving a Tiger game.
You seem to revel in your fear and just want to ponder the question on an academic basis.
You do shit your pants when confronted by black teenagers, who you trying to kid, be real.
Maybe you could start a 12 step program for people with irrational fear of black teenagers when in a downtown setting.
March 26th, 2010 at 10:00 AM ^
So you are perfectly open minded and have nothing that you have ever worked to improve? You automatically and without hesitation always think with perfect equality and no bias about women, children, elderly and people of all races and sexual orientation?
you get really scared at the Michigan football games with all of the wild "black teenagers" running around.
OK fine, I thought being a UofM board we could have a discussion. I guess not.
you were going to make a comment like that and not get some serious negativity, did you?
So far, most people are just not responding. A couple are pushing back, and a couple of us are trying to understand your point.
If you want to discuss a volatile topic, you'd better be prepared to discuss it. Otherwise, you look like you were just testing the waters for support for what you already believe.
No, I knew it would by touchy. I was just hoping for intelligent thought, not "I guess you get really scared at the Michigan football games with all of the wild "black teenagers" running around. "
March 26th, 2010 at 11:47 AM ^
I made a joke about your post that's it.
As a black person, the situtation you have described happens to me everyday. It hurts like hell when it happens because I am the nicest guy in the world and have a problem even killing a fly on the wall.
So to come on my favorite site and have to read about this type of crap happening to other black people just ruined my day.
Sorry if I am not up for intelligent racial discussions on a college football blog.
March 26th, 2010 at 12:31 PM ^
We all deal with judgement. I get turned down for jobs all the time, the reason usually being a very poorly hidden version of, "I don't want to work with a deaf guy."
If you let it ruin your day every time somebody makes a snap judgement about you or people like you, you'll have a lot of bad days. Just remember that for every one person like that, there are a few dozen that think that person is a moron.
March 26th, 2010 at 12:37 PM ^
didn't say that everytime it happens, it ruins my day, it just hurts like hell.
I just stated that reading about this situation on mgoblog ruined my day today.
I do understand what you are saying though.
March 26th, 2010 at 12:48 PM ^
You're right that this site probably wasn't the right place to bring this up, it just hit me when I was reading about this poor kid and it popped out. Occasionally sports stories do bring up these issues.
March 26th, 2010 at 10:33 AM ^
We have all been conditioned to pre-judge. When we see most things we form an opinion of it almost immediately. This is why people can be pleasantly surprised, and mortified at something. Because you would not have expected that to happen. The media's portrayal of things is a prominent reason for this. You worry about the two black kids because your perception is that they are more likely to be thugs than the white kids. Just like the black teens would be quicker to label you as a racist than they would an adult black male. The unfortunate thing is when people can't get past their initial thoughts if they were wrong. Moving on, the lack of hope makes people desperate. When respect is the only thing that you have that's worth anything, (In ones own mind) you'd be surprised what you would do to keep it. For some, no matter what race they are, they will never get their dream house and car, so they hold very dear what they value the most.
March 26th, 2010 at 10:50 AM ^
You also can't live your life by statistics, which I think enter the discussion a bit.
Statistically, crime is related to poverty/socioeconomic factors. If I'm in a "bad area" (socioeconomic-wise) regardless of the ethnic make-up of that area, I'm more at risk for being a victim of crime.
Because of urban American realities, there is a greater proportion of ethnic minorities that live in these "bad areas".
My neighborhood is mid/low middle class, probably 95% white.
Most of the black/ethnic minority population lives on the outer edge of my community in some sub standard low income apartments. Crime is worse there, but it sure as hell has NOTHING to do with skin color. I think most people in this country really have learned this, finally.
It's the culture of poverty that encourages crime. White people in those areas are just as liable to resort to crime as anyone else.
Unfortunately, racism is easily perpetuated by visual generalizations; my neighbors notice the group of black teens walking down the street and assume they are from the slum (and MAY statistically be more likely to commit a crime). But then ignore the group of white teens that ARE from the slum and will be stealing his car that night.
That kind of economic prejudice (warranted or not) easily leads to low-level racism, it's just too easy of a shortcut for people not to take.
I honestly don't think racism will be defeated until either poverty itself is defeated or somehow ethnic/immigrant populations are more widely dispersed.
March 26th, 2010 at 10:57 AM ^
crime is most often a product of socio-economic status. meaning, the color of one's skin does not predispose him to committing a crime, but coming from an impoverished background can.
the unfortunate truth is that minorities are, in general, poorer than white people in the u.s.
edit: i started writing the above before i saw that jabberwock had posted something similar, yet better written.
March 26th, 2010 at 11:08 AM ^
Pijer, Jabberwock and aMAIZEingSean all make good points. The next level to the question, then, becuase why are the lower socio-economic areas containing more minorites? I am under the belief that our system is set up to reward the 'haves' with a "you need money to make money" reality. The school systems in these areas are atrociously underfunded and illrun and families there are so busy trying to survive that the kids aren't given the extras they need to really excel. Affirmative action might give some of these kids a chance to be accepted to college programs or hired at a job but it doesn't solve the issues that left the majority of the kids unprepared to begin with.
No further analysis regarding any broader issues please, start a thread on another board.
You uh... might want to remember that you're not in charge before you start issuing orders.
March 26th, 2010 at 10:03 AM ^
I just think it's a good idea to avoid injecting racial, religious, and political debate into these threads.
March 26th, 2010 at 10:06 AM ^
fair enough. Sorry
OK, I'm done, sorry for the intrusion
March 26th, 2010 at 10:07 AM ^
(in light of a previous comment, I'll delete this)