Even in today's society...

[SDRonEbay]

Recently I haven't gotten much responses from my posts so I won't expect this one to be any different but I will share with you a moment in my life.

Yesterday I was reminded that life is not all good. I was reminded that no matter who you are, where you are, how much you love what you do...there is always someone who can tear your day down.

This is not an ad for my business. This is a post on my blogpage where I document my daily life in Shreveport trying to run my business. Read the post titled, "Starving artist my arse!" I get to the point in the second paragraph.

http://shadowdragonracing.blogspot.com/

[w1ngzer0]

well man. I am not afraid of black people. But if you look thug, act thug, and have 20 black dudes around you don't you think i would be a little scared?

And thats another problem. Kids dress like that now of days.

[SDRonEbay]

Maybe...I don't know any thugs so I've never been in that situation.

[w1ngzer0]

i think the east coast people are coo coo. So come to the west coast and you can do anything :P

[szh]

i think the east coast people are coo coo. So come to the west coast and you can do anything :P

Like Frank Lloyd Wright said: "The continent is tilted to the West ... everything loose slides into Southern California!"

Z

[SDRonEbay]

Irony, I love the East Coast...nothing but great experiences. I'm planning to move to Florida or N. Carolina. Haven't decided yet. I loved New York when I visited and I stayed in Georgia for awhile. I'm not allowed to say anything bad about California...that's my girl's home state and she'll stab me.

[szh]

My two favorite cities: Boston, MA and San Francisco, CA. In that order! A close third (that I almost moved to some years ago) is Atlanta, GA.

Can't think of anywhere else in the US I would want to live!

Z

[[Zero-S]]

Read your blog, and I don't see why these people are such idiots. You seem like a well versed individual who is out to help people, not screw them over. If it were up to me (and I lived down there) I woudl definately buy from you.

Racism is ignorance.

[Mr1der]

it is indeed stupid.

racial harmony through cracking dumb jokes at each other.

Best of luck in your business endevres.

[SDRonEbay]

Thanks to all you guys for your thoughts and criticisms. I'm glad to be a part of NICO where I know we're all brothers in the same cause.

[MaineExport]

I certainly mean no disrespect here... but did you ever think that it may have had nothing to do with race at all? I wasn't there, so I would be the last one to judge, but it just sounds like you immediately jumped to a "convenient" excuse.

I sympathize 110% with your situation... at least to the extent that any white guy can. But I have to say... I projected myself into that guy's dirty shoes as I read your recount of the story... and from my perspective you were a man coming over to bother me... with little or no consideration for the fact that I may not want to be bothered by ANYONE. Does he have any less right to want peace and quiet than you have a right to want respect?

Like I said... I'm in no position to judge, but the race card is a powerful one... and the more it gets used, the less sensitive people become to it. Maybe it was because you are black, or maybe he was just busy and didn't want to be bothered at all. The fact that you immediately assumed the worst isn’t a very promising statement on society.

[Mr1der]

isn’t

where the hell did that come from?

[MaineExport]

where the hell did that come from?

Ooops.... I thought I caught all of those. I like to run a spell check once in a while... so when I transfer from MS Word to the reply box... it screws things up once in a while.

[w1ngzer0]

Ooops.... I thought I caught all of those. I like to run a spell check once in a while... so when I transfer from MS Word to the reply box... it screws things up once in a while.

You know there is a spell check button now

I can't thank this forum enough. It has improved my grammar and spelling tremendously. I still use spell check but a lot less. I feel more intelligent

But JaysonReliford, just work on it. Improve the logo like i was saying in that one forum. You really need an artist to improve your dragon. Honestly. It's just the quality of the picture is, 16color and that won't work well in photoshop honestly. If the loan offices are being racest bastards go to the government. They have better loans then some of the rip off banks and can help you out better in some ways.

I am thinking about it myself. Get more JDM stuff here and expose more of the local arizona buisness. I know there are a few awsome machine shops in phoenix that aren't scams.

Another big thing is in 15-20 years. I can see the government mandating hydrogen vehicles. Hydrogen+Rotery valves = owns anything

V8, I4. Eventually rubber tires will be to weak to use for the ground and we will probobly use that nano fiber stuff for tires .... sorry NERD ALERT

[jdmfreak]

1) I never knew you were black2) You got a fro? So do I. Afro > ALL3) NY is the ****4) You may be jumpin to conclusions, but maybe not5) Got any 95-96 Maxima parts?6) Since we're "brothers", what can I get for free? j/k If you've been to NY thats how things work though.

PS: Can I get some freebies?

[w1ngzer0]

1) I never knew you were black2) You got a fro? So do I. Afro > ALL3) NY is the ****4) You may be jumpin to conclusions, but maybe not5) Since we're "brothers", what can I get for free? j/k If you've been to NY thats how thongs work though.

PS: Can I get some freebies?

everyone was from africa when it all started

[jdmfreak]

everyone was from africa when it all started

I know. What are you implying?

[Omar]

I feel you.

I get ALOT of racist crap just for being a Muslim.

- Omar

[w1ngzer0]

sue their arses.

[180crafter]

Chicks dig the fact that I am half black... from the waist down.

[w1ngzer0]

oh god... please, someone give this guy a sponge so he can soak up his ego --;

[Mr1der]

or the grease in his hair!

oh snap!

viva la dumb racial jabs at each other!

[Fish240]

can any import business run by anyone survivie in Louisiana?

[180crafter]

or the grease in his hair!

oh snap!

viva la dumb racial jabs at each other!

HAHAHAHA!!!!

ur too much.

I cant say much about you... Years of inbreeding has created a genetic pool perfect for serial killing and republican voting. Im skeeerrred of you.

[MainEvent212]

holy crap you're black!

please dont hurt me! here's my wallet!

no i'm just kidding. But to be honest, by your typing i had no idea you were black. I'm personally just so used to hearing slang on the internet (that and all my black friends make it perfectly well understood that they're black, even through typing. You should move out to my area, where people are actually more interested if the black guy speaks proper english. In the car groups, especially imports, the black guys are few and far between, you'd be an especially welcomed addition to my 240 group. Sorry that people from your area are such idiots. i suggest moving to a slightly more urban area on a coast.

just my .02 anyhow, and if i offend you w/ anything i say, please let me know.

[SDRonEbay]

Too many replies to hit each one so I'll do a general summation:

I completely understand that he might not wanted to have been bothered. I sold cars so rejection is something I'm used to. As I stated, this reasoning comes from his not explaining himself. Putting your hand up to dismiss someone is offensive no matter where you're from or who you are. I could put my hand up to anyone stating I'm jumping to conclusions and dismiss them...but rather I'd like to hear other peoples opinions because I posted this. If I wanted to believe it was race or hate driven I'd have just complained about it and let it go. I don't think any of what I've written is in a complaining manner.

My cousin and I have been discussing this in detail since this morning, emailing back and forth. He's my cousin on my mom's side. The Native side. He's very light-skinned but unmistakeably 3/4 Black. (BTW, this is the one who opened up the second episode of Law & Order's season premiere.) Anyway, he and I are only two weeks apart in age and we grew up very close. Both educated, both outspoken but we share completely different views on most things...as on this topic. Our emails are so extensive I might have to post them on SBI.

My final point is that I am the last person to claim racial anything. Have I experienced blatant racism in my life? Yes. Have I experienced passive racism in my life? Harder to say yes to when it can be labeled as I didn't want to be bothered or he was following too close I though he was going to mug me or I'm a police officer he should have done what I said.

Omar, you have my greatest respect and deepest sympathy for what you might have had to deal with over the past three years especially but I have a feeling it didn't start for you on 9/11. A dear friend of mine, Sol, had to move back to Morrocco because he and his family were being harrassed and he wasn't Muslim.

I think jdmfreak touched me the most in saying he never knew I was black. He accepted me, good or bad, for my rants, my sometimes dry wit and my love for Nissans. It's quite unfortunate I can't wear a sign all the time that says, I've saved lives, I've fought criminals and I love all people. It's even more unfortunate to believe I have to.

And btw, my dad's family is of Haitian decent but it's believed to have intermixed with Europeans, my mom is Native American. That makes me bi-racial. And if you're not familiar with the Reliford family, check out cousin Charlie. You'll get a kick out of it.

http://www.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/...=2874

Freebies, naw man I ain't got the hook up. Plus, I can't really talk about my business here because I'm not yet advertising on NICO. I can say that it is centered around car clubs so one would receive specials and discounts.

And Fish, I believe so and I'm out to prove it.

[w1ngzer0]

thats cool, though a place with more imports would help you mucho

[SDRonEbay]

But JaysonReliford, just work on it. Improve the logo like i was saying in that one forum. You really need an artist to improve your dragon. Honestly. It's just the quality of the picture is, 16color and that won't work well in photoshop honestly.

Dude you got to lay off my logo. It is indeed on a 24 bit paint file but I couldn't adjust it anymore without loosing the grain I wanted or the color that matches the site. I dig what you're saying and it probably will change in the future but right now it stands out on my site and that's all I'm trying to achieve with it. Old and rustic. The idea is that the red oval is the foreground, the dragon represents a stencil effect and the glitter making up the dragons body is the true background. Effectively, it represents an ancient compass that you hold up to the stars to find direction but in this case it's to find a constellation. The Shadow Dragon. I didn't mean to go on about it and I really, really appreciate any and all help. I do. But this logo was not thrown together in a day. It took a lot of time getting those pixels arranged like that. I'll admit, most of the dragons body was reproduced from another source but I had to work exstensively to adapt it to my site so I wouldn't violate any copywrite or trademark laws. I think all and all it's what I wanted in a logo. When I get my new batch of stickers I'll send you one so you can see it up close.

[MaineExport]

Putting your hand up to dismiss someone is offensive no matter where you're from or who you are.

Agreed, but so is bothering someone when they make it very clear they don't want to be bothererd. So you both offended eachother. I still don't see how his dismissing you with a gesture is racist, but I wasn't there.

I could put my hand up to anyone stating I'm jumping to conclusions and dismiss them...but rather I'd like to hear other peoples opinions because I posted this.

Because you are likely more intellectual and open-minded than that guy. You are looking for input and perspective, so it wouldn't make sense to dismiss someone even when they aren't saying exactly what you want to hear. I'm not trying to make judgments, I hope you can see I was merely trying to offer the devil's advocate type of perspective.

I don't think any of what I've written is in a complaining manner.

I didn't take it as you complainig at all. I took it as one man sharing his experience and offering it to enlighten anyone who might have the chance to read it. There's certainly nothing wrong with that... and it's much appreciated. Especially for those of us who aren't exposed to this kind of behavior and may not understand how our actions affect others.

In a nut shell, your interpretation of his behavior might have been as skewed as his interpretation of yours. He made a judgment about you before knowing you (pre-judged). You made a judgment about him based on one single gesture. Perhapse that judgment was correct, or maybe you just misread the guy. For the sake of argument (or I maybe learning), your description of his attire sounds rather arrogant and prejudiced.

[SDRonEbay]

"your description of his attire sounds rather arrogant and prejudiced."

How is it possible that I would have known that he didn't want to be bothered? I didn't chase him down yelling, "Sir, wait! Sir!" I didn't do that on the lot. When I sold cars I walked a different path. My theory was why waste time trying to convince someone to let me help them when there are people more willing and eager to buy a car. The transaction went like this "Noticed guy pulled up in 350Z, after our purchases were made, I said, "Excuse me, sir." he looked over, threw up his hand and shook his head while mumbling something indistinctively. "I stopped in my tracks and said, "but it's about your car." That's when I had his immediate attention and a smile.

The adjectives used to describe his attire were not from my opinion. They were factual. Had I said he was dressed like a hillbilly...that would have been arrogant or prejudiced. It also would have been inacurate. He wasn't a dirty guy, he just had on dirty jeans and shoes. He and his wife obviously are of the middle to upper middle class of Shreveport. My thought is that he's probably a contractor or construction worker (this is an educated guess because there is construction of a new wing of the hospital across the street, where I noticed the Z parked on Friday afternoon.)

If I see him again the next time I'm over that way, I'll ask him what was his initial thought of me that made him blow me off before I had the opportunity to tell him who I was.

I've not changed my point of view on the situation and although you all have responded respectfully and with excellent points, I think it can only be explained by Mr. Z. And to be frank, the only reason I even care about an explanation is because this wasn't the first time, nor will it be the last time something like this happens. I'm going to continue to be the person I am but if I'm doing something, other than being brown, I'd like to know.

Maybe when I'm approaching people I look like this with big dollar signs for eyes. Or maybe I look like this ...especially when I'm approacing women. What I really want to look like is this