Race crimes and racism is a very delicate point for South African. Probably for many other cultures too, but I won't presume to speak for them. Everything following is just my opinion and not based on any concrete research.
In SA, almost any crime where the perpetrator and the victim are of different races, the crime is called a race crime. The first thing that must be done before proper statistics can be compiled, is to also record the race ofall parties involved. This is a huge step towards fueling racism, and as such, it is not done.
The reason most people perceive blacks to be more criminal, is that there are just MORE of them in SA. I think if we could get proper statistics, people would be shocked by the percentage comparisons. But for this to work we will 1st have to define the landscape. White people would only want to use violent crimes for these statistics. Blacks will want ALL crimes included; fraud, pedophilia, commercial crimes etc.
I agree with this. If you want CRIME stats, include ALL crimes. Violent crime is still just a subset of crime.
Having said all of this, I am still just human. When I am in SA and I lock my doors and turn my alarm on, I do it with the thoughts off all the violent crimes that are reported (in our newspapers, that is). Which in my mind consists mostly of blacks. Whites make up such a small minority of violent criminals, that the though never even enters my mind.
I don't see these crimes as racist though. Middle to upper class black people are targeted just as much as white people. I actually see it as a class crime. It is much easier to make good money from crime than to work at a menial job that pays peanuts. Or that you find degrading.
Having spoken about black crimes, it is only fair to also bring up white crime. Whites tend to be much more involved in commercial crime etc. Not that the effects are always less damaging than violent crimes. It just takes longer for the results to be noticed I think.
One thing that should definitely be kept in mind though: Africa IS a violent continent. Human life is not worth much. In some cases as little as a cellphone or R300 (+- $30) can get you killed.
I've just read through this and I think I need to make a correction, I'm just too lazy to retype a lot of stuff.
Actually whites are also involved in violent crimes. They beat people. In some cases kill people. White AND black. However, cases involving white criminals torturing or killing their victims are rare.
Enough rambling from me. I though I would try to give an impartial view (which is almost always impossible) of howI see things in SA. You can all hate selwardman4 for the comments made here. I would ask you though to think about the circumstances (violence and crime wise, NOT financial wise) she has lived in and compare it to your own.
Race crimes and racism is a very delicate point for South African. Probably for many other cultures too, but I won't presume to speak for them. Everything following is just my opinion and not based on any concrete research.
In SA, almost any crime where the perpetrator and the victim are of different races, the crime is called a race crime. The first thing that must be done before proper statistics can be compiled, is to also record the race ofall parties involved. This is a huge step towards fueling racism, and as such, it is not done.
The reason most people perceive blacks to be more criminal, is that there are just MORE of them in SA. I think if we could get proper statistics, people would be shocked by the percentage comparisons. But for this to work we will 1st have to define the landscape. White people would only want to use violent crimes for these statistics. Blacks will want ALL crimes included; fraud, pedophilia, commercial crimes etc.
I agree with this. If you want CRIME stats, include ALL crimes. Violent crime is still just a subset of crime.
Having said all of this, I am still just human. When I am in SA and I lock my doors and turn my alarm on, I do it with the thoughts off all the violent crimes that are reported (in our newspapers, that is). Which in my mind consists mostly of blacks. Whites make up such a small minority of violent criminals, that the though never even enters my mind.
I don't see these crimes as racist though. Middle to upper class black people are targeted just as much as white people. I actually see it as a class crime. It is much easier to make good money from crime than to work at a menial job that pays peanuts. Or that you find degrading.
Having spoken about black crimes, it is only fair to also bring up white crime. Whites tend to be much more involved in commercial crime etc. Not that the effects are always less damaging than violent crimes. It just takes longer for the results to be noticed I think.
One thing that should definitely be kept in mind though: Africa IS a violent continent. Human life is not worth much. In some cases as little as a cellphone or R300 (+- $30) can get you killed.
I've just read through this and I think I need to make a correction, I'm just too lazy to retype a lot of stuff.
Actually whites are also involved in violent crimes. They beat people. In some cases kill people. White AND black. However, cases involving white criminals torturing or killing their victims are rare.
Enough rambling from me. I though I would try to give an impartial view (which is almost always impossible) of howI see things in SA. You can all hate selwardman4 for the comments made here. I would ask you though to think about the circumstances (violence and crime wise, NOT financial wise) she has lived in and compare it to your own.