Why did you come here tonight?

• To hear and engage in a constructive dialogue on race.
• Diversity is accepting the way people are
• Negative under-currants and over-currents of race in the mayoral primary (creates a polarized voting situation)
• Try to take advantage of every opportunity to be involved in community
• Property values down, section 8 - people fleeing
• Hasten diversification of neighborhood
• Learn about what's going on in the city
• Give input on race and diversity and see what's going on
• Wants to see city become racially proud again, sees a lot of hatred
• Completed graduate thesis on diversity
• Whether we can define racial and ethnic diversity; will what we're doing lead to candidates' agenda for ethnic diversity?
• It's easy to talk to friends, wants to hear from others
• Discussion junkie - wants to put two cents in
• Diversity is isolating people - that will destroy the city, it pushes people into pockets

Stories:

• Inequality in justice system: police discrimination, police search & arrest without legal representation
• Wrote something in newspaper that was interpreted as derogatory: "new breed of leaders". Afraid of having to be politically correct always.
• Different mayors bring a different feeling to the city
• Present concerns over voting on racial lines, polarized city
• Pained by the ignorance and hatred he sees…
• Discovered racism in suburbs after growing up in diverse neighborhood
• Discovered racism in south (after joining the military), after growing up in diverse neighborhood
• Racism injected into incident: affair at 30th street, overheard a black man, walked out of bathroom and remarked on black people
• Diversity is a positive factor
• Discrimination on how black mayors and white mayors are judged
• Wondered at "City of Brotherly". Riots on 33rd St. six police beating a black man. " Why would they treat a man like that?"
• Feels that as a young black male , he's blamed when anything bad happens
• Discriminated against because of Jewish religion. Young children beating him up because he wouldn't kiss cross. Turned down for job because of religion
• South Philly Italians living around the corner from parents (someone) was mugged once; at a different time after that, two young black boys rushed past. Grabbed bag. (one) Young boy said, "not all blacks are bad." Never got a chance to explain to them where her fear came from.
• Hit a glass ceiling (he's not white, Indian). As a non-white, often felt intrinsically less.
• On her block, very diverse, (but) no one wants to take responsibility. Ten pay phones installed, drug dealers take over. Friends say " your neighborhood is dragging you down, leave. Assaulted by 15-year old / threatened by drug dealers, no cooperation from police

What voices haven't we heard? What perspectives are missing?

• Hispanic community
• Asian community
• Indian gentleman write "other" because he's not sure what "definition" he falls under
• People with college loans might not vote for Street because of his filing for bankruptcy.
• Feels that negative advertising in the city is effective
• Philadelphians are quick to forget
• Religious community
• Black clergy [economics is an outgrowth of racism vs. racism is an outgrowth of economics]. Asked "If confederate flag is raised in Philly, what would we do? Is this the same as raising the Nazi flag"
• Right wing conservatives
• "If we're going to deal with racism, we need to deal with it where it is"
• "No other race in America has had laws: instituted, legislated racism.
• Young people who don't have degrees

Observations:

• See examples of overt discrimination NOT institutionalized:
      a. politics
      b. corporate
      c. educational
      d. police department
• Thought this group would be liberal and tolerant…as we talked more, prejudice emerged
• Heard sensitivity, people were upset when criticized instead of trying to understand why statements were made.