Paternalistic journalismThe truth? You can’t handle the truth, the editor of the Chicago Tribune tells readers.
Flash mobs of black youths are holding mini-riots in Chicago.
The Chicago Tribune won’t tell readers the color of the gangs.
From Gerould Kern, editor of the Chicago Tribune: “This week the Chicago Tribune published several news stories and related columns about assaults by groups of youths in the Streeterville area of downtown Chicago. More coverage appears Sunday. A number of readers have asked why we have not included racial descriptions of the assailants and the victims in these incidents. We take these matters seriously and reach decisions about them after careful consideration. This is a good opportunity to explain our approach to issues like these. We do not reference race unless it is a fact that is central to telling the story. By all indication, these attacks were motivated by theft, not race. Further, there is no evidence to suggest that the victims were singled out because of their race. Therefore we did not include racial descriptions in our initial news reports.”
Nothing to see here citizen.
Move along.
The Chicago Tribune cannot trust its readers.
Why if the readers found out the gangs were black people, why who knows what might happen.
Someone might get hurt.
So the editor of the Chicago Tribune decided that race is not a motivation.
Move along.
If gangs of white kids beat up a black man, you would have a hate crime.
Don’t take my word for it.
Chicago Tribune columnist John Kass wrote: “I explained to him that when it comes to race and crime, the Chicago media deal with the comfortable. We’re comfortable dealing with black-on-black crime and white-on-white crime. The race cards are moot. And we’re experienced in dealing with black victims of white racists. We’re so well-trained that we’ll rush out and grab the usual suspects, including race-card-playing clergy, and ask them to put it in context. But when black teens go after whites and Asians in a plush neighborhood, it creates headaches, in the media and in politics.”
And heaven forbid the Chicago Tribune should give Editor Gerould Kern a headache because it published the facts.
But John Kass defended not mentioning the color — because it might make things uncomfortable for James Chalmers, 21, when he goes to a white neighborhood. Yes, Chicago is segregated — or as John Kass put it, Chicago is a city of tribes.
So John Kass used this James Chalmers fellow (“And we might as well get this over with. Chalmers is black.,” Kass wrote) to rationalize his newspaper deliberately withholding information.
From John Kass:
“People see me, see I’m an African-American male, so people look at me thinking I’ve got to be from some nation or some gang,” he said.
Are you?
“No. It’s the stereotype. It happens all the time.”
Chalmers doesn’t live in a theme park. Every day after work, he leaves Daleyland and goes home, to Chicago.
Oh good gravy. More paternalistic journalism. The sins of only mentioning black people when they are in crime stories has been replaced by never identifying black people in crime stories.
This puts the life of James Chalmers in jeopardy because he is 1. black 2. male 3. 18-25.
That is the prime target of black violence.
And by mollycoddling black criminals we put people like James Chalmers in jeopardy.
We have had equal rights for nearly 50 years. The affirmative action programs have been around for 2 generations. And still the black homicide rate is 4 timees thw white rate?
Obviously something is not working.
It is time to deal with the race maturely. Black on black crime is a major problem. The best way to protect James Chalmers is not to guilt-trip merchants into not stereotyping him but to get rid of the black gangs that they should fear.
Ignoring the problem will not make it go away.
Two other Chicago Tribune columnists also assured the public that race is not the problem and that if their newspaper dared to mention race, its readers would jump to conclusions.
Loony.
Plain loony.
I pity Chicago if this passes for wisdom.
Some advice for James Chalmers. Move. Chicago will remain a death trap for young black males until it deals with the black criminals in an adult manner.
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