There is currently a media feeding frenzy over so many inconsequential anecdotes related to THE SATURDAY NIGHT BLACK TEEN PLAZA RIOT. Once again, it's disappointing to see everyone miss the point.
Because of there is little diversity in local media and because TKC is one of the few people of color in Kansas City that doesn't have to answer to a white dude in regard to my writing . . . The essential element in this story isn't lost on me:
KANSAS CITY'S MOSTLY WHITE MEDIA ONLY CARES ABOUT TEENAGE BLACK VIOLENCE WHEN IT CROSSES TROOST!!!
Again, it's important to note that this year's murder rate is comprised mostly of African-American victims who only receive a cursory mention when their lives are tragically cut short.
But when Black youth cause a ruckus at PF Chang's there is nearly a cry of panic among so many so-called journalists.
Now, because the Internet is comprised mostly of racist reactionaries it's important to note that I would never defend the actions of any violent rioters. However, awesome TKC TIPSTER FIRST PERSON REPORTS reveal that the racial aspect of the Saturday Night Riot has been misinterpreted by the public and misrepresented by so many in the media.
Furthermore, the night this story was first called into TKC, it's obvious that a great many of the youngsters caught in the hot mess were just as scared as some of the more panicky patrons of The Plaza.
The talk of Internet trends in this story deserves to be challenged just as strongly as contentions that the Ipad will one day rule the world.
KCPD CHIEF CORWIN CITES FLASH MOBS AS PART OF THE PROBLEM. RESPECTFULLY, TKC DISAGREES AND CITES TEXT MESSAGES AS NOTHING MORE THAN A SYMPTOM OF KANSAS CITY'S GREAT RACIAL DIVIDE!!!
Of course, the "flash mob" aspect is a great trend and novelty to add to the story but this cowtown has been scared of African-American youth as long as I can remember. Go and visit the rubble of Bannister Mall if you doubt my assertion.
THE PLAZA BLACK TEEN RIOT IS AS MUCH ABOUT WHITE FEAR AS IT IS ABOUT THE EVENTS OF THE EVENING THANKS TO SO MANY SUBURBANITE JOURNALISTS!!!
Again, this story is only so sensational because teenage denizens of the Eastside encroached on the shopping district that was founded on racial covenants. The SOB Wired blog smartly hints at the "elitist" angle of reporting that is typified by The Kansas City Star.
So, while this story is noteworthy, it's also disappointing to admit that Kansas City lives in such fear. Frankly, I think so much liberal hand-wringing and reactionary hate is more reflective of surrounding suburbs (and maybe Brookside) than the real attitude of KC Proper. Still, I won't downplay the potential for violence should the PLAZA RIOT TREND PERSIST . . . Obviously, none of the youngsters hassling strangers have come into contact with the "Epic Beard Man" phenomenon . . . Yet again, The Kansas City, Missouri School District has failed its students by not at least offering a cursory lesson on Bernhard Goetz and the real world danger of stupidly screwing with strangers.
Nevertheless, as this thing has played out today the only thing that is certain is that Kansas City's media will only thoroughly investigate African-American violence when it affects white people.
LINKS:
Police Plan Strategy For Plaza Weekend
KCPD's recap of the Plaza incident
Funkhouser Reacts To Plaza Problems: 'Not How We Do Things In Kansas City'
What’s going on at the Country Club Plaza?
Poll: Are You Afraid To Go To The Plaza?
Flash-Mob Event May Have Led To Plaza Melee
Police Say Teens Planned Plaza Chaos Online
Chief Corwin's blog on "Plaza Incident"
Police say teens planned Plaza chaos online
BlogKC: Chief Corwin on the Plaza Flash Mob – Philly style?
Teens a problem for the Plaza?
Bria Myles recently featured in King Magazine should makes us all just a bit more relaxed.
Good stuff T.
ReplyDeleteAnd you actually posted a black chick for once.
So you have finally started referring to yourself in the third person: Fail!
ReplyDeleteThe only frenzy is the one inside your own head Tony.
ReplyDeleteFlash mobs aren't the problem. Plenty of white people manage to have flash mobs without property damage, robberies, fights, and assaults. The problem was that large numbers of young blacks congregated. Wherever that occurs, trouble will follow.
ReplyDeleteThe Chief blog a day late. We already heard all that on the news Sunday.
ReplyDeleteSilly Mayor solution. Sit down and have a nice meal with my family. Pretty much like George Bush reaction to the 911 attacks sit down and read The Three Little Pigs. Good job nit wit Mayor.
ReplyDeleteIt's you who has the problem and is making this a race thing. Same as you've done with other issues, that had nothing to do with the color of one's skin.
ReplyDeleteAnd I'm pretty sure the 'brothers' of COLOR don't consider a Mexican of 'color'.
Tony, you mention the many crime victims in this city, but who are the main perpetrators of those crimes?
ReplyDeleteI'd be very interested to hear from anyone who has been able to track Facebook, Twitter or any other social networking messages encouraging the Plaza Flash Mob to happen again in coming weeks?
ReplyDeleteTKC has a good point. But, black teenager should not be walking around acting like their mama never taught them manners. Fitting into White Stereo Types of Black does not help anyone.
ReplyDeleteit only proves what many of us think. tony you're wrong, the essential element in this story is not white media, the essential element is out of control kids. Yes they are black although that is generally not mentioned by the MSM covering this. You will find reporting much closer to the truth of the matter right here on your bloc. Stories of people harassed and race baited by these black kids have been described here. The truth is simple: black parent(s) are to blame for this. Not the city or the Plaza or the police. Lazy ass parents that let their teens out late with no supervision. Oh sure they will be cryin' on the news when a cop kills one that pulls a gun or knife on them (OH LORDY WHY DID THEY SHOOT MY BABY, HE ONLY WOUNDED A COP. And we (middle class white people) won't give a shit. Black people should be ASHAMED of how they let their children run around like that. I think arresting the kids and fining the parents is a great way to go. Pay the $500 fine in 10 days or do 10 days in county, their choice. Oh and while they are in county the state takes their obnoxious kids and puts them in reform school.
ReplyDeleteWe are tired of these little thugs and their criminal behavior. If the cops don't take strong enough action this weekend there will be hell to pay.
If you of you parents are reading this (not likely as it would require a computer and internet connection) then know that the time for controlling your disrespectful wild ass children is at hand. If we have to do it for you there will be blood.
9:00 is 92% correct.
ReplyDeleteWait a minute, you're getting on the media's case for covering the story.
ReplyDeleteHi-fucking-larious, asshole, considering you're bigging up yourself for being the FIRST PERSON to carry EXCLUSIVE COVERAGE of the whole thing. I suppose when you make a big deal of it that isn't racist, but if any one else covers the big news story, it is.
Fucking hack. Hypocrite. Race-baiting. Tool.
http://www.theync.com/media.php?name=15131-epic
ReplyDeleteblack people. the lowest level of human.
There are no white people to blame for this! It was not whitey who cause people to act crazy and fight in public, to beat innocent people, to rob, to grope, to generally not follow simple societal rules!
ReplyDeleteLets blame the right people. The people that did these horrible things and their parents!
I guess Mr Nichols has to take some blame for building a great place that is fun and relaxing, damn him. 9 pm is 94% right
Tony is right suburban white people are to blame because they're so easily scared.
ReplyDeleteI'll say true dat for myself.
Honestly, I don't think racism as we intend it is completely a matter of color.
ReplyDeleteWe need a better word. It's not about racism, it's about varied CULTURES. For Blacks, Negros, Darkies, Afro-Americans in MY NEIGHBORHOOD are very different than those who live at 16th and Monroe. As are those who live in England.
It's never been about color (colour) except in the minds of the simpletons who grew up in the American South, and near south.
Sadly, Missouri is the Near South.
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I think that 9:00 guy had a lot of wisdom. I've said so even on my own blog when I suggest the KCSD's problem isn't about the school district but about parents and their screwed up kids.
Society expects us to be obedient, quiet, and fit in. The KCPD will assure that with their pepper spray, rubber bullets, metal bullets and overnights in jail so to hassle these kids' single moms.
Remember, these are the same ex-Iraqi soldiers who won't end a domestic disturbance without someone in handcuffs or a body bag!
Cops just don't go away quietly to let people settle their own problems. They'll bring in the Leawood SWAT TEAM and call you a
barracaded suspect' because they love to bring out their toys.
Lesson: don't call 9-11 until you've completely given up on your own ideas, or those of everyone you know, and want your local government to solve your problems in whatever way they decide!
(Keep in mind, your government usually uses guns (or maybe pepper spray if the newsmen are filming) and jails--the only two tools they have to offer for human problem-solving.)
Society keeps itself in control, one way or the other, no matter about other social injustices. The injustices aren't as important as the order. The Reich. The ORDER.
We certainly don't agree on everything Tony, but I think that you and I are on the same page with this event.
ReplyDeleteThe traditional media coverage of the occurence on Saturday is embarrasing and off track to say the least.
Nice work with getting the scoop on this.
KANSAS CITY'S MOSTLY WHITE MEDIA ONLY CARES ABOUT TEENAGE BLACK VIOLENCE WHEN IT CROSSES TROOST!!!
ReplyDeleteSo Tony is saying that groups of 900 teens regularly gather east of troost for mass fights and the media ignore it? Can anyone verify that statement? Or is Tony making shit up?
"it's obvious that a great many of the youngsters caught in the hot mess were just as scared as some of the more panicky patrons of The Plaza."
ReplyDeleteWhat ridicuolous bullshit.
And you can't even do the English right, either.
Agree Tony. Keep up the great work and the great writing.
ReplyDeleteSean, you have certainly changed your tune since yesterday. Or maybe you just got smarter overnight. In any event, congrats! I agree with you.
ReplyDeleteTony comments on "the real world danger of stupidly screwing with strangers."
ReplyDeleteAnd yet he disregards that danger all the time.
We white folk would just as soon stick Tony with a shiv, because he clearly doesn't contribute anything positive to the dialogue, and he's clearly a piss-ant punk.
... but we don't, because we're not a pile of brown excrement.
Finally.......I knew all this was the Mans fault................thanks Tony.
ReplyDeleteSwope Park.
ReplyDeleteYeah, we went to Swope a lot when I was in high school. Or they could go to that big vacant lot area by Riverfront Park. The City could provide a sound system.
ReplyDelete"KANSAS CITY'S MOSTLY WHITE MEDIA ONLY CARES ABOUT TEENAGE BLACK VIOLENCE WHEN IT CROSSES TROOST!!!"
ReplyDeleteThat's because that's when crime begins to effect people that care about crime or a lack there of in their community. Don't forget the "Stop Snitchin'" shirts...
That Epic Beard Man shit is off the hook!
ReplyDeleteA sound system at Riverfront, or Swope Park?...what so they can play Gucci Mane all night.....all these rappers talk about nowadays is killin people, and sellin dope.... no wonder youth are out of control.
ReplyDeleteThis blog is fucking awful.
ReplyDeleteI didn't even have to read it to know that. "Hot chick" photos with every post? Are you fucking kidding me?
If you don't like "hot chicks" maybe you shouldn't be here anyway!
ReplyDeleteT, please quit calling this a riot! It's a personal afront to the souls who actually _did_ riot for a cause in the 60's.
ReplyDeleteAHHH The Plaza WILL be the next Indian Springs if this stuff continues. Leave it to the young blacks to ruin a good thing!
ReplyDeleteWhatever happens, this needs to be nipped in the bud ASAP or it will turn into a race war and KC will lose the plaza, which in turn will kill whatever tourism this town has left.
ReplyDeleteAnd I completely agree that it has to do with parents. A person is a product of their environment and if you come from a poor, violent, tumultuous environment, you are likely to be a violent person. It is up to the parents to make a change.
I'm going to throw a blanket over this and say that most of these kids who did this do not have a good male role model in their life.
Police and judges need to be strict in their punishment of these vandals whenever this happens. It doesn't matter that they are black or white. If I saw ANYONE perform any of the said acts on ANYONE, I would put a world of hurt on them.
Its time to take our city back. Not from black people, white people, hispanic people or asian people. It is time to take it back from lawless behavior that has ruined places like Bannister Mall, Ward Parkway mall, Westport, etc. This has to end now.
And if you think that my post has racist undertones, you are retarded. Sure there are people who will use this as bullets against the black population in KC, but most of us are just concerned citizens who want to restore law and order to one of our cities greatest treasures.
This is ridiculous. White people on the plaza are not scared of black people-- they're put off by mobs of people attacking them at random. It doesn't matter that these kids are black, it matters that they're attacking random, innocent people. Not everyone who goes to the plaza is rich. I go just to walk around.
ReplyDelete