The problem with black people . . .

On an article about the Silence is Violence march to bring attention to the crimes problems in New Orleans, there are a number of comments that make offensive generalizations about poor people and minorities (and their responsibility for crime).

One user articulated his view that black people lack "pride as a a people" and that "the ones who made it" "don't look back":

picklepork January 29, 2011 at 10:11AM

No pride as a people. The ones who've made it need to enlighten the others still stuck in the system. They have to fix themselves. Unfortunately, once they succeed, they don't look back.

But my favorite thing on this string of comments is seeing Ken Foster, a fine writer and teacher who is involved in Silence is Violence, eschew anonymity and call the nasty, cynical commenters out:

kenfoster January 29, 2011 at 6:18AM

It's always fun to come on here and read the ill-informed know-it-all comments. Many of your concerns actually WERE addressed at the event. Parents did talk about the need for other parents to actually parent. The organizations involved in organizing it DO have ongoing programs throughout the year, including in the schools. But you'd have to actually get up from your computer to learn all that.