Feeling Deflated

"Some people cannot accept the fact that they are in a place where their lifelong privileges due to skin color have suddenly evaporated...that is the cause for a lot of the discomfort."

And what are their lifelong privileges that evaporate on St Croix?

wow-i think that was the best post you have written JRF

although i must say, i agree with ms411. this privilege, where is it and what is it

Am I missing some privilege my skin color gives me by living here?

It's a very complex issue, but in general terms I think the privilege JahRustyFerrari refers to is the privilege whites have of being considered the "top race"

The privilege of having more opportunities due to skin color

The privilege of not being beaten up by cops

etc etc

Here's an excerpt from an excellent interview with Chris Rock:
My mother tells stories of growing up in Andrews, South Carolina, and the black people had to go to the vet to get their teeth pulled out. And you still had to go to the back door, because if the white people knew the vet had used his instruments on black people, they wouldn’t take their pets to the vet. This is not some person I read about. This is my mother.
Chris Rock interview

Thanks, but I want JRF to answer since he was the one who posted the comment.

I "get" exactly what JRF is saying.

I "get" exactly what JRF is saying.

I feel sorry for anyone who has to have it explained to them.

If JRF responds, I'll post my point of view (maybe). I probably "get" it, too, but people who don't live here might not get it, so I think it should be clarified.

If people who don't live here don't understand, then maybe living here is not the correct choice for them.

They're going to be exposed to a multitude of races, religions, cultures, ethnicities whether they like it or not. If that makes them uncomfortable, then it's something to consider.

And what are their lifelong privileges that evaporate on St Croix?

There's no evaporation at all. It's probably more potent here, because race even trumps economics (which usually doesn't occur in the states). Even my poorest pothead, tattooed, white bartender friends on STX live in safe East End neighborhoods, and visit Buck Island weekly. They rent cheaply from other whites, and are invited to join them in fishing/sailing expeditions. They are offered jobs almost immediately after arrival on island (some even two or three--tattoos notwithstanding!) and often bounce around between bars/hotels because the demand for them is so high. One friend once proclaimed that they were "never treated so good in the states!" On the one hand, I am proud of them, but on the other hand--the local hand--I can't believe this is St. Croix. We routinely fly in low-skilled service industry labor while our youth unemployment probably approaches 40%. It's evil, sure, but there are also significant racial implications.

My middle class west indian friends with college degrees still have to worry about being robbed going home to their Strawberry and Mon Bijou homes. They are stereotyped as being lazy and shiftless (pervasive stereotype of locals that is eerily similar to U.S. racial norms) by wealthy private sector employers, and struggle to find even one job. My white pothead bartender friend once joked that he--a tattooed stoner with a criminal record in the states--is often trusted around money, while the boss was hesitant to trust a young local around the cash. It's hilarious, but also sad.

I think people underestimate how much being perceived as smart, industrious, attractive (if you are female), and productive matters. Or at the very least, not having your race count against you in such estimations of your value. Most transplants aren't coming from race-neutral places like Canada or France, though I often wish they were.

Monogram, that's what I see, too. Thanks for posting.

.

Lol, CruzanIron! The best a** kicking I've ever seen here or stateside was when the security at little KMart on STT beat the stupid out of a white guy outside the store. He was pleading for somebody to call the police, but nobody did. He supposedly stole medications used to make that drug on Breaking Bad, so the onlookers felt he was getting what he deserved. No cops needed.

I think the "white privileges" both evaporate and condensate in VI, so the arguments for "evaporation" (by JahRustyFerrari) and "condensation" (by monogram) are both valid.

Wanderer's opinions don't count with me since he doesn't live here and hasn't given specific examples.

Wanderer's opinions don't count with me since he doesn't live here and hasn't given specific examples.

Half of the people who post here do not live in VI. Maybe we should have 3 subsections in this discussion board:
-- for Native Islanders only
-- for transplants only
-- for state siders only

Add a 4th subsection to the above.
People that have worn out their welcome and don't "get it."

Add a 4th subsection to the above.
People that have worn out their welcome and don't "get it."

The 5th subsection would be for people obsessed with the people in the 4th subsection.

Other people who don't live here ask questions. Wanderer posts OPINIONS backed by old statistics. Answer questions so you can help people looking for current information.

wanderer,

Why do you continue to post on a forum for relocation to the VI when you were only here for a couple of months? Why are you still so interested in a place (and giving opinions and advice, no less) that you did not ever truly count as "home"?? I simply don't understand...
Having an opinion? Sure, everyone does about particular subject matter that they are interested in...so, what exactly is your interest in the VI? Why do you continue to feel the need to interject??

wanderer,

Why do you continue to post on a forum for relocation to the VI when you were only here for a couple of months?

It's not complicated. He considers himself a superior being with special insight. A delusional narcissist. 😀

"Half of the people who post here do not live in VI. Maybe we should have 3 subsections in this discussion board:
-- for Native Islanders only
-- for transplants only
-- for state siders only"

Just what the world (and this forum) needs - more separation and categorization.

It's not complicated. He considers himself a superior being with special insight. A delusional narcissist. 😀

Haha. I knew you'd say that.

Why do you continue to post on a forum for relocation to the VI when you were only here for a couple of months? Why are you still so interested in a place (and giving opinions and advice, no less) that you did not ever truly count as "home"?? I simply don't understand...

I stated my intentions very clearly. VI is a fascinating place which made a great impression on me during my two short visits. I have many different interests, and VI is in my queue of things to research (and yes, to write about). Sure, I am opinionated and anti-social. I consider these things to be virtues, so it doesn't bother me when people remind me about it. I hope this answers your question.

With regards to my participation in this thread, the original poster contacted me directly through PM, and asked for my opinion about certain things. Then she started this thread. It's totally up to her to read the multitude of the opinions, and to make up her own mind about relocating (or not) to VI.