News at 11: White woman visits Anacostia -- and survives.

#Sigh

As much as I love my #SoutheastLove campaign public shaming still has its benefits. If nothing else I hope that by addressing the fear and the negative perceptions head on we can continue to encourage a healthy dialogue. If nothing else I like to point out that a significant number of those people who spread fear about "Southeast" have few first hand experiences here. Often times they are just repeating something they heard (or read on Twitter) and just regurgitate the same old lines.

While I understand how these stereotypes and blanket fear came about in the first place (I'm looking at you news reporters) that still doesn't make it right. It doesn't even make it practical let alone factual. So I hope that by continuing to post these PUBLIC tweets we can encourage people to look deeper. Maybe we can educate people not familiar with east of the river on the bias we deal with on a daily basis. Maybe we can encourage them to not be so capricious with promoting this type of propaganda.  Maybe,  just maybe,  in the process educate them on the reality of life in Wards 7 and 8. What may be a punchline to them is the place where I live, work, and spend time with my friends and family. I take this stuff very seriously.

Neighborhoods east of the river are by no means perfect but show me one place that is.  Crime can happen anywhere, something we have had the misfortune of experiencing recently in west of the river neighborhoods often considered  "safe."

It's time to do better --- even on Twitter.  "Southeast" shouldn't automatically be code for "black and dangerous."

P.S. Rachel, this is also Anacostia. It might just be a little too awesome for you. Now run and tell that. ;)

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