How a nearly all-white Iowa city is trying to shed its racist image 

Lucky you....

More of a Southern thing, I would assume.

While my family is white, I'm a bit perplexed as to how super racist towns could develop like this in Iowa. My father grew up in a small farming town there in the 1950s, and he said that racism was honestly at a minimum. What was astonishing is that for a few years, the preacher at the Methodist Church he attended as a kid was actually born in India and of that race (the community overall respected him). It was only when he and some of the other kids from the town attended some multistate convention that they encountered major racism (when an out of state kid called their preacher a racial slur, much to their disbelief and horror).

@@thunderbird1921 I certainly haven't seen a lot of racism, but then again it's not directed at me. What I do know is that Iowa never had Jim Crow laws, nobody cared about no segregation around here. A portion of my family is mixed race and I'm proud of that, we're from a small town in the south east.

@@Slapnuts9627 I know, the University of Iowa actually had an integrated football team as early as 1896! They were known for being friendlier to black athletes when many schools weren't. That's why this is so bewildering and puzzling to me. I knew Iowa had maybe 1-2 "bad places" for this stuff (according to my parents), but this just seems weird TBH. Illinois and their disgusting "sundown towns" was where a lot of the Midwest racism was (sadly).

Odd I grew up here for 50+ years I have heard it since my teen years, was not derogatory as much as a description of the area.

The "Flats" of Dubuque was the area roughly from White Street to the Slough (backwater) by FDL, and 12th Street to maybe 20th.

Black people are so delusional. Trying so hard to get along with a Culture of White Supremacist in a inclusive white Enclave. Instead of just building institutions for black people.

No, down town dubuque is called the flats. Mainly the north end around rhomberg

@Some Guy that's hilarious, "some man"...I don't need to prove anything. The evidence speaks for itself and I, "my friend", live in the area the video highlights... Something I can't say for you. Why don't you come on down and I'll show you how they suffer. If anyone is racist here, it's yourself for your assumptions. Everyone in the downtown area suffers their own set of circumstances, some differently, many the same. Before you go off with your presumsions, you should ensure you know what you're talking about first.

@Some Guy but you didn't grow up here...or in the area in question.

@Some Guy lol...and exactly what day are you referring to? A race war? A class war? A political war? Sounds kinda ominous, but if you are insinuating I have to choose a side based on color, you're out of your mind, Jack. The day anyone picks anything for me will be the day they go down with or without me. I make my own decisions, good luck trying, bring an Army, you'll need it.

Bullshit. I’m from Dubuque. Cross burnings have happened back in 2016. I was in high school during the 90s when it was much worse, but there are many who are still very racist and are t afraid to drop the N-Word.

@@seanschriver1543 hey quick question, what is the name of the area and houses that were above that large mountain looking structure? And do you guys have to walk up all of those dreadful steps in order to reach to the top on foot?!

fellow dubuquer here, I’m a high schooler and I’m noticing racism is going down and so is discrimination

@@Lichtboys but like I don't feel like it defines Dubuque as a racist place tho, racism is everywhere unfortunately so to label Dubuque as some racist Riverside city is just not true I feel like. We do a lot to help the black community. We gave people from Chicago a way out by providing low-income housing in Jackson, white, rhomberg, and Washington Street etc. We also built the dream school for kids after school to stay busy and to help them succeed instead of getting involved in bad things

@@Lichtboys and crimes gone up!

@Aberdolf "racism is everywhere" It's a matter of degree. This only really matters to you in your life when it affects you directly (i.e. being a person of color moving/traveling to a new city). This is why white people tend to be the least sensitive and knowledgeable about race/racism than any other demographic - it usually has less consequence in their life. Some places have an attitude, some places have certain traditions (i.e. the town in Georgia where 2 high school proms were held each year - one for blacks and one for whites), some places have less experience with non-whites (typically the case in the mid-west), therefore many whites just go off of what they see on T.V. and form an opinion of minorities that way. I've never been to Dubuque, but if I had a job offer in a city like that and I traveled there and saw that there were a "black area" and a "white area", that would be a big red-flag. I'm the kind of person who can feel comfortable in any environment - majority white, majority black/hispanic, majority asian, etc - as long as everyone's reasonable. A city's racism is generally a one to one correlation with its segregation. If a city/town has a "white side" and a "black side", then it's almost certainly not very progressive on matters regarding race. Statistics show that Chicago is the worst in that regard, but I guess enough reporting on Chicago's race issue has been done, which is why this video focuses on Dubuque. The mid-west in general tends to have the worst race relations, if one takes the deep south out of consideration. Take a look at this if you're really curious: fivethirtyeight.com/features/the-most-diverse-cities-are-often-the-most-segregated/ www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/2018/national/segregation-us-cities/ The second source is where you can filter for information on Dubuque, specifically. Compare it to cities like Oakland, San Francisco, or Seattle. In the mid-west where you are, Minneapolis doesn't really have this stigma of "racist city", but when you look at how integrated it is, you understand why.

@@tasheemhargrove9650 hmm. its almost as if people prefer to live with their own even in "progressive" cities. have you ever thought about that?

I did some research, the part where someone wrote "n****r", was actually in Sioux City. I'm never going to trust a Californian report on Iowa, they don't know anything about the state. I lived here for a long while, and most of the issues along the mississippi river are related to class inequality. Most people along these areas, like Clinton, Keokuk, Burlington, etc have no jobs, most people live in poverty, and has a very low household sale. This is because during the 70's all the factories got shipped out to China, leaving these cities with nothing. Most of these places are old white folk, who are living out the rest of their lives in a post economic recession, most likely to never see their main streets thrive again. I'm not saying Racism doesn't exist in Iowa, it definitely does. I just think a better place to do racism on in Iowa would be in Des Moines, since it has a history of racism, back during the days of red lining and Jim Crow laws.

Iowa is one of the most progressive states in the entirety of the US, and often has confronted equal opportunity well ahead of states like say... California. Yet we constantly have outlets like this throwing shade and slandering us. It's very upsetting.

I live in Tennessee but was wondering about Fort dodge Iowa. Is it nice town??

Are they racist against Hispanics/Latinos such as Puerto Ricans,Cubans,Dominicans,Asians or just black people?

@@ricosuave7102 Since when does racism only impact black people?

interesting ( after the " birth of a nation movie)came out in 1915..the klan incuded/ had more enenies in their list of enemies ... sad /wrong incident

Crazy democrats and their cross burning

Right just BLM, antifa, kkk and the proud boys

I never experienced racism until I moved to Iowa from Florida. But here, I experienced it from black people. The most significant experience was when I was riding the bus to work 3 years ago. A black man yelled at me saying he never sees me with "a brother" and "you don't date brothers, you don't like black men". I am half white half asian, but I do look like I may have african american genes. The downtown area is where a lot of people hang out and you see the same faces downtown everyday (whether you know the people or not on a personal level). I had seen this man before, but I do not have any relationship with him for him to speak to me like that. He was so full of anger and hatred towards me I thought he was going to eventually lash out physically. I could not leave the bus because I had to go to work. The passengers and the bus driver just sat there. I was especially upset that the bus driver let this man verbally assault me for the entire 30 minute ride. I had to call the cops and keep them on the phone with me just so I had a witness of what was happening and to let someone know where I was. When I got off the bus I was still on the phone with the cops, who wanted to meet me, but I was going to lose my bus connection to get me to work. I really didn't want to get anyone in trouble, I just wanted to be left alone. I just went to work and told the police thank you for riding on the bus with me by being on the phone during this assault. Other times I have had conversations with black people, men and women, the "do you date black men?" question eventually comes up. I have been asked that question before, even in other states where I have lived before. However, my experience on the bus made me feel like I was subconsciously resented by the black community. One can tell I have Asian heritage, yet in the 50 years that I have been on this earth, I have never been asked if I have ever dated an Asian man. Asian men (my family and even strangers) have never asked something like that. It's just weird and very personal. The first time I was ever asked if I ever slept with a black man was when I was 20, but a black woman asked me that. Six months ago at work a black woman I was working with also asked me if I dated black men. Frankly I never had a black man ask me out, but apparently it's my fault for not being seen with one. I have to admit, this made me more cautious around black people; I am afraid of their emotionality. I never thought that people could think you owed them something so they could feel better about themselves. If this feels like I'm a racist, it's because racism was presented to me in this strange manner. I don't like feeling like I owe someone something when I don't, and certainly not from people I don't know. Iowa City is very liberal to the point that if you get verbally assaulted on the bus, you better hope the perpetrator is white, because if he's black, you're on your own.

100% guarantee that you are not black.

@@clarac.s.1056 so you used a single anecdote to broad brush black people basically, yet apparently there’s nothing racist about that? There are internet groups full of white and Asian men who chastise women who date outside of their own race yet you focus on Black people for some reason.

You have not experienced a car accident which does not mean there are not car accidents in the world. Even while I am typing, some people die of car accidents.

Right, that why we got diversity. And these black people are still bitching about it. Move to pella IA and tell me about race diversity, go back to Chicago if it's not good enough

Iowa city is 3hr away from Dubuque.. And it's completely different like in every single way from Dubuque.

@@microponics2695 Iowa City is 1.5 hours from dubuque. I never said the cities were particularly similar. I said I’m familiar with both and that I have a deep appreciation for the diversity that exists in their community…I think the title of this video erases the very Black community it’s making an effort to defend

@thebacons5943 I was born and raised in Dbq. It's not diverse at all, my high school had 3 black kids with a total student population of 1,700. This was back in the 90s so maybe its changed since then ?

Never did you just say racism is "overrated, exaggerated, or used". I-

Racism is taught not overrated, exaggerated, or used in political tool 😂😂😂😂

Wow, when was that?

@@Bun0019 2014-2018

Probably because it's not true

@@ClassyMonkey1212 Feel free to share the not true part of this ?

Because it’s made up, the media just wants to find something to complain about. I’ve lived around Dubuque all my life, and this is definitely not a problem.

@@gwagner4581 so true!!

Ofc y'all won't know y'all not the ones experiencing it . That eaclty what we say when ever we being up RACE or what we go through it's always "A lie" or "Fake" OPEN YOUR EYES !! Do your research ! Y'all don't care all y'all care about is y'all selves

Thank you for speaking up!!!

You better get out real fast, dude! See, I worked there as a black man, and an engineer. The experience nearly there, especially among natives in the office nearly turned me into lunatic.

Iowa boy here, not a chance in hell that happened unless you were trying to break into a trailer when some hunters returned home.

Then you're ignorant and biased.

Don't believe it. I lived in Dubuque up until 7 years ago. It was such a toxic city.

It is worth noting though, that from experience Dubuque has a very unique "flavor" of uppitiness. If you aren't a born and raised Dubuquer going back at least 3 generations, you aren't worth your salt. You can see them coming, and they think Dubuque, IA is the pinnacle of civilization. It's sad, but it isn't everyone...you just get used to picking them out and avoiding those individuals if possible. That or do like I do and love on them too - we all need Jesus to save us from the trainwreck that is our broken nature.

I was told this also and told if they had brought in as many professional, trained, or career oriented individuals (synapses) along with the those trying to escape the southside, the transition would have been more acceptable. People feared they were either not going to work, over burden the systems that the unemployed here already were using, bring the Chicago crime with them, or that they would take their job for lesser pay or affirmative action type of replacements. Unfortunately, it happened to be people of one race and people expressed their fears by boiling it down to their race without any positive representation being present. I don't know if this is correct and doesn't excuse much of the behavior but I feel like it's hands down, much different now. It definitely reminds me of how people crossing the southern border are treated and also the coming AI and automation wave.

@@sarahs3810 IDC LMAO I'm from Arkansas which is way better than the whole Midwest combined

More whitesplaining.

As a black man, I lived in Dubuque for 3 years where I worked as an engineer. I couldn't stand it. I left. Even the local Baptist church we were attending on Asbury, Rd wasn't that accepting. It was such a hostile city. This was just around 2015.

Nots that racist, its their chose of political views. Trump is for freedom and american people..biden is true raciat with tons of videos and audio clips to prove it... trump had a plan unlike biden.

👍

I'm from Iowa City and have nothing but respect for your beautiful town. Hope you guys continue to grow past the sad history and prosper

You're in denial

Dubuque hasn't grown from any past. I lived and work in Dubuque as an engineer from 2012-2015. Wow! Never had seen such a toxic city in my life. The natives were very mean and closed off.

It’s fake, don’t fall for it. Been here since 2003 and have deeply studied the history back to the Natives and Julian Dubuque. This report is simply wrong. Don’t let some people in L.A. tell you how our Midwest town runs.

I'm a black man who lives in Iowa in Dubuque and I've only been here for one week and I've had four white men to pull up on me with guns and telling me to leave town and have even had the police to follow me around so what do you call that

@@ADH83 I didn't question racism in dubuque I was questioning the motives of the mayor I grew up in dubuque during both times the change was very evident

There is an actual video from the 80's, a 20/20 video if you search "Dubuque"...it was not pretty, but it's not even close to that today. As a native that move in and out since 1976 due to family moves, the Army, and career moves, the difference is astounding. I think if equivalent amounts of well to do minorities were brought in, along with people struggling to escape the inner city of Chicago, the change would have been more accepting. Maybe not, but either way, it makes me cringe Everytime I have watched it. We've got some work to do, but I think it's more of a class issue like every other city, than a racial issue now.

Lichtboys none of this is true i live in dubuque also.

@@Leahcartman1504 once again, which oart is not true.

Lichtboys, I grew uo in Dubuque in the 1960's and 70 's. I still have family in Dubuque. You never heard about the cross burning at Irving School in the early 1990's? That was a shameful thing, and it really saddened me.

Laura Lampe never did hear about it. My parents have mentioned it a few times, but I haven’t really asked about it. I’ll be sure to ask though.

Antonio Carmichael ayyyy what up. They drove by my house lmao

HERE

When you grew up in the flats there were 300 black people in that city of 50K. !. I do agree people up in the hills looked down on those in the flats. Up until the early 60s that area was a decent place. My great gramma had a beautiful how near Jackson Park and told me how nice it was there. She wound up selling in the late 80s when it started to get bad.

I just moved here a week ago and you're definitely right about the 2face I wish iwould have never came, I'm getting Greyhound tickets this week and I'm out of here

Iowa is the rustest state, get out of there, you do not need to be treated like that. They think non-whites are bad, so they hurt and treat you like that. As soon as I got out of iowa, i was so happy. I went to CA.

it is so true i have dealt with so much here in this town with jobs they def dont want to see you upgrade 💯💯its sad i wouldnt recommend Black people to live here and then its so slow here but alot of Drugs n drinking 😭

Id be happy to sit down and discuss. I think you are sadly mistaken. Or scapegoating for your own faults or shortcomings. We can compare our experiences and success or failure stories. Im sure it would be enlightening for both of us.

sounds like you're blaming everybody else for your own problems. - sincerely a black man living in dubuque his whole life.

Me and my fiance just moved to here we've only been here for a week a week and I've already had white men pull guns on me to pick up trucks and had the police follow me around town we're getting Greyhound bus tickets this week and we're gone

@@seanschriver1543 No, she is not scapegoating anything. If you wanna know, I worked at a heavy equipment manufacturer in the city and I experienced what she just said. Meanwhile, I saw other non-performers promoted and pushed ahead.

Why do less progressive and backwards states keep trying to pass the buck?

Blu Who are “you guys?” I am not white for your kind information! I am Pakistani...And Caucasians still constitute 72% of the us population so it’s still a “majority” White country!!!

@Blu so you're admitting that you're intent on taking over their towns. would you still support diversity if it was the other way around?

@@zombieat You have to absolutely no interest in what Blu is saying if that's what you took from those two comments.

Blu Blu no one would dare to say that we need “more diversity” in Any Asian or Middle Eastern country...no one would ever DARE to make the vast majority of my country feel like there is something wrong if we only prefer to live amongst our own culture/religion etc...Most Human brings prefer living with those who look similar to us; it’s simply human nature!

Blu Blu I have a right to say whatever I want 🤨plus I was born in the U.K....I am a “British” Pakistani so I know what it means to be born into another culture/country and just because a person is an ethnic minority American or British...it still does not mean that people do not prefer to live amongst those who look similar to themselves or come from similar backgrounds; there is absolutely nothing wrong with that...that is my only point! Although I was born in England I still married a Pakistani man and I still find that I have tons in common with other Pakistani people.

@Bunker Sieben nice emojies, you think I have a reason to lie?

So....you have any evidence of these gun crimes? Maybe on the police statics? According to the Dubque police department the level of crime is avarage compared to the state, and Country.

@@riskleaf6079 feel free to look up police reports or ask anyone from the town. A generalized view over Iowa isn't going to show you anything.

@Bunker Sieben please explain how I am racist. I have black , Chinese, Spanish and Taiwanese friends.

@Bunker Sieben ya I'm not lying, there was shootings almost weekly for a while in a city that never had the issue. This isn't me being racist this is me saying that this entire story is grasping at straws and doesn't put the city in the right light for the current time period. And if you think I'm pandering about me being ripped off robbed or being kicked out. Those aren't lies at all. "Get this F****** white boy out my house, what the F this white boy doin here". My black friend had to try to calm him down but I ended up leaving because he was irate. Can you imagine if that was the other way around. I'm not racist I'm not going to be called racist just because you're arrogance and don't want to admit that there's a possibility of this being true

Born and raised in Dubuque , I grew up in a house that held Klan meeting just a few years before I was born (1993) it’s here

@@liddoluv9465 it’s also everywhere

Ignorance is badmouthing a state you know nothing about.

People have a right to reside wherever they want. No matter the color of their skin

@@billhathaway2814 Exactly, but why would someone put their family through something like this, doesn't make sense to me, and the people dissatisfied living there should move on as well, there are economic opportunities all over the country, the isolationist should be left to their own device. you could live where ever you want, would you choose next door to a commercial chicken farm?

@@ThePhantomNetwork I live in Dubuque and I'm a minority myself... By staying away, change will never happen. You have to make your stand with your family for a better future for generations to come. Edit/add on: I need to add that I'm a Texas Native and grew up in Texas. I'm also Hispanic.

@@darlingthimblemoon4658 Lord Almighty why would you leave Texas, Well good luck to you and your family, btw the grass is not any greener

@@ThePhantomNetwork lol well, my husband is from here and he found work here. So, we go where the work is. He also has family here and they have been a big help to us. I don't plan on living here indefinitely and I do plan on going back home someday. Thank you ☺. Edit/add on: not any greener than Texas or Dubuque? I apologize but i just want to make sure I understand your meaning.

@Bunker Sieben exactly. He replied to me about some race war bullshit...he's not even from here😄. Good luck to him. Troll

Judging from your tattoos, you are an insecure white woman seeking approval from anyone because white men, not males, find you repulsive

@@andrewzajac9541 Or maybe that's a google image I grabbed in like 2010 that I liked and you're an insecure white man that is mad that minorities want to be able to live without being shot, treated less, or being in fear of someone wanting to hurt them because of the melanin in their skin? Also I have a relationship but nice try.

@@andrewzajac9541 Also what is with this idea that I'm "seeking approval" from anyone just because of a photo from Google of a music tattoo and my comment on how change made me happier? I hope someday you can find peace instead of creating sexist and racist comments online.

Or, YOU COULD JUST MOVE TO WHERE YOUR DESIRED "DIVERSITY" IS. Why do you think that EVERYONE HAS TO WANT TO LIVE IN "DIVERSITY"? Has it ever occurred to you that SOME people just want it to be all the same? And why ISN'T that okay? Who do you think YOU are to demand that everyone like what you want? That's just a liberal agenda.

If that is what you got from this video, you need to watch it again.

exactly! Why work when you can play victim and the government will support you?

Y’all still sound racist! Literally, in this video they discussed whites claiming that there is no racism and everything has changed as being a big part of the problem. When people of color voice their concern…Listen! You’re not black and haven’t experienced this…so listen to fully understand. Also, don’t assume that black people don’t work for theirs! I’m black and I’m a manager for a major national bank! Stop assuming all blacks or people of color are welfare recipients! Stop, please! You are absolutely the problem! If you’re triggered by this comment. You’re more than likely the very type of white person to which I’m referring!

You sound like you’ve burned plenty of crosses in your time...

Racist

The problem is ignorance more than hatred.

Maybe willing ignorance

Chuck Riggs i live in dubuque and a year ago a white nun was shot dead while takeing a morning walk.

Can u explain?

This has to be satire, have you been paying attention to anything Kim Reynolds, Chuck Grassley, Joni Ernst, or Steve King have said or done in the past few years? Iowa has had it's good moments, like being the third state to legalize gay marriage, but it's certainly not progressive anymore, if anything it's regressive. What progressive policies have been enacted in the past 2 years?

@daniellewis5474 By all means give an example.

@@hagencarter8834 What policy do you feel should be enacted that would be "progressive"? What is so "regressive" about the state under it's current leadership? Give some indication you're not just talking out of your ass.

@@ephemispriest8069 The policies against abortion and trans people come to mind. We still haven't legalized or decriminalized Marijuana. During the George Floyd protests Des Moines all but unleashed an army on protestors. Iowa's one of the worst polluters of ag runoff in the Mississippi River watershed and the state is doing little to help, and the farmers are mostly unmotivated to improve it. Steve King is openly xenophobic.

@@hagencarter8834 So we haven't made a mind altering drug legal (recreationally), we didn't let "protestors" burn/loot/assault/murder anyone, are the worst ag polluter of the Mississippi (AKA not the worst trash/invasive wildlife/industrial polluter), and you claim xenophobia because someone wants to enforce our laws. I can see legalizing marijuana if strictly regulated. I can see actually letting protestors peacefully protest. I can see being more considerate of the Mississippi watershed. I can encourage welcoming people from other nations into our state. But here is the thing guy. We already do all that. Trying to spin it toward your leftist talking points isn't going to get much ground in the real world.

Girl I-