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TXBLKBEAR

African American SkyDiver! What?

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come to CSS there are several black jumpers. Fast Freddy (he falls like a rock) and most notably James Gibbons (although here been off fighting a war or two lately) James was one of my Aff instructors many moons ago and a serious BAD ASS in the air!! AFF, Tandem etc... Maybe the reason we never notice the color of people on the DZ is this may be one group of people that have figured out it doesn't matter. and the guy from money shot who the picture links to was on the plane with me at nationals. Beat us by one point to finish 9th. Sorry i didn't get his name, but we were locked in mortal combat.

Stupid Sky Monkey

Just got humbled in the tunnel.

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over the years i have jumped with quite a few black skydivers and i often run into them from time to time at different boogies around our skydiveing community and let me tell you folks they are no differant than any other skydiver i dont refer to them as african americans but only as AMERICANS and SKYDIVERS .they are just brothers and sisters in this big skydiveing family of ours . no better and no worse just skydivers and family .
till later have fun & love each other seeya mb65johnny gates

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------------------------------------------------------------------------
She has a killer smile...but I'm not sure what's going on with her outfit in that picture!
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Sharon.... Dahrlin.. WHAT THE HELL WERE YOU THINKIN



That's it! I am the fashion police. I going to have to confiscate those garments NOW!

:|

Move along folks...nothing to see here.

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After I started skydiving, I asked everyone at work to go ... and all but one person turned me down.

The funniest "no" response came from an African-American guy. He said, "I have enough trouble just trying to get through life as a black man in this city. Now, why would I want to jump out of any planes?"

Interestingly enough, the person who did go with me was a black man. And he noticed there were three others doing their first tandems that day, too. He was excited to see so many brothers.

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We had a group of tandem students a few weeks ago that included a couple of black ladies. I swear they were pumped beyond belief (as if the rest of us arent!). I was on the ride to alti with them. They were cutting up and all on the way up. Pretty funny stuff!

We only have one regular black guy at our DZ. Fairly new jumper, great guy, fun to hang out with...oh wait...thats YOU isnt it JR! ;)

Heeee, we gotta go jump man. We havnt done a jump togther yet.

SniperJohn

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my DZ is where I would hang out everyday if it was not for this job of mine. Once a person discovers Skydiving they should be exempt from things like work, school, bills... and stuff like that.



rock on!

Welcome to the sport. There aren't many females, either; but still seems like more chicks than black folks. I have seen a couple do tandems, but haven't seen any regulars. I've only been in the sport since July, tho. There is one guy at my school that wants to go sometime... hmm, maybe I can catch up with him, gotta see if I get a ticket for referrals:ph34r:

take care!
Angela.



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OH how I wish that was true Laurie. I have heard many racist comments at the DZ. It breaks my heart everytime. Granted they are usually ignorant fellows that most of us don't hang with anyway, but some of the more "famous" names have let their true colors show from time to time. It is funny in a way since I am part black myself (most people think I am Spanish do to the last name) I hear people say they N word and other terms. They don't even blink when they say it. If I mention to them that they have just offended me and my family, they all of a sudden come up with the old "I have lot's of black friends". I wonder if they would still be there friends if they knew what they really thought.
Dom


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I'm sorry that you've had negative experiences at a place where we both like to hang. I'm glad that I haven't run across these bigoted people. Their ignorance will come around to bite them in the end if it continues, though.

ltdiver

Don't tell me the sky's the limit when there are footprints on the moon

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I'm glad that I haven't run across these bigoted people.



You know, no offense, Lori, but, for some strange reason, caucasians don't run across bigots nearly as much as people of different ethnicities do. I am not overly sensitive or "politically correct", by any means, but I understand Dom's situation.

I think that I have obvious "hispanic" features, but I tend to be fair- skinned (not right now) when I haven't been in the sun much. Therefore, people sometimes have no idea what "race" I am. Don't they know that some latin people are blond-haired and blue-eyed, as well? For instance, my family is 100% Peruvian, but my father's family has totally alabaster white skin and green/hazel eyes. Obviously, their ancestry must be mostly European/Spanish, more than "Indian".

Many times, people that are racist against Mexicans seem to like to let me know that I am "OK" , though, because I am "different". >:( Of course there are HUGE differences in the two cultures, but what does that mean? Also (directed to the ignorant), why assume that I am from one small country, like Mexico, if latin people encompass one whole continent and then some.

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You know, no offense, Lori, but, for some strange reason, caucasians don't run across bigots nearly as much as people of different ethnicities do.



Sorry I wasn't clear in my post before. I meant to say that I hadn't run across bigots against -any- race while in skydiving circles. I pick the friends I hang around, as they have traits that translate into other admirable qualities as well...not just acceptance of all other races and cultures as equals.

I'm sorry that there are others out there who aren't as accepting. They end up missing alot out of life.

ltdiver

Don't tell me the sky's the limit when there are footprints on the moon

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I pick the friends I hang around, as they have traits that translate into other admirable qualities as well...not just acceptance of all other races and cultures as equals.



Yes, I understand as I also try to surround myself with accepting and loving people. You seem like a wonderful, loving woman, so I understand why your friends/acquaintances would be just as open and accepting as you are, Lori. :)

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I come from a very OLD... very diverse American family. I grew up with grandparents that although they did not believe it were indeed racist. But I can truthfully say at least they were not bigots. They hailed from an OLD SOUTH that was segregated and truly believed each people had their place in society. They could not even face up to the fact that my great grandmother was Seminole Indian.. nor did they EVER discuss the family members that had anything other than white european ancestry. My grandfather had like many others in the 1920's been approached to join the Klan. He found them a group that he described for the most part as a group of belligerent, moronic deviants he did not want to be around and that had over the years degenerated into a group of people who were dumb as dirt and proud of it.

One of the best things in life for me was going into the military and being around other people of diverse backgrounds and traveling all over the world and seeing first hand some different cultures. I learned to celebrate the diversity that we spring from in this country.
At some point I sincerely hope that people will stop treating other people badly just because they come from a different ethnic background, or from a different religious background. When I do hear someone using racial slurs.. or denigrating someone for their religious practices... or trashing/bashing gays or any other flavor of the decade group that its been deemed by "normal" people to marginalize I have to think they themselves are flawed and ignorant people who I for one do not need to associate with. I then avoid these GOOD AMERICANS like the plague they are. AS I get older I become even less tolerant of the intolerant.

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