Pa. cross burning stokes ire -White couple says black foster son was targeted.

[The Straight Story]

Pa. cross burning stokes ire
White couple says black foster son was targeted.

By Dan Nephin

Associated Press
PITTSBURGH - A white Western Pennsylvania family that took in a black teenage foster child who plays for his high school football team said they were targeted by a wooden cross burned outside their home over the weekend after his team lost a playoff game.

State police yesterday said they didn't know who burned the 6-foot cross, which Joe and Candy Walbeck said they were shocked to find charred in their yard early Sunday.

The Walbecks, who live in a predominantly white community an hour's drive east of Pittsburgh, took in 16-year-old Shaq Howard three years ago as a foster child because he was having problems with his family. The Walbecks now have legal guardianship.

...

Shaq said he was frustrated about the cross burning but wasn't going to mope over it.

"I don't wish bad on no one, but something has to be done about the ignorance and brutality of their crime," he said.

http://www.philly.com/inquirer/local/20091117_Pa__cross_burning_stokes_ire.html

[spinbaby]

1. I live near Pittsburgh

First I've heard of this. Indiana County, though, so I can't say I'm surprised. Rural Western PA is the most racist area I've ever experienced.

[Altoid_Cyclist]

2. I live in Altoona and I agree.

Indiana county probably isn't as bad as Somerset county, but it's a whole (racist) new world once you head east out of Pittsburgh.

Welcome to "Alabama in the middle".

[no_hypocrisy]

3. My father comes from Clearfield County and remembers Klan parades down

the main drag of Dubois in the Twenties.

And I believe Jimmy Stewart came from Indiana County.

[Altoid_Cyclist]

4. Indiana county was known for two things; Jimmy Stewart and The X-Mas Tree capital of the country.

Clearfield county follows the central PA tradition of being stuck in time. Enlightenment hasn't reached very many people yet, although the overt racism is a little more subdued, VERY little, but the Klan marches don't take place anymore. One on one though, a lot of people still admit to hating N******.

There's a little Podunk town southeast of here that until relatively recently had signs posted at the entrances into town that said something to the tune of; No traveling salesmen, Jews or "N" word again.

There is one AA family living there now and the street that they live on is called N***** Hill.

This is why the saying that Pennsylvania is "Pittsburgh in the west, Philadelphia in the east and Alabama in the middle still holds true.

[MountainLaurel]

5. Welcome to Pennsyltucky

As has been noted by various souls on DU before: Phillie in the east, Pittsburgh in the west, and Alabama in between.