Why are people threatened by Black men who have NOT done anything to them?

Question

I'm not talking about some wanna-be thugs, so no racist crap, please. I'm talking about Black men who work for a living and dress casual. What is it with people that when Black men apporach someone, they act all scared. It sickens me. Can anyone explain this in a NON-RACIST manner?

Answer 1

hmmm, when I see a black man approaching I have to walk slow and check out his eyes and biceps and then when he has passed I turn around and look at his nice shoulders and legs! ;P
(I am female, don't let the avatar fool you) As for all the people who get all tense and freaked out, well, I just don't understand that. I think it's just that typical fear of someone/something they don't understand. Let me say to anyone like that= you just don't know what you are missing, these guys are so culturally and socially interesting, I love hanging out with my black guy friends, I love getting to know how they look at life. I never laugh so hard as when I am with them, their sense of humor is just off the hook! Open your hearts and bring down your barriers. it is SO worth it.

Answer 2

This question depends on where in the country you live. And yes it is racist or at least biased or whatever you want to call it.

I am white & in my 40's & from Seattle. My dad told me if I ever dated a black man he would disown me. I had a friend I went out with in the late 70's & people gave us dirty looks. I was shocked.

In the 80's I managed apartments & about half of the black prospective tenants had chips on their shoulders & seemed mean (or defensive). I'm sure from white prejudice. But just the same, I was pre-judged.

Today, rarely do I see black people with any chips on their shoulder. Times they are a changing. However, my dad & even my brother in his 50's are prejudiced.

People give off looks not meaning to. But if your look says how will you treat me? It may be interpreted as I've got my eye on you.

I'd like to hear answers from other black men & what their experiences have been.

I'm sorry for what you've gone through. But, life's short so be forgiving so you can retain your own peace.

Take Care

Answer 3

Its a good question. I think its stereotyping. If you see a Black guy in the news for doing something bad, your mind tends to generalize that to all Black guys. Its not right, but it happens. As a white person, you are not going to generalize that to whites because your experience tells you not all whites are criminals. So the sad answer is I think some racism is natural to us humans. That doesn't mean it shouldn't be overcome, or that it can't.

I was at a party that a bi-racial couple threw, and for the most part, the Black people partied in one room and the whites in another. I think it just has to do with being with what you are familiar with, and comfortable with. There could be a biological element in it, the us--them thing, birds of a feather flocking together, etc. And again, just because it might have some biological basis does not make it right, or mean that it can't or shouldn't be overcome.

Answer 4

Just be carefully of your own thoughts; I always remember to treat others as I want to be treated.....

Unfortunately its bad to stereotype period; we as people must define what is a ‘wanna-be’; thug; B.... in which is not selective thinking as well as because one work for a living and dress casual. Personally; a working class man with no direction, not educated (not books/degree educated); seeks casual sex from women who work for a living and dress casual all lie in the lines as thuggish. I view a man in this manner/mentality a dress up thug. A thug work for his and expect sex at the end of the day; to say "wanna-be" is an act of a racist a form of judging and hating.

If your people is a disgrace to you than how can you ask other to see you different when we are viewed as a race as one. When you freely open attacks your race publicly - the public perceive what is receive majority of the time we shoot our self in the foot.

Answer 5

It comes down to fear and steriotypes. People are afraid of a black man because they think that there is a high likelyhood of him harming them even though they've never seen the individual before. I'm not sure where people get these ideas, because I don't feel that way myself. Maybe its because the thugs get airtime on TV and the good citizens (most of the population I'm sure) don't. Sterioetypes are propigated mainly through media. It seems to me that the media generally portrays black men (especially teenagers) as punks with no moral character. So, since that is the common portrayal, then that is the common perception.

Answer 6

Stereotyping. News media presents black men as gangstas and criminals - also the music industry.

Most of the time, a fear reaction is a learned behavior. I child learns much of it's fear behavoir from its' parents before the age of 3. It's a lot like a fight or flight instinct, where you don't consciously know why you're doing it.

With that background noted, I believe that racism is a learned behaviour. In past generations, and even now, children were taught that Black is bad. Bad guys wear the black hat..black coat...black mask...you get sucked into a black hole...villains wear black capes, black cats are bad luck, etc. With the added generations of racism against blacks in this country, it's not surprising that people "feel threatened" when coming in contact with a stranger ("don't talk to strangers") and happens to also be black. (Remember, we're subconsciously taught that black is bad or scary).

It is a very sad state of our culture and I pray that it discontinues in future generations.

Answer 7

I'm afraid I can't explain it to you in a non-racist manner because it is an example of modern-day racism. There is, for some reason, a common belief that black people are thugs or gangstas (for which I particularly blame the western influence of a lot of rap music, like 50-cent etc.) even though, to be honest, nowadays there is a lot more reason to be concerned or afraid of a group of 16-year old white middle-class 'gangsta' boys than there is of any particular ethnic group.

Answer 8

Non-racist manner? Probably not. But past experience has told me that whenever I walk past a black man they are going to make some disgusting remark about what they want to do my "booty". I do not like anyone talking to me that way, especially since I do not dress in a cheap manner or in any way encourage it.

Everyone is to a certain degree whether they admit it or not. Are you telling me that you are just as at ease with a bunch of white people than you are with people of your own race? That you do not get more nervous if a white cop stops you on a dark road at night?

Answer 9

People that have a reaction like that, are only doing so out of 'fear of the unknown'. Fear is the base behind any unjustified reaction. There are no favors cast to the sheltered child/adult, as they become close-minded to stereotypes based on the 'cover of a book'. Unfortunately, their fate is to be forever short changed in the 'stories' of individual people's lives, other than their own. And unless they are Shown By Example, it is hard to accept people at face value on the street, or anywhere. My father was a journalist and he loved to talk to people. Any time, anywhere, he would turn to Joe Passerby and ask their opinion on a topic the he and I were discussing, and their surprised reaction turned to genuine interaction and positive results for all. Hopefully, we as a society and as individuals will be able to set new standards for new generations by acknowledging this flaw in ourselves and overcoming it together. Or the ignorant will never know what they are missing. Smile, show them the way, just like today, the subject brought to the table WILL change someone's perspective of the people around them...

Answer 10

Because of stereotypes.If you read a lot on this website, there are a lot of them. That is how the world is and shamefully it won't change for a while. The universal image of the stereotypical black guy is a thug. It does'nt help to wear a nice suit sometimes either because then people will think you are a drug dealer. Until people change and open their eyes your situation will happern another time.

Hope you have a nice day though!

Answer 11

some people need to open their minds to the fact that everyone is not the same. racist individuals miss out on meeting some very good people. black men have been given a very hard time. in this era black men are stereotyped and misjudged because of other people's ignorance and fear. fear of strong, creative, and wonderfully crafted black men. i pray that their attitudes and preconceived notions of how black men are , will one day change. but i do not see that in the near future. so black men stay strong and beautiful.