Are people naturally afraid of black people?

Question

I'm interested in all points of views

Answer 1

I don't think your question was stupid. I think it's just not accepted by people of other races as a truth. I am a black woman. I understand exactly where you are coming from. When I get on the elevator at my job (in a secure building not open to the public) and a white woman on the elevator grabs her purse to her body or scoots to the corner it makes you think. I sat on a block of ice on a sidewalk when I broke my leg after slipping and no one stopped to help in an all white neighborhood. Yeah it makes you think. When you apply for an apartment and your accepted until the people see you then something comes up. Yeah it makes you think.

When people don't live your life and see how others treat you, they don't understand. You could be a doctor, a lawyer, a business woman/man. But when you are out on the streets your just black. media presents us as criminals, gang members, and drug users/sellers. So that's what people see when they see us. Fear is not natural though, but learned from ignorance.

Answer 2

No one is "naturally" afraid of anything/one. We are all taught to hate, fear, and prejudge. I grew up in a prodominately all black neighborhood and lived in one of the roughest housing projects in jersey. I have never been shot, stabbed, nor have I ever seen these things happen to other people. I have yet to be mugged, raped or even harassed for that matter. Yet, looking at the news each day kinda makes me afraid to go outside amongst people who look just like me. Deep down am I afraid - no, but having these images drummed in your head all the time really messes with your perception of reality. But it's amazing that we,as a society, don't fear white men between the ages of 24-35, being that they have historically been proven to be the rapists and serial killers. But that's not what we see on out t.v screens daily. It's always a "Black male btw. 5'5 to 6'5, weighing anywhere from 150lbs. tp 300lbs, and about 18-45 yrs old." - that "fits the discription. lol Maybe that's because the ten men that own the biggest media outlets have fit the description of serial killers themselves. . .

Answer 3

It's difficult to answer a question like that (for fear of being "politically incorrect"). The hip-hop culture in media shows a lot of black guys that are large and look like (or rap about) they are in a gang. I think that leaves a lot of people with somewhat of a predispostion towards being afraid of black guys. But if you're looking at a local level, I'm not more afraid of a person because they're black or any other color/ethnic background than I would anyone with the same appearance. For example if there is a ground of three large black guys wearing bandanas walking down the street I would automatically assume (I know, that's profiling) they are in a gang. BUT I would not be more afraid of them because their black because I would be just as afraid and jump to exactly the same conclusions about possible gang involvement as I would if it were three large white guys or three large hispanic guys.

Answer 4

Nope, not all people. I think it depends where you grew up and the type of education you had. A lot of foreign countries are not only not afraid of black people, on the contrary we admire them a lot because oh boy! they are fun and they can certainly dance, they play soccer and many sports better than any other race, they are happy people with an excellent sense of humor. At lest that's the way we see them in latin american countries. We neverr had discrimination problems against black people and our history is somewhat different because slavery was never a big problem in the past, they have never been second class type of citizens either so maybe that's why we're different than some US communities.

Answer 5

Fear is a learned response. People are not born afraid.

Unfortunately, American culture is largely predicated on the pursuit of the dollar. To get that dollar, you need to get people to buy things...whether it be an idea, a product, or a service. The list is short, but endless in its variations.

I say unfortunately, because one of the easiest ways to make money is to play on peoples fears.

By the way...you already know the answer. You just hadn't asked yourself the right question to bring it forward.

Is a child born of a woman naturally afraid of its mother?

Like I said...fear is a learned response. People are not born afraid.

Answer 6

naturally?
I am not sure about that but through culture/music/life experience many other races do become wary of black men in particular. Though I am sure most would not admit it in the presense of black people.


There is a famous quote from Jessie Jackson that he said he feels relieved when he turns around late at night after hearing footsteps behind him and see's its a white man.

Answer 7

I do not believe so. growing up I just saw that some people had different colors of skin and hair from me. I really hate putting people into groups. For I think it is the character of an individual and the intents of their heart that cause us to trust or not trust. My best friend, who I have known for 10 years..which is longer than one of my friends other than family ..happens to be African American. I fear those who would do harm regardless of their race.

Answer 8

This is one of the most ignorant questions asked. Scared of what? I really hope your not so stupid to believe that people are scared of black people. But then again you did ask the question.

Answer 9

I have a fear of people I don't know--black or white. If I'm out walking by myself and a guy I don't know approaches me, I'm a little intimidated by that.

Answer 10

I daubt that very much...I for example like them a lot and think black man are the most atractive of all.