Why do people equate acting "BLACK" with being "Ghetto"?

Question

I am 100% Black american *****! lol. And yes I was born and raised in the "Hood" but I am far from ghetto! Why do people equate the two? There are plenty of folks who work everyday to get their familes out of the hood. Many succeed and many don't but non the less they produce children who know how to interact with other cultures and who aren't oblivious to the fact that just because I say I'm Harlem people expect for me to pull out a shank and cut them over my babies daddy!

Being Black is just who you are... but that doesnt mean your Ghetto and also! why do people that because black folks name our children different names that's ghetto. I will admit that naming your baby girl Lexus is kinda ghetto but for the most part our names are a reflection of our culture.

Answer 1

Good question, and I think it's because so many of us tend to buy into cultural stereotypes. You might be interested in reading a book written by an old friend of mine, Bruce Jacobs, titled "Race Manners." He explores many of the very issues you've raised.

Answer 2

Your just assuming that everyone has the same definition of
" hood " and " ghetto ".
Alot of people, Probably the majority, Have never been to the "hood" or the "ghetto" and have NO reason to think they are not one in the same.
It is your cultural definitions that are the source of your misunderstanding.
I don't know many if any people that want to visit the hood or the ghetto to learn and understand the culture.
So when somebody not from your culture says " ghetto " they don't mean the same thing you do.

Answer 3

I get frustrated when i hear people say someone acts black or ghetto. Those are not definitions of a group of people. Black is a color. That is all. Ghetto is a very poor area in which lots of low income people live. You cant act like a building, so you cant be ghetto.

I was raised in N. Mpls (before it turned to trash). My mother was Caucasian, father is African American. I have been told that i dont "act" black my whole life by ignorant people who automatically assume that because my skin is darker than theirs that I should be out doing some ungodly deeds late at night or something. The teased me because I was brought up to pronunciate all of my words, go to school, get good grades, able to get a great job and other things. I think it is just stupid.

To say someone is ghetto is plain tacky. If ghetto means big earrings, loud talking, fighting, alcohol drinking, pimp rollin, drug dealing, gun carrying, poor person with a large criminal history, that is a lot of assuming isnt it?

Lots of poor people come out of bad neighborhoods, as you said, and succeed.

I say just dont judge a book by its cover. Take time to get to know someone before you pass judgement. And if you cant bring yourself to be respectful of all cultures, its time for you to get in your house, glue the windows and doors shut and pass away quietly. (ok so maybe that was extreme- sorry)

Answer 4

Society

Answer 5

your right the color of your skin doesn't make you who you are it's your parents and how you choose to act, i think people use the color of their skin to act like a bunch of retards when really they can be better then that, but they don't believe me theres a dumbass in every race in every family. look at it this way if your black or mexican PR or any color then your ghetto and if your white then your trailer trash or a hill billy there's different words for different people and its sad, because we're all human we're all made of the same stuff in the inside and until we all start looking at each other that way the name calling is never going to stop sad but true

Answer 6

Ignorance - answer in one word.

I have met plenty of people that were poor and black and absolutely smart and intelligent.

I have met plenty of people that were poor and black and absolutely felt that their only way out was to "dis the man" and use up welfare.

I have met plenty of people that were poor and black and were honest, hardworking people.

I have met plenty of people that were poor and black and were scheming and dirty.

Did I mention this goes for white people, too? It's only ignorance that keeps people from understanding and making the difference. You seem like you have it together, so keep on going and being an inspiration for those that came from the same background as you.
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I Don't Know... if your avatar is any indication...

Answer 7

Ignorance

Answer 8

the two the suffering and the artwork that his Father had given him to do replaced into finished. by using fact the sacrifices of the previous had had no consequence on the hearts of God's human beings our lord god had despatched His son. interior the words of the myth he taught the owner of the winery pronounced ,"truthfully they are going to know my son." yet as interior the myth they hadn't respected him, they have been green with envy of his authority and killed him. our lord god is time-honored with of the top from the start, as we see in Scripture, yet Jesus willingly went with the aid of this dreadful ordeal for our sakes. Jesus has blotted out our sins with the aid of his sacrifice if we have confidence in him and in our lord god. So Jesus' earthly artwork as a mortal finished and he won eternal existence and is on the superb suited hand of his Father in heaven. As he instructed his disciples he will return interior the know of his Father at a time as quickly as we don't assume him. he will advance the ineffective and there will be judgement. After that Jesus is to establish the dominion for his Father by using fact the Scriptures let us know. What we'd desire to continuously do intervening time is to be truthful and obedient and look ahead to his coming and consider our Bibles so as that we understand extra of his Father's plan and purpose with the earth.

Answer 9

its a common conception. probably because after slavery ended they were forced into ghettos. its a sad story. i hang out in the "hood" alot and people there think im stuck up cuz im caucasian and im not from there. people always get lables. its a sick world.

Answer 10

Simple because people are ignorant!!! Also they make assumptions and judge the book by it's cover! It's time we as a race(everyone in the world) educate ourselves on all cultural levels!!!