What do white people think it means when they call some blacks ''ghetto''?

Question

every response i read or post that has something negative to say about black people by whites they say we are ''GHETTO'' . do they even understand what that word means? heres how a white person thought it meant:


loud
from the hood
ignorant
drug dealer/murderer/
uneducated
bad attitude


heres what i think it means:

loud
from the hood
abnomally does things like eat crazy foods wear different clothing etc
uses slang words

Do you think people interpret the word wrongfully? is there something wrong with being ghetto or from the hood?
i don't think there is anything wrong with it as long as you don't go overboard. i live in a ''hood'' but i go to school and respect my parents, but i have friends who are loud and hangs out with people on the block, does that make me ghetto? are they ''ghetto''? is it wrong to be ghetto? i don't think so. you?

Answer 1

I'm white, but I have a colored wife who grew up pretty rough. I think ghetto has become more of a cultural reference not necessarily aimed at one race or color. I think for the most part it refers to modern hip-hop culture, and then - in a secondary sense - it being a reference to inner city street life. I don't think it's meant to be offensive now days (though it may have started that way - I don't know), but I do think some people may use it, and take it as such.

Answer 2

In response to the question posted I believe that being "ghetto" is a mentality, not a location. I know Russian's that are "ghetto". And that is not a compliment. I have met White suburban kids that are "ghetto" ...again not a compliment.
My Yahoo! avatar looks pretty close to how I look in real life. So to most people I look white. However, my Father is black; but very light skinned. When I was a kid we lived in the "ghetto". Our neighborhood was full of all the usual elements (drug deals, violence, and terrible schools) However my Parents got us out and into college. My point is that even though someone may be from the "ghetto" they're not necessarily of the "ghetto".

While we're on the subject of the "ghetto mentality" I'm soooo tired of people within the black community trying to "keep it real". Why do we have to wear jerseys 15x larger than our entire bodies? Why do we have to be on food stamps but driving an Escalade? We're only perpetuating the very stereotypes that corporate America has created for us. Do you honestly think that buying Nike's made by child slave laborers in Sri Lanka means that you are staying true to your Blackness? Do you think Tommy Hillfiger is in any way concerned about the state of affairs within the Black community? The concept of "ghetto" to me is now just material lust.
When hip-hop first came out it was about putting the struggle of everyday inner-city life to music. Soon this became popular and profitable. Now all the major labels carry several artists of the moment to release some babbling junk about what kind of chains they wear or car they drive. It's a joke!!! And the worst part is the joke is on us!!!

One last thought: before I replied I read an answer from someone that asked why is it not a big deal that a black person can call a white person a cracker, but a huge deal when a white person calls a black person a n---er?
Well first let me say that both are wrong and should not be said. But, on a deeper level, I think you should spend some time looking into what history the "n" word has. See how that very word is the name of a race created from slavery. See how that word has held an entire race of people back for centuries. A word so powerful it kept a race of people out of public bathrooms, restaurants, hotels ...even denied them the right to vote! Now that is one powerful word! Then contrast that with the word cracker. See the difference?

Answer 3

Ghetto in my opinion means someone who grew up without alot of money, so they take shortcuts such as when the shampoo is running low, putting some water in it to make it last longer, or eating sugar and butter sandwiches or mayonaise sandwiches because meat cost too much. There is nothing wrong with being from the ghetto, in fact being from the ghetto makes most appreciate stuff more than those rich spoiled brats who are handed everything on a silver platter from the day they are born.

Answer 4

I find your question very prejudice... I call white people ghetto just as much as any other race... if a shoe fits wear it... Not all black people are ghetto. I am very offended that you would take one person's interpetation of the word ghetto and say that is all white peoples definition. I get tired of being called a racisist because im white. I had black people in my wedding, my best friend is a mix between Polonesian and Mexican. Is it only white people that stereo type and are racisit? I think not, I find more people using their race to get people to call others racisist, how does that work....
Okay all that aside, I try not to call names I like people as long as they are respectable in my book...

Now to answer the question of what ghetto means, the following defintion comes from www.dictionary.com:

ghet·to /ˈgɛtoʊ/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[get-oh] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation
–noun, plural -tos, -toes. 1. a section of a city, esp. a thickly populated slum area, inhabited predominantly by members of an ethnic or other minority group, often as a result of social or economic restrictions, pressures, or hardships.
2. (formerly, in most European countries) a section of a city in which all Jews were required to live.
3. a section predominantly inhabited by Jews.
4. any mode of living, working, etc., that results from stereotyping or biased treatment: job ghettos for women; ghettos for the elderly.


wow a bit enlightening I would have to say! (I have a couple of family members that are Jewish...wonder if they know the true meaning of ghetto...thank you I learned something new today)

Have a GREAT day!

Answer 5

It got here from city existence an prolonged time in the past. there have been Italian ghettos, Polish ghettos, etc... It replaced into probable voluntary segregation, yet yeah, the places the place the dominant way of existence of an area lived replaced into under no circumstances spoke of as a ghetto, probable because of the fact they have been already settled whilst the different individuals arrived. even though it is not in simple terms black human beings, there is likewise the barrio, China city, little Italy...

Answer 6

But there are also a lot of black classy people with money and with careers living in the suburbs, owning homes and businesses just like whites. And what about the Trailer Park Trash which is pro dominantly white people? They're loud, filthy eat road kill, just as uneducated, with ignorant attitudes, doing drugs, drinking moonshine. So I think Whites and Blacks needs to stay off the comparison board and get back to the basics of just trying to get along.

Answer 7

Do you really believe a "ghetto" only exists in black communities? Boy you r out of the loop.....come to flint..it's one big "ghetto". You must want the term to only be about black people....but it's not. so look for some other thing to ***** about....I bet you already have one...remove the dark cloud...

Answer 8

things that are Ghetto aren't just black people or things, an old chair that's wrapped in ducktape is ghetto. I'd also call it a redneck chair. Same thing. Especially it it was wrapped with chrome ducktape. That would be a very ghetto chair!

Answer 9

I guess my view of the word was always load and trashy. I have called white poeple that word before. If I see someone that is in my opinion "ghetto" then I call them that regardless of race.

Answer 10

It means that you are low class and that you are loud and etc. You are not ghetto just because you live in the hood but maybe your friends are?