Why do people think that African Americans in 2006 are uneducated, babyproducing, rap obsessing, gangbangers?

Question

I can't help but notice that many people believe that African Americans when they are heavy populated in an area crime is common? I know plenty of areas where the people are doctors (and other educated elite), well respected hardworking people! I mean what about the trailer parks in the south and southwest? Are those now considered 5th Avenue?

For the record I dont believe in Affirmative Action or where anybody has to be cradled, but please! this is not 1967, its about to be 2007!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

By the way I am 22 in Law school

Answer 1

Crime statistics, prison populations, and the media all correlate with the assumption you mention. People will believe whatever public image is promoted via printed, visual, and digital media. You see very few blacks portrayed in a positive light in the media. Mostly what you see are athletes and rappers, the latter promoting/glorifying a thug/gangster lifestyle.

The bottom line here would be, if the black community does not want to be portrayed in such a negative light, they should try to improve their public image. If you don't want rappers to be your public representative, work to make it a less lucrative profession (i.e. find a way to get kids to stop buying it, and focusing on a more positive lifestyle.) SHOW THEM POSITIVE ALTERNATIVES.

Some ideas:

1) Have respected members of the black community speak randomly at schools to show children what WORKING toward a positive lifestyle can achieve for you.

2) Have career days that kids can earn through improved grades that would involve a field trip to a successful black owned business.

3) Take children on field trips to universities to see what their future cold hold, outside of their own school, reinforcing career days.

4) Have black communities pull themselves up by their bootstraps. Invest in the communities, both with regard to public facilities, and hiring predominantly within the community. If children see successful black businesses within a community, contributing to the community, it might actually be a more attractive option than the gang/rap lifestyle.

Of course a gangster will call a successful person a sellout, it is the best recruiting tactic they have. They prey on youth, who think they are invincible, and won't be the one in prison or killed, which is, sadly, not the case. It all starts with eliminating that mentality from within the community, by, again, giving the children a positive and more attractive option, like finish school, go to college, and have that Lexus, but be alive, and out of prison long enough to enjoy it without having to constantly looking over your shoulder.

I appologize if this was exceedingly verbose.

Answer 2

Sadly, its an ignorance forged from what America sees on TV. We've brought up TV generations and people that believe anything on TV. And TV and the movies thrive on that.

It's not unlike the many people who believe that all the people who live in, say Arkansas, are rednecks, or people who are from Asia are smart and peaceful (because they're all Buddhist monks of course).

The solution is that leaders need to arise from both sides to say "enough is enough: learn the truth!" But unfortunately most of the political leaders stand to gain from keeping people polarized.

The best answer is the long term one, starting and ending with good parenting. Parents being there for their kids, and raising them right. Making sure they understand the truths of the current and past world, and how its their responsibility to help keep things moving in the right direction.

Answer 3

There's trash out there regardless of race, in as much as there are good people.

Rap and Hip Hop and the controversy (not to mention shootings) surrounding it don't help African Americans, nor do NBA fights.

I agree with you. I think African Americans are perfectly capable of being educated, intelligent, and productive members of society.

Still, a lot of the 'punks' out there get more attention and so the image continues.

Answer 4

I never felt that way until I worked in a restaurant. There are certain people who promote the stereotypes and you just want to smack them and bring some sense into them. However, I would never generalize to think that a whole race is that way. I think that a lot of people who think all blacks the same are either around those bad types of people a lot or are so secluded that they rarely see other races...

Answer 5

It seems to me that a good portion of this is brought on by the media. They only portray the gangster lifestyle for African Americans. They do not showcase African Americans that have made notable achievements the same as the do the gangster rapper who gets arrested for gun play. At least that is the way it seems to me.

Answer 6

ignorance knows no color. there are racist blacks, whites, Mexicans, Asians, Europeans. i have worked with several black doctors all very intelligent and compassionate people. I'm have empathy for you, if someone said something to you today that hurt you. for the most part, whites are not of a mind set of discrimination nor do we think you are popping out babies. also, for the record white middle class teens get pregnant as often as minorities, but have abortions more often, so you do not see it as much. the reason why they do is because they receive less support from family then their minority peers.

Answer 7

it is because of the image that is put out about said race. Black media hogs put these images out. it is not the fault of the masses that believe everything they see on tv. it is the fault of those pose for this image.
i think rap music was the worst thing that could have happened to the black culture. why would they want to be viewed as thugs and gang bangers. it imposes a easily justified stereotype on the black community.

Answer 8

Maybe because the media does nothing but show blacks in a bad light. And for some reason, these 'rap' types are allowed to represent the entire culture while educated blacks are often vilified and called 'Uncle Toms", or sell outs.

Just a suggestion, but people identify with who represents you.

Answer 9

Not uneducated.But the culture of blacks does lead to the highest percentage of children born out of wedlock and every neighborhood I have been in has no shortage of crack salesmen.

I wish that were not so but it is.

Answer 10

I don't think these things have anything to do with color, so much as how other people react to and deal with race. It's all perception.


And the media. They don't show all the white-collar crime that goes on.