Have you ever seen a black man drink hot tea? Our pastor said he had not. He recently went on a trip?

Question

to Africa and was shocked when he saw black people taking tea! He said it as if "taking tea" was proper and uppercrust, so seeing BLACK PEOPLE doing that was a shocker. I was trying to figure out if I should be offended or not. I decided I wasn't, only because he didn't mean it to be offensive (plus he grew up in Arkansas but we live outside a big, diverse city now). What do you make of this? If I say BLACK PEOPLE INDEED DRINK HOT TEA (we do), are you shocked?

Uh, if some of you haven't figured it out yet, I AM BLACK. I'm not racist. And I HAVE seen black people taking tea (like me!) Duh.

Answer 1

I just think it's funny. It's not like the universe is limited to our experiences. Drinking tea isn't "upper crust," it's just tea. African-Americans drink coffee, or iced tea, or tea, or whatever. The tea vs coffee thing is more historical and regional--different countries drink different beverages depending on history and trade. I'm not shocked.

Again, to a large extent, experiences mean whatever they mean to the people doing them; the meaning that outsiders attach to them are probably inaccurate or shallow. Your pastor thinks "tea" means "upper crust." Then he sees people whom he doesn't consider "upper crust" drinking tea, and he has a conniption. All this tells me is that your pastor needs to get out more.

It also tells me that he pays more attention to social status, and to his interpretation of social status, than I'd like to see in a pastor--the Bible tells us not to judge falsely, after all. But if this is the only thing he does, I don't think it's the end of the world. On the other hand, if he reacts in this socially narrow and judgmental way with others while he is pastoring, I'd be mildly skeeved. I think what's annoying you here is that you suspect that your pastor doesn't expect black people to be classy or to do things that he associates with higher-class people. You might want to bring these observations to his attention. If this is indeed the case, I'm certain you aren't the only one who noticed.

Here's my unexpected-and-black story: When I lived in Paris some years ago, I would go to the community swimming pool. In the center of the men's locker room was a desk, like you'd see in an office. The desk had a telephone on it, and a stack of towels. And sitting at the desk was a large black woman. She'd sit at the desk and hand out towels (for a fee + tip, bien sur). Fortunately we didn't have to change in front of her--there were little booths to change in. What surprised me the most was that the French, of all people, didn't get naked in a locker room.

Answer 2

I am not shocked. I didn't know tea was such a status object. As if tea was so expensive that it would carry an affluence margin.

Maybe in a proper set. You know, as the English have tea. As far as just simply drinking hot tea, in my server days, I have served hot tea to many black people. Though I have never been requested cream with the tea (as we would normally drink coffee, the English drink it in their tea- which is quite delish!)

Answer 3

I am not shocked. I am African-American and I drink hot tea(regular and green tea). I don't know where that stereotype came from, but I can see why you asked. There are so many stereotypes out there about blacks, such as the stereotype that blacks can't and don't like to swim. I'm African-American and I can swim and I like swimming. Your pastor may have not meant to be offensive, but it does manke you think about how much many people make assumptions about other ethnicities based on what they have heard.

Answer 4

I have not been to Africa,but I have never seen a black man ( or a woman ,for that matter) drink HOT tea. Iced,certainly,but never hot. And ,no,i am not a racist. Just answering a question. Who says one can't learn anything on yahoo answers!! i just did!

Answer 5

I have to answer your question with a question. Why do people ask something like a black man instead of a man? Why does the color matter? No wonder we haven't gotton pass the race thing.... No I have not seen a man drinking hot tea.... This is my answer.... Not colored

Answer 6

yes you should be offended. I am (and I'm not black. and I drink hot tea)

he was *shocked* that those black barbarians were acting like civilized people! next thing you know they'll be talking intelligently, and voting! jesus.

but he probably didn't mean anything by it. he was just engaging in some casual ignorant stereotyping, like we all do.

Answer 7

Actually, don't be offended, I think you should help to educate him. It is only lack of knowledge that makes people make comments that are viewed as derogatory.

Education can help in all areas. Example: I'm from Canada and I always get asked "what do you celebrate at thanksgiving in Canada?"

I chuckle and say -"I'm thankful that people ask me that question, it shows that they want to be open to other cultures."

Don't Hate - Educate!

Answer 8

My husband is black and he drinks hot, black tea several times a week. he loves it!

Answer 9

OH MY GOOOOOOOOOOOOD,u got yourself some racist pastor farealz lol..ok so this was funny speaking in truth,wow!! I lived in Africa and did you know that IT IS thier daily breakfast,they eat it along with bread and butter oh and WE normally add some milk(condensed) to the tea with sugar and it really tastes good,usually they have lipton and im just surprised that he never saw a black man drink tea.I dunno bout America but i know in Africa its our daily breakfast or maybe Milo(if you know what that is) or Oats,anyways enough said but this was funny.

Answer 10

Sounds like you need a new pastor. And yes, my husband is black and he enjoys the same diversity of beverages as I do (and I'm not black). Your pastor is betraying his ignorance, which is not a characteristic indicative of a good spiritual advisor, in my view.