Why does the majority in White America not get Black culture?

Question

Ever heard a white person comment about dreds, or chittlins' or rap? It just amazes me how little we know about our own neighbors and coworkers. Why aren't we more respectful of Black American culture and more eager to learn? We embrace other cultures but seem oblivious to the beauty and texture of the people of color who so enrich our lives .

Answer 1

I believe it is strongly related to a general sense of cultural fear and inhibition on the part of white Americans. Even though the majority of American culture has been developed based on black achievement (medical & scientific advances; entertainment; business,etc.), a significant number of white persons have yet to actually engage blacks of all class positions in a healthy social manner... If you are personally interested in learning more about black culture, do some research and enjoy becoming involved in one of the most historically interesting sections of history even if your fellow brethen do not benefit from this gift.

Answer 2

I guess I should say thanks for attempting to stick up for us, but yea rap, dreds and soul food definitely aren't a part of my culture. What some people fail to realize is that not all black people have serious roots in Africa, but regardless of that I was born in America, that's my "culture". Just because a few blacks want to go around acting like rap and glorifying violence is something that's cool, doesn't mean you should say or think all blacks are into those things.

I hate rap with a passion, I'm a more of a rock/pop type of girl. Soul food sucks, I'll take a good ol cheeseburger or Jamaican food over it any day. Maybe white people, or really anybody shouldn't try to figure out another culture because then we get silly stereotypes like this. And like someone else said, then when a black person is being successful we get that whole oh you're acting white thing. For the person who said that, Ive gotten that from all races, not just blacks. But anyway, in a perfect world we would all just be Americans without the stupid labels...

Answer 3

This is a stupid topic. Why the he*l does it seem like people think black culture is all about eating pig intestines and rap music?! I hate them both and I'm black. Why can't black culture represent Jimmy Hendrix, blues and Jazz music and creole cusine? Just because I'm black doesn't mean that I wear dreads and shake my butt to rap music while smoking weed and drinking gin and juice in the "hood". I don't want to be associated with the stereotypical "black culture" Thug life and the glamourization of the ghetto isn't black culture, its black shame. Is trailer park living part of white "culture"? Most black people I know balk at the idea of wearing dreads, or eating smelly chittlins... I am offended by most of the answers I've read on this topic. Its the people that see misbehaivor, vulguar music and hoes as black culture that are commenting and having their prejudices confirmed.

Answer 4

Hmmm

Well I'll again the to person that talked about NAACP, UNCF and BHP. In short they were created by blacks for a reason. Why should they go away now. Why is it the black person's fault that these don't exist? If 'White' America thought these thing where necessary they would exist. BTW,The National Association for the Advancement of (White) Working people has been around since 1980. If that is so important to you join that organization.


As for the question itself, I think the problem isn't accepting the black culture, its accepting black people as individuals, not to be judged by the actions of someone that is shown on your local TV screen. Like someone else said not all blacks like the same kind of music, eat the same kinds of foods etc... That's what needs to be worked on.

As far as envy. Well I see more of an influence of, what white kids think is the black culture, than the other way around. I don't black college students having 'Country Parties' but do see white students having 'Hip Hop' parties. I see white kids buying the 'Hip Hop' music more so than black kid. White people are in the welfare system too. I'm sure most of this will fall on death ears, but I think it needed to be said.

Answer 5

As a Black American, I don't eat chittlins, listen to Rap. Some of the stuff most of us do are down right stupid. No wonder guys like David B here thinks the actions of a few is the way we all live and act. I don't eat "Soul food" as it called by Black Americans. My favorite Musician is Yngwie Malmsteen. Anyway, we don't have much of a Culture now...our music sucks..we dress like fu*king clowns with the sagging pants thing....and who the fu*k wants ebonics classified as a language?

Answer 6

You have to look at your question from all views, even though whites and blacks have been integrated for many years we still seem to live in two different worlds. From our food to music, humor and dialect both races know very little about the other. Both races have failed to secure a better life for the future generations due to this and these practices continue hinder the progression of race relations around the globe. If white America opens up to black culture and black culture opens its doors to white culture progression may be made. But without both ends meeting in the our cultures both black and white will stay in the dark of one another.

Answer 7

Blacks make up 11% of Americans population yet they raise so much storm. That means that they must be doing something right. Hey David B. You seam to be listening to the wrong kind of hip hop a lot. There is a lot of good hip hop music out there that rarely gets airplay (Guess why??). And seams like the only thing you (David B) know about Africa is what you see in the movies or on CNN. You need a to look deeper into Africa's wores to understand their source which is ..... You guesed it ... White.

Answer 8

You are the WORST kind of bigot. Is that what the African American culture is to you? Dreds and chittlins'? Do US all a favor and don't try to stand up for us as a people again! Your racist comments set us back 50 years! Don't talk about what you don't know.

Answer 9

Well I can only say that I believe it is a two way street in which both groups need to be respectful of each others culture. Consider also that many blacks sabotage themselves as well, which makes it difficult for white culture to understand. Example, a black man is a 'gangsta' is seen as cool, someone to look up to, yet a black man who succeeds, say in business is viewed as somehow a failure in the sense of not being black enough. For a white person who hears that black wish to succeed yet sees this almost culturally pathelogical self hatred, it can be confusing and frustrating and leads, sadly to misunderstanding both within the black community but most especially outside.

I have had the joy of living in Africa (Kenya and South Africa), and I know the beauty and the incredible culture that exists there. The black culture in North America does not outwardly appear to be anything but a celebration of gangsterism whereas in Africa, the culture celebrates life and diversity. Now please understand, I say 'outwardly' because it seems that that's all there is. I know there's more but I believe that Blacks need to first look inward as to how they treat each other. Whites no longer care, it's an unfortunate truth, they just don't. They see what the news shows, they see how successful blacks are called oreos, they see blacks speaking in terms of violence due most in part because of rap and hip hop. In the end, if Blacks wish white america to 'get it', it requires Black America to show them, without the outward appearance of a violent centric bent.

As for some of the other answers here, I can only shudder that in the anonimity of YA!, such racism exists. It appears many have yet to enter the 21st century. I admit to my own faults on matters of race, but I do believe I at least try to bridge the divide, the same cannot be said of some here.

Answer 10

i think of there would desire to be. As open-minded as we faux to be in public, one purely desires to return to Y!A or any message board for that count to be sure that the theory all and sundry blacks are undesirable and maximum are on welfare and all whites are a minimum of center classification and happy remains pervasive in this usa. i do no longer likely like the formats of the specials and that i think of that's sparkling that there replace right into a different schedule at the back of the boards much like a number of of the discussions that i've got considered on television surrounding the so-referred to as plight of blacks in this usa. i think of we would be plenty greater efficient served seeing easily day by day existence of white and black families who share a socio-financial prestige and characteristic a similar point of training. via now, it is going to be sparkling that mutually as there remains racism, there are hundreds of blacks who're plenty greater efficient off and lots greater efficient knowledgeable than hundreds of thousands of whites yet, by some potential, I by no potential see those pictures juxtaposed on television. i think of it might additionally be solid to easily watch uncomplicated interactions between blacks and whites on a on a regular basis point. All of those little comments from the two factors that basically make no experience, all the misguided assumptions made via the two.