What is wrong with black people?

Question

today I wanted to get to know my kid's bus driver. well basically we live on a covasac and all the parents sit and wait for the bus with their children. The bus driver is a black man and he was talking to one of the black parents and they were using light ebonics..you know like "whats really good" and phrases like that..Since my daughter is mixed i felt i could do the same so i was like "What it is?" and they both looked at me up and down and shook their heads and the bus driver peeled out in a mad fashion..(with kids still in bus)
I dont know what his problem is I tell myself when i look in the mirror that i look like a light skinned Denzel Washington..but still im not "down"

Answer 1

I am saddened that you even asked a question like this....especially if you say your children are of mixed race. The question should not be "what is wrong with black people" it should be "why did the bus driver not appreciate being mocked in such a humiliating fashion!" I am a white woman and my children are mixed, and I have NEVER heard a black person (except in Eddie Murphy jokes) say "what it is!" the problem was you.....BE YOURSELF! NEXTTIME

Answer 2

I'm sorry you had to go through that. I'm black myself and I was raised to present myself in a very articulate and "proper" manner, so there have been times where I was not "down" as well. The thing I came to realize is that the way you speak isn't as important as how you speak. The most important part is that you understand and appreciate, in this case the African-American vernacular. Just being yourself, is good enough. My experience with situations like that is that I have seen times where people would attempt to use ebonics in a taunting or mocking way as opposed to genuinly trying to gain understanding. The proplem is that sometimes it's hard to decipher the intentions of either side. On the other hand, they could have just been extremely rude, in which case it's not worth trying to get to know them at all. My advice would be to just forget about being "down" and "keep it real"....just be yourself, and if they still react in the same fashion, there must be more parents to strike conversations with. Being "down" is a thing of the past. It's only hurting our culture and relations with others to act as such. It's time for us to be UP my brotha. Best wishes to you!

Answer 3

First of all your question, "What is wrong with black people?" is all wrong to begin with. The real question you should be asking yourself is, "What is wrong with the my child's bus driver and the parent that was having that conversation?" I am a black woman and there is absolutely nothing wrong with me nor my people. Sounds to me as if you tried too hard to "be down". My advice to you is to be yourself. I understand that your daughter is bi-racial but sweetie if you don't normally speak that way then it was obvious that you tried just a little too hard and they probably recognized that. I recognized that just by reading your question. Yes, as black people we have our own way of communicating with each other but guess what? WHITE PEOPLE DO TOO! Ebonics is just not a black thing, it is was it is, we are who we are, you are who you are, and that's life so deal with it. So you ask, "What is wrong with black people?" Absolutely nothing. Take your issue up with those particular black people that you are angry enough at to ask this ridiculous question about. Are "you down" with this answer? God bless you anyway. Good Luck.

Answer 4

Maybe it wasn't what you asked but how you asked it. When you are rude people tend to be rude back. And i am pretty sure you were rude - mainly because you question here is rude. You may not realize it but talking that way pretty much shows your lack of intelligence and cruelty towards someone who isn't like you. No wonder the bus driver pulled away fast - not many parents want their kids exposed to racism.

Answer 5

Why would that one incident make you generalize and ask what's wrong with black people? But anyway, I personally don't speak "ebonics" and I find it annoying when other people do it. Maybe if you don't seriously look black, they might have felt like you were sort of making fun of them.

Answer 6

Dude nothing is wrong with black people. Seriosly, u know a long time ago my art teacher said we all are black just some are a lighter shade of brown. And one of the kids said prove it, and she picked up a brown colored pencil and colored in a face of a person. She colored it light though, and when we saw it looked like a white person. So i mean it must of been the black dudes attitude. (don't worry i'm white not brown) I mean like i'm not standing up for myself or anything.

Answer 7

i understand,and i think it might be cuz:
you tried to butt in their conversation or interact and the kind of greeting you used to someone you have never spoken too and is possibly not THAT comfortable with you,isn't the right one.
am sure if you had said something like goodevening or goodmorning,afternoon,it would have been different.
you are "not down" becuz you are "not down"..at least not yet to everyone.
by the way,the term you used is mainly used with people you are familiar with,not strangers...
they might think you are a wannabe,but you are NOt,you are who you are.
i know what you went through,am black and have been through it too,so have a lot!

Answer 8

I guess you probably meant well you just came off as corny. What you should have done was just be yourself and talk like you normally do and maybe you would have got a better reaction.

Answer 9

You fat bastard!, you look nothing like Denzel Washington, r u hispanic or southern european by the way?

Answer 10

FIRST OF ALL. YOUR QUESTION IS COMPLETELY THE WRONG WAY TO GO ABOUT THE PROBLEM. " WHAT IS WRONG WITH BLACK PEOPLE". I MEAN COME ON. NOTHINGS WRONG WITH US. JUST SOME PEOPLE ARE JUST MEAN LIKE THAT. THAT DOES NOT GIVE YOU THE RIGHT TO THINK THAT ALL BLACK PEOPLE ARE MEAN.

WHAT WOULD YOU SAY IF I ASK A QUESTION LIKE

WHAT IS WRONG WITH MEN?
THAT WOULD NOT MAKE YOU FEEL VERY GOOD. YOU KNOW IT'S PEOPLE LIKE YOU THAT MAKE ME SICK.

BYE