Curious question for white people...?

Question

**I don't want to offend anyone. This is a simple question and if you find it in any way offensive or you have something offensive to say then just move on please.**

Would you ever switch lives with a black person for a few months with your same economic status (i.e. white middle class switch with a black middle class person....) just to see how the other half lives. Would it be interesting to see similarities and differences? Would you like to gain a different perspective based on experience and not what the media tells you?

I am pleasantly surprised that so many people answered in a positive way (you know how Yahoo Answers can get)...Your honesty and open mindedness (for most of you) is greatly apppreciated. Thanks.

And just to answer my own question...I would love to without hesitation for many of the reasonsyou guys have mentioned.

Answer 1

totally..one of my best friends is black and ive always wondered how different her life must be compared to mine just based on color. because its so weird like i dont look at her as a "black" person..shes just my friend you know...but i kno other people have different views about different races but i mean besides color she and i are pretty much the same. so i always wondered how it would be to live her life for a few days or so and see how different id be treated based on my race...i think i would learn alot and really gain a different perspective about all people.

u kno this would be a really cool movie idea or experiment...cuz they can paint ppl dif colors n whatnot...would be interesting!

oh and if any white person is offended by this question they should really learn to think outside the box =]

Answer 2

I might find the experience to be enlightening and probably fun. I am pretty much stuck in my ways now, but I would probably learn quite a bit by having to live like that. I have often thought that I might have done well as a black guy in a black loving family, maybe even better than what I did as a white male from a loving family. My family had a different set of priorities when it came to religion and sports than what I observe in the black culture. Highly religious and no sports. So it would be fun.

Answer 3

Absolutely!!! Not only could would it be fun, but I think it would be very educational as well, to switch with any race, not just black. I think a lot of the times we live our own lives and we don't always consider that there are many different types of people out there. I would love to see if I would be treated any differently, as a black woman. I personally feel I would get more respect from co-workers and not picked on as much by my friends. I think it would benefit us all if we could walk in each other shoes.

Answer 4

very much so but the person of colour would also get there eyes opened as to how over politically corect things have gone but it would be good to have the moves on the dance floor my carribian brother jerry has he never let race get in the way he allways had better insults that the other person could of used if the had any intelligence and is a true gent and colour never was an issue between any of my asian black and white mates the world will only be a better place when we are all some mixed shade of black and white

Answer 5

A good question - don't expect too many thoughtful responses on Yahoo! Answers, though.

As for myself, I am white but I am capable of seeing reality (unlike a scary amount of a lot of people.) I know racism exists and is a vile thing most often because of its subtlety. Honestly, I would not want to switch with a black person of equal economic status except for a day, because frankly their lives are harder because of the prejudice in our society (the USA).

For just a day or so, I probably would for my own education, but I don't need to do that to know that racism is alive and well (sadly.)

Answer 6

No, I don't take offense to this question at all. I grew up in a town with 1200 other people and one person in my class was black. We didn't see him any different because of his color . . . we were all friends. But maybe his view was different. No, I wouldn't mind. I think it is always good to keep an open mind. And if you don't, then maybe this would help people open their eyes to differences that they may have not know about or seen?

Answer 7

why stop there?
why not be a homosexual for a month
or the gender other than yours
why not be 95
or a cripple
or homeless
or an abused child
or someone of another religion

the world is full of people livin' lives
that we are ignorant about


we will never be able to
"know how the other half lives"
by a sample experience.....no matter how long in duration
because we will always "know" (consciously and sub-consciously) that we can "leave" whenever we want
....that knowledge colors the experience....makes it more game-like, than life-like


that's why it's so demeanin' and misleadin'
when politicians try to expand their "awareness" of other peoples' lives by playin' around
example: illinois congresswoman jan schakowsky
http://www.chicagoist.com/2007/05/17/whither_the_win.php
(instead of mockeries like this, they SHOULD be: 1) followin' the advice of the qualified people hired.....by taxpayers' $...to SOLVE the problems...and, 2) financin' their advised solutions, which stem from fristhand knowledge....not secondhand kicks)

Answer 8

you bet i would, i think that would be kinda fun. i'll tell ya what hows about you and i switch (if we're gonna find out what life looks like from another perspective you might as well go all the way right) the wife would be S.O.L for awhile if she wants to fool around but the look on her and my mum's face would be priceless, not to mention the fun i'd have poking and prodding all the new parts i'd have

Answer 9

Yes Of course I always want to see a new perspective on how anyone lives no matter the color of there skin.

Answer 10

I would do that in a heartbeat, and I'm not saying that just to be some touchy feely PC hippy. I think it would be incredibly interesting to experience another culture from the inside.