Why do some people think black americans are lazy?

Question

I have never got the whole stereotype that blacks are lazy, by far I think we are one of the most hardworking people. My grandmother came here in 1940 when she was 4 yrs old. from somolia, she worked hard to put all 7 of her kids through school. My mother in return worked her butt off for me and my brother.
I have heard similar stories like mine from all of my black friends, their mothers worked hard to raise them and put them through school. Yet people tend to label black americans as lazy people who leach off of the government, never mind that the highest rates of welfare belong to whites, nationwide.

Okay, so my question is
If you think blacks are lazy, why?
If not, why not?
and if you are black, please descibe why you think this isn't so, and how hard your family has worked for your well being.

*please, no bashing, I'm just asking everyone's opinion*

*this question is meant to be treated as a disscussion, please no bigotry*

great point roswell

sorry, CSI, didn't mean to offend, I got my data from census.gov :)

umm, CSI and Mr.##, I think you missed my point, I didn't mean to single out whites, and I'm not "whining" about segregation either, where did you get that from?, lol, I'm not trying to bash anyone, just trying to get people's opinion, because I see people posting in this section all the time on how blacks are lazy, and I'm just trying to see their reasoning behind it, that's all
sorry if I offended you or any other person with this question.

wow, eldude, you raised alot of valuable point "thumbs up" to you, lol

superfreak: that's true though, lol

Answer 1

maybe in your era, and your parents era, black people were hard working. A lot of people are today also. Personally I can tell you that a lot of black people that I have worked with do not show up to work regularly, do not show up on time. Find reason to get out of work early quite often and seldom stay long at the workplace before quitting or getting fired. Although the few black people that do make it through the temp status are great workers and just as reliable as any other ethnicity. I think the problem more and more is the younger generation that is growing up without good parents like the ones you have. It happens in all ethnicities, including white families. A generation of lazy parents have a generation of lazy kids, etc. It's not exactly an accurate stereotype. I think also a lot of the problem with younger black people today is all the emphasis on acquiring 'things'. Too much television and music that puts too much focus on whether or not a person has things, which determines their value. If people have to work for min wage when they could be making a lot of money selling drugs, people that I know have chosed to sell drugs. It happens all too often. I can understand not wanting to work for min wage but a person has to take what he can get if he values freedom.

Answer 2

In my opinion, I think it partially stems back to the 40s and 50s, even earlier to the movie industry. Blacks then were portrayed as not too bright, lazing about on a shanty front porch eating watermelon and slow talking, with an exaggerated heavy southern accent, and terrible grammar. I think, if given a little more time, with the newer generations, this will change. It already has changed with many. I'm not bashing but there are still many of your race with a chip on your shoulder toward all whites. I am not a racist and I frequently speak out against racism. But I have been cursed at and glared at on more than a few occasions by members of the black race.

Answer 3

I think it's complex issue in USA.
1. As for young black males going for the "gangsta" look and act, a lot of companies don't trust them and don't hire them, so they have trouble finding work, except maybe hard labor, then they get tired faster than someone working in a cushy office.
2. It's kind of similar to how hippies were not so readily hired back in the 60's. If your identity is music and drugs, don't expect companies to flock to you.
3. I think some of them give up hope, which I understand.
4. The Ameris.. who are always criticizing those on welfare have a kind of bully mentality, i.e, pick on someone weaker than you. They don't point the finger at rich CEO's. They also don't realize that it's mostly kids and single mothers that get welfare. I thought the critics were "pro-life" ha!
5. The women are often the head of household financially, and there's a tendency for men to have a macho mentality, (of course this is not exclusive to blacks!!) and think women should wait on them.

Answer 4

The reason that this stereotyping seems to be prevalent is due, in some part anyway, to the way that Film & TV portray the bad guys & criminals to always be black.
Even in the old westerns the bad guy always rode a black horse & wore a black hat. John Wayne always rode in to save the day on a white horse, wearing a light-coloured shirt & wearing a white hat.
I have worked with people of several different ethnic backgrounds & have found that each & every race has its share of lazy people in equal measure.
I judge people by their actions, not their colour.

Answer 5

As people we like to categorize and put others in groups. We like to say this groups is this and that group is that. It's easier than taking the time to get to know individuals or let them stand on their own individual merits.
My wife is Hispanic and I've more than once shut people up who want to badmouth Hispanic people. It makes me so angry. Most of them aren't worthy to tie my wife's shoes and yet they have to put down people they do not even know.
It would be the same (just in the reverse) if I were to say all whites are hard workers, the salt of the earth. We all know that's a total falsehood. There are plenty who are looking for the easy way out every day.
I define prejudice and ignorance as looking at a person by their group rather than letting them be an individual you need to get to know.

Answer 6

excuse me, but you are turning this into a bigotry forum, you just accused White's of being the highest on welfare roles and you provide no facts or collective data to back up your accusations. I for one will not get drawn in a debate with you over all of this nonsense! America is an equal opportunity land, segregation ended long ago, blacks have just as many rights as whites, and it is time to quit whining and just live your life.

Answer 7

Firstly, having ancestors that have been slaves does no longer make you black. Secondly, the college you move to does no longer make you black. Thirdly, having black mothers and fathers does no longer make you black. In reality, consistent with your expectancies of what constitutes anybody as black, I do not consider there could be ANY black humans. Many slaves have been raped by means of white masters, and humans with slave ancestors have plenty of white DNA. Africa could be the one location in which they do not have a white ancestry, however they did not have any ancestors enslaved in America. Being black is having black epidermis. Last time I checked, his epidermis used to be black.

Answer 8

I don't know where that came from but, I have a theory. When the black where slaves and working for nothing and forced to have their families separated they were not happy about their job. So they were labeled lazy. When I entered the work force there were lazy people from all walks of life.

Answer 9

Well in my school even though I'm black, some of them be like well "I didn't study and its time for summer school". Anyone can be lazy though once in a while, but not all the time!

Answer 10

I think a lot of people work hard in life in general. I think the perception is a lot of time in the media they are portrayed that way. When people complain of discrimination over almost everything and think they are entitled to a free ride, then it makes people wonder what they are doing to achieve their goal. Sitting around and complaining won't get you anywhere. I don't think black Americans are lazy, I just think they are getting bad reputation like every other race or religion or group of people.