black pride? answers from african-americans especially welcome.?

Question

this question is mainly for african-americans, but you're just as welcome to answer if you're of another ethnicity. :)

here goes: the stereotypical black person is someone who lives in the ghettoes, talks trash, speaks in ebonics, loves rap/jazz and isn't very smart... or articulate (is that right?).

now supposing you have this black person who lives a lifestyle far different from this caricature of an african american. this person speaks proper english, does not swear, has a well-paying job, lives in the suburbs and likes classical/country/rock/anything that isn't rap. he's also been a consistent honor student throughout his school years and is currently a member of mensa international.

such persons are sometimes labelled by gangstas and the like as being "ashamed of being black". would you agree?

before you go on to answer this question you need to ask yourself, "what's so wrong with trying to break racial stereotypes? what's so wrong with trying to embrace knowledge instead of shunning it?" and on and on and on. :)

Answer 1

I don't agree with "black pride" or "black shame".
A person should be proud or ashamed of their actions, not their skin color.
Should I be proud because of the color of my eyes? That would be the same thing as "black pride".

Answer 2

I am African American, talk proper english, live in the suburbs, have a good job, made the honors list in college, and don't like rap music, so there goes youur theory about Blacks. Also Black people that I know "gangstas" or not do not make me feel bad about who I am. I don't know where you get these ideas from. Turn off you t.v. and read a book.

Answer 3

I promised I wouldnt answer anymore race related questions but I couldnt help it. I am in Canada and we have a large ethnically diverse population. We have a large black population and I would say the majority of the blacks we live amongst are very well educated and are very intelligent and probably love jazz blues and some rap much like myself. I believe those that sterotype are usually following under the whites that are often found to sterotype minorities and I wont go there.

Answer 4

In response to your first question, "here goes: the stereotypical black person is ...(is that right?)." - Yes, that is the stereotype.

And your second question..."now supposing you have this black person who lives a lifestyle...such persons are sometimes labelled by gangstas and the like as being 'ashamed of being black' would you agree?" - I wouldn't know how gangsters label other black people, those who take their education and goals serious, but yes, sometimes people such as that are "sometimes" labeled by black people - as well as 'other' people.

Of course you already know there is nothing wrong with breaking racial stereotypes. You also know that there is nothing wrong with embracing knowledge instead of shunning it. You should also know, that the typical black person does indeed embrace knowledge, we are very talented, and we are the muscle of usa economy.

Answer 5

You learn to live with it. I'm still offended when people call me the "whitest black guy" they know. There's nothing white about me.....I dress like a skater (with a mix of hip hop) I only listen to REAL rap (not that mainstream crap that says n igga every 5 seconds) I've been an honor student since first grade, and I date all girls of any race.....oh and I speak proper english and hang out with mostly asians and whites. I would hang out with black people more but black people in my area say n igga every second and are straight gangsta.....

Answer 6

I'm not American and I do not live in America and it seems that with all the sort of questions posted there is alot of racial tension in your part of the world. I think everyone has the right to live a decent and honest life and living in such a manner is not "white" in my opinion but a human thing to do. Anyone person who suggests otherwise is insane!

Answer 7

I have to say that I agree.
I have a neighbor lady that is black, I say black because that is what she prefers when I asked her, she is awesome, successful and a single parent to boot. I applaud her. She moved from her neighborhood because of the stuff her teenage son was around and getting into and now some of the friends she left behind won't talk to her or come here to see her. That is sad. There shouldn't be anything wrong with trying to better yourself, no matter what your heritage, nationality, or race.
A N, I don't think you are being fair here. I don't judge people by their color, I look at them because of their actions. When I drive through that part of town, they are half dressed, half high, and always cussing...etc. etc...That is just a plain bad neighborhood. I was raised that you can be judged by your actions, if they don't want to be judged poorly, then clean up your act.
And I don't agree with the People of Color that still cry they have to work harder! I have lost jobs to People of Color because the company had to keep their minority quo. So I don't agree with that at all. We have become the minority and I have fifty, (People of Color) friends that will tell you the same thing.

Answer 8

Well, I don't belong to Mensa...I try my best to be an upstanding citizen...as far as being ashamed of being Black...anyone that let's this stupid phase out of their mouth...is just keeping the ball of ignorance rolling. It's pitiful that some other Blacks will call out another for just doing the right things in life.

Answer 9

I think it's silly to associate certain things to entire races and then blame people for not "acting their own race". I think it's ridiculous to think that a black person who wants a better life than the black ghetto stereotype is ashamed of being black. It is just as ridiculous to think that a white person who fits into the black stereotype you mentioned is trying to "act black".

Answer 10

Pride should be about your morals, actions and ethics, not skin tone. As a person of colour who deals with stereotypes everyday, its more of a white problem than a black one, white folks perpetuate the idea that you have to fit a mould. Black people (those living in places like the USA, Australia, Britain & Canada) have to be twice as good and work twice as hard to get ahead because society has set you up to fail since the day you were born. I'm sure the smart *** coments will come flooding in from those hard done by whites who think they are becoming an endangered species. Tough

Answer 11

If this person was a member of mensa I doubt he/she (regardless of race) would care about what a gangsta thinks. Im not a member of mensa and I dont even care.