# Ask the Black Guy **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [April 18, 2001, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-black-guy/62440 "2001-04-18T17:57:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2001, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-black-guy/62440/41 "2001-04-20T00:22:33Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Mr2001 \* > \*\*[list=1] > [li]How old were you when you began to suspect you were black?[/li][li]When did you tell your parents? How did they react?[/li][li]Is it true that you can spot other blacks just by looking at them?[/li][/list=1] \*\* [list=1] [li]I was 20 years old. I was watching the movie _The Jerk_ on the VCR when I began to look around me with new eyes.[/li][li]They always suspected.[/li][li]It’s like some kind of radar.[/li][/list=1] ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2001, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-black-guy/62440/42 "2001-04-20T00:28:42Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by stuffinb \* > **mangeorge** I have heard of the paper bag test but have never seen it practiced so I don’t know if it’s true or not. To my understanding, the paper bag test – perhaps not literally so, but in effect – was something in fact practiced in the pre-Civil Rights era in re certain social organizations. And perhaps somewhat later. However, again to my understanding, money and success “lightened” Of, must have a question. Even an inane one. hmmmm. None come to mind. This is a bit of problem. I can’t think of any questions, a fact which strike me as arrogant. Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm. I know. Jerri curl, should all traces of this terrible experiment be blotted from the historical record? ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2001, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-black-guy/62440/43 "2001-04-20T00:44:03Z")
My husband had a jheri curl when he went to college in Alaska. I only heard about it in a legend since he has destroyed all pictures. We have all done things for which we are ashamed. Let us not mention jheri curls again. ---
**Author:** ![delphica](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e9a140/32.png) [@delphica](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/delphica)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2001, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-black-guy/62440/44 "2001-04-20T02:29:01Z")
First off, I’d like to say that **biggirl** is lying like a rug when she says that the places she goes are not hip. I have seen her in action at NYC Dopefests and any place we go is immediately made more hip by her very presence. And I have also heard wild rumors about her birthday dance-o-rama this past year. Next, I have an actual question. What do you think about HBCUs (historically black colleges and universities), and what role do you think they will have in the future? Would you be encouraging, discouraging, or neutral if your kids were considering the HBCUs when they were looking at colleges? I work in higher ed, so I know the quality of education is quite good at most of them, and excellent at some. When I was applying to colleges, my mom was dedicated to the idea of Catholic colleges, but my dad said “Jesus, Mary and Joseph, don’t you know enough Catholics by now?” (thus proving his own point, I guess :rolleyes: ). Do you think the HBCU environment is more nurturing for young Black people, or is it too isolated? First tier universities are now recruiting like mad for talented minority students, drawing away from the HBCU’s traditional applicant pool. To compete in today’s market, some HBCUs are more actively recruiting non-Black students – some members of other minority groups, some White. If this trend continues, and the student profile shifts at HBCUs, will this take away from the educational experience that some Black students are seeking? And finally, what is your take on Black student clubs and activities, or groups like fraternities? Are these groups providing Black students with a supportive environment that is unique to their needs? Anyone can join the Black Business Student Club at our school (as anyone can join any club, as required by law and the bylaws of the school), but as it happens, it’s mostly Black students who join. Are they missing something by not networking with a group that is more reflective of the world of business? Thank you for your candid and thoughtful answers. **stuffinb** , I was going to ask another question about Black culture as portrayed on TV, but I don’t really watch a lot of TV, and you don’t really watch a lot of TV, so I got quite the chuckle out of thinking about two people who don’t watch TV having a discussion about it. Maybe someone should start a “Ask the Guy Who Watches A Lot of TV” thread. ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2001, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-black-guy/62440/45 "2001-04-20T03:29:29Z")
One of the major considerations my husband and I have about college is cost. Who am I kidding? It is THE major consideration. We have twins. Both in gifted classes since kindergarten, both really great students and wonderful people to boot (O.K., I may be a little biased). Hey colleges! These are great kids! Offer us scholarships! They’re both 14 and although we have some money saved, my husband and I will have to live in a cave in Prospect Park if my kids get into the colleges they currently want to go to (Princeton and NYU). As for clubs and fraternities: Who knows where my children’s interests will take them. Black people in the mostly black business club have traded branching out for acceptance and support. A good trade-off if that’s what you want. It took me a whole week to recover from my birthday. I blame the vast gay conspiracy! ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2001, 10:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-black-guy/62440/46 "2001-04-20T10:19:15Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Biggirl \* > I am torn by Affirmative Action. As long as it is around white people can point to it and say that black people don’t deserve any job or school placement that they receive. There seems to be this feeling amongst white people that they didn’t get a job and a black person did, it’s because of “reverse discrimination” (White people have a hard time accepting the fact that sometimes they just didn’t get the job.) > > In a perfect world Affirmative Action would not be needed. People would get jobs according to merit. And most importantly, they would not get turned down for jobs or education opportunities _just because of their race_. White people like to say things are better now and they are. But not that much better. The most recent evidence I’ve seen is that AA works – but only above a certain income/education level. So black middle-class white-collar workers have benefited most from AA, while at the working class level and below it’s made little to no difference. Which is not to say there isn’t still a long way to go. > [@](#): > > The only problem with Executive Order 11246: > > _The contractor will take affirmative action to ensure that applicants are employed, and that employees are treated during employment, without regard to their race, color, religion, sex or national origin. Such action shall include, but not be limited to the following: employment, upgrading, demotion, or transfer; recruitment or recruitment advertising; layoff or termination; rates of pay or other forms of compensation; and selection for training, including apprenticeship._ > > is that it’s necessary at all. \*\* Interesting. [anecdote] I used to work for a large US university. I had the same name as one of the university upper administration types and so occasionally would get his (internal university) mail (but alas, not his paychecks). One day I got a envelope which contained an evaluation report of candidates for an administrative post. Being nosy, I read it, and noticed that there was a table that someone had put together to compare how well the candidates met the stated requirements of the position. Appropriate level of education? A check in the box. Job experience? Check. And so on. Of course, all candidates (this was the shortlist) had met the minimum requirements, and so the evaluation at this level was looking at qualities above and beyond the minimum which would recommend each candidate for the post in comparison to the others. And there was a column on the right totalling how many “checks” each person had. But I also noted that one of the “qualification” columns was to indicate whether the candidate was a “minority” - black, female, disabled, etc. In other words, a so-called minority candidate would have an advantage over white male with exactly the same qualifications. But according to the wording of the EO above, it is strictly illegal to do this. As I say – interesting. [/anecdote] Question: The term “African-American” – IYHO, a legitimate term to define a specific cultural group, or just a pretentious bit of posturing? And how commonly used is it these days? ---
**Author:** ![the\_first\_supraliminal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f475e1/32.png) [@the\_first\_supraliminal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/the_first_supraliminal)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2001, 12:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-black-guy/62440/47 "2001-04-20T12:18:31Z")
Hi Black Guy. How do you feel about the Asian community? Do you consider us Asians as fellow minorities, or are we different? Among blacks, is there any disdain for the Asian community? I hate to say it. I am very intimate with the Asian community, and it does have disdain for blacks (as well as every other racial group, actually). I almost succombed to it myself, but I know better. I think the only solution is time. What do you think? ---
**Author:** ![Stuffy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f17d59/32.png) [@Stuffy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stuffy)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2001, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-black-guy/62440/48 "2001-04-20T15:37:13Z")
**Collounsbury** Jeri Curl? You have shattered my deep felt respect for you 😃 :::whispers::: I once had one in HS. If you tell anyone, I’ll have to kill you. Like Biggirls husband all evidence of it has been destroyed, all those in the know have been brainwashed or paid off. **delphica** I watch just enough TV, to know what my kids are watching. Ther’re 6, 8, and 10 btw, all boys. (also a cartoon lover, but that doesn’t count right?) I pretty much won’t let them watch WB shows like the Wayans brother and Jamie Foxx. I will let them watch the likes of Smart guy and Moesha. As far as HBCU’s I considered attending Moorehouse, but eventually settled on UC Davis. I would let my son’s choose their schools, no matter my personal feelings. But I really don’t have any negative feelings towards HBCU’s anyway. **jr8** Reminds me of when I went to the promotion board for my stripes. As part of the promotion package, we had tosend a picture. After asking higher ups, someone finally admitted that it was so that they could make sure the representation was equal. **Beeruser** > [@](#): > > How do you feel about the Asian community? I have a lot of respect for the Asian community. Back in HS, I had several friends and study partners who were Asian. > [@](#): > > Do you consider us Asians as fellow minorities, or are we different? I’m not sure what you mean by that question. > [@](#): > > Among blacks, is there any disdain for the Asian community? Yeah, a lot. I’d almost conclude that it’s among the poorer members and is most likely do to the Asians communities relative success economically. > [@](#): > > I hate to say it. I am very intimate with the Asian community, and it does have disdain for blacks (as well as every other racial group, actually). I almost succombed to it myself, but I know better. Doesn’t surpise me in the least. I’m glad to hear that you’ve overcome it. I had a lot of predjudices to overcome myself. Some I’m still working on. I think the only solution is time. What do you think? I hope so. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2001, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-black-guy/62440/49 "2001-04-20T18:04:53Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by stuffinb \* > **Collounsbury** Jeri Curl? You have shattered my deep felt respect for you 😃 I was drinking… Things popped into my tiny brain. ---
**Author:** ![SterlingNorth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8dc957/32.png) [@SterlingNorth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SterlingNorth)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2001, 8:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-black-guy/62440/50 "2001-04-21T08:18:49Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Collounsbury \* > I know. Jerri curl, should all traces of this terrible experiment be blotted from the historical record? **Yes, Yes it should.** Horrible, horrible memories of my dad taking hours upon hours of maranading his hair in enough grease to choke a horse. The bathroom would be slimy for weeks on end. And it ruined more good clothing of our than I care to recall. That’s probably the only question I shoud be allowed to answer. I leave the rest to the professionals. ---
**Author:** ![Testy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c37758/32.png) [@Testy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Testy)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2001, 8:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-black-guy/62440/51 "2001-04-21T08:52:47Z")
An interesting thread, thank you. My question would concern your reaction to white guys that try to act like black guys. Are they ever accepted? I have known a couple of white “wannabe” black guys who praised anything even remotely identifiable as being black oriented. While not irritating, it did seem odd. Thanks and regards. Testy. ---
**Author:** ![Rysdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7cd45c/32.png) [@Rysdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysdad)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2001, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-black-guy/62440/52 "2001-04-21T14:27:59Z")
Stuffinb, Please review the following words and describe your reactions to them: 1. Black 2. African American 3. Colored 4. Negro This came to mind because I just heard a woman on the radio used the phrase “a colored man,” and the dj’s went off on her. ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2001, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-black-guy/62440/53 "2001-04-21T16:05:52Z")
Thanks **Sterling**! I’ve never been considered a professional anything besides a PITA. With all the pressures extended on the races to turn pro, it’s good to see someone keep their amateur status.[sup]\*[/sup] I believe Stuffy posts from work most of the time, so he may take a while to answer questions posted on the weekends. [sup]\*My disdain for smilies, coupled with my wiseass answers, has lead to misinterpretations of my posts in the past. Please note that this is a joke. Thank you everyone in advance for not taking offense.[/sup] ---
**Author:** ![ModernRonin2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c37758/32.png) [@ModernRonin2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ModernRonin2)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2001, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-black-guy/62440/54 "2001-04-21T23:06:19Z")
First off, cool thread! One of the really nice things about the SDMB, and the net in general, is that it seems like people can communicate more easily than IRL. A lot of historical prejudice and akwardness falls away when you’re talking on the net. Okay, so anyway… I live in a town that is quite upper-class, and amazingly white. I’d guess 98% white. And the other two percent are probably almost entirely Asian. In a class of about 1,200 at my high school, I think we had, like, 5 or 6 black kids. This makes me vaguely unhappy. I’m afraid that growing up in this kind of environment has made me prejudiced against blacks in some subtle ways. And as I consider the future, and the possibility of having a family here, I dislike the idea of my own kids growing up in a place that’s overwhelmingly one single color. So, here’s my question… What, if anything, do you think I might be able to do to help diversify my town? One of the main barriers I think minorities face in this town is the cost of housing. It’s just so damn high. There is essentially no blue-collar industry here. Affirmitive Action and similiar programs will probably help with this problem in the long run. Only relatively wealthy people can afford to live here. The more wealthy minority families there are, the greater the chance some of them will be able to afford to live here. But any ideas in the short run? I’m trying to support and advocate affordable housing… but I don’t know how realistic that is in this town. Another thought I had in relation to having more non-white people move here is that they might feel… not intimidated or unwelcome (I don’t think the town is inherently racist) but just uncomfortable because the place is so amazingly white. (Chicken and egg kind of problem.) I worry that black families might not want to move here because they might worry their kids would turn into oreos. Do you think there’s any basis for this worry, or am I just being paranoid? I guess that’s it. Since I see so damn few black people in my everyday life, I’m reduced to asking stupid questions on message boards about black issues. Anyway, I appreciate your time. -Ben ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2001, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-black-guy/62440/55 "2001-04-22T00:25:24Z")
I think (and this is my own uneducated opinion) that as long as your community doesn’t actively keep minorities out, any recruitment drive will be seen as unbearably intrusive. Affordable housing is a good idea whether it attracts minorities or not. Unless your community prides itself on its upper-middle class status. If this is true than whoever moves into this housing will be resented. It can be uncomfortable being the only black family in the neighborhood. I think being the only _anything_ is uncomfortable and with race relations being what they are, this feeling of unease may be magnified. If “Biggirl’s Maxim of Race Relations” is followed (make character judgements based on actions, not skin color) then all will be well. Unless, of course, this hypothetical black family are real jerks. Just remember to hate them because they are jerks, not because they are black. I _hate_ the term “oreo” used this way (nothing against you **ModRon** ) . It’s a personal thing as I’ve been called an oreo a few times. Any way I act is the way a black person would act by default. I’m black. I acted in this fashion, therefore a black person would indeed do this. You could always move to New York. Plenty of diversity here. ---
**Author:** ![Stuffy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f17d59/32.png) [@Stuffy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stuffy)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2001, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-black-guy/62440/56 "2001-04-23T15:15:02Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Rysdad \* > \*\*Stuffinb, > > Please review the following words and describe your reactions to them: > > 1. Black > 2. African American > 3. Colored > 4. Negro > > This came to mind because I just heard a woman on the radio used the phrase “a colored man,” and the dj’s went off on her. \*\* 1. Black - It’s how I identify myself. 2. African American - Haven’t take to the term, it reminds me too much of the flap caused by Afro-american and it’s similarity to the hairstyle. 3. Colored - I don’t hear that one used much anymore. I don’t really find it offensive nor particulary accurate. 4. Negro - No offense at this one either. ---
**Author:** ![Beadalin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3be4f8/32.png) [@Beadalin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beadalin)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2001, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-black-guy/62440/57 "2001-04-23T19:52:48Z")
As a bit of background, I’m a white woman in my 20s, and I have been matched for about 3 months with an 11-year-old Little Sister with Big Brothers/Big Sisters. She’s biracial (black & hispanic), but identifies herself as black, for the most part. In addition to being the sweetest girl in the history of the human race, she’s also into pop-culture, the way most pre-teens (and a whole lot of other people) are. Occasionally she and I will go see movies in theaters or rent one and watch it at home, but either way, she clearly responds to the black characters in any movie, no matter what their roles. I’ve started paying real attention to what movies are available that feature black people AND target young people, and they seem to be few and far between (but maybe only because I haven’t been looking long, or look in the wrong places). Does race factor in to how you select the movies your children see? Can you recommend any great movies for kids/teens (read: non-violent) that aren’t milky white? How about books? So far the only medium I _haven’t_ had trouble with is music-- lots of great stuff, for any age. I just can’t seem to find movies or books that feature black people where race is incidental, rather than central, to the story. ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2001, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-black-guy/62440/58 "2001-04-23T20:42:46Z")
I have found that movies that target this specific age group are either pure unadulterated dreck or dreck with some earnestness thrown in. My kids loved Good Burger (horrible pre-adolescent comedy with Keenan and Kel), The Power Rangers movie has 2 black characters in it, but it is dreck. Spawn wasn’t dreck, but it was about a superhero from Hell. Blankman is watched with regularity at my house. So is I’m Gonna Get You Sucka, Low Down Dirty Shame, Poetic Justice, Love and Basketball and Clueless. Except for Blankman, all these movies have adult themes. My kids did not like: The Color Purple (too long, boring and sad), Shaquile O’Neal’s superhero movie (even my adolescent children have some taste). Do you think this girl can handle the more adult themes? Because the movies geared toward 11 year olds are generally really bad. ---
**Author:** ![Beadalin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3be4f8/32.png) [@Beadalin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beadalin)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2001, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-black-guy/62440/59 "2001-04-23T21:08:27Z")
I know, and dreck is a really kind word for it. She likes the Olsen twins, and it just about kills me. So far I have only agreed to rent one crap-fest featuring those two, and it will be a long time before I’ll agree to another! She can handle older themes, so I’m open to any suggestions. Maybe I’m being unduly protective, it’s just that she’s dealt with so much shit (sorry for the bad word, but it’s the only one that sums it up), that the more innocent topics seem to be better escapism and entertainment for her. But really, as long as there’s minimal violence, she’ll dig it. Aspects of her are really grown-up, and parts are still holding on to childhood. Don’t wanna rush her, you know? ---
**Author:** ![Stuffy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f17d59/32.png) [@Stuffy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stuffy)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2001, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-black-guy/62440/60 "2001-04-23T21:46:06Z")
**Testy** Somehow I missed your question earlier. I know quite a few “black acting” white guys. The ones that seem genuine, get accepted allright. Thise that try to hard tend to get laughed at behind their back (if they’re lucky). **Beadalin** I would go with **Biggirls** response. I have boys so it makes it easy to pick movies. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-black-guy/62440.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-black-guy/62440.md?page=4)