Askia, if you meant that test seriously, then it’s extremely problematic because it essentializes blackness and reinforces the notion that blackness and black culture are monolithic. [celestina wagging her finger at Askia] Really, the idea that someone can take a test to determine how black they are! Not many rational black people who associate with and know black people as individuals capable of loving black culture, but being constructively critical of it as well would make the “Supernigga” category, and that’s not fair, dangit! I want to be a “Supernigga, but by your test’s reckoning I’m not!” 
However, I don’t think you meant it seriously. As a joke, it was funny as hell! 
spoke said:
“Do you ever get tired of (maybe well-intentioned) white folks who are so cloyingly deferential to you that it comes across as patronizing? Do those of you who live in predominantly white areas get that a lot?”
Excellent question! Well of course I get tired of white people–or any other people for that matter–being patronizing to me. They are the worst kind of racist because they don’t realize they are being racist, and you can’t educate them OR because they use that deference to blacks as a way to delude themselves into believing they are not racist, when probably they view blacks negatively. When I encounter these people, it doesn’t take long for me to figure it out. That kind of behavior [shudder] really makes me sick to my stomach, but then I just pity them, and if it’s at all possible, I just don’t associate with them. If I encounter them in the workplace–and I do–then I just try to be civil to and professional with them, but I don’t go out of my way to spend time with them or be friends with them outside of the workplace. Usually what I find with these sorts is that they aren’t looking to get to know me or any other black people as individuals. They want to hang out with black people so that 1.) they can reinforce whatever stereotypes they have of blacks or 2.) they can in some way find an outlet for dealing with white guilt. They still have their racist attitudes in place, however well hidden, but they can feel better about themselves because they’ve “got a black friend” or “they’re generally nice to black people.” They’re just insincere and covertly racist, and covert racism is a pain in the ass to deal with because like sexual harassment it’s difficult to prove. Sometimes it’s just a feeling I get about a person; sometimes it’s the inflection in his/her voice when s/he addresses me; and sometimes it’s that person’s body language.
For example, when I was an undergrad, I was preparing to do double senior honors theses, and I went to see the professor who handled signing folks up to do so. He was all nice and smiling when he commented something to the effect that he was surprised to see me doing any honors theses at all given how low my SAT scores were when I entered college. I guess I was proof he didn’t want to see that the SAT is not a good determiner for college admission or for predicting college performance. Whatever. I remember wondering what the hell my SAT scores–If you care to know, I made a 950 on it–had to do with doing honors theses and feeling uncomfortable with his line of questioning since he did not refer to my undergraduate college performance, which WAS RELEVANT to my eligibility to do double honors theses, but I said to him that I just didn’t study for the SAT, and that was true because I didn’t study for the SAT. I concluded my business with him, but later that day, it hit me that what he said and the context that he said it in was racist, and I got upset. From that day on until I graduated, I was civil and polite to this man, who occasionally sought me out to make small talk with me, but I was on my guard with him. I thank whatever gods may be out there that I didn’t have to take a class with him, where he would have been in a position to evaluate my performance. [shudder]
Of course, in the example you cited, it would depend on the people. I grew up with plenty of white Southerners and non-black non-Southerners with whom I was tight, but as tight as we were, there are certain places I wouldn’t appreciate them going (e.g. them calling me “Yo, you my nigga.” Come to think of it, I don’t even let black people call me that.), even if they were just joking. And they know me well enough to respect that. That’s why I call them my friends. There are some white people who don’t know that they don’t know that they are ignorant of black people/culture and that their ignorance, which can manifest itself in many subtle and overt ways is offensive and that no matter what I or any other black person could say, we would not be able to educate them. They have built up in their minds that they are not racist, even though some behaviors they exhibit are racist. Then there are other whites who are unaware of their ignorant behavior who once it is pointed out to them, adjust their behavior and thinking to be more considerate of what may be offensive to blacks. I’m not sure if this answers your question or not.
Vanilla, I have several famous blacks I admire. Historically it’d have to be Harriet Tubman because she had so much courage. I don’t know if I could have done what she did. Also Vernon Johns because he really is responsible for getting the Civil Rights Movement off the ground. Now the latest famous people I admire–it constantly changes–are actor Jeffrey Wright because he can ACT! He’s got such a range. I’ve seen him in “Shaft,” where he convinced me he’s Dominican. He’s an absolute riot in the role of Peoples Hernandez. I’ve seen him in “Boycott” an HBO movie where he plays MLK, Jr. so convincingly even down to the intonation patterns in his speeches, he has me believing he’s MLK, Jr. I can’t wait to check out what other work he’s done. I also like Angela Bassett. I thought she was robbed when she didn’t get the Oscar for “What’s Love Got to Do With It?” She was OUTSTANDING in that role! It’s a shame she doesn’t get roles that allow her to stretch that formidable acting talent of hers. Both these actors bring such a high level of craft and skill to the parts they play. I’m just in awe.
elfkin477, rap is derived from the toast/boast tradition in African American folk culture. This tradition is predicated on braggadocio and hyperbole. If you look at blues, there are sexual inuendos in the songs that when blues first came out black people found offensive (e.g. “jelly roll” refers to women’s genetalia). The same kind of shock stuff is going on in rap now, but it’s just more intense. Anyway, I don’t appreciate gangsta rappers refering to women or men as “ho’s,” “bitches,” or “niggas,” but that doesn’t mean they shouldn’t have the freedom to express their art. I think that if you listen to that stuff you have to keep in mind that gangsta rappers don’t represent all black people or even all forms of rap for that matter. What they present is an exaggeration of reality. Unfortunately some people buy into that exaggeration, but you don’t have to. If I hear offensive terms in songs, movies, or on tv, I don’t just start using them to refer to people. So basically, I’m saying to think critically about the authenticity of what languages/images are presented in the media.
Tenar, um, I can’t speak for the others, but I personally don’t like being addressed as: “Hey, Black folks!” I have a name, as do the few others who are answering questions in this thread. To respond to your question, no I haven’t been profiled while driving, but I imagine I’ve been followed around in stores while I’ve been shopping. [giggle] I LOVE purposely going into ritzy stores dressed like a hoodlum just to see what the sales clerks will do. 
If I find that I’m being profiled in stores, I just don’t give them my business. As far as weight, I don’t think about it. Actually, I’m terrible with numbers or judging size/weight. I lost a shitload of weight one time–'bout scared my mom to death when she saw me, and I was such a ditz I didn’t realize how different I looked–but not because I went on a diet. I didn’t manage my money well, and so I couldn’t afford to eat. That’s the worst feeling in the world when you don’t have enough money to buy a meal. It’s easier to go without food when you have food in the house or you have money to buy it. Anyway, I basically eat what I want. If my clothes start getting too tight, then I either exercise more, or buy bigger ones. But no matter what I weigh, I love myself for who I am, and I would hope that men would love me for myself no matter what size I am.
