# Ask the BLACK WOMAN!!!!! nothing is too ignorant......i hope....... **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 2, 2001, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-black-woman-nothing-is-too-ignorant-i-hope/84988 "2001-10-02T16:03:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Cazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cazzle/32/75_2.png) [@Cazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cazzle)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2001, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-black-woman-nothing-is-too-ignorant-i-hope/84988/81 "2001-10-03T14:23:15Z")
I’m white, and Australian. I have never met an African-American for that reason (the Australian part, not the white part). While I appreciate that you’re trying to be frank and open here, I find myself wondering how you’d react if I waltzed in and said some things about black people like you have about white people. Would I be considered racist by the rest of the board? I think so. I’ve watched Ricki Lake, and seen some skanky people on their of all colours. If I was to draw conclusions from the black women on that show, I would say that black women are easy (for the record, if I was to draw a conclusion about white women from that show, it would be the same conclusion). So if I came in and said that I think white men like black women because they’re easy, would I be misguided, or racist? Ok, so black people have suffered at the hands of white people. Black people have had to put up with racism and terrible treatment. That doesn’t mean all white people are responsible, and that doesn’t mean that black people can speak about white people in a manner that would be considered racist if the tables were turned. That aside, I’m enjoying getting a slightly different perspective on things. I also enjoy seeing the kinds of questions that white people want to ask black people when they have the chance 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2001, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-black-woman-nothing-is-too-ignorant-i-hope/84988/82 "2001-10-03T14:36:19Z")
Yes, I have noticed a cultural difference-in that, there is an idea that blacks speak ebonics, dress a certain, etc etc. BUT…I still hate the term “acting black/white”. I’ve read of people being scorned for “acting white” and being a “traitor”, etc etc… Stereotypes=bad. ---
**Author:** ![breaknrun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bbce88/32.png) [@breaknrun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/breaknrun)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2001, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-black-woman-nothing-is-too-ignorant-i-hope/84988/83 "2001-10-03T14:51:21Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Biggirl \* > \*\*Re: Because what vivian’s opinion is dangerous. > > but what vivian said is no better than Wildest Bill’s moslem garbage. > \*\* I have to agree with this part of **Biggirl’s** post. Similar threads on this issue have been an honest attempt to fight ignorance, proving cites when possible. **vivian** , on the other hand, is merely promoting her own brand of ignorance and is not willing to examine her own racist attitudes. Here thread title should have been “I have opinions about black people, ask me what they are.” See my questions and her respose regarding her prejudice against black men dating white women. While she has sometimes included the IMO disclaimer, her tone suggests she feels she represents the black community and I sincerely hope this is not the case. I’m tempted to start a pit thread but I don’t have the energy. ---
**Author:** ![mouthbreather](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a698b9/32.png) [@mouthbreather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mouthbreather)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2001, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-black-woman-nothing-is-too-ignorant-i-hope/84988/84 "2001-10-03T14:54:11Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by vivian \* > **if i am a racist, fine…doesn’t bother me. i given tons of reason to be…** You should really stop digging now. That hole already looks kinda deep. ---
**Author:** ![breaknrun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bbce88/32.png) [@breaknrun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/breaknrun)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2001, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-black-woman-nothing-is-too-ignorant-i-hope/84988/85 "2001-10-03T14:57:47Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by breaknrun \* > [sub] in which **breaknrun** learns the value of proofreading…[/sub] > > Similar threads on this issue have been an honest attempt to fight ignorance, proving cites when possible. \*\* Argh, that should have been similar threads **along these lines …** but I think the meaning was clear enough. ---
**Author:** ![vivian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/3e96dc/32.png) [@vivian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vivian)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2001, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-black-woman-nothing-is-too-ignorant-i-hope/84988/86 "2001-10-03T15:08:00Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by saudade \* > \*\*I am “white” but my father’s family is from Brazil, and my mom’s Portuguese. Knowing the history of where my family is from, I am probably part black from several generations back, but I look white to most strangers - I usually am asked if I am Italian, Jewish or something. > > Anyway, I guess I should ask a question…how black do you have to be to be black? I mean I have heard in some places if you are like 1/64th black you can be considered black. People who were 1/8th black could be segregrated from whites before the 1960’s. Most people I know who are just 1/8th black look more Sicilian or Greek than “African-American” so I imagine you could look like Craig Kilborn and be 1/64th black. > If I was to show a paper saying my great great grandmother was a black woman (which is very possible -if there was paperwork from back then) - would I be accepted as black even if I look white? > I mean where can you draw the boundary? I mean Vanessa Williams looks white to me…maybe except for her figure…but she was the “First Black Miss America”. \*\* Vanessa Williams looks white to you?? that’s interesting… But anyways…if you were white looking and called yourself black, you’ll be accepted, but discrimination exsists amongst black people too. i guess it goes back to the slave days when lighter skinned people were treated better because they looked more white. The thing is, the 1/64th thing is a US government thing. It’s not something Blacks in the US decided they were going to do. ---
**Author:** ![obfusciatrist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/4af34b/32.png) [@obfusciatrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/obfusciatrist)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2001, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-black-woman-nothing-is-too-ignorant-i-hope/84988/87 "2001-10-03T15:10:07Z")
Damn Fubu and their stereotype that blacks (over a large group) want different clothes than those found at J.C. Penny. Since all stereotypes are wrong (morally and factually), I’m sure they’ll be out of business quickly. Correct stereotype: An ebonics (or AAVE, or whatever it is currently being called in academia) speaker is either black or someone who grew up in a predominately black area. Incorrect stereotype: A black person, or someone who grew up in a predominately black area will speak ebonics. The stereotypical Ethiopian is black. I don’t think it is wrong to work on this assumption while recognizing that there are surely white Ethiopians. The stereotypical Jew is white (or at least not black). I don’t think it is wrong to work on this assumption while recognizing that there are certainly black Jews. The stereotypical clover has three leaves, even though there are four-leaf clovers. It is wrong to deny that a white is Ethiopian, a black is a Jew, or that a four-leafed plant is a clover simply because they don’t fit the stereotype. You have to be aware that you are stereotyping and remain cognizant that stereotypes don’t apply to individuals but to groups. But neither are stereotypes inherently wrong or immoral. You can not speak of groups without stereotyping, it just takes too long otherwise. Catholics are anti-abortion. vs. The official Catholic position is anti-abortion. However, there exist differing opinions within the practioners of the faith, particularly in America where adherence to Papal decree is weaker. Mary Stewart of Oronok, Maine, feels that abortion should be allowed during the first trimester and to save the mothers life after that. Glenn Smith of Pasadena feels that abortion should only be allowed in cases of alien implantation or when he is the father. Marcia Plesniak of Wichita, Nebraska, thinks that . . . The latter is certainly more correct, but it doesn’t mean the former can’t be used with the understanding that at the individual level differences remain. I’m not saying that some of the stereotypes in this thread aren’t wrong. I’m not saying that stereotypes can’t be used maliciously. But the equation stereotypes = bad is way too simplistic. ---
**Author:** ![vivian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/3e96dc/32.png) [@vivian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vivian)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2001, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-black-woman-nothing-is-too-ignorant-i-hope/84988/88 "2001-10-03T15:17:45Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by breaknrun \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > \*Originally posted by Biggirl \* > > \*\*Re: Because what vivian’s opinion is dangerous. > > > > but what vivian said is no better than Wildest Bill’s moslem garbage. > > \*\* > > I have to agree with this part of **Biggirl’s** post. Similar threads on this issue have been an honest attempt to fight ignorance, proving cites when possible. **vivian** , on the other hand, is merely promoting her own brand of ignorance and is not willing to examine her own racist attitudes. Here thread title should have been “I have opinions about black people, ask me what they are.” See my questions and her respose regarding her prejudice against black men dating white women. While she has sometimes included the IMO disclaimer, her tone suggests she feels she represents the black community and I sincerely hope this is not the case. I’m tempted to start a pit thread but I don’t have the energy. \*\* You know what…i’m on here to answer genuine and sincere questions from people who’ve always wondered whatever about black people. i happen to be one black woman who is willing to answer the questions. if you don’t like the answers, fine. call me whatever you want. post whatever you want. people are asking some very interesting questions and i am trying to answer them as best as i can. the name of the thread is ‘ASK A BLACK \*\* WOMAN \*\*’. not \*\* women \*\*. if you are willing to walk in the shoes i’ve walked in all 24yrs of my life, then you can answer the questions the way **you** want. ---
**Author:** ![vivian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/3e96dc/32.png) [@vivian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vivian)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2001, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-black-woman-nothing-is-too-ignorant-i-hope/84988/89 "2001-10-03T15:36:54Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by AHunter3 \* > \*\*Hey again Vivian! > > I posted: > > > [@](#): > > > > If you’re in a tense situation or arguing politics, etc, where some women (mainly white) and some black people (mainly male) are sort of speaking out “as women” or “as black people”, do you tend to think of yourself as “one of the women”, “one of the black people”, or… > > & you responded: > > > [@](#): > > > > good question. i don’t think i’ve ever faced with that situation. > > Hmm, that’s highly informative in its own right. I didn’t know if it would be a recurrent kind of situation like part of every black woman’s everyday life or just vague and hypothetical. Mind if I pursue it a bit further? > > Let’s say, for instance, that you were having discussions at work about the risk of sexual harassment and sexual assault, and some white guys were saying women exaggerate about harmless teasing and point fingers to get even or to be a bitch, white women were arguing back that what men perceive as teasing is often invasive and that the shit women have to put up with when they accuse pretty much eliminates cavalier or frivolous accusations, and some black guys stated that they are seen as sexual predators and rapists-awaiting-the-opportunity when they aren’t doing anything but being black, plus white people use accusations of that type because they are hung up about the possibility of black men raping white women, and you’re watching this conversational volley take place…? > > Do you think you’d tend to ‘side’ with any of the groups, or put forth a perspective that’s different from any of them, or what? \*\* well…i think i would be Black first. Only because people tend to stereotype me Black first and a woman second. But then again, i truly think there is a different catogory. Black man/Black woman. why? both genders go through experiences that most White males/females will never go through. Just my opinion. ---
**Author:** ![vivian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/3e96dc/32.png) [@vivian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vivian)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2001, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-black-woman-nothing-is-too-ignorant-i-hope/84988/90 "2001-10-03T15:41:17Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Infidel \* > \*\*Vivian- Why are black women so attracted to me? I’m a mid 30s white man, and before I was married, I dated several black women. They used to come up and introduce themselves to me! Now that I’m married, I still get flirtations from black women. Maybe it’s because I’m a big guy, at 6-2, 220 lbs. > Also, I like black women because they seem more down to earth and easier to talk to than women of other races. \*\* LOL…you know, i don’t know why they like you…maybe it’s like the gay-dar thing…they just know you’ve been with other black women…so they know you’re attracted to them. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Man\_Who](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c2a13f/32.png) [@The\_Man\_Who](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Man_Who)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2001, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-black-woman-nothing-is-too-ignorant-i-hope/84988/91 "2001-10-03T15:50:54Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by vivian \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > \*Originally posted by The Man Who \* > > \*\* > > 4. You’ve stated that you find Bill Cosby “buffoonish.” What about the Wayans Brothers? Chris Tucker? Etc. > > > > 1. Which is better, “The Boondocks” or “Jump Start”? > > \*\* > > 1. i didn’t mean Bill Cosby…I think Wayne Brady is buffonish. Same with Chris Tucker and the Wayans bros. i like people who are actaully funny. i would compare them to Tom Green…i think he dumb. > > 2. boondocks i’ve read, i like it. jump start, i’ve never heard of. give me a link and i’ll take a look. > \*\* 1. Thanks for the clarification. 2. [http://www.unitedmedia.com/comics/jumpstart/](http://www.unitedmedia.com/comics/jumpstart/) . Robb Armstrong (who draws Jump Start) would be the Bill Cosby to Aaron McGruder (Boondocks)'s Chuck D. -Myron ---
**Author:** ![vivian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/3e96dc/32.png) [@vivian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vivian)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2001, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-black-woman-nothing-is-too-ignorant-i-hope/84988/92 "2001-10-03T15:57:32Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Shame’s Joys \* > \*\*Vivian, if I understand you right, you’re African-Canadian? Did your dad come from Africa or something? > > Now how much in common can an African immigrant to Canada have in common with people in the USA descended from centuries of slavery and Jim Crow that you never had to experience? How much in common can you have with them apart from color? > > Early on I noticed that it was easy to tell African immigrants apart from black Americans at a single glance. Even when there’s no difference in outward appearance. I mentioned this to a friend who agreed and said: “It’s 'cause of the _vibes_.” \*\* I was born in Ghana, West Africa. Immigrated to Canada with my parents when i was 3yrs old, been in Canada all my life. I live 45 minutes away from the US border. From my experiences in Canada, racism is a little more subtle, more covert. I think its just the climate in Canada. People here in general aren’t as …the best word i can come up with, confrontational. So here, if a Black man were to get into an elevator with a white woman (JUST AN EXAMPLE), she would probably smile, apologize profusely and then clutch her purse. It’s true about the African thing, esp. in Canada. Here, the Black people are from the West Indies, Africa etc,. But normally, we can all tell who’s from where. Especially Africans. ---
**Author:** ![vivian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/3e96dc/32.png) [@vivian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vivian)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2001, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-black-woman-nothing-is-too-ignorant-i-hope/84988/93 "2001-10-03T16:04:45Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by PublicBlast \* > \*\*Vivian– > > 1. Welcome to the boards! I hope you’re not overwhelmed with questions. We need to get more black posters here, truly; maybe I should get my wife on here. 🙂 > > 2. Speaking of the wife, I have a hair stylist question for you: do you have only 1 stylist that you stick with, or do you go to different ones? My wife and I are still fairly new to Chicago and she’s having a hell of a time finding a good stylist in our neighborhood worth sticking with. > > 3. Do all black women have this problem, or is it just my wife that keeps getting stuck with lousy perms/sets/braids? \*\* ALL Black women have that problem. But it’s the same problem all people face when finding a new hairstylist. but because you asked me from a black woman’s perspective…hell yes! When you find the one who can do your hair right without burning you, hair dropping out and not have to tell them step by step how you want your hair…you praise the Lord. ---
**Author:** ![grayhairedmomma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/47e85d/32.png) [@grayhairedmomma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grayhairedmomma)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2001, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-black-woman-nothing-is-too-ignorant-i-hope/84988/94 "2001-10-03T16:26:35Z")
Why do darkskin black women show such animosity towards lightskin black women who have more anglican features? ---
**Author:** ![vivian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/3e96dc/32.png) [@vivian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vivian)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2001, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-black-woman-nothing-is-too-ignorant-i-hope/84988/95 "2001-10-03T16:40:40Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by mornea \* > \*\*Why do darkskin black women show such animosity towards lightskin black women who have more anglican features? \*\* **MY OPINION** is that many dark skin women are made to feel ugly. i know there were times when i certainly felt that way. back in the 80’s, it wasn’t cool to be dark skinned, nappy haired AND African. The lighter skinned girls normally had the more white features and were seen on tv, ads music videos etc. Also it goes back to the Slave days…the lighter you were, the less work you hard to do, more opprotunities if you could pass for white…list goes on and on. It’s sad how it still goes on today. But it’s mostly amongst blacks themselves. ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2001, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-black-woman-nothing-is-too-ignorant-i-hope/84988/96 "2001-10-03T16:47:56Z")
Hello, **vivian**. Welcome. I applaud your mission to eliminate ignorance in regards to this topic. While you night recieve some flak for your views, your heart is in the right place. That said, I have a question. I understand that the word “nigger” is about as offensive to a black person as you can get. Coming from a white person’s mouth, anyway. So why do black people refer to each other that way?[sup]\*[/sup] Would a black friend of mine possibly be insulted if I, a white male, called him that in a gesture of brotherhood? Is there a preconceived notion that any white person who utters this word is automatically deemed a racist? [sup]\*As George Carlin once said "Take the word ‘nigger’. There is nothing wrong with that word in and of itself. It’s just a word. It’s the racist asshole that’s using it that you oughta be concerned about. We don’t get upset when Eddie Murphy or Richard Pryor use it. You know why? Because we know they’re not racist.[/sup] ---
**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:** [October 3, 2001, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-black-woman-nothing-is-too-ignorant-i-hope/84988/97 "2001-10-03T16:50:29Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by mouthbreather \* > \*\* > > And **Biggirl** – If some skinny white boy stepped up to you with “yo, yo baby – you be lookin fiiiine…” and was sporting baggy jeans and a backwards baseball cap and was overblown in diamond rings, necklaces, and earrings and had gold teeth-- besides the fact that you’re probably going to think he’s an idiot, are you honestly going to not say, or at least think, “That boy thinks he is black” ? \*\* As **Uke** pointed out, I’m from Brooklyn. This is not anywhere near unusual. O.K., it _is_ unusual for anyone to come up to me personally and say “Yo baby, you lookin’ fine.” Backwards baseball caps, baggy clothes and everything else you mentioned is not an indication of “blackness”. This is not a description of how “black people act.” It is a stereotype of how some people believe black people act. > [@](#): > > _Originally posted by obfusciarust_ > \*\*So it is better to deny the real cultural differences that do exist so as to avoid those who are incapable of noting such differences without assuming that all members of the group conform? \*\* Black people, as **celestina** has already pointed out are not monolithic. If you are going to note cultural differences then note _cultural differences_ and not lump all black people together a nebulous “act black” mode of operations. There is a “street corner culture” for lack of a better description. It is not black culture and black culture is not it. > [@](#): > > _Originally posted by obfusciarust_ > \*\*I am quite capable of saying that statistically a black American is more likely to commit robbery than a white person without assuming that any individual black is a robber or that any individual white isn’t (I don’t know if the example is true, it is just an example). \*\* No, this example is not true. It is also not indicative of any culture that I know of. Please give an example of what you know black people do that you would not ascribe to an individual black person. I mean a valid example. > [@](#): > > _Originally posted by nickc_ > \*\* > > I know how black people are. I have observed black people in their native enviroment many many times. If you believe black and white people are the same, you need a reality check. When I hear any mention of “smoking blunts, and drinking 40s”, I envision a black man. \*\* BINGO! We have a winner. The perfect example of the stereotype at work. ---
**Author:** ![sidle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee59a6/32.png) [@sidle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sidle)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2001, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-black-woman-nothing-is-too-ignorant-i-hope/84988/98 "2001-10-03T16:50:51Z")
Vivian- You said the women on the elevator irritated you because you were not a dog or a stuffed animal ( something like that.) Did you perceive that they meant to make you feel that way, or were just genuinely curious? Does it have anything to do with them being white? What if they were black or Asian? I’d just like to know more about where you’re coming from in that situation. Also-EVERYONE has been tiptoeing around this and not saying anything because they are afraid of being seen as insensitive or being kicked off the SDMB. It’s driving me crazy, because our society is skewed in such a way that white people are not allowed to express opinions on the issues in this thread. However, black people are seemingly free to say whatever they want about whoever they want. For instance, the post earlier about white people being “fake nice?” Well, I’m not fake nice, I’m just me, but I can see how that can happen. We have the fear of God put into us about not offending black peers-no WONDER we have to be so pleasant-otherwise we risk the “racist” label. Sorry to ramble. Anyway, back to my point, yes, some white people do think black people smell. Not ALL black people, and not ALL the time. SOmetimes certain black people smell musty and unclean. I have honestly always thought that our hygiene standards were just different. I have heard from many of the black women I work with that they wash their hair infrequently, which is a foreign notion to white people as a whole. I thought maybe black people bathed less frequently too. I dont know if this is the case or not, but its interesting to hear that black people can “smell” white people too. It must be some cultural/diet thing, or maybe even something physiological? Very interesting. Thanks for the perspective! ---
**Author:** ![mouthbreather](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a698b9/32.png) [@mouthbreather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mouthbreather)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2001, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-black-woman-nothing-is-too-ignorant-i-hope/84988/99 "2001-10-03T17:07:30Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Biggirl \* > As **Uke** pointed out, I’m from Brooklyn. This is not anywhere near unusual. O.K., it _is_ unusual for anyone to come up to me personally and say “Yo baby, you lookin’ fine.” Backwards baseball caps, baggy clothes and everything else you mentioned is not an indication of “blackness”. This is not a description of how “black people act.” It is a stereotype of how some people believe black people act. I grew up in Pittsburgh and now live in Atlanta, so I’m not saying it’s unusual. I see a lot of it, too – That wasn’t my point. I don’t know if you are trying to put words into my mouth or if I wasn’t clear, but I never said (or meant to imply) that was “how black people act”. You say that “It is a stereotype of how some people believe black people act.” I can counter with “It is a fact that that _some_ black people do act like that” (And, some white people imitate it) So, if I am getting you right, **Biggirl** , you have never once in your life ran into someone who was white who you thought was trying to be or act black, and you have never come across an “Uncle Tom” black person, becasue these things just don’t exist at all? ---
**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:** [October 3, 2001, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-black-woman-nothing-is-too-ignorant-i-hope/84988/100 "2001-10-03T17:15:18Z")
Your right **mouthbreather** , I’m not understanding you. I understood your question as: If you see a white person wearing A and saying B, don’t you think to yourself “he’s trying to act black?” My answer was no. I also added that wearing A and saying B is not indicative of any type of blackness. If I put words in your mouth or misconscrued your meaning, I’m sorry. Please clarify. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-black-woman-nothing-is-too-ignorant-i-hope/84988.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-black-woman-nothing-is-too-ignorant-i-hope/84988.md?page=6)