# Black men and earrings. Can we let it go already? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [May 14, 2010, 6:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-men-and-earrings-can-we-let-it-go-already/539402 "2010-05-14T06:31:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![crypto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b3f665/32.png) [@crypto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crypto)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2010, 6:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-men-and-earrings-can-we-let-it-go-already/539402/1 "2010-05-14T06:31:12Z")
What is it with black men and earrings? The young black male seems to enjoy the multi-carat stud, while the older black male seems to enjoy the pirate look. I think my WTF moment with this was when Ed Bradley, of 60 Minutes fame, wore a loop earring in the last few years before he kicked off the mortal coil. I think he was 65. Ed, we know you were black. We could SEE you. Why did you feel a need to wear a pirate earring? Can you imagine Morley Safer wearing an earring? How about Andy Rooney? Why not? Are they just stodgy old white men? (Well, I think Morley is a jew, but for this opinion piece, he can be white.) I saw Michael Jordon on a sports center clip and I think he had the \*\*two \*\*loop pirate look. (Or is that Mr. Clean?) ARGH! After tonight’s Cleveland/Boston game, everyone had at least one, but usually 2 studs. I can’t imagine how black football players get their helmets off without ripping their ears off with those damn studs. Black men! The 80’s are over! Let it go! Or expect to see the return of the mullet, the white man’s only possible response to tacky above the neck styling. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![AClockworkMelon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aclockworkmelon/32/10803_2.png) [@AClockworkMelon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AClockworkMelon)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2010, 6:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-men-and-earrings-can-we-let-it-go-already/539402/2 "2010-05-14T06:44:21Z")
In b4 “You’re racist!” ---
**Author:** ![crypto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b3f665/32.png) [@crypto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crypto)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2010, 6:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-men-and-earrings-can-we-let-it-go-already/539402/3 "2010-05-14T06:56:20Z")
in b4? ---
**Author:** ![AClockworkMelon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aclockworkmelon/32/10803_2.png) [@AClockworkMelon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AClockworkMelon)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2010, 7:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-men-and-earrings-can-we-let-it-go-already/539402/4 "2010-05-14T07:00:44Z")
> [@Stink Fish Pot](#): > > in b4? [In before.](http ://encyclopediadramatica.com/In\_b4) ---
**Author:** ![crypto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b3f665/32.png) [@crypto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crypto)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2010, 7:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-men-and-earrings-can-we-let-it-go-already/539402/5 "2010-05-14T07:07:56Z")
> [@AClockworkMelon](#): > > [In before.](http: [//encyclopediadramatica.com/In\_b4](https://encyclopediadramatica.com/In_b4)) Man, I have no idea what the hell is going on out here in cyberspace. I have to learn a whole new vocabulary. ---
**Author:** ![Todderbob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e47774/32.png) [@Todderbob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Todderbob)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2010, 7:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-men-and-earrings-can-we-let-it-go-already/539402/6 "2010-05-14T07:10:54Z")
> [@AClockworkMelon](#): > > [In before.](http: [//encyclopediadramatica.com/In\_b4](https://encyclopediadramatica.com/In_b4)) NSFW ads. ---
**Author:** ![AClockworkMelon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aclockworkmelon/32/10803_2.png) [@AClockworkMelon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AClockworkMelon)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2010, 7:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-men-and-earrings-can-we-let-it-go-already/539402/7 "2010-05-14T07:13:47Z")
Oh shit. I forgot to flag that as NSFW. Apologies. As **Todder** pointed out, there are porn adverts on the page. ---
**Author:** ![crypto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b3f665/32.png) [@crypto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crypto)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2010, 7:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-men-and-earrings-can-we-let-it-go-already/539402/8 "2010-05-14T07:38:44Z")
now that you’ve had your fun, answer the OP, give an opinion, or step off! ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2010, 7:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-men-and-earrings-can-we-let-it-go-already/539402/9 "2010-05-14T07:46:02Z")
> [@Stink Fish Pot](#): > > now that you’ve had your fun, answer the OP, give an opinion, or step off! Are you seriously blind to all the white guys’ earrings? ---
**Author:** ![crypto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b3f665/32.png) [@crypto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crypto)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2010, 7:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-men-and-earrings-can-we-let-it-go-already/539402/10 "2010-05-14T07:52:04Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > Are you seriously blind to all the white guys’ earrings? No, but I think that there are a disproportionate amount of famous black men who seem to wear them, especially those in the entertainment and sports arenas. I can’t think of 5 famous white guys that wear earrings and also do serious reporting (ala Ed Bradley) or a sports reporter like Stuart Scott of ESPN. Can you? ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2010, 10:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-men-and-earrings-can-we-let-it-go-already/539402/11 "2010-05-14T10:12:48Z")
I smiled the first time I saw Ed Bradley with an ear ring. I guess it’s easier than a pony tail. I just figured someone at 60 minutes yelled “last one to get an earring has to trim Andy Rooney’s toe nails”. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2010, 11:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-men-and-earrings-can-we-let-it-go-already/539402/12 "2010-05-14T11:10:07Z")
Moving thread from IMHO to The BBQ Pit. ---
**Author:** ![Laudenum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7993a0/32.png) [@Laudenum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Laudenum)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2010, 11:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-men-and-earrings-can-we-let-it-go-already/539402/13 "2010-05-14T11:16:05Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > Are you seriously blind to all the white guys’ earrings? Very few white guys wear earrings. For that matter, most black men don’t either. ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2010, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-men-and-earrings-can-we-let-it-go-already/539402/14 "2010-05-14T12:43:19Z")
> [@Stink Fish Pot](#): > > I think my WTF moment with this was when Ed Bradley, of 60 Minutes fame, wore a loop earring in the last few years before he kicked off the mortal coil. I think he was 65. Ed, we know you were black. We could SEE you. Why did you feel a need to wear a pirate earring? Can you imagine Morley Safer wearing an earring? How about Andy Rooney? Why not? Are they just stodgy old white men? (Well, I think Morley is a jew, but for this opinion piece, he can be white.) I remember reading an article in TV Guide about Ed Bradley’s earring when he first started wearing it and it turned out he’d had it for years before the producers would allow him to wear it on air. He was already the only interesting reporter on 60 Minutes, now he was a cool guy too. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2010, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-men-and-earrings-can-we-let-it-go-already/539402/15 "2010-05-14T12:54:47Z")
I’m a white, 44-year-old male with a loop earring that I’ve worn for a decade. Do I have to take that off too, or should I paint myself black first? ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2010, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-men-and-earrings-can-we-let-it-go-already/539402/16 "2010-05-14T13:01:33Z")
> [@Jack\_Batty](#): > > I’m a white, 44-year-old male with a loop earring that I’ve worn for a decade. Do I have to take that off too, or should I paint myself black first? Oh don’t get all Ted Danson on us… 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2010, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-men-and-earrings-can-we-let-it-go-already/539402/17 "2010-05-14T13:05:42Z")
> [@Jack\_Batty](#): > > I’m a white, 44-year-old male with a loop earring that I’ve worn for a decade. Do I have to take that off too, or should I paint myself black first? No, but you might want to consider dating Calista Flockhart. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2010, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-men-and-earrings-can-we-let-it-go-already/539402/18 "2010-05-14T13:32:09Z")
Just to confuse the issue, I’m a stodgy old white man and I have had an earring for eighteen years. Not a long dangly fish-bait one, I grant you. Mos’ generally a trend becomes dated a maximum of ten minutes after I adopt it, so I am wondering what took so long. But I like my earring, and intend to keep it. I’m hoping eventually it will become retro and ironic. Like my leisure suits. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![MOIDALIZE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e274bd/32.png) [@MOIDALIZE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MOIDALIZE)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2010, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-men-and-earrings-can-we-let-it-go-already/539402/19 "2010-05-14T13:35:57Z")
Just wait until Ed Bradley gets full armsleeve tattoos. Morley Safer will have to get a faux-hawk just to keep up. ---
**Author:** ![MegaBee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f0a364/32.png) [@MegaBee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MegaBee)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2010, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-men-and-earrings-can-we-let-it-go-already/539402/20 "2010-05-14T14:12:37Z")
Don’t hate. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-men-and-earrings-can-we-let-it-go-already/539402.md?page=2)