# Do white people really look that funny when they walk? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 9, 2004, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-white-people-really-look-that-funny-when-they-walk/249415 "2004-06-09T05:19:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![elmwood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmwood/32/3060_2.png) [@elmwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elmwood)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2004, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-white-people-really-look-that-funny-when-they-walk/249415/1 "2004-06-09T05:19:28Z")
On my local NBC affiliate, after the cast of Saturday Night Live bids farewell for another week, two different African American-oriented variety shows air. They both follow a “Showtime at the Apollo” format: amateur acts, a few booed or yanked off the stage, with a heavy emphasis on comedy. There will almost always be a comedian who will rant about how white people walk funny. It’s usually the same thing … black people walk smooth, while white people walk stiff and awkward. Often a comedian’s mandatory demonstration of white-style walking is accompanied by talking in an exaggerated Midwestern accent. Cut to a scene of black women in the audience flailing their arms in the air, in hysterics over what is apparently the funniest thing they’ve ever heard. So, to the African American dopers … is the sight of a strolling Cacasian really that funny? If not … well, why not come up with jokes about something else, like about how white people sit still in church. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![pizzabrat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e9c0ed/32.png) [@pizzabrat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pizzabrat)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2004, 5:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-white-people-really-look-that-funny-when-they-walk/249415/2 "2004-06-09T05:23:44Z")
> [@elmwood](#): > > On my local NBC affiliate, after the cast of Saturday Night Live bids farewell for another week, two different African American-oriented variety shows air. They both follow a “Showtime at the Apollo” format: amateur acts, a few booed or yanked off the stage, with a heavy emphasis on comedy. > > There will almost always be a comedian who will rant about how white people walk funny. It’s usually the same thing … black people walk smooth, while white people walk stiff and awkward. Often a comedian’s mandatory demonstration of white-style walking is accompanied by talking in an exaggerated Midwestern accent. Cut to a scene of black women in the audience flailing their arms in the air, in hysterics over what is apparently the funniest thing they’ve ever heard. > > So, to the African American dopers … is the sight of a strolling Cacasian really that funny? If not … well, why not come up with jokes about something else, like about how white people sit still in church. Are you serious?! I can’t believe you’d watch some stupid late-run “comedy” thing and try to extrapolate some meaninful generaliztion from it! Do you even- > [@](#): > > 😃 Oh. Nevermind, sorry. ---
**Author:** ![Askia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/96bed5/32.png) [@Askia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askia)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2004, 6:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-white-people-really-look-that-funny-when-they-walk/249415/3 "2004-06-09T06:19:54Z")
Watching white people walking isn’t nearly as funny as watching young white males getting injured doing something stupid skateboarding. If we’re going to equate body movements, humor and race, that’s the top one right there. I’d like to see a white comedian do a joke where, if stopped by the police, a white guy will cooperate but a young black male – no matter how mild-mannered – will always pick THAT moment to prove he can’t be pushed around. > [@](#): > > Cop: Can I see some ID from you two, please? > > White guy: Sure, officer. > > Cop: (to black guy) And you, sir? > > Black guy: Aw, hell, naw, Officer Motherfucker. What? What?? I aine do shit, I ain’t gotta show you shit. You show ME some ID. > > White guy: Hey! Hey! Uh, isn’t that your mom? > > Cop: And what did I tell you about getting smart with the police? Now I got to kick your ass, son. > > Black guy: Fuck you, sellout! ---
**Author:** ![xvxdarkknightxvx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/34f0e0/32.png) [@xvxdarkknightxvx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xvxdarkknightxvx)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2004, 7:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-white-people-really-look-that-funny-when-they-walk/249415/4 "2004-06-09T07:00:11Z")
> [@Askia](#): > > Watching white people walking isn’t nearly as funny as watching young white males getting injured doing something stupid skateboarding. If we’re going to equate body movements, humor and race, that’s the top one right there. > > I’d like to see a white comedian do a joke where, if stopped by the police, a white guy will cooperate but a young black male – no matter how mild-mannered – will always pick THAT moment to prove he can’t be pushed around. I hate to use it, but lol! Very funny bit. P.S. Why isn’t the quote in my quote? ---
**Author:** ![betenoir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/258eb7/32.png) [@betenoir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/betenoir)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2004, 7:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-white-people-really-look-that-funny-when-they-walk/249415/5 "2004-06-09T07:47:38Z")
> [@Askia](#): > > Watching white people walking isn’t nearly as funny as watching young white males getting injured doing something stupid skateboarding. If we’re going to equate body movements, humor and race, that’s the top one right there. :dubious: What does this have to do with race? Who doesn’t look stupid falling off a skateboard? ---
**Author:** ![Askia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/96bed5/32.png) [@Askia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askia)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2004, 8:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-white-people-really-look-that-funny-when-they-walk/249415/6 "2004-06-09T08:12:36Z")
I grant you anyone of any race will look funny falling down. I respectfully submit that pretty much only young white males _videotape themselves_ attempting stupid stunts on skateboards so that their friends can upload them on the internet and immortalize their lack of good judgement for posterity. That’s waaaAAay funnier than walking. I cite the relevant video clips from The Stile Project archives, which I cannot link to here. ---
**Author:** ![Snooooopy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Snooooopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snooooopy)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2004, 9:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-white-people-really-look-that-funny-when-they-walk/249415/7 "2004-06-09T09:46:50Z")
The little-known band Unsane made a video for their song “Scrape” that was pretty much just a bunch of skateboarding accidents (with a few clips of the band playing thrown in as a change of pace). One of the coolest videos ever! ---
**Author:** ![xvxdarkknightxvx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/34f0e0/32.png) [@xvxdarkknightxvx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xvxdarkknightxvx)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2004, 12:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-white-people-really-look-that-funny-when-they-walk/249415/8 "2004-06-09T12:05:27Z")
> [@Askia](#): > > I grant you anyone of any race will look funny falling down. I respectfully submit that pretty much only young white males _videotape themselves_ attempting stupid stunts on skateboards so that their friends can upload them on the internet and immortalize their lack of good judgement for posterity. That’s waaaAAay funnier than walking. > > I cite the relevant video clips from The Stile Project archives, which I cannot link to here. So you frequent Stile Project, too? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Askia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/96bed5/32.png) [@Askia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askia)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2004, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-white-people-really-look-that-funny-when-they-walk/249415/9 "2004-06-09T14:21:44Z")
**xvxdarkknightxvx.** “Frequent” is too strong an adjective. Let’s just say I’ve been there before and leave it at that. ---
**Author:** ![Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac8455/32.png) [@Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bippy_the_Beardless)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2004, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-white-people-really-look-that-funny-when-they-walk/249415/10 "2004-06-09T15:10:43Z")
When you realy start to look, lots of people walk funny. It is common to see occidentals walk stiff kneed bending just at the hip with long strides, whilst asians often have very short strides bending at the knee as much as the hip. I havn’t really looked at the way many people of African origin walk to give any general impression. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Miskatonic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr.miskatonic/32/310_2.png) [@Mr.Miskatonic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Miskatonic)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2004, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-white-people-really-look-that-funny-when-they-walk/249415/11 "2004-06-09T15:21:43Z")
Homer: Heeheehee! Its True! We are so lame! ---
**Author:** ![blowero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/41988e/32.png) [@blowero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blowero)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2004, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-white-people-really-look-that-funny-when-they-walk/249415/12 "2004-06-09T19:48:19Z")
You know who’s bugging me these days? Dave Chappel. I thought he did some funny bits on his show at first, but now it just seems to be entirely making fun of white people. Don’t get me wrong, making fun of white people _can_ be comedic gold, but Chappel doesn’t even do it very well. His “white guy” voice is lame; it just sounds like he’s making his normal voice lower. Both Richard Pryor and Eddie Murphy did hilarious “white guy” voices. IMO, if you can’t outdo that, you shouldn’t even try. It’s just been done to death. ---
**Author:** ![nocturnal\_tick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/3d9bf3/32.png) [@nocturnal\_tick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nocturnal_tick)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2004, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-white-people-really-look-that-funny-when-they-walk/249415/13 "2004-06-09T20:04:31Z")
Oh, don’t rant about Dave Chappell just because of his “white” accent. It’s a funny accent. I love the sketches involving the police like this one: _Dave and the “white guy”, I think his name is Steve or something, pull up at a traffic light next to a police car. Oh yes, both are high._ **Steve** : _Dave…I’m gonna race him_ **Dave** : I tried to think of some way to tell him to stop but all that came out was _“You gotta do what you gotta do.” Later on, the police have pulled them over._ **Officer** : _Did you realise you were speeding?_ **Steve** : _Honest Officer… I didn’t know that I couldn’t do that._ **Officer** : _… … Well you know now. Now get out of here._ HEHEHEHEHEHE Anyway, back to the topic at hand. White people do walk funny. I am a white person. I walk funny. I run funny as well but that’s not the point right now. ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2004, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-white-people-really-look-that-funny-when-they-walk/249415/14 "2004-06-09T20:22:11Z")
> [@betenoir](#): > > Who doesn’t look stupid falling off a skateboard? (Mentally pictures Albert Einstein, Eleanor Roosevelt, Genghis Khan and Sojourner Truth falling off skateboards) You’re right—_all_ funny. ---
**Author:** ![SPOOFE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c5a1d2/32.png) [@SPOOFE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SPOOFE)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2004, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-white-people-really-look-that-funny-when-they-walk/249415/15 "2004-06-09T20:33:52Z")
Dave’s white friend was named “Chip”. “Excuse me, officer… excu-u-u-use me! Now… I’m a little high… all I wanna know is: Which way is third street?” “Now take it easy! … Yer on third street.” Come on. How can that voice NOT belong to a white police officer? It’s the White Urkel voice! ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2004, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-white-people-really-look-that-funny-when-they-walk/249415/16 "2004-06-09T22:54:19Z")
After careful scientific study, I’ve concluded white people _do_ walk funny. How do I know? I walked around all day today, and I spent the whole time looking over my shoulder at my ass. It looked pretty strange to me, let me tell you. ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2004, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-white-people-really-look-that-funny-when-they-walk/249415/17 "2004-06-09T23:04:12Z")
I mosey. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2004, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-white-people-really-look-that-funny-when-they-walk/249415/18 "2004-06-09T23:06:04Z")
> [@Eve](#): > > (Mentally pictures Albert Einstein, Eleanor Roosevelt, Genghis Khan and Sojourner Truth falling off skateboards) > > You’re right—_all_ funny. Hate to disagree, **Eve** , but it’s a well documented fact that if you gave Genghis Khan a skateboard, he’d be shredding like Tony Hawk in no time flat. [Cite.](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0096928/) ---
**Author:** ![DadWagonDriver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/edb3f5/32.png) [@DadWagonDriver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DadWagonDriver)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2004, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-white-people-really-look-that-funny-when-they-walk/249415/19 "2004-06-10T01:19:59Z")
I walk funny, that’s for sure. (And yes, my skin is fairly taupe.) And Miller, I appreciate any Bill & Ted references. This has been a funny night on these here boards. ---
**Author:** ![js\_africanus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/87869e/32.png) [@js\_africanus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/js_africanus)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2004, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-white-people-really-look-that-funny-when-they-walk/249415/20 "2004-06-10T01:56:43Z")
> [@Askia](#): > > Watching white people walking isn’t nearly as funny as watching young white males getting injured doing something stupid skateboarding. I guess I’m more amused by the reactions to it. A little pain never hurt anybody. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-white-people-really-look-that-funny-when-they-walk/249415.md?page=2)