# I feel like such a tool. I'm always surprised when black people like nerdy white people things. **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 28, 2016, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-feel-like-such-a-tool-im-always-surprised-when-black-people-like-nerdy-white-people-things/764341 "2016-08-28T23:24:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Knowed\_Out](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/knowed_out/32/7380_2.png) [@Knowed\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knowed_Out)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2016, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-feel-like-such-a-tool-im-always-surprised-when-black-people-like-nerdy-white-people-things/764341/1 "2016-08-28T23:24:11Z")
I’m constantly trying to be more progressive, but I still have a few prejudicial strings I can’t snap. For instance, while getting my oil changed, I was reading a Terry Pratchett book in the lobby. The mechanic, a young black man, told me I was ready, then asked me what I was reading. I felt a little awkward explaining it to him, but I said “If you like Douglas Adams, you’ll like this book.” He replied “For reals? I grew up reading Douglas Adams!” I was listening to some hip hop on college radio, and in one number the artist rapped “I like watching gangster movies, and to get even, I listen to Neil Young and Sufjan Stevens.” /boggle Sufjan Stevens is folk nerd and one of the whitest white people on the planet. Why can’t I get that black people can like other cultures? ---
**Author:** ![kopek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kopek/32/337_2.png) [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2016, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-feel-like-such-a-tool-im-always-surprised-when-black-people-like-nerdy-white-people-things/764341/2 "2016-08-29T00:03:29Z")
I don’t know the answer to that but I wonder if there isn’t a hint of it somewhere deep in my soul, and everyone’s, as well. Several years ago I met a young black lady who was one of the most fantastic polka/Eastern European folk dancers I’ve ever seen. But in my defense I was equally surprised to see several young Nordic types from the St Olaf Choir doing Tuvan throat singing. I take it more as “out of context shock” than I do prejudicial leanings but it strikes me as fairly common. ---
**Author:** ![Reluctant\_A](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/839c29/32.png) [@Reluctant\_A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reluctant_A)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2016, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-feel-like-such-a-tool-im-always-surprised-when-black-people-like-nerdy-white-people-things/764341/3 "2016-08-29T03:15:29Z")
Where was I when nerd shit was declared the province of white people? What other “white spaces” do I need to know about? ---
**Author:** ![nightshadea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7ba0ec/32.png) [@nightshadea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nightshadea)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2016, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-feel-like-such-a-tool-im-always-surprised-when-black-people-like-nerdy-white-people-things/764341/4 "2016-08-29T03:32:44Z")
I know a African (Nigerian) female lives in Alabama that loves nascar hank willians George jones ect …oh and actually had an officially translated first ed ad&d book set we met on the Amtrak and played ad&d with a few others for 3 days … I should of proposed he h ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2016, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-feel-like-such-a-tool-im-always-surprised-when-black-people-like-nerdy-white-people-things/764341/5 "2016-08-29T03:56:26Z")
> [@Reluctant\_A](#): > > Where was I when nerd shit was declared the province of white people? What other “white spaces” do I need to know about? Probably none since the OP admits that the fault is on him and refers to his surprise as a “prejudicial string”. We’ve had threads guessing at the reasons for the mainly white audience for “nerd” things: cultural (peer acceptance), economic, roots in European culture: early sci-fi, European feudal fantasy, British humorists, etc. But I don’t think it’s radical to note that most of the dudes into it have historically been white and that’s the mental picture a lot of people have. ---
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2016, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-feel-like-such-a-tool-im-always-surprised-when-black-people-like-nerdy-white-people-things/764341/6 "2016-08-29T04:18:25Z")
The OP wrote, “Why can’t I get that black people can like other cultures?” It’s obvious. You’re a racist. 😃 JUST KIDDING! ---
**Author:** ![MyFootsZZZ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/myfootszzz/32/12580_2.png) [@MyFootsZZZ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MyFootsZZZ)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2016, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-feel-like-such-a-tool-im-always-surprised-when-black-people-like-nerdy-white-people-things/764341/7 "2016-08-29T04:28:04Z")
I knew a black gentlemen, who I would imagine is about 40 now, who loves the band ‘Poison’. When I learned that, I was like, “Huh. Interesting…” ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2016, 6:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-feel-like-such-a-tool-im-always-surprised-when-black-people-like-nerdy-white-people-things/764341/8 "2016-08-29T06:48:07Z")
> [@Knowed\_Out](#): > > Why can’t I get that black people can like other cultures? Why are you equating color and culture? Sometimes they are associated, but even then the link is social, not biochemical. ---
**Author:** ![RivkahChaya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rivkahchaya/32/8919_2.png) [@RivkahChaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RivkahChaya)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2016, 7:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-feel-like-such-a-tool-im-always-surprised-when-black-people-like-nerdy-white-people-things/764341/9 "2016-08-29T07:34:34Z")
I know people who are shocked to find out there are black people who are Jewish, and I don’t mean the occasional convert, but large communities in Africa or Israel. Jews in the US are mostly Slavic and German Ashkenazic Jews, which don’t represent all the world’s Jews by a longshot. ---
**Author:** ![jasnooks](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f4b2a3/32.png) [@jasnooks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasnooks)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2016, 8:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-feel-like-such-a-tool-im-always-surprised-when-black-people-like-nerdy-white-people-things/764341/10 "2016-08-29T08:42:01Z")
I’m a racist ---
**Author:** ![legalsnugs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/45deac/32.png) [@legalsnugs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/legalsnugs)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2016, 9:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-feel-like-such-a-tool-im-always-surprised-when-black-people-like-nerdy-white-people-things/764341/11 "2016-08-29T09:28:36Z")
> [@Knowed\_Out](#): > > …Why can’t I get that black people can like other cultures? Maybe when you realize that “black people” are not some monolithic block. Just sayin’. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2016, 10:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-feel-like-such-a-tool-im-always-surprised-when-black-people-like-nerdy-white-people-things/764341/12 "2016-08-29T10:15:43Z")
And that the things the OP described are not from “other cultures” ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2016, 11:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-feel-like-such-a-tool-im-always-surprised-when-black-people-like-nerdy-white-people-things/764341/13 "2016-08-29T11:35:57Z")
My mind was blown when–as a child–I discovered my Grandma loves country and western music. Not only had I never met a country music fan before that point, but I’d never met a black country music fan. Especially one living in Gary, IN. But yeah, black people are into all kinds of things. Except for maybe the KKK (unless you’re [Clayton Bigsby](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8T8L3xcsA3w)). ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2016, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-feel-like-such-a-tool-im-always-surprised-when-black-people-like-nerdy-white-people-things/764341/14 "2016-08-29T13:33:48Z")
OP, I totally get where you’re coming from. You’re not the only person to feel that somehow [“white” and “nerdy”](http://weirdal.wikia.com/wiki/Lyrics:White_%26_Nerdy) go together. And in the incident described, there may have been an extra layer of disconnect, since an auto mechanic isn’t the first person you’d think of as being into “nerdy” things. Note that “nerd culture” is a lot more mainstream and accessible nowadays than it was decades ago. Many of us who are old enough grew up (and developed some of our generalizations and stereotypes) when there were fewer people into nerdy things altogether, and even fewer who weren’t white and male. ---
**Author:** ![Asimovian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asimovian/32/172_2.png) [@Asimovian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asimovian)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2016, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-feel-like-such-a-tool-im-always-surprised-when-black-people-like-nerdy-white-people-things/764341/15 "2016-08-29T13:44:03Z")
> [@monstro](#): > > But yeah, black people are into all kinds of things. Except for maybe the KKK (unless you’re [Clayton Bigsby](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8T8L3xcsA3w)). Thank you for that Monday morning grin—didn’t even need to follow the link. And yeah, stereotypes are awfully useless at times. One of my all-time favorite musicians is Sting. I read a lot of sci-fi. I was into BBSing back in the day. I never played football or basketball (I’m a baseball guy). I play a lot of tennis. I’m sure I break other stereotypes I’m not thinking of. It’s all about versatility, people! ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2016, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-feel-like-such-a-tool-im-always-surprised-when-black-people-like-nerdy-white-people-things/764341/16 "2016-08-29T13:49:34Z")
I applaud the OP for using the moment as a revelation about _himself_ rather than it being noteworthy about the _mechanic_. We all carry biases and prejudices- it’s what we do when faced with them that’s the mark of someone’s character. (Did anyone else find it amusing that he was quoting lyrics from hip hop he liked as an example of the singer liking “white” culture, while he was there enjoying “black music” without a second thought…?) ---
**Author:** ![Bridget\_Burke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7cd45c/32.png) [@Bridget\_Burke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bridget_Burke)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2016, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-feel-like-such-a-tool-im-always-surprised-when-black-people-like-nerdy-white-people-things/764341/17 "2016-08-29T13:53:09Z")
> [@monstro](#): > > My mind was blown when–as a child–I discovered my Grandma loves country and western music. Not only had I never met a country music fan before that point, but I’d never met a black country music fan. Especially one living in Gary, IN. > > But yeah, black people are into all kinds of things. Except for maybe the KKK (unless you’re [Clayton Bigsby](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8T8L3xcsA3w)). I heard some black gentlemen discussing a movie on light rail–but they couldn’t remember the title. I offered\* O Brother Where Art Thou\* & was right. One of them said Bluegrass was his favorite music. Of course, black string band music is one of the roots of the genre–and the banjo came straight from Africa. Years ago, I was shocked to hear older black ladies (I was young at the time) conversing in French. That was before I knew how many Louisiana Creoles had settled in Houston. (And before I’d gone to a zydeco club.) Matt Ruff’s _Lovecraft Country_ is about a black family that includes many SF fans, back in segregation days. Why _shouldn’t_ they like SF? San Antonio accordionist Mingo Saldivar is called [The Dancing Cowboy](http://www.mingosaldivartx.com/mingo-bio.html). (Of course, Central Europeans brought the accordion to Central Texas.) At a seminar, a corn-fed Midwesterner said how glad he was to hear the polka played in Texas–it was becoming rare Back Home. Mingo also sings Johnny cash & Bill Monroe sings–with (mostly) Spanish lyrics… The world is an interesting place. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2016, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-feel-like-such-a-tool-im-always-surprised-when-black-people-like-nerdy-white-people-things/764341/18 "2016-08-29T13:57:43Z")
> [@IvoryTowerDenizen](#): > > (Did anyone else find it amusing that he was quoting lyrics from hip hop he liked as an example of the singer liking “white” culture, while he was there enjoying “black music” without a second thought…?) Yes, that’s part of the amusing/disturbing/instructive contrast in this whole issue. For example, it’s almost _de rigeur_ that a white liberal arts grad student be an expert on black Delta blues musicians. We be surprised if he (yes, usually “he”) _weren’t_. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2016, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-feel-like-such-a-tool-im-always-surprised-when-black-people-like-nerdy-white-people-things/764341/19 "2016-08-29T14:01:04Z")
> [@Bridget\_Burke](#): > > One of them said Bluegrass was his favorite music. Of course, black string band music is one of the roots of the genre–and the banjo came straight from Africa. Famously explored/exposed in recent years by the Carolina Chocolate Drops. ---
**Author:** ![Bridget\_Burke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7cd45c/32.png) [@Bridget\_Burke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bridget_Burke)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2016, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-feel-like-such-a-tool-im-always-surprised-when-black-people-like-nerdy-white-people-things/764341/20 "2016-08-29T14:03:49Z")
> [@JKellyMap](#): > > Yes, that’s part of the amusing/disturbing/instructive contrast in this whole issue. For example, it’s almost _de rigeur_ that a white liberal arts grad student be an expert on black Delta blues musicians. We be surprised if he (yes, usually “he”) _weren’t_. Another surprising fact! Some “she’s” learned (even as undergraduates) about Delta blues musicians. And the ones from Texas, too… (Just recently, I read [_Meeting Jimmie Rodgers: How America’s Original Roots Music Hero Changed the Pop Sounds of a Century_](https://www.amazon.com/Meeting-Jimmie-Rodgers-Americas-Original-ebook/dp/B0058RTMCW/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1472479313&sr=1-3&keywords=jimmie+rodgers#nav-subnav). Among his fans was Howlin’ Wolf–whose “howl” was inspired by Jimmie’s “blue yodel.”) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-feel-like-such-a-tool-im-always-surprised-when-black-people-like-nerdy-white-people-things/764341.md?page=2)