# Why are black people so LOUD? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [April 25, 2007, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-black-people-so-loud/401625 "2007-04-25T18:06:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**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:** [April 25, 2007, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-black-people-so-loud/401625/21 "2007-04-25T22:32:57Z")
“And now, let’s go to Ollie Williams with the forecast for this thread. Ollie?” **"It’s gon’ rain!"** ---
**Author:** ![fisha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@fisha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fisha)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2007, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-black-people-so-loud/401625/22 "2007-04-25T22:33:02Z")
Ok, so if we determine that loud and obnoxious covers the spectrum of humanity, what do you think causes it? Fear? Powerlessness? Entitlement? Self importance? ---
**Author:** ![Grey\_area](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Grey\_area](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grey_area)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2007, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-black-people-so-loud/401625/23 "2007-04-25T22:35:30Z")
[QUOTE=VCO3] Again, there’s no debate as to the veracity of this; it’s become a part of racial stereotypes and race-based humor, such as the classic “black people shouting at the screen in a movie theater” motif. [/quote] That’s a questionable assertion but ok. > [@](#): > > Why? There has to be a sociocultural explanation, and I’m really curious as to what’s going on. What’s going on there? Some cultures tend to be louder and are more boisterous than others. But I don’t even think it’s the majority of black people that are loud. It’s just _some_ black people are outstandingly or even rudely (by our standards) loud and they grab our attention. Like others have mentioned there are groups that are equally ‘loud’. ---
**Author:** ![Zabali\_Clawbane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/ecd19e/32.png) [@Zabali\_Clawbane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zabali_Clawbane)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2007, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-black-people-so-loud/401625/24 "2007-04-25T22:35:58Z")
[QUOTE=dahfisheroo] Ok, so if we determine that loud and obnoxious covers the spectrum of humanity, what do you think causes it? Fear? Powerlessness? Entitlement? Self importance? [/QUOTE] Deafness or sinus congestion in some cases, I’d wager. Others are high strung, and really don’t realize just how loud in comparison to others they are, or don’t care to use their “indoor voices”. Some really aren’t brought up to be considerate to others in that way, as they perhaps were with table manners and giving up their seat to the elderly or a pregnant woman. ---
**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:** [April 25, 2007, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-black-people-so-loud/401625/25 "2007-04-25T22:41:19Z")
[QUOTE=Zabali\_Clawbane] All I have to say is, the OP obviously has not lived next to our former neighbors or their ilk. Fishwife doesn’t begin to cover it, and that is just normal conversation for her! Her daughter is just like her, you could hear what she was saying plainly from inside our house, with closed windows and a fan running as she spoke to her mother on the porch. You couldn’t help but eavesdrop with them. ETA: And they were caucasian. Loudness has nothing to do with ethnicity. I think the OP needs a good clue-by-four. [/QUOTE] Sounds a lot like my former neighbors. They eventually defaulted on their mortgage and had to move out. They were always screaming and carrying on. Thank the lord they’ve left. _shudder_ And yeah, they were whiter than white. ---
**Author:** ![Crotalus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crotalus/32/41_2.png) [@Crotalus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crotalus)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2007, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-black-people-so-loud/401625/26 "2007-04-25T22:41:51Z")
[QUOTE=Askia] Must… not… deign… with… reply. [/QUOTE] Oh, come on, dude. I was hoping you’d show up. Say it loud!! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![jakeline](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a8b319/32.png) [@jakeline](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jakeline)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2007, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-black-people-so-loud/401625/27 "2007-04-25T22:43:01Z")
[QUOTE=Zabali\_Clawbane] Deafness or sinus congestion in some cases, I’d wager. Others are high strung, and really don’t realize just how loud in comparison to others they are, or don’t care to use their “indoor voices”. Some really aren’t brought up to be considerate to others in that way, as they perhaps were with table manners and giving up their seat to the elderly or a pregnant woman. [/QUOTE] I have a coworker that we all think is a lovely individual… until you have to sit near her. I offered to give up my office and take a cubicle so she could have my office and close the door when she’s on the phone. And if she was any whiter, she’d be see-through. The owner of the company took her aside and talked to her about using her inside voice, and found out that her father is very hard of hearing, so she speaks loudly as a habit. Personally, I think it’s a question of chicken and the egg. Seriously, I must imagine that her husband has some hearing damage by now. Also **Askia**! Long time no see! Good to see you back around! ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2007, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-black-people-so-loud/401625/28 "2007-04-25T22:46:20Z")
Maybe because they’ve had 400 years of White people not listening to them. When it’s only Black folks together, they just whisper to each other. 🙂 My favorite line in the OP was this: > [@](#): > > I see and hear black businesspeople screaming, shouting, and laughing in the same inappropriate situations… _We will now move to the next agenda item in the quarterly shareholders’ meeting. LaKisha, do you have those 5 year revenue projections?_ ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2007, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-black-people-so-loud/401625/29 "2007-04-25T22:48:46Z")
[QUOTE=Zabali\_Clawbane] Loudness has nothing to do with ethnicity. [/QUOTE] Living where I do, I would not agree with this (taking ethnicity to mean culture rather than race). There are certainly definite cultural differences in how people perceive noise and whether or not they are being loud. People here routinely blare music and make all kinds of deafening noise at parties, but nobody gives a second thought about it. In the US, neighbors would be calling the police, but here nobody even notices it. If you ask anyone to tone things down, they look at you like you have two heads. They just don’t understand why you would even be annoyed. Culturally, people simply have different standards about how they react to noise. This said, I can’t say that I have perceived US blacks as being particularly loud as a group. People from lower socioeconomic groups may, however, be less inhibited about being loud. ---
**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:** [April 25, 2007, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-black-people-so-loud/401625/30 "2007-04-25T22:49:00Z")
[QUOTE=jakeline] Personally, I think it’s a question of chicken and the egg. [/QUOTE] So it’s their diet? Black people are loud. Black people eat chicken. Eating chickens make you loud. I’ll test this out tonight … ---
**Author:** ![percypercy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8baadc/32.png) [@percypercy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/percypercy)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2007, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-black-people-so-loud/401625/31 "2007-04-25T22:50:11Z")
My last next door neighbor was the loudest human being I’ve ever experienced, and she was as white as we come. When she yelled I could hear her from three flights up with all the doors and windows closed and the tv on. She was also a stewardess so it’s quite possible that all those years of plane engines had left her with considerable hearing loss. Her kids yelled too, but they were young and had her as a mother so they could be excused. -Lil ---
**Author:** ![jakeline](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a8b319/32.png) [@jakeline](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jakeline)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2007, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-black-people-so-loud/401625/32 "2007-04-25T22:52:36Z")
[QUOTE=NoClueBoy] So it’s their diet? Black people are loud. Black people eat chicken. Eating chickens make you loud. I’ll test this out tonight … [/QUOTE] Don’t forget… it’s supposed to be FRIED chicken! It won’t work if you grill the chicken like a white person! ---
**Author:** ![DiggitCamara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/df788c/32.png) [@DiggitCamara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DiggitCamara)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2007, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-black-people-so-loud/401625/33 "2007-04-25T22:55:27Z")
Have you ever heard and/or seen the stereotypical american tourist in a country where no-one speaks english? They usually try to bridge the communication gap by shouting. (and they usually are white) ---
**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:** [April 25, 2007, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-black-people-so-loud/401625/34 "2007-04-25T22:56:03Z")
[QUOTE=jakeline] Don’t forget… it’s supposed to be FRIED chicken! It won’t work if you grill the chicken like a white person! [/QUOTE] Aw, crap! Gotta go buy me some more chickens. And some Crisco. God damn it ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2007, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-black-people-so-loud/401625/35 "2007-04-25T22:58:38Z")
Yeah, well, you know who’s _really_ loud? I mean, really _REALLY_ loud? _Persian girls._ When you fuck them. In their butts. Persian girl butt sex loud makes black loud seem like dead baby in the library loud. I’m just sayin’. ---
**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:** [April 25, 2007, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-black-people-so-loud/401625/36 "2007-04-25T22:58:42Z")
Because it’s hard to be heard over all the jackasses whose opinions are stupid in the extreme! Plus, our big lips and butts amplify sound. ---
**Author:** ![Crotalus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crotalus/32/41_2.png) [@Crotalus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crotalus)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2007, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-black-people-so-loud/401625/37 "2007-04-25T22:59:03Z")
[QUOTE=NoClueBoy] Aw, crap! Gotta go buy me some more chickens. And some Crisco. God damn it [/QUOTE] No, man, go to Popeye’s. ---
**Author:** ![DMC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dmc/32/18049_2.png) [@DMC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMC)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2007, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-black-people-so-loud/401625/38 "2007-04-25T22:59:23Z")
[QUOTE=VCO3] This is a valid question and I seek sociocultural explanations. [/QUOTE] This one is easy, and would explain why they are exceptionally loud around you, and not so around me. When black people are around you, they have to speak up so that you can hear them as you’re running across the street away from them, clutching your wallet. So, you are correct in that there is a sociocultural explanation. Next time, talk to them face to face, so that we might complete the experiment. You remind me of a female friend I had once that wouldn’t dance, date, or spend time with blacks because some of them would hit on her, and not let it go if she wasn’t interested. Of course, the fact that many whites did the same thing (although she never seemed to remember it by the next day) didn’t cause her to avoid dancing, dating, or spending time with them. ---
**Author:** ![justrob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a9adbd/32.png) [@justrob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/justrob)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2007, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-black-people-so-loud/401625/39 "2007-04-25T23:00:24Z")
[QUOTE=auntie em] Maybe it’s a trait that has evolved due to years upon years of people from other races saying, “WHAT?!??!?” and “HUH??!?!?” whenever we try to speak jive to them. [/QUOTE] Oh stewardess, I speak jive. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2007, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-black-people-so-loud/401625/40 "2007-04-25T23:18:58Z")
[QUOTE=NoClueBoy] Black people eat chicken. [/QUOTE] I cannot believe you said that. :eek: 😉 gigi, white and, coincidentally, naturally soft-spoken [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-black-people-so-loud/401625.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-black-people-so-loud/401625.md?page=3)