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[SliceSabre]

I'm black and I don't even know what white culture is.

The only things I could think of that I would associate with white culture is like... really bad shit like the KKK.

 

[Blackstarhat]

When does my family become "white"?

My parents are both from Latin America, but I was born in the USA. I have white skin and speak English.

Will my children be white?
Will theirs?

Your white

 

[Dennis]

only on sandwiches? suuuure.

oh PD

 

[Heshinsi]

Is "white culture" an American thing? It doesn't make any sense outside of that context.

 

[royalan]

Is "white culture" an American thing? It doesn't make any sense outside of that context.

No, it's an everywhere thing.

 

[Africanus]

A point of oddity of me is how the "culture" expands.

First there's black culture, which encompasses (traditionally) the United States.

Then Latino culture which suddenly becomes Mexico, Central and South America (Along with Cuba, Puerto Rico, and other Carribean islands)

Then Asian culture which is just the entire continent of Asia (Although excluding the region defined as the middle east and Russia) pushed into a large entity.

I wonder how that shapes people's viewpoint.

 

[Mr.Swag]

What's the point of this question?

What's the point of this thread?

 

[Deleted member 17706]

While you are right on several accounts, there is no central leadership or unified body on what decides "black" culture, you are incorrect in stating that there is no black culture. There is, and it is the result of the African-American experience since the arrival of "20 and odd" Africans in 1619 Virginia. Not every African American ascribes to every part of the culture, just as every American doesn't have a barbeque war like North Carolina does.
As well, no one said the culture exists in a vacuum, it has influence from the works of Native Americans, Spaniards, English, French, et cetera. However, that doesn't mean it isn't something unique to African-Americans, be it the music, food, dialect, or otherwise.
I have no anger with you, however I hope you realize that there is a unique culture to be found.

Oh, I'm not saying certain groups aren't more prone to experience certain things than others, just that attributing certain cultures to skin color is dumb. There are always going to be outliers. The African orphan adopted by rich people and raised in the United States isn't likely to experience any of what many would argue to be "black culture." He'll get all of the prejudice that comes with being black in a predominantly white society of often ignorant and hateful people, though. Just one example.

 

[Blood Diamonds]

What's the point of this thread?

What's the point of life?

 

[Mr.Swag]

Your white

YAY! When do I get the privilege?

 

[royalan]

Oh, I'm not saying certain groups aren't more prone to experience certain things than others, just that attributing certain cultures to skin color is dumb. There are always going to be outliers. The African orphan adopted by rich people and raised in the United States isn't likely to experience any of what many would argue to be "black culture." He'll get all of the prejudice that comes with being black in a predominantly white society of often ignorant and hateful people, though. Just one example.

There are exceptions to every rule. You can't deny the existence or the significance of black culture because there are outliers who might not be defined by it, because this is true of practically everything.

 

[tbm24]

When does my family become "white"?

My parents are both from Latin America, but I was born in the USA. I have white skin and speak English.

Will my children be white?
Will theirs?

I believe this makes you a sleeper agent while us tan/brown folks are on the front lines.

 

[CrazyDogg77]

What's the point of this question?

I think it's a pretty salient one considering the treatment of groups we consider white now like Irish, Italians, etc. and how they were viewed previously in history

 

[royalan]

I think it's a pretty salient one considering the treatment of groups we consider white now like Irish, Italians, etc. and how they were viewed previously in history

How so?

 

[RockTurtle]

When does my family become "white"?

My parents are both from Latin America, but I was born in the USA. I have white skin and speak English.

Will my children be white?
Will theirs?

let the black and white americans battle it out,

you are us hispanics' sleeper agents to infiltrate the white americans side.

soon, we will take the reign. with our bachatas, our tangos, and sambas etc

EDIT:

just dont go native like the cubans

 

[Heshinsi]

No, it's an everywhere thing.

How does that work in say Europe where there isn't a uniform culture that someone can point to? So what would be the unifying culture shared between a Swede, a Spainard, a Frenchman, and a white guy from the UK for example?

 

[akira28]

just dont go native like the cubans

look at his avy. its too late.

 

[royalan]

How does that work in say Europe where there isn't a uniform culture that someone can point to? So what would be the unifying culture shared between a Swede, a Spainard, a Frenchman, and a white guy from the UK for example?

What's the unifying culture shared between a white dude from California, North Dakota, Louisiana, and Maine? Despite being one country, the US is as diverse as they come.

In my interpretation of this thread, "white culture" is just a stand-in for the dominant culture of any particular area, especially if it exists among cultures of previously oppressed minority groups. It's certainly a hard thing to define (the privilege of being a dominant culture), but no way in hell is it just "an American thing".

 

[mujun]

Seriously though as a minority it's damn near impossible to not consume any 'white culture' since it is thought of as the default. Anybody on GAF is consuming some form of white media lol.

True. I just wanted to hear how people feel about that kind of stuff and why.

EDIT:

Again, culture wasn't the right word. I apologize.

People are going to keep using the word culture though and pointing out how there isn't such a thing as "white culture".

 

[Jeffolation]

All I know is that crocs are pretty darn swell.

 

[CrazyDogg77]

How so?

Well when groups like that first began immigrating to the US they generally weren't accepted in mainstream culture; treated with some of the same vitriol non-white minorities faced and still face. But as time went on; and I believe them accepting English more than their native languages was a big factor; they were accepted as "white". If Spanish were downplayed I don't think it's ridiculous to think that some people we consider Hispanic/Latino could be considered "white" down the road. We can sort of see it with some celebrities Louis CK for example has Mexican blood, but many people when they see him simply consider him white

 

[soundahfekz]

White culture is so prevalent that white people don't even know it exists, lol

 

[royalan]

Well when groups like that first began immigrating to the US they generally weren't accepted in mainstream culture; treated with some of the same vitriol non-white minorities faced and still face. But as time went on; and I believe them accepting English more than their native languages was a big factor; they were accepted as "white". If Spanish were downplayed I don't think it's ridiculous to think that some people we consider Hispanic/Latino could be considered "white" down the road. We can sort of see it with some celebrities Louis CK for example has Mexican blood, but many people when they see him simply consider him white

So then at what point will black people be considered white?

 

[RBK]

It's crazy how all blacks in America are referred to as Africans.

Well, they are if we're not overlooking descent.

For the OP, don't think it's possible to avoid it when it's literally everywhere you go nor is there any benefit for doing so. You're just depriving yourself.

 

[CrazyDogg77]

So then at what point will black people be considered white?

Considering how strongly people still hold to the one drop rule probably never. Plus there's a good amount of black people who could just off sight pass for white, but I don't know if there will ever be a sizable enough population for that to happen

 

[John Kowalski]

What's the unifying culture shared between a white dude from California, North Dakota, Louisiana, and Maine? Despite being one country, the US is as diverse as they come.

In my interpretation of this thread, "white culture" is just a stand-in for the dominant culture of any particular area, especially if it exists among cultures of previously oppressed minority groups. It's certainly a hard thing to define (the privilege of being a dominant culture), but no way in hell is it just "an American thing".

Ok i now i'm dumb but i don't follow you. If you're legitimizing the notion that there is very little of a culture that is permeated across the whole US such that it could be called white culture because it is shared by the white majority, then how can you still legitimizing the notion that there is a dominant culture at all? Are you saying that there are lots of cultures, and that what they all share is dominance over the minority cultures they share their space with, but not over each other? Because that would kind of translate into the contemporary state of European cultures (though i frankly disagree with your assertion that the US is as diverse as Europe).

Do you think it can be said that there is a core black culture which is permeated across all America?

 

[QuiteWhittle]

I honestly don't even know what you're talking about, but no, that's not what I said or intended.

I'm talking about Jet and Ebony magazine, HBCUs, Jive clubs or Funk or Negro spirituals, or Soul Train. Or any number of activies, recreation, or infrastructure that segregated black communities developed in order to meet their necessities of life and entertainment. There's a name for all of this, and when these poor people were denied both the heritage of their ancestors who lived before the chains and the right to be and live as an American from their state and neighbors, is it really nonsensical that that term black culture has perpetuated itself to the current day, where blacks continue to be alienated and segregated? Is it really surprising that some people are reluctant to suddenly relegate the only known heritage they have to one singular part of a glorious melting pot of America, the same America that has refused them inclusion for so long?

 

[Deleted member 17706]

There are exceptions to every rule. You can't deny the existence or the significance of black culture because there are outliers who might not be defined by it, because this is true of practically everything.

I'm not denying the existence of anything, I'm just saying that defining it by skin color is shitty.

I imagine that even within what some call "black culture" are plenty of subcultures that don't agree with each other at all. People who grew up in California are probably going to identify with very different things than folks from Alabama. Neither should be able to claim each other's culture just because of a shared skin color.

 

[The Incarnation]

I've always wondered this.

I get the feeling that most? many? almost all? only a small percentage? try to avoid it.

Between music, movies, TV, etc the overall impression I have is that African Americans feel that they are better off sticking with entertainment, media, etc made by other African Americans.

I don't really see how you can frequent this forum or even use the internet and hold this opinion.

Sorry.

 

[injurai]

So then at what point will black people be considered white?

This is a loaded question. For many europeans after a few generations your ethnic background couldn't be discerned. Sometimes it would rear it's hateful head, sometimes the older generation would invoke it. But it provided an impetus to move beyond shallow stereotyping. It allowed people to define themselves as a generation, as something entirely apart from their race.

Well obviously this works if your ethnically European. Well now the impetus for healing shouldn't be "becoming white." It shouldn't be what is strived for. It shouldn't be the measurement of progress.

 

[mujun]

Well, they are if we're not overlooking descent.

For the OP, don't think it's possible to avoid it when it's literally everywhere you go nor is there any benefit for doing so. You're just depriving yourself.

Thanks for the response.

I don't really see how you can frequent this forum or even use the internet and hold this opinion.

Sorry.

I thought I made it pretty clear that I don't really have any opinion because I don't have enough info to support one. It's an impression I got from the music I listen to and I know full well that that is only a tiny fraction of the whole picture.

 

[Robot Pants]

Paul Mooney is never right

 

[DOWN]

I think our culture is kinda summed up by regional supermarkets and fashionable TV dramas mostly.

 

[BeatResetsTheWorld]

For some reason when I think of white culture, it's not necessarily things that are predominantly white or that only features white people. It's more like "Things white people like"

Like Modern Family for some reason strikes me as a decidedly "white" show, even though I can't really explain why or how

 

[Log4Girlz]

What are the best white people dancing gifs? Or is it inappropriate to ask?

 

[soundscream]

Thanks for the response.



I thought I made it pretty clear that I don't really have any opinion because I don't have enough info to support one. It's an impression I got from the music I listen to and I know full well that that is only a tiny fraction of the whole picture.

You could have killed your own questions by simply lurking the black culture thread on GAF. Sometimes I think I have slipped into Anime GAF by accident.

 

[Aiustis]

What are the best white people dancing gifs? Or is it inappropriate to ask?

Edit: linked that wrong.

http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=768086

 

[DominoKid]

Do most black people really not like mayonnaise? I know a lot of people joke about how much white people love it, but the idea of black people completely avoiding it is new to me (I know the movie is exaggerating things, but I'm a little curious).

I eat it all the time (only on sandwiches, of course).

mayo is fucking disgusting. most black people i know don't really fuck with it.

 

[injurai]

What are the best white people dancing gifs? Or is it inappropriate to ask?

http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=768086

 

[Vermillion]

I'm pretty indocrinated in American culture, which 80% of the time means white culture lol.

 

[OrangeGrayBlue]

Many of the responses in this thread remind me of the opening to David Foster Wallace's 2005 commencement speech.


"There are these two young fish swimming along and they happen to meet an older fish swimming the other way who nods at them and says, 'Morning boys, how's the water?' The two young fish continue swimming for a bit until one of them stops and asks, 'What the hell is water?'"

 

[soundscream]

mayo is fucking disgusting. most black people i know don't really fuck with it.

Your peeps don't get down with potato salad?

But again statements like this can confuse people, because everyone in my family and every black person I know eats mayonnaise. Making a declarative statement based on a small sample size should be avoided.

We are not a monolith.

 

[Goodstyle]

What *is* White Culture?

 

[Vicetrailia]

"White culture" is the default choice. So as a minority person you can't avoid it, it's part of you and you are automatically consuming it.

Blacks are out to see people that represent them, in default culture.

 

[royalan]

This is a loaded question. For many europeans after a few generations your ethnic background couldn't be discerned. Sometimes it would rear it's hateful head, sometimes the older generation would invoke it. But it provided an impetus to move beyond shallow stereotyping. It allowed people to define themselves as a generation, as something entirely apart from their race.

Well obviously this works if your ethnically European. Well now the impetus for healing shouldn't be "becoming white." It shouldn't be what is strived for. It shouldn't be the measurement of progress.

I agree with this. But isn't this the big picture? Becoming white shouldn't be the measure of progress. It should be recognizing and respecting minority cultures, and not treating people differently based on perceived cultural differences.

 

[Bgamer90]

Wow... Ummm. I don't know what to say (lol).

Almost impossible to avoid it when so much media content is made by White people. Don't know how anyone can do so. Don't understand how you got the idea that it's even possible.

 

[Spinluck]

It's crazy how all blacks in America are referred to as Africans.

Those darn European Americans!

 

[PeskyToaster]

So then at what point will black people be considered white?

My professor told us about her black friend who went to Haiti and they thought she was white.

It's a bit odd to think about how recent the idea of race is and how people define themselves in different areas and time periods.

I'm a white American but it would never be what I would call myself if someone asked me what I am. Probably not first, second, or third. I'd define myself along national lines and say I'm an American, which is another recent development for humanity.

I would never restrict myself to only white media on purpose so the other way around just seems so limiting.

 

[WickedCobra03]

Why is skiing and snowboarding a white persons only thing?

I went up to the mountains a few weeks ago and I just said to myself, "God, this really is such a white persons sport...".

I have been doing the skiing and snowboarding thing for like 2 decades now, and I have always kind of realized it, but just now it hit me like a rock.


Like seriously, the way this is portrayed in movies and tv is dead on.

 

[RELAYER]

How come both black people and white people name their kids after people in the Bible, but whereas you have to be a white kid to be named David, you have to be a black kid to be named Ezra?