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[Blunoise]

let me just say this:

why is it that it is perfectly find to be in a room of white people and it is ok to be there or it is safe, rather if its on the train,club,restaurant,neighborhood or schools it is perfectly fine.If a black person enters these zones its perfectly fine and that black person has to blend in or accept his surroundings. but lets say the opposite happens and its majority blacks there, it is perceived as a bad place not safe or negative to be there.most of the time white people feel out of place or wont even try to blend in or get along with the majority blacks.

tell me why is this? i have seen and felt this before and it always makes me sad, since I am black and i can get along with any culture or race.heck two best friends of mine are white and asian

 

[Lime]

I think what I enjoy most are mediums that are universal. Science and History. Its the closest thing to cultural neutrality there is.

That aside, I don't avoid anything unless its intentionally hateful.

I totally understand what you mean and I also feel the same way in many ways. Yet other people have criticized epistemology and the history of science - i.e. it could be argued that it has some problems in its history.

 

[Valhelm]

This is something I don't get. While rock may have started with black musicians, you can't diminish the massive contributions to the genre from white musicians. Rock music is shared by a lot of cultures.

Absolutely, but rock was created by Black musicians and that's often ignored.

 

[Viewt]

let me just say this:

why is it that it is perfectly find to be in a room of white people and it is ok to be there or it is safe, rather if its on the train,club,restaurant,neighborhood or schools it is perfectly fine.If a black person enters these zones its perfectly fine and that black person has to blend in or accept his surroundings. but lets say the opposite happens and its majority blacks there, it is perceived as a bad place not safe or negative to be there.most of the time white people feel out of place or wont even try to blend in or get along with the majority blacks.

tell me why is this? i have seen and felt this before and it always makes me sad, since I am black and i can get along with any culture or race.heck two best friends of mine are white and asian

First off, I'm really sorry that you (and lots of other folks) have to experience stuff like that. Just on a person-to-person level, feeling excluded or not a part of the group is a really shitty feeling (and something I think a lot of fellow nerds on this board can probably relate to very well).

If I had to guess why that stuff happens, it's because a wide swath of white people (not all of them, but certainly enough for it to be a common scenario) view black people as poor. Generally, the poor are uneducated, and generally, the uneducated are violent. Thus, a lot of white people assume black people are going to be violent and aggressive without ever saying a word. It's super shitty and sad and racist as all fucking hell, but it's a reality for a lot of people.

So when you take this kind of white person, and throw them in a room with all white people, they feel comfortable, because everyone is "like them." Throw in 1-2 black people, and they still feel comfortable, because they're still the majority. But when the scales reverse and all of a sudden a white person is in the minority (and they have this fucked up perspective), that white person thinks of themselves as being at the mercy of this other majority. Throw in their racist views on black people being super violent and it only gets worse. It's a power-reversal and it scares this kind of white person to DEATH.

Again, this is really fucked up and I'm sorry that you and other black people have to deal with it. You're paying the price for someone else's ignorance and hatred. They're the ones who have the problem, and yet it's you who gets shafted. I'm glad you have some white friends, though, so you know we're not all that way.

 

[2real4tv]

You could argue that most African American lack the heritage component like most other groups of immigrants.
Sure, they are obviously from Africa but how many know from which African coutnry they are or know anything about African culture? So black people were forced to define an own new culture more than any other group in America.

(ignoring the people who came from Africa in the last 100 years obviously)

Yesss

 

[BearFlexington]

I go to great lengths to avoid anything created by white people or the Seattle Seahawks. It's pretty challenging actually. I ride a donkey to my job as an editor of Jet Magazine and only eat what I can catch or grow.

What kind of question is this?

 

[Mook1e]

Most black people consume white media. White media is the dominating factor in the US, it's inevitable. Obviously black people support a lot of black media as well, from black centric television shows to Tyler Perry flicks.

The fuck I do!

 

[Deleted member 17706]

Absolutely, but rock was created by Black musicians and that's often ignored.

Of course the origins deserve recognition, but how the genre evolved and changed over the following years is all on the individuals who created the music.

 

[rexor0717]

Absolutely, but rock was created by Black musicians and that's often ignored.

Yeah, and it's unfortunate that the credit for its origination is often misattributed. Its just claiming exclusivity over something in which members of multiple cultures and ethnicities took part in seems wrong. I understand that white artists were promoted over black artists but it doesn't change the fact that it took a lot of different people to make rock into the global genre that it is today.

 

[mujun]

I hear you man. I found the question about asking if black people only vote for black politicians as so tone deaf I was left dizzy in bewilderment. I don't care if the OP is an expat. He hasn't been paying any attention to the country he used to reside in at all.

Fair enough.

I put that example of something someone might avoid just as an example, not as my opinion of what people actually might do. I have also stated on many occasions that I'm pretty sure I don't know what the majority does or how they feel on the subject, get only a limited picture of the whole and wanted to hear directly from people how they feel.

I am also not from the States. I'm from Australia.

 

[pokeystaples]

Most black people consume white media. White media is the dominating factor in the US, it's inevitable. Obviously black people support a lot of black media as well, from black centric television shows to Tyler Perry flicks.

No. So much no. All the no? No.

 

[Valhelm]

Yeah, and it's unfortunate that the credit for its origination is often misattributed. Its just claiming exclusivity over something in which members of multiple cultures and ethnicities took part in seems wrong. I understand that white artists were promoted over black artists but it doesn't change the fact that it took a lot of different people to make rock into the global genre that it is today.

Sure. But the same could be said of the hamburger. It's considered quintessentially American, but is the evolution of a dish created by Germans over a century ago.

 

[Onyar]

Do black people from USA realize that their culture is the most "American" nowadays?

Think that, for anyone from outside North America, the most recognizable things are from the black culture like hiphop or so. Maybe years ago the cowboy stereotype was the most associated thing but now is rap.

If you don't believe me try to represent USA with Pictionary for a foreigner.

 

[Deleted member 17706]

Sure. But the same could be said of the hamburger. It's considered quintessentially American, but is the evolution of a dish created by Germans over a century ago.

I think that's exactly his point. I imagine most people would laugh at the idea of a German guy trying to say, "that's our food!" when presented with a stacked bacon double cheeseburger with fries.

 

[spons]

What *is* White Culture?

Hardstyle music. Ain't any music genre more white than that.

 

[rexor0717]

Sure. But the same could be said of the hamburger. It's considered quintessentially American, but is the evolution of a dish created by Germans over a century ago.

Yeah, but if a german person had problems with an american saying hamburgers were part of American culture, then it would be a similar situation. I was just expressing qualms with some particular posts.

 

[theignoramus]

The greatest American cultural exports are jazz, blues,rap,and Hollywood cinema. Jazz, blues, and rap genres were invented by black Americans,and Hollywood was built by Jewish Americans. Both groups were considered "non-white" by mainstream America at one point and treated like shit. That outsider status was in some way responsible for the artistic creativeness.

 

[Acrylic7]

We dont care, like at all.
Its something that we see everyday. Even though America is highly integrated our cultures are very open yet segregated. Meaning we are aware that we are different in terms of what we do or act but we interact and mingle with one one another without bias the majority of the time.

Its insanely rare to run into bigots that show or project their social bias, if they have it.

Black people dont really care about white movies, clothes, entertainment or whatever. We enjoy it just as much as they do and they enjoy things that we like as well. They may not show it as much as we do because of a number of things such as location ect. But we dont pay it enough attention do think about it and effect our day to day lives. I dont halt in the middle of the music store and pull a 180 just because I walk down the Metal music isle or foam at the mouth when eat mayonnaise.

 

[akira28]

What *is* White Culture?

Vikings and shit, I know that much. There's a lot of different kinds of white people, so you have to be specific. Or whatever's on TLC and the History Channel. Duck Dynasty and Honey Boo Boo.

 

[Deleted member 17706]

We dont care, like at all.
Its something that we see everyday. Even though America is highly integrated our cultures are very open yet segregated. Meaning we are aware that we are different in terms of what we do or act but we interact and mingle with one one another without bias the majority of the time.

Its insanely rare to run into bigots that show or project their social bias, if they have it.

Black people dont really care about white movies, clothes, entertainment or whatever. We enjoy it just as much as they do and they enjoy things that we like as well. They may not show it as much as we do because of a number of things such as location ect. But we dont pay it enough attention do think about it and effect our day to day lives. I dont halt in the middle of the music store and pull a 180 just because I walk down the Metal music isle or foam at the mouth when eat mayonnaise.

Is it as easy as you make it look to be so confident in speaking for nearly 40 million people, almost all of whom you have never met before in your life?

 

[Acrylic7]

Is it as easy as you make it look to be so confident in speaking for nearly 40 million people, almost all of whom you have never met before in your life?

I cant speak for 40 million people. This is just my assessment from being black and living in America.

 

[sir_kevith]

Is it as easy as you make it look to be so confident in speaking for nearly 40 million people, almost all of whom you have never met before in your life?

He didn't go out of his way to sound unreasonable he just tried to answer the question.

 

[mujun]

Is it as easy as you make it look to be so confident in speaking for nearly 40 million people, almost all of whom you have never met before in your life?

Trends exist thought, right?

Whether the ones that Acrylic7 is talking about are accurate or not is for people more informed than me to judge.

 

[eyeball_kid]

Can't tell if ironic or not. You know the Charleston (and most Hot Jazz dances) was developed in Harlem right?

 

[Lime]

I usually think of stuff like Friends and Sex & the City when I think of (U.S.) White culture.

 

[HarryKS]

Why are blacks being called African American? That's not cool.

 

[MWS Natural]

When I think "white culture" I think of two extremes.
1: Rednecks. WalMart, fat people, racism and hunting. And Jesus. And Republicans.

2: Trust funds, hedge fudge managing, yachts, golf, ivy league schools, and Republicans.


Also, this thread title reminds me of my Hispanic life and how it's not even part of the conversation.

If this is defined as white culture, yes I avoid it

Can't tell if ironic or not. You know the Charleston (and most Hot Jazz dances) was developed in Harlem right?

...and I'm sure they didn't look stiff and out of rhythm at that time.

 

[RBK]

Why are blacks being called African American? That's not cool.

They are?

 

[MWS Natural]

Yeah, and it's unfortunate that the credit for its origination is often misattributed. Its just claiming exclusivity over something in which members of multiple cultures and ethnicities took part in seems wrong. I understand that white artists were promoted over black artists but it doesn't change the fact that it took a lot of different people to make rock into the global genre that it is today.

Decades from now people will look back and thank Eminem, Mclemore and Iggy Azalea for inventing rap music.

 

[wildfire]

Fair enough.

I put that example of something someone might avoid just as an example, not as my opinion of what people actually might do. I have also stated on many occasions that I'm pretty sure I don't know what the majority does or how they feel on the subject, get only a limited picture of the whole and wanted to hear directly from people how they feel.

I am also not from the States. I'm from Australia.

My apologies then if you had mentioned that earlier. There were more eloquent posters that have gone over various aspects of your idea. One thing I haven't seen yet is anyone asking you to turn this around from where you were raised. Every country at this point has some group that is defined as a minority and I believe with Australia that would be the Aboriginals.

Would you say they are insulated to the larger canvass of Australian culture that has developed over the centuries?

Do black people from USA realize that their culture is the most "American" nowadays?

I never had to have a discussion with anyone about this but I feel the way many white people talk about black culture in general are really failing to appreciate how distinctly American it actually is.

 

[CassidyIzABeast]

Only group I know of that's going hard for preserving "white American culture" is the KKK.

 

[Deleted member 17706]

Decades from now people will look back and thank Eminem, Mclemore and Iggy Azalea for inventing rap music.

That seems a bit ridiculous. Rap and hip hop were mainstream hit genres well before those people joined in on the fun (well, maybe not with Eminem).

Also, decades from now, do you really think this whole marginalizing black people and their achievements thing is going to stay the same and/or get worse? You don't see it getting better as the older generations die out?

 

[...Scatter...]

The greatest American cultural exports are jazz, blues,rap,and Hollywood cinema. Jazz, blues, and rap genres were invented by black Americans,and Hollywood was built by Jewish Americans. Both groups were considered "non-white" by mainstream America at one point and treated like shit. That outsider status was in some way responsible for the artistic creativeness.

I'd argue that our greatest exports were democracy, our role in WW2, and Automobiles.

 

[Lime]

Only group I know of that's going hard for preserving "white American culture" is the KKK.

Gamergate seems to have the same ambition, with a "male" added onto it.

 

[Shanlei91]

...and I'm sure they didn't look stiff and out of rhythm at that time.

I thought Pete Campbell and his wife looked great doing it. ¯\_(&#12484_/¯

 

[wildfire]

Why are blacks being called African American? That's not cool.

There are historical reasons for it. Our predecessors first had to deal with Negro and get people to see that as uncool. Then colored became the popular reference and that eventually died off. African American is a product of the 70s[?] and is finally being looked as old fashioned in favor of black.

I honestly think the term black has connotations that should be avoided as well and it will need to be replaced for something better in a few decades.

 

[BeatResetsTheWorld]

I'd argue that our greatest exports were democracy, our role in WW2, and Automobiles.

Aside from automobiles, you're really twisting the definition of export...

 

[Big Green Anus]

I hope I'm not derailing the thread, but besides Hip-Hop, Jazz and Rock, what other music did blacks made? It's almost sounds like music would not be as good if wasn't for the black Americans creating these music styles, but I want to know more.

 

[Deleted member 17706]

I honestly think the term black has connotations that should be avoided as well and it will need to be replaced for something better in a few decades.

I wonder what it could be.

It's funny how it's perfectly acceptable to say "white people," and is now acceptable to say "black people," but is still considered terribly racist to say something like "yellow people."

I guess it all depends on the history of each individual word.

 

[wildfire]

Aside from automobiles, you're really twisting the definition of export...

I don't know man. The Catholic church was in the business of exporting culture and ideals

 

[Liu Kang Baking A Pie]

Somewhat related, white culture allows us to be into whatever we want. We can choose. Black Americans don't generally have this luxury. Either they're into what we think they're into, or we say they're being white.

 

[Deleted member 17706]

I hope I'm not derailing the thread, but besides Hip-Hop, Jazz and Rock, what other music did blacks made? It's almost sounds like music would not be as good if wasn't for the black Americans creating these music styles, but I want to know more.

Stuff like disco, house, and techno are often said to be created by (or at least popularized by) black artists.

Here's a Wikipedia link:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/African-American_music

 

[Big Green Anus]

Stuff like disco, house, and techno are often said to be created by (or at least popularized by) black artists.

Here's a Wikipedia link:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/African-American_music

I didn't know about techno, so this was very surprising!

 

[solomon]

 

[rexor0717]

Decades from now people will look back and thank Eminem, Mclemore and Iggy Azalea for inventing rap music.

Except black rappers have had mainstream success for decades, so its not really the same thing.

 

[Merc_]

White culture? What's that

 

[Gordon Shumway]

LOL

 

[mujun]

My apologies then if you had mentioned that earlier. There were more eloquent posters that have gone over various aspects of your idea. One thing I haven't seen yet is anyone asking you to turn this around from where you were raised. Every country at this point has some group that is defined as a minority and I believe with Australia that would be the Aboriginals.

Would you say they are insulated to the larger canvass of Australian culture that has developed over the centuries?

I don't know enough about the Aboriginal Australians to comment on how they feel about or how integrated into the larger canvas of Australian culture they are.

I had next to no contact with them growing up in Brisbane. My experience was limited to fearing the teenage ones who might harass you if you were in the city late on a Friday or a Saturday or the older ones you would see drinking in inner city parks.

I always made sure not to judge the whole based on those experiences. I also kept the fact that their culture was all but completely destroyed by the white people who settled the country in the late 1700s.

These days there are not many Aboriginal Australians left. About 500,000 according to Wiki. Nothing the government does to help or make up for its fuckups (stolen generation and the like) seems to help the situation at all.

I recently saw a great ad that confronts the problem of racism towards Aboriginal Australians.

 

[Qblivion]

Aside from automobiles, you're really twisting the definition of export...

And with automobiles he is really twisting the definition of great...

 

[theignoramus]

I'd argue that our greatest exports were democracy, our role in WW2, and Automobiles.

I wasnt considering US involvement in WW2 or automobiles "cultural" exports. And your point about democracy is highly debatable if you look at US activities in the developing world during the Cold War. Thats not an appropriate discussion for this thread though.