Race/Ethnicity
Questions 131-140
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THE
QUESTION:
R140: I am a 50-year-old white female. The other day a black
female manager addressed me by saying "Good morning, Miz L." (L being
my first name). I have been addressed in the same manner by other
black females. Is there any significant meaning to being addressed
this way?
POSTED APRIL 1, 1998
L.S., Ann Arbor, MI
ANSWER 1:
It's typically a form of respect, and it's also a
"Southern" thing. Here in Georgia, most children are taught to refer
to any older person as "Miss A. or Mr. B.," or whatever their first
name begins with. Many adults just carry it over into their relations
with other adults with whom they are familiar but not intimate.
POSTED APRIL 6, 1998
Alex, 39
<aleavens@mindspring.com>
Lawrenceville , GA
FURTHER NOTICE:
"Ms.," a relatively new form of address, is simply a
marriage-neutral form to greet females - the equivalent of the male
"Mr." It is often used instead of "Mrs." or "Miss," especially when
the speaker isn't sure which of these two former titles is
appropriate! Just treat it as a title of respect.
POSTED APRIL 9, 1998
Glenn P., 39,
<C128User@GTI.Net>
Washington, NJ
FURTHER NOTICE 2:
I think it is a Southern thing, too. I'm white and my mom,
as well as most other ladies, are often addressed as "Miss Firstname"
by whites and blacks alike.
POSTED APRIL 24, 1998
K. Matson
<kmatson@bellatlantic.net>,
Philadelphia, PA
FURTHER NOTICE 3:
I agree with it being a Southern type of thing. I live in
Baltimore, which is Southern. I met a woman from Washington state who
was here for a visit. She'd been addressed as Miz so-and-so by black
people several times while here and told me it was a strange
experience, because the people do not address women like that where
she was from, neither black nor white.
POSTED NOV. 16, 1998
Siobhan, black
<siobhan_101@hotmail.com>,
Baltimore, MD
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THE
QUESTION:
R139: Why is it considered politically incorrect for white
people to take pride in their race? Also, why are white people who do
take pride in their race usually labeled "skin heads" or members of
the KKK?
POSTED APRIL 1, 1998
Dan, MI
<Night6789@aol.com>
ANSWER 1:
Who says? I'm white and I'm proud. I celebrate my German
heritage at Oktoberfest, and no one calls me a skinhead. I celebrate
my Irish heritage on St. Patrick's day, and no one calls me racist. I
could put bumper stickers all over my car saying "Kiss me, I'm
French, German, Polish, Irish, Italian, Russian Swedish, Dutch,
Austrian, Hungarian, etc." and no one would complain. I can go into a
Scandinavian crafts store or Belgian restaurant, tell anyone I love
Victorian English literature, and no one has ever said I was being
politically incorrect for it. I love the histories and the
personalities of all the countries my ancestors came from. If anyone
thinks that makes me a bigot, feel free to say so.
POSTED APRIL 3, 1998
Colette, 32, French-German-Irish-Polish-Jewish-Native-American
(otherwise known as "white")
<inkwolf@earthlink.net>
Seymour, WI
FURTHER NOTICE:
The difference is race vs. culture. To be African American
is to be part of a culture, not just a race. When one says one is
"black and proud," one points to the cultural achievements of blacks.
In contrast, white pride is based on race, especially in racial
superiority. If a white person expressed pride in a cultral heritage,
such as being proud of being Irish, no one would have a problem with
it.
POSTED APRIL 3, 1998
Michael, African American, Phoenix, AZ
FURTHER NOTICE 2:
To Michael: How can you say that white pride is based on
race, especially on racial superiority? White power to me does not
mean that whites are superior to any race. I take pride in whites'
accomplishments, not to say they are better than any other race. I am
proud of the combined efforts of many different whites (not just the
Irish, or just the French, or just German), but all of those
combined. Thus the term "white pride." If a white person expressed
pride in a cultural heritage, such as being proud of being Irish, no
one would have a problem with it.
POSTED APRIL 15, 1998
Dan <night6789@aol.com>,
MI
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THE
QUESTION:
R138: Why are there fewer volunteer marrow donators among
minorities than whites?
POSTED APRIL 1, 1998
Cathy J., white, 38, female
<user192242@aol.com>
Savannah, GA
ANSWER 1:
From the 1940s to the early 1970s, the Federal government
legally sanctioned the innoculation and spread of syphilis through
the black community from Tuskegee, Ala. The book detailing this
atrocity is titled "Bad Blood." The government tracked these
sufferers when they left the state and even prevented them from
receiving proper medical attention when they sought it. And as
recently as 1996, USA Today reported that a hospital conglomerate in
Southern California innoculated only black and Hispanic babies with
an experimental vaccine - by mistake! The article was titled
"Hospital Oops," seriously. And I can go on with more such medical
examples, recently within this country. Being that most black folk
are apprised of the Tuskegee experiment, you have to admit it makes
excellent sense not to trust the medical community.
POSTED APRIL 6, 1998
B.T.M., black male, Detroit, MI
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THE
QUESTION:
R137: I am a black female with many close friends who are
white. I am often invited into their homes or to other social
functions where I may be the only black person unless I take a date.
After being seen at these gatherings several times, and usually after
a few drinks, invariably someone will attempt to tell me a racist
joke and/or use the "N" word. Short of not socializing with my
friends, how can I ward off such attacks, and what makes certain
whites feel they can insult you under the auspices of being
friendly?
POSTED APRIL 1, 1998
Claire D., Stone Mountain, GA
ANSWER 1:
Being a bigot is unfashionable these days. Some of the
insults are undoubtedly hostility that has been disguised as joking.
Another possibility is that your friend's friends just don't know any
other black people and are nervous around you. The jokes may be an
attempt to bring up the subject of your race without saying anything
serious, which might make them look like a racist or idiot - an
obvious failure in tactics. A suitable response? I don't know, but
try this one on the jokers if you like: "If you're trying to find a
tactful way to tell me I'm black - I already know it!" As for the
people who use the N-word, they're trying to upset you and start an
argument. Disappoint them.
POSTED APRIL 3, 1998
Colette, 32, white
<inkwolf@earthlink.net>
Seymour, WI
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THE
QUESTION:
R136: Why do I get the impression that blacks feel they are
"whiting out" if they do well in school? One article I read said
suicide rates are higher for smart black students who feel guilty for
being successful in school; that they feel they are alienating
themselves from black society.
POSTED APRIL 1, 1998
Capriley
<capriley@oconee.com>,
Eatonton, GA
ANSWER 1:
Smart black children have a difficult row to hoe - most
white kids don't like them much and most black kids don't like them
much. The white kids don't like them because they're black. The black
kids don't like them because they're "smart." This makes it very
difficult to connect with many people. By the way, it's not only
black kids who don't like "smart" kids - most white kids don't much
like "smart" kids, either.
POSTED APRIL 6, 1998
Alex, 39, white
<aleavens@mindspring.com>
Lawrenceville, GA
FURTHER NOTICE:
I went through school being stuck between two worlds. I
was one of the only black students in Honors classes. The black kids
called me a sell-out because I talked "proper" and got good grades. I
felt the only way to prove I was black enough was to revert to using
slang. I believe there are more black people who choose not to excel
because they may be ridiculed by their own race.
POSTED NOV. 12, 1998
L.S., 23, black female, Orlando, FL
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THE
QUESTION:
R135: I've always wondered why it seems the majority of older
Spanish/Mexican men gawk at females who walk by and even call out to
them with lewd jestures and whistles. Are they easily turned on by
females? I've often heard females say this about being called after,
and I too, have encountered such problems frequently.
POSTED APRIL 1, 1998
J. Wu, 18, female, Asian
<ChinkGirl6@aol.com>
Lawrenceville, GA
ANSWER 1:
Historically, Spanish/Mexican males have cherished a
tradition known as "machismo." This is a sign or a social symbol of
manhood in their culture. This is according to my Gender/Ethnicity
Sensitivity class in college.
POSTED APRIL 6, 1998
Carrie, 28, Mansfield, TX
FURTHER NOTICE:
I always understood it to be a cultural thing. This may be
somewhat controversial, but I was once told by a friend who grew up
in a mixed neighborhood to use the following rules when passing men
on the street: Cast your eyes down when passing Hispanic men so
they'll know you're a modest girl and not inviting any advances.
Smile and nod when passing black men so they'll know you don't think
yourself above them. Make brief eye contact and look confident when
passing white men so they'll know you're not an easy target. I've
actually followed this advice for years with good results.
POSTED MAY 2, 1998
A. Morgan, white female, Houston
FURTHER NOTICE 2:
To A. Morgan: I don't care what culture one comes from,
such behavior is rude. Do you honestly believe these men are not
aware of what they are doing? I see no reason why a lady going about
her perfectly respectable business cannot walk down a street without
consulting a list of behaviors to avoid. The proper response to such
harassment is to stick your nose in the air and walk on. Who cares if
African-American men think you are haughty or European-American men
think you are an easy target?
POSTED AUG. 18, 1998
Elaine C.
<eoder1@compulinx-net.net>,
Columbus, OH
FURTHER NOTICE 3:
Carrie, your professor was wrong and was spreading a
stereotype. Machismo is a false projection of us by outsiders of a
problem that exists in most, if not all, cultures. The Latino family
is run by the female. To A. Morgan: The advice you received was also
stereotypical and racist. In Latino culture there is a tradition of
aggressive flirting comments called "piropos." The comments are
harmless and are supposed to be as poetic as possible. Unfortunately
in the United States the comments are often crude and vulgar because
vulgarity is more accepted here. But the important thing is that
there is little "dangerous" intent. If you feel there is, you need to
reflect on whether you would feel threatened by comments made by
non-Latinos. For instance, around here, white country boys do the
same thing: Wolf whistles and come-ons.
POSTED SEPT. 25, 1998
A.C.C., Mexican and American Indian male, San Antonio, TX
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THE
QUESTION:
R134: Who are included in the following terms: Hispanic,
Latino and Chicano?
POSTED MARCH 31, 1998
Mari F., Franklin, IN
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THE
QUESTION:
R133: Why do black people like chicken so much? Is it taste,
or cost, or what?
POSTED MARCH 31, 1998
Confused, Westland, MI
ANSWER 1:
Here in the South, everybody of all races eats chicken all
the time. If you did a study on the eating habits of whites and
blacks in this part of the country, it would be my guess you would
not find a big difference in chicken consumption between the two. The
assumption that only black folks like chicken and greens, cornbread
and "soul food" is unfounded. My apologies to any who feel this is
not the case, and please respond if you feel differently.
POSTED APRIL 1, 1998
Wallace, 23, white, Suwanee, GA
FURTHER NOTICE:
I totally agree with the response. I am a white Southern
woman, and through my entire childhood I remember my mom describing
her cooking as "Southern food." I grew up on chicken, greens, grits,
black-eyed peas, cornbread, ham. And I still cook and love all that
food today!
POSTED APRIL 3, 1998
Joan, San Francisco
FURTHER NOTICE 2:
It's totally a region thing, not a color thing. I grew up
in the Northeast, and my folks had a philosophy about food: "Cook it
until it begs for mercy, and then cook it some more." Spices? What're
those? My wife is from the South, and her people grew up there, and
what a world of difference it is! Fried chicken (good fried
chicken), black-eyed peas, collards, cornbread. Yum!
POSTED APRIL 6, 1998
Alex, 39, white
<aleavens@mindspring.com>
Lawrenceville, GA
FURTHER NOTICE 3:
If fried chicken were just a "black thing," I doubt
Colonel Sanders would have so many outlets in predominately white
suburban areas. Not to mention the Church's, Popeye's, etc. (By the
way, Northeasterners: Whatever happened to Chicken Delite?) I don't
even think fried chicken is a s Southern dish anymore. Like tacos,
pizza and bagels, it's an "American Thing."
POSTED APRIL 8, 1998
Di, 41, African American, Maryland
FURTHER NOTICE 4:
I grew up in the South of mixed racial heritage. I don't
recall my father's family ate any less chicken than my mother's. I am
in an interracial relationship, and at times I am amazed at the
amount of Southern cooking my partner (a black male) is not
accustomed to eating. Yet at the same time he was amazed that I
already knew how to cook sweet-potato pie and barbeque pig's feet.
And as for chicken: It was not eaten on Sunday at our house unless
you had fried chicken, mashed potatoes, green peas and cream
gravy.
POSTED APRIL 14, 1998
Steve N., 40
<blaster7@hotmail>
Dallas, Texas
FURTHER NOTICE 5:
I agree it's a Southern thing. I was born and raised in
the South, and almost everyone I know prefers chicken over any other
kind of meat. Not only does it taste good, but chicken is versatile
and inexpensive.
POSTED JUNE 17, 1998
Ann D., 27, FL
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THE
QUESTION:
R132: Why do Asian people have slanted eyes?
POSTED MARCH 31, 1998
Andretgirl, Toronto, Canada
ANSWER 1:
The eyes are not technically slanted, but have an
additional fold of skin covering the outer lid, referred to as the
epicanthus. Through natural selection and adaptation, the human body
makes adjustments to protect it from various environments such as
extremely sunny climes and locales.
POSTED APRIL 3, 1998
B.T.M., male, Detroit, MI
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THE
QUESTION:
R131: Why do most Americans consider all Mexicans poor?
POSTED MARCH 31, 1998
Miranda B., 19
<lbrockwa@gulfsurf.infi.net>
Pace, FL
ANSWER 1:
Because the main things we hear about Mexico in the news
are about illegal immigrants ready to leave their own country and
come here to work illegally for what we consider pathetic wages, and
about U.S. countries relocating to Mexico because they can find
laborers there willing to work for a fraction of the cost of U.S.
workers.
POSTED APRIL 15, 1998
Colette, white
<inkwolf@earthlink.net>
Seymour, WI
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