Race/Ethnicity
Questions 71-80
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THE
QUESTION:
R80: In television reports on racism, black men who have
attained high positions often say that to be accepted, they had to
"act white." Having lived in a mostly white area (and having little
basis for comparison) I'm curious to know what characteristics and
behavior are considered specifically "white" by other races.
POSTED MARCH 23, 1998
Colette, 32
<inkwolf@earthlink.net>
Seymour, WI
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THE QUESTION:
R79: Fairly frequently I have made business appointments with
black people, only to have them not show up and not call to explain
or apologize. Is this a cultural difference, or am I just dealing
with insensitive people?
POSTED MARCH 23, 1998
Dana B., 32, white female
<dburke@execpc.com>
Milwaukee , WI
ANSWER 1:
No, it's not a cultural thing. There are many African
American professionals who handle their business the way they should.
You just had the misfortune of dealing with some really trifling
folks - they exist in all races.
POSTED MARCH 31, 1998
Michelle, 36, African American
<kmichell@umich.edu>
Ann Arbor, MI
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THE QUESTION:
R78: I am a 35-year-old white male with a bachelor's degree in
mechanical engineering. All the engineers where I work are white
males. This is the norm for companies I visit or tour. Why are there
so few minorities in engineering?
Dave, 35
<david.drewes@apwesa.com>
Wales, WI
ANSWER 1:
The absence of black engineers is often attributed to the
absence of engineering role models in the community. Some years ago,
an organization called the Southeastern Consortium for Minorities in
Engineering was started involving several Southern schools, including
Georgia Tech, and its goal was to introduce engineering as an option
to students in minority schools. The path to middle- and
upper-management is often through the engineering professions, and
while there is still much to be done, SECME is offering assistance in
leveling the field through education.
POSTED MARCH 25, 1998
Alan Gravitt
<agravitt@randomc.com>
College Park , GA
FURTHER NOTICE:
Possibly it's a mechanical engineering thing. In
electronic and software engineering (in the United States and in
Northern Europe) a large proportion of my colleagues have been from
"minorities" - Far Eastern, Hispanic or from the Indian subcontinent.
In the United States, though, there are far fewer "black" engineers
than I'd expect.
POSTED MARCH 28, 1998
Eric S., 28, Celtic
<Eric.Silver@blighty.com>
Boston, MA
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THE QUESTION:
R77: I live in a mixed neighborhood and am noted for trying to
involve all of us living here in making general improvements to the
area. We have had a lot of trouble with gang members, drug dealers
and thelike. Some black juveniles have taken to calling me "the white
bitch" loudly when I am out in public. They seem really puzzled when
I seemingly take no offense or ignore it. However, I have been known
to respond (pointing to myself) "No. 1 Bitch!" Is this (white bitch)
a really serious slur, and how should I handle it?
POSTED MARCH 23, 1998
Elizabeth D. <ecd@sbt.net>
Waterloo, Iowa
ANSWER 1:
I think the key word here is "juveniles." They usually
have little or no respect for anyone who espouses an attitude
opposing theirs. They refer to you as a "white b-----" because you
pose a threat to their existence. If it's any consolation, they would
refer to me as a "black b----" if I were doing the same things that
you're doing. At any rate, please exercise caution because in their
minds, you are disrespecting them by your actions, and they could get
violent.
POSTED MARCH 24, 1998
Claire D., black female, Stone Mountain, GA
FURTHER NOTICE:
I lived in a mixed race area most of my life.It surprises
me that you need to ask if being called the "white bitch" is
dangerous. It is obviously not respectful and said out of dislike of
you. You may want to be careful - your well-intended efforts at
trying to improve may be "stepping on people's toes." Drug dealers
and the like count on people turning their heads and being passive
and not trying to get involved. You should be commended for your
concern and involvement. Most whites move from declining mixed racial
areas. Be careful, and be sure to involve professional help such as
the police, say in neighborhood watch groups, etc. Good luck!
POSTED MARCH 24, 1998
Kelly, 35, Detroit, MI
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THE QUESTION:
R76: Why do most black people wear their hats backwards? I
have tried this many times, and I do not think this is
comfortable.
POSTED MARCH 23, 1998
Matthew, Houghton, MI
ANSWER 1:
Most African Americans do not wear their hats backwards. But
among the white, black, Chicano, Asian, etc. youth for whom this is
the style, it remains an identifier of youth culture. I have recently
been more aware of a style of wearing baseball-style caps off to the
side rather than backwards. I don't know if these particular styles
started among African-American youth. If they did, they were
certainly developed as identifiers of racial, ethnic or community
culture. I understand your discomfort, though. Other examples of such
identifiers that I personally would find uncomfortable include high
heels, piercing, tattoos, branding, etc. but hey, different strokes
for different folks, right!
Larry, 34, African American, NY
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THE QUESTION:
R75: In England, the term "Asian" almost always refers to
people from India/Sri Lanka/Bangladesh/Pakistan. In America, it seems
it usually means Oriental people - i.e. Chinese/Japanese/Korean, etc.
In each case, the color/features identify roughly the group, but not
the precise term to use. Is it insulting to a Pakistani to be called
"Indian" or to a Korean to be called "Chinese"?
POSTED MARCH 22, 1998
Gill Othen, 42, white, English
<101540.540@compuserve.com>
Kenilworth, England
ANSWER 1:
I'm half Japanese, and if someone says I'm of Asian
descent or that I'm an Asian, that's fine - it's a geographic
qualifier. But if someone refers to me as Chinese, I get a bit
ruffled because it's a completely different culture.
POSTED MARCH 28, 1998
Linn S., 29,
<linnick@pcisys.net>
Denver, CO
FURTHER NOTICE:
My ancestors came from Japan, but my family has been in
Hawaii for more than 80 years. I was born and raised in Hawaii and
currently take residence in Washington. People have wrongly assumed I
do not speak English or that I am not from America because of my
appearance. This is why I take offense at being called any Asian
race, be it Chinese, Indian or even Japanese. I am American and have
never been anything else.
POSTED MARCH 29, 1998
Vicky T., 25
<vickyt@bigfoot.com>
Seattle, WA
FURTHER NOTICE 2:
I'm a senior at a racially mixed high school. I find it an
insult when I am called Vietnamese/ Korean/ Laosian and so on, when
I'm actually Chinese. I call those people ignorant because they do
not bother to try to distinguish. I think if you're not sure what
nationality the person is, don't call them anything. I'm very proud
of my nationality. I have no problem with the other nationalities, I
just don't like to hear people generalizing all Orientals in school
as either Chinese or Vietnamese. What happened to Koreans, Cambodians
and such?
POSTED APRIL 1, 1998
J. Wu, 18, female
<ChinkGirl6@aol.com>
Lawrenceville, GA
FURTHER NOTICE 3:
As a person of Chinese descent, it's OK to me if people
mistake me for Japanese or Korean, because it might be difficult for
Western people to recognize the physical differences (if any).
Anyway, I may not be able to tell if a white person is an American,
Australian, etc., until I hear him/her speak. But to some people who
take pride in their race, it might be quite insulting if they are
mistaken for some other race (which sometimes they consider less
superior).
POSTED APRIL 14, 1998
Chi Yu, Chinese female, Indonesia
FURTHER NOTICE 4:
I find it somewhat insulting if I'm instantly labeled by
someone as "Chinese," because that tells me they didn't bother to ask
or find out. This doesn't mean I have anything against Chinese
people. "Chinese" seems to be the first thing to pop into mind, due
to a various number of factors, such as Confucius, Bruce Lee, etc.
If someone asks me with a sincere curiosity, I'm more than happy
to tell them I am Japanese (I take the American part for granted) and
answer any other questions they have.
POSTED MAY 23, 1998
Jerome, 25, Japanese, Clinton Township, MI
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THE QUESTION:
R74: Why do some German people not comb their hair very often?
I have noticed this in some who have stayed with me.
POSTED MARCH 22, 1998
Pat G., FL
ANSWER 1:
I lived in Germany for two years and was convinced Germans
are much better groomed in their clothing - fit, coordination of
colors and fabrics; shoes, socks and other accessories - than
Americans, who tend to wear (in contrast) clashing colors, poor
fabrics such as polyester, and sport shoes no matter what. But it's
strange you have noticed it; maybe there is some basis to it. I work
with German tourists and have noticed they tend to use tanning
lotions or do suntanning in those tan salons, so their skin,
especially their faces, take on a strange hue. When they come to
visit California, the sun is the No. 1 thing they are seeking, and
sunburn, cancer, wrinkles, etc. don't come up very often. German
women tend to keep their hair short.
POSTED AUG. 4, 1998
Mary, 35, Irish-American
<Alleskaput@aol.com>,
San Francisco, CA
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THE QUESTION:
R73: Do straight men in Italy still hold hands as friends in
public, or is this custom fading?
POSTED MARCH 22, 1998
P.D., white, Jacksonville
ANSWER 1:
The custom of straight men holding hands is not limited to
Italy. The custom is still in practice in Italy, or was as of my last
visit to Sicily in 1995. I have observed this same custom among the
Island people of the South Pacific as well as the Greek and Turkish
people. The intimate and supportative nature of such a gesture is not
lost on me, who as an American sometimes feels that we have created a
personal space fixaton that results in personal isolation and (does
not offer) the support that can come with close friendship. I am a
career U.S. Navy sailor with 23 years in the service and have
traveled extensively. I serve as an equal opportunity advisor to Navy
personnel. I would enjoy answering any questions put to me or
assisting people in finding answers.
POSTED MARCH 24, 1998
Miles Minson, 46, white
<dadymel@aol.com>
Jacksonville, FL
FURTHER NOTICE:
I was also in the Navy for a number of years and spent
most of my time abroad. I spent a lot of time in the Mediterranean
countries such as Italy, Sicily, France and Spain and witnessed a lot
of straight male hand-holding, too. But what made an even greater
impression on me was that in all of these countries, the men danced
together as well. In fact, they danced together more than with women;
much the same way that American women dance together at bars. (Of
course, I am referring to dance music, not slow body contact
dancing).
POSTED MARCH 25, 1998
Jacqui, 28
<pollyanna_87@yahoo.com>
Dearborn , MI
FURTHER NOTICE 2:
On a recent trip to India, I noticed many young men
holding hands with other young men. I am assuming that these men were
heterosexual, since homosexuality is taboo in India, especially in
public. Therefore, I feel that different cultures treat gender
relations differently.
POSTED APRIL 3, 1998
V.S., Toronto, ONT., CAN
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THE QUESTION:
R72: Why is it that many people of Asian descent turn a
reddish color from drinking alcohol? Their alcohol tolerance seems to
be lower as well. Is there a scientific explanation for this?
POSTED MARCH 21, 1998
T. Hughes, Walled Lake, MI
ANSWER 1:
I am a white female, and when I drink an alcoholic
beverage, my face turns red. The more I drink, the redder it gets. Is
this really a race issue or does it depend on genetics?
POSTED MARCH 24, 1998
VK, MI
FURTHER NOTICE:
My husband, who is Chinese and a scientist, agrees there
is validity to the notion that Asians get more flushed when drinking
alcohol. As to the explanation, it is probably due to the dilation of
the blood vessels after alcohol consumption. Those vessels close to
the skin will be seen more clearly, and people with more yellow/olive
pigmentation have a reaction to the adjustment by looking "flushed,"
i.e. more red. Black skin would negate the redness, and white skin
will vary.
POSTED MARCH 24, 1998
T. Hsu, white
<TanyaHsu@compuserve.com>
Atlanta, GA
FURTHER NOTICE 2:
The Japanese have a genetic defect in their DNA that
accounts for their low tolerance of alcohol. I don't know if this is
the case for all Asians.
M. Suzuki
<hanakana@hotmail.com>
Colorado Springs, CO
FURTHER NOTICE 3:
I am half black and half Japanese, and not only do I
get very red in the face from drinking, but my nose gets
stuffed up and my face gets extremely hot. I remember a woman from a
college in Colorado doing a study on this, and she told me that
Asians (and also Native Americans) were unable to break down a
particular enzyme found in alcoholic beverages. However, whether this
is true or not I couldn't say.
Linn S., Afro-Asian
<linnick@pcisys.net>
Denver, CO
FURTHER NOTICE 4:
Approximately 50 percent of Chinese people produce a
chemical that reacts with alcohol. This chemical is similar to
disulfiram (Antabuse), a drug used to treat some people with alcohol
problems. When this chemical is combined with alcohol, it causes an
uncomfortable flushing of the face. In the case of disulfiram, it
causes much more severe reactions. A smaller percentage of Japanese
people have this chemical, thus a larger number of Japanese people
can consume alcohol.
POSTED MARCH 29, 1998
David Roberts
<davidrob@cyllene.uwa.edu.au>
Perth, Australia
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THE QUESTION:
R71: Why do many Russians come to America to find work and
privileges like the rest of us, but then put down America and refuse
to become citizens?
POSTED MARCH 21, 1998
Skooter, 16, white
St. Clair Shores, MI
ANSWER 1:
Unfortunately, the attitude you mentioned seems to apply
to most (if not all) immigrant groups. I think the attitude is based
on the immigrant's perception of what America was like before they
came here. Not finding what they thought it was, they become
disillusioned and thus develop the attitude. As with most people, the
"negative" attitudes are the ones that surface. If you should ask any
one of those Russians (or any other immigrant) where they would
rather be (the United States or their homeland) when all things are
considered, the majority would say the United States. Ask them why,
and you would be surprised by the number of "positive" reasons
given.
POSTED APRIL 3, 1998
Trevor S., 32, black Jamaican
<tsteer@worldnet.att.net>
Ypsilanti, MI
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