Race/Ethnicity
Questions 81-90
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THE
QUESTION:
R90: I was watching the Keenan Ivory Wayans Show and they were
talking about "Hoochy mommas." What is a Hoochy?
POSTED MARCH 24, 1998
Rod, Leamington, Ontario, Can.
ANSWER 1:
A hoochy, usually spelled hoochie, is a woman of easy
virtue. The term is used a lot in hip-hop lyrics, but dates back to
the blues. Hoochie cooche refers to the sex act. Ref. Willie Dixon's
"I'm Your Hoochie Cooche Man" and Rick Derringer's "Rock 'N' Roll
Hoochie Koo"
Jay B., black male
<jayboyd@ameritech.net>
Detroit , MI
FURTHER NOTICE:
A "hoochie mama" is a sexually attractive woman, with the
connotation of promiscuity.
POSTED MARCH 28, 1998
PombaGira, 35, African American female, Detroit, MI
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THE QUESTION:
R89: I've been exposed to a lot of children who are the
product of interracial couplings. Growing up, I was taught these
children were "black." However, there are many who now consider these
children to be bi-racial, or '"mixed." I was wondering, would such a
child ever be considered white? Especially in the white community. Or
is that child not "allowed" to use such a designation?
POSTED MARCH 24, 1998
Apryl P., black
<apryl@mail-me.com>, Oak
Park, MI
ANSWER 1:
I've never known of anybody in white America who would
consider a mixed-race child to be white, no matter what the races of
the parents.
POSTED MARCH 25, 1998
Michael S.
<edit15@aol.com>, Stone
Mountain, GA
FURTHER NOTICE:
I think you've asked a very profound question, the
foundation of which is that race is a cultural, not a biological
reality. In racist America, there is what's called "the one-drop
rule," which means that if someone has any black/African/Negro blood
at all, that person is "black." South Africa has a similar tradition.
Lots of light-skinned people from black families "pass" as white to
escape the trials of racism. We think of them as being "really"
black, but what reality are we talking about here? Henry Louis Gates
Jr. has a wonderful book called "Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Black
Man." I recommend the whole book, but specifically it contains an
essay about Anatole Broyard, a book reviewer and essayist for the New
York Times, who was born into a black family and spent his entire
adulthood passing. Gates' thinking is highly original here, and he
gives some very thought-provoking perspectives on the nature of
race.
POSTED MARCH 25, 1998
Will H.; white, 48, Dallas, TX
FURTHER NOTICE 2:
I am one of the leaders of the national Multiracial
movement who helped achieve the legitimization of acknowledgement of
Multiracial children on the upcoming U.S. Census. I think your
question is great. We have a Bill of Rights we go by written by
Maria Root. Within it, we advocate any mixed person who chooses
to identify white. We believe it is an individual choice and
this is just as acceptable as a mixed person choosing to identify
black. However, in the past, this was referred to as
passing. I would welcome any other questions on this
subject.
POSTED MARCH 25, 1998
B.J. Winchester, President, Unity, a Multiracial Social Group,
Jacksonville, FL
White Mother of Multiracial Children
<bjwinchester@pmgnet.com>
FURTHER NOTICE 3:
It has to do with the law. I don't know the exact wording,
but if you are I think 1/16ths black, you are considered black. Maybe
someone can help me out here. You think they would be half-white or
half-black or half whatever, but that is not the case.
POSTED MARCH 28, 1998
Jeffrey S.,black, 42
<starkej@aol.com>,
Pensacola, FL
FURTHER NOTICE 4:
It doesn't really matter how much "black" is in them - for
white America's purposes, if you're part black, you're black. My kids
are multi-racial, but most people consider them black.
POSTED MARCH 31, 1998
Alex, 39, white
<aleavens@mindspring.com>,
Lawrenceville, GA
FURTHER NOTICE 5:
My son is interracial (black and white). I have taught him
that it is important to honor all of his ancestry - because his black
father has not been with us, I made it a point to place him with
black sitters when he was young so that he would not identify
exclusively with his/my white ancestors. (Unfortunately, his black
family has almost completely ignored his existence, so he could not
get that from them.) People ask me whether he is adopted because he
resembles his father strongly. He is not, and I am proud of all
aspects of his heritage. Right now, as a teen, he chooses rap music -
and the kids in our mostly Native American school assume he is black
until they see him with me. I guess if he feels forced to choose one
or the other, he chooses black because of his appearance - but I
would like people to quit making him feel he has to choose one half
or the other of his background. It's all his!
POSTED OCT. 28, 1998
Joan
<jscott@cybertrails.com>,
Chinle, AZ
FURTHER NOTICE 6:
My daughter is biracial, and her African-American father
has not been a part of her life since she was an infant. However,
that does not stop me from exposing her to the African-American
culture and making her aware of her ethnic background. I am proud of
any decision she makes, whether she decides to identify herself as a
Caucasion or an African American. Either way I will stand behind her
and support her. I think if we spent a little less time trying to
classify people as to what color they were the world might be a
better place to live in.
POSTED NOV. 28, 1998
Lisa, 30, Hanover, MA
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THE QUESTION:
R88: Why does it seem that when black people are in groups,
they tend to be very outspoken, i.e. laughing, shouting, dancing,
etc.?
POSTED MARCH 24, 1998
Michael S., 21, white
<Mdsmith@online.emich.edu>
Highland, MI
ANSWER 1:
I don't think it has anything to do with race. I believe
it is more of a question of age and the self-esteem issues you deal
with as a teenager. I have yet to notice a group of older black men
(or men of any race) carrying on in such a manner.
POSTED APRIL 13, 1998
Tracy R., 20, white
<H0LE@aol.com>
Flint, MI
FURTHER NOTICE:
Some excellent research I have read on various cultural
issues addressed this question. American whites tend to have the
"Puritan" ideal of propriety - meaning soft voices and modulated
tones. To do otherwise indicated ignorance and courseness. If you
look at other, non-Anglo cultures (German, Italian, Spanish) as well
as at those of people of color, you will normally see a robustness or
loudness. So, in actuality, the question could be "Why are white
people so quiet?"
POSTED JULY 15, 1998
Anita W.
<anita@wdg.dreamhost.com>,
Denver, CO
FURTHER NOTICE 2:
People generally let their barriers down and act louder
and more outgoing around their friends, family and people they are
comfortable with. Think of how you act when you leave work and meet
up with your friends. For black people in a primarily white
environment, especially corporate America, it is a comfort factor to
be around people who look like you who may understand your issues and
share your interests, when you have probably have had to defer to the
mainstream culture all day. It's often just a celebration of self and
culture. But please remember that although black people can sometimes
have a rapport with other black people they don't know, they wouldn't
normally meet strangers and start laughing and dancing and talking
loudly; these groups you see are most probably friends and
family.
POSTED JULY 22, 1998
R. Lewis, 26, black
<rnl525@hotmail.com>,
Philadelphia, PA
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THE QUESTION:
R87: As a white male of 40 years, what can I do to improve
race relations in my neighborhood? I teach my sons to treat everyone
as an equal. I really don't know many people of other races in my
area
POSTED MARCH 24, 1998
Bill H.
<liam1957@usnetway.com>
Wilkes Barre, PA
ANSWER 1:
I had always wondered that myself, but have finally found
avenues. (1) Start or join a group with that purpose. Ours is called
Citizens Upholding Racial Equality. (2) Hold study circles on race
relations. Materials are available free from the Topsfield Foundation
Study Circles Resource Center. (3) Go to an NAACP meeting. (4) Attend
a predominantly black church and become a participating member. (5)
Attend special events such as Martin Luther King Jr. memorial
services. (6) Read books by black writers. (7) Never, never let a
hint of a racial slur go past you without politely giving your point
of view, even if it's a total stranger, your mother-in-law or your
boss. (8) Make eye contact with, greet and smile warmly at passersby.
(9) Don't belong to any clubs or organizations unless they have a
racially and ethnically diverse membership. (10) Any time you serve
on a committee or board, make sure it has a diversity
representative.
POSTED MARCH 25, 1998
Molly, 52, white
<jbfails@AOL.com>
Ohio
FURTHER NOTICE:
I agree totally with Molly's fantastic answer. People who
recognize diversity as something to be valued and cherished, as
opposed to those who are neutral or antagonistic towards it, almost
have an obligation to put themselves in situations such as Molly
suggests, in which they can connect with different races. I am also
involved with Study Circle programs, discussing race relations. We
plan to continue with a ripple affect, involving more and more people
in the community. The groups themselves are enjoyable, and we feel
it's a great start in getting diverse people together. I recommend it
highly.
POSTED MARCH 28, 1998
Susan, 60, San Diego, CA
FURTHER NOTICE 2:
As someone from South Africa, where I think we have had so
much history of racism, I have to stress that when you view these
people, don't regard them as different because of the color of their
skin. How would you approach meeting people of the same color as you
are? Don't treat these people any differently. In the same way as we
accept the differences among white people, like Jewish or Catholic
friends, we should also accept that black people may have different
cultures in the confines of their family, but these differences
should be respected, while not clouding our thinking when we approach
these people. I would urge everyone not to make an issue about our
differences, but simply respect everyone as you find them.
POSTED MARCH 28, 1998
D. James
<mogul@icon.co.za>
Johannesburg, South Africa
FURTHER NOTICE 3:
As an African-American (I really don't like that term, but
it seems to be the flavor of the month) female, I applaud Molly's
answer. All of those things make for a balanced racial landscape. The
one thing I picked up on from Bill was "in my area." He will have to
go out of his way to accomplish his stated goal. I would also like to
suggest encouraging children to do volunteer work at hospitals,
missions, soup kitchens, etc. It's an invaluable lesson in learning
that all life is precious and valuable.
POSTED MARCH 28, 1998
T. Green, Miami, FL
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THE QUESTION:
R86: Around town I've seen some younger, black males with
picks or combs in their afros. Is there a specific reason for this,
or do they just like the way it looks?
POSTED MARCH 24, 1998
A.B., white male, Ann Arbor, MI
ANSWER 1:
It might be interesting to ask them why, if you wouldn't
be afraid to or aren't opposed to doing so. I asked two different
white guys how they got their hair locked. If you ask in a way that's
not judgmental, you can find some interesting info.
POSTED NOV. 16, 1998
Siobhan, black woman
<siobha_101@hotmail.com>,
Baltimore, MD
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THE QUESTION:
R85: I am a white female and I am wondering if blacks enjoy
"black people" sitcoms (i.e. The Fresh Prince of Bel Aire).
POSTED MARCH 24, 1998
Dee Smith, Detroit
ANSWER 1:
As a black male, I find sitcoms with predominantly black
characters highly entertaining. I also find them far more humorous
than Jerry Seinfeld.
POSTED MARCH 28, 1998
Michael, 31, Ypsilanti, MI
FURTHER NOTICE:
For me, it all depends on the sitcom. If it sucks, no
matter how black the cast, I'm outta there! For example, I happened
to like "The Fresh Prince of Bel Aire." But I only watched "Family
Matters" if someone else wanted to see it. And shows like the
thankfully defunct "Homeboys In Space" I wouldn't ever watch for love
or money. Not because they weren't "black enough," because they
weren't my taste or they were just bad!
POSTED MARCH 28, 1998
Jay B., black male
<jayboyd@ameritech.net>
Detroit, MI
FURTHER NOTICE 2:
I like some "black people" sitcoms, others I really
dislike. The same goes for "white people" sitcoms. If the sitcom is
funny to me, it gets my vote whether the people are green, black,
white, yellow, red or purple.
POSTED NOV. 16, 1998
Siobhan, black woman
<siobhan_101@hotmail.com>,
Baltimore, MD
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THE QUESTION:
R84: Why do blacks ask for a glass of hot water in a
restaurant for the silverware?
POSTED MARCH 24, 1998
George T., Wood-Ridge, N.J.
ANSWER 1:
The persons you observed probably wanted to make sure the
silverware was clean before using it. All blacks don't do this. I've
noticed others do this as well.
POSTED MARCH 25, 1998
Rain, Dallas, Texas
FURTHER NOTICE:
Have you ever seen what goes on in the kitchens? I always
ask for hot water to wash my silverware. I can't tell you the times I
have gotten a dirty fork or spoon.
POSTED NOV. 9, 1998
Jimmy, white female, 30, Arkansas
FURTHER NOTICE 2:
The first time I encountered this, I was having lunch with
a white girlfriend. I had no idea why she was ordering a glass of hot
water. Then I incorrectly assumed (you know what they say about that)
that she had a teabag with her to make tea. When she placed her
eating utensils in the glass, I was still puzzled. She asked if I
didn't do that. Call me dense, but I was still unaware of what she
was doing until she removed the silverware and wiped it with a
napkin, explaining half-jokingly that she didn't know where they'd
been. She told me she'd done that for years. I felt kind of strange
that in all my years of dining out, I'd never seen this before. I'd
always just wiped my utensils with a dry napkin.
POSTED NOV. 16, 1998
Siobhan, black female
<siobhan_101@hotmail.com>,
Baltimore , MD
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THE QUESTION:
R83: I heard a black friend of mine refer to another black
friend as "blue black." Am I correct to assume this was in reference
to his skin tone? If so, where did this phrase come from?
POSTED MARCH 24, 1998
Annie, white, Ann Arbor, MI
ANSWER 1:
Yes, blue black is a term for skin tone that is so very
dark black it seems to have a blue tint.
POSTED MARCH 25, 1998
Rain, Dallas, Texas
FURTHER NOTICE:
Blue black is an expression to denote that someone is so
black that there is a bluish (Navy blue or midnight blue) cast to
their skin. This is usually in reference to someone who is from
Africa and is very dark. Since 70 percent of African-Americans have a
white ancestor, skin tone tends to be more brown than black in
African-Americans.
POSTED MARCH 25, 1998
BJ Winchester, Cultural Diversity Trainer, Jacksonville, FL
FURTHER NOTICE 2:
Try spending some time in a mainly black country sometime.
When I was in the Caribbean, I enjoyed seeing the majority of people
who were "Africa black." Not all were blue-black, some were more
black-black. I found that, even on tropically sunny days, some
people's facial features remained invisible to me until they walked
quite close - their skin reflected so little light.
POSTED MARCH 29, 1998
Will H., white, 48, Dallas , TX
To respond
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THE QUESTION:
R82: Why is it all right in the United States to have
organizations, magazines, etc., solely for black people, but when
white people try to have an exclusively white organization, it is
called discriminatory or racist? Examples include Black Entertainment
Television, Miss Black America, Ebony Magazine, NAACP, United Negro
College Fund, just to name a few.
POSTED MARCH 24, 1998
Andrew V., 32, San Diego, CA
(Similar question posted July 24, 1998, by 26, white,
<bgreen@msn.com>, Atlanta,
GA)
ANSWER 1:
What you are not taking into consideration is that if it
is not spelled out, it is assumed to be white. ABC, NBC, CBS,
FOX, WB and UPN don't need to call themselves white stations, but for
the most part, they usually wind up being just that. This has been
the case since the inception of broadcast television.You'd be
hard-pressed to open a magazine, or watch a TV show, and find no
whites included. This is usually the case for blacks, Asians and
Latinos. And yes, there are programs, networks and events for more
than just blacks. I wonder: Why does it bother you that there is a
designation for blacks?
Apryl P., black
<apryl@mail-me.com>
Oak Park, MI
FURTHER NOTICE:
Because most of the magazines, TV shows, etc. were for
years exclusively white. Why wasn't it racist for magazines to never
include black people?
POSTED MARCH 28, 1998
Alex, 39, white
<aleavens@mindspring.com>
Lawrenceville, GA
FURTHER NOTICE 2:
It is because of the existence of the white publications
and institutions you mention that black people have "special"
magazines, etc. To us, these things are not "special" Want to see
black women/men who epitomize beauty in our eyes? We know better than
to go to Cosmopolitan, Vogue or Mademoiselle or view the Miss America
pageant, etc. Need help with college costs? Because we do not have a
local Kiwanis club, and The Daughters of The American Revolution
hasn't had any scholarship drives for us lately, the United Negro
College Fund is the first place to look. The organizations you
mention have always been there for the support of white folks. Their
black counterparts are here for the voice and support of black
individuals
POSTED MARCH 28, 1998
Catherine, 36, black, Brooklyn, NY
FURTHER NOTICE 3:
Historically, blacks were excluded from events such as
Miss America; therefore, blacks created their own pageants to
acknowledge and celebrate the beauty of the black woman. Should we as
black people give up our now "traditional" pageants because
mainstream America has now included a few black contestants? There
are 50-plus women vying for Miss America, and of that 50-plus I'd say
four or five at most are black.
POSTED MARCH 28, 1998
Michael, 31, black
<Notlad2@webtv.net>
Ypsilanti, MI
FURTHER NOTICE 4:
I don't think the person asking the questions was
questioning why white people weren't included. But if white people
were to start a NAAWP, there would be an outcry. Same with White
Entertainment Television, or scholarships for people who were only of
Caucasian descent. (Director's Note: It should be noted that there is
a National Association For The Advancement of White People.)
POSTED MARCH 29, 1998
DB, 31, MI
FURTHER NOTICE 5:
I agree with DB. It is not that white people are offended
that black people have specifically black organizations, it is that
if white people were to do the same, (like The National Association
For The Advancement of White People), it would automatically be
considered a racist organization and would on the receiving end of a
lot of hatred, misplaced or not. On the other hand, the specifically
black organizatons don't seem to follow those same unspoken rules.
Although they are great organizations, why aren't they considered
racist, the same as white clubs would be?
POSTED APRIL 1, 1998
Kristen, white, MI
FURTHER NOTICE 6:
(Confidential to B.T.M.: The NAAWP still exists (there is a
chapter right here in Jacksonville), so we are unclear about your
request regarding the following posting. We cannot locate your email
address, so please email us at yforum@yforum.com with your address
again, so we can continue the discussion. Thanks.)
In response to Kristen, D.B. and the original questioner, Andrew
V.: For starters, the NAAWP is virulently racist, as were fellow
organizations such as the White Citizens Council, the John Birch
Society and the Ku Klux Klan. The reality is that "whiteness" and
racism are synonyms, according to the chief progenitors of the terms,
such as Rudyard Kipling (White Man's Burden) and J.F. Blumenbach
(Hierarchy of the Races). If there were magazines solely based upon
the various cultural groups of which Euro-Americans belong (Irish,
French, etc.,), no one would take issue, especially the conscience of
those celebratory Caucasians such as yourselves. However, when the
wagons circle around "whiteness" or even "America," and there is no
black and/or Native American presence, it is safe to say that,
considering the sordid, opprobriously cruel history of this country,
overt racism is being exercised. Texaco is a perfect example.
POSTED APRIL 4, 1998
B.T.M., black male, Detroit, MI
FURTHER NOTICE 7:
An additional note: The National Association for the
Advancement of Colored People announced this year that it will try to
serve the interests of people of all colors (including white).
POSTED APRIL 6, 1998
Colette, 32, white
<inkwolf@earthlink.net>
Seymour , WI
To respond
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THE QUESTION:
R81: I've noticed in Africa many blacks wear woolen caps even
in the hottest weather. On returning to the United States I see this
phenomenon more often. Why the caps?
POSTED MARCH 24, 1998
Roberto H., 65, Hispanic
<cfpcrbmacody@juno.com>
Milwaukee, WI
(Similar question posted April 14, 1998, by Mike C., white, of
Clinton Township, MI)
ANSWER 1:
Black men/boys wear woolen caps to keep the curl down in
their hair, or, if they have an afro or just removed cornrows, their
hair is kind of scuzzy, and it's easier to slap on a cap. The saddest
reason is that it can be part of gang attire.
POSTED MARCH 28, 1998
Eponya, Detroit, MI
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