Race/Ethnicity
Questions 91-100
Feel free to browse the following questions, some of which may
still await answers. You can then post an answer or counter an answer
that has already been posted. Please read the
guidelines for answering questions
before making a posting.
Previous 10 this topic
area 
Next
10 this topic area
THE
QUESTION:
R100: Can someone please explain to me why white people insist on
tanning (artificially or naturally)? Especially since tanning in the
sun can cause skin cancer?
POSTED MARCH 25, 1998
K.C., black female, Kansas City, MO
ANSWER 1:
I tan because darker skin looks better and healthier than
being completely white. It's kind of like natural makeup. Sure it is
dangerous, i.e. skin cancer, but I think the benefits far outweigh
the risks. A pale, white person looks like he/she is sick or
something, whereas a tanned person looks much healthier. Black people
are lucky they don't have to worry about such things.
POSTED MARCH 28, 1998
Andrew V. , 32, San Diego, CA
FURTHER NOTICE:
There are subtle social indications connected with
tanning. In the 1700s and 1800s, pale skin was considered beautiful.
It indicated that a person was a member of the rich, privileged class
that didn't have to work in the sun but got to sit indoors all day.
Work situations have changed - the lower-class worker has to sit
indoors at work all day, while the rich upper-crust get to lounge
around their pools and beaches all day, aquiring a tan. Also, some
people feel a tan makes you look better. It increases visual muscle
definition and makes skin blemishes less visible by decreasing color
contrast with the rest of the face.
Colette, 32, white
<inkwolf@earthlink.net>
Seymour , WI
FURTHER NOTICE 2:
Sun-tanning can have beneficial results. Acne and
psoriasis can be treated this way.
POSTED MARCH 28, 1998
C.M., 23, white, Eastpointe, MI
FURTHER NOTICE 3:
I used to try and tan when I was younger. I grew up in a
mixed neighborhood and had a lot of black friends. I know I got
teased a lot for being pale from my black friends. They were just
teasing, but I did want to be tan. All my white girlfriends
tanned, so it was "the thing to do." To be honest, I am pretty
pale, and I do think I look healthier with a tan - but it's not worth
enduring sunburn and skin cancer to get it. I think it's for the same
reason that white girls want to be so thin. All you hear growing up
(as a white female) is how you're supposed to be thin and tan and
blonde, etc. I can't speak for everyone, but I know that most of my
white girlfriends had self-esteem problems. I think the white culture
places way too much emphasis on physical traits. As I got, older I
realized it was all stupid. I don't tan, I don't wear much makeup and
I weigh what I do because it's what I feel comfortable with, not what
others think I should.
POSTED MARCH 29, 1998
Andrea, 27, white, Seattle, WA
FURTHER NOTICE 4:
I think Andrea has a point, in that society does place too
much emphasis on physical traits. My wife, who is from the
Philippines, has a delightful olive complexion that does, however,
darken with exposure to sunlight. Consequently, she avoids exposing
her skin to the sun. The average Australian, on the other hand, still
seeks the sun-bronzed look, even while the skin cancer rate is
climbing. So you have whites risking death to become brown, while
people who are brown would give anything to become white. Very
strange, no?
POSTED MARCH 29, 1998
David, 51, white
<dave@metzke.com.au>
Perth, Australia
FURTHER NOTICE 5:
While it may be true for folks brainwashed into thinking
that pale skin is most beautiful, plenty of brown-skinned folks adore
their naturally sun-kissed complexions. I know African people from
Limon, Costa Rica, to Harare, Zimbabwe, to Harlem who revel in the
inherent beauty of dark, boldly black skin. Every time I visit the
Carribbean, I cherish the new coat of brown I wear back to chilly New
York. So, never underestimate black pride. Don't fall into the trap
of thinking blacks want to be white and vice versa. Blanket statments
shroud truth.
POSTED APRIL 3, 1998
Ansariyah G., African, Syracuse, NY
FURTHER NOTICE 6:
I feel that all of us need to learn to like ourselves and
not try to be what we are not. I agree that one shouldn't tan to fit
in with society's image of what is beautiful and shouldn't seek to
starve to fit society's version of "sexy." I feel that living a life
that creates happiness and wholeness without worrying about what
others think and "expect" shows a healthy and mature self-esteem.
This is a sad society in which little girls especially see themselves
in terms of what TV and magazines say they should be.
POSTED APRIL 4, 1998
Mjtate
<mjtate@ix.netcom.com>
Bremerton, WA
FURTHER NOTICE 7:
Having a tan or being a little brown is OK - as long as
it's not too brown. White people will get tan, but I don't think
naturally dark white people will try to get darker. The same with
Asians and Indians: They think lighter is better, and this holds for
many other non-Western cultures. And for the most part, the
light/dark split is related to class. In many cultures, those who are
darker worked the land and were poorer, and light skin was associated
with wealth.
POSTED APRIL 4, 1998
Vincent, Philadelphia, PA
FURTHER NOTICE 8:
I have to disagree with Andrew (Answer 1). I am a
naturally fair-skinned redhead of Irish descent who does not leave
the house with anything less than SFP 15 on my face.
POSTED APRIL 6, 1998
Mary Beth, Canada
To respond
BACK TO TOP
THE
QUESTION:
R99: I work at a "hang-out" for many people, but I have noticed a
lot of young black males are starting to wear nylons and nylon-type
material over their heads. I am fearful that it is too easy for a
person wearing a nylon cap to pull it over their face and rob me or
my coworkers. I want to know where this practice started and if I
should be concerned about anyone of any color doing this.
POSTED MARCH 25, 1998
M.M., white male
<superpacmania97@hotmail.com>
Ann Arbor, MI
ANSWER 1:
Wearing the nylon cap is only what is happening in the
young urban black fashion scene. It is nothing criminal, just what's
the "in thing" to wear. A lot of the caps have fashion designers'
names on them. It is no different than back in the western days, when
men wore cowbay hats.
POSTED MARCH 28, 1998
Avenger, Dallas, Texas
FURTHER NOTICE:
What someone wears is not an indicator that you will be
robbed. It is what is in their mind. Baggy jeans and nylon caps will
not make me rob you. I have to want to do it in the first place.
POSTED AUG. 4, 1998
Lilly
To respond
BACK TO TOP
THE
QUESTION:
R98: Why do some black men have the sound so loud in their cars
that you can hear the metal vibrate? Doesn't it get annoying when the
noise is that loud? Does it make the music more enjoyable, or is it
for status?
POSTED MARCH 25, 1998
M.S., white male, 24
<mdsmith@emich.edu.com>
Ann Arbor, MI
(Similar question posted June 27, 1998, by Mark H., 32, white,
Vienna, VA)
ANSWER 1:
I think that no matter who you are, some people like loud
music. I am a 38-year-old white female who rocks out in her car.
Sometimes the music is so loud that the windows feel like they are
shaking. I do think that males like bass a little more, and that can
make everyone around you "feel" the music as well. Music knows no
race. There are quite a few of us that like it loud.
POSTED MARCH 26, 1998
Bren W., Pueblo, CO
FURTHER NOTICE:
Bass tends to travel.. You cannot feel it when the source
is close to you, but if you move away a few feet, you can really
notice it. That is why the person's car next to you sounds so
muffled. In my opinion, all these people should turn down the radio a
bit, in order to hear emergency vehicles.
POSTED MARCH 31, 1998
Dee, 27, white female
Detroit, MI
FURTHER NOTICE 2:
I want to support what Bren W. said. I'm an African
American female who happens to love loud music - the bass in R&B
and hip-hop music just sounds better that way. Like the writer, I
live in Ann Arbor, and there's a young white man who lives around the
block who rocks the entire street whenever he drives by!
POSTED MARCH 31, 1998
Michelle, 36, Ann Arbor, MI
FURTHER NOTICE 3:
Not only blacks turn up their music really loud. My
boyfriend, who is Chinese, has all the works in his car and is
planning to get more to get his car to sound "better." It is a status
thing, somewhat. He wants to be impressive, but the most important
thing is simple: He likes it that way. He likes the way his music
sounds, and frankly, I like it, too. I happen to like the way the
music and bass surround me in the car.
POSTED APRIL 1, 1998
J. Wu, 18, female
<ChinkGirl6@aol.com>
Lawrenceville, Ga
FURTHER NOTICE 4:
To tune out your country music! I have heard white guys
whose music is loud, too.
POSTED AUG. 4, 1998
Lilly
To respond
BACK TO TOP
THE
QUESTION:
R97: I have heard from many of my black female friends that it is
all right for black men to date white females, but not to be serious
about them. Is this the general feeling among black women? Especially
mothers?
POSTED MARCH 25, 1998
A.J. Johnson, 23, white
<jabez123@yahoo.com>
Howell, MI
ANSWER 1:
I would be disappointed if my son seriously dated a white
female. It's not a rational reaction, but I would feel that he had
rejected the beauty of African-American women. So yes, if he had to
date white women, I would want it to be just a "phase."
POSTED APRIL 6, 1998
L.R., African American, N.C.
FURTHER NOTICE:
To L.R.: Do you mean that if your son met a woman and they
fell in love and they were very compatible and she treated him well,
you wouldn't want them to be together just because of her skin
color?
POSTED APRIL 26, 1998
Sara S., Oakland, CA
FURTHER NOTICE 2:
I can't choose the person with whom my son will fall in
love, and I would never try to change that. I just think that he will
have a lot to offer, and other things being equal, I would prefer
that it go to a black woman.
POSTED APRIL 29, 1998
L.R., African American, N.C.
FURTHER NOTICE 3:
I would be upset if the black guy chose to exclusively
date white women. This would be an indication to me that he thought
white women were superior to black women, and that would be
offensive.
POSTED AUG. 4, 1998
Lilly
To respond
BACK TO TOP
THE
QUESTION:
R96: What is the origin of the Mexican slang word "ese"?
Michael M., MI
To respond
BACK TO TOP
THE
QUESTION:
R95: Is claustrophobia more prevalent in Western cultures as opposed
to the more closely knit Eastern cultures?
POSTED MARCH 25, 1998
Michael M., MI
ANSWER 1:
I'm a Westerner living in Japan, and while I can't speak
to the clinical "claustrophobia" aspect of your question, I can say
that Japanese people in general seem more tolerant of close quarters
than the average American. The concept of personal privacy differs
here, an outgrowth of the close-knit features of the society you
spoke of. Homes are closer together, people sit closer in
restaurants, stand closer in line or on the subway. Many homes and
apartments are half the average U.S. size or smaller, and people just
take this as a matter of course - it's normal here. My own apartment
is rather old, but it's of comparable size to many units Japanese
families with small children live in. To be honest, I haven't a clue
how they manage - I just need more personal space, a little more
privacy. Whether this tolerance for proximity and smaller living
quarters would affect the incidence of claustrophobia, I don't know.
It might be more accurate to ask if the social conditions in the West
(or United States) result in an increased incidence of claustrophobia
compared with Asian cultures.
POSTED APRIL 18, 1998
Geoff C.
<boston@eolas-net.ne.jp>
Asahikawa, Japan
FURTHER NOTICE:
I am white and currently living in Japan. I have to agree
the living conditions in Japan are much more cramped than those that
I am used to. However, I don't think differences in culture play that
much of a role in a person's ability to live in a small space. I
think that in many cases, such as in Japan, the proximity of
relatives has much more to do with economic means rather than
culture, moral standards and expectations. From talking with many of
my co-workers, I have come to realize they have had adapt to these
living conditions to survive. Many have said they would prefer larger
living quarters but can't afford them. Also, many of my exchange
student friends have said they preferred the larger living quarters
upon coming to the United States.
POSTED APRIL 20, 1998
Tom J., 22
<tmjast@hotmail.com>
Shiwa, Iwate, Japan
To respond
BACK TO TOP
THE
QUESTION:
R94: I work with two white males who think it is important to use
phrases like "He's the C.E.O." or "He's the V.P. of sales." Do they
think that because I'm a black woman I need to be reminded that these
individuals have a higher status than me? They don't remind other
white workers of the same people's titles.
POSTED MARCH 25, 1998
Trudy D., News Reporter
Detroit , MI
ANSWER 1:
I'm not sure why males do that sort of thing. I have been
around people who have a need for using acronyms, though. Perhaps
these males have an acronym fetish. I don't think it's a black or
white issue, but merely an individual needing to feel that they fit
in. Perhaps by using titles they are making up for any lack of
manhood elsewhere.
POSTED MARCH 29, 1998
Bill, 30, Ann Arbor, MI
FURTHER NOTICE:
I disagree with Bill from Ann Arbor because I believe what
the original author was asking was overly sensitive to race or
something equally as "sinister." What these title-slinging oafs are
engaging in is probably no more important (or sinister) than folks
who profess to have met well-known athletes or other celebrities.
Corporate America (all races) is full of the title thing. Don't get
too wrapped up in it!
POSTED MARCH 29, 1998
Tim, Canton, MI
FURTHER NOTICE 2:
I am confused about why you would see men describing a
person according to their title as a racial issue. To me, this is the
problem in society today. Anything and everything can be construed as
racist. I think that because men are so success-oriented, referring
to someone according to their title is related more to status and
position than to insult someone. We can all derive racist
insinuations if we look that far into comments made. Try to see it
for what it is and don't look too far into it.
POSTED JUNE 10, 1998
E.T., 30, Ft. Collins, CO
To respond
BACK TO TOP
THE
QUESTION:
R93: Why do blacks call fellow blacks "brothers" and
"sisters"?
POSTED MARCH 24, 1998
Chris F.
<lauriethornton@sev.org>
Sylvania, OH
(Similar question posted April 3, 1998, by Kate H., Clinton Twp.,
MI)
ANSWER 1:
That has to do with the slavery days, when citizens used to consider
African Americans all equal to one another; therefore, they where
looked at as one big family of brothers and sisters.
POSTED MARCH 25, 1998
John, Romeo, MI
FURTHER NOTICE:
Historically, black people have had extremely strong
religious backgrounds. The use of the terms "brother" and "sister"
began in black churches. Since we are all children of God, we
consider our fellow churchgoers brothers and sisters. This custom
just happened to spill over into secular speech.
POSTED MARCH 29, 1998
Denise, 26, black, Bronx, NY
To respond
BACK TO TOP
THE
QUESTION:
R92: Why is it that when a city is majority black the crime rate
is considerably higher than a city that is majority white?
(Director's Note: Y? would prefer a qualified expert in law
enforcement to answer this question and verify whether the assumption
contained in it is correct.)
POSTED MARCH 24, 1998
Rob
<innvertigo@aol.com>
Southfield , MI
To respond
BACK TO TOP
THE
QUESTION:
R91: In reference to the Malice Green beating in Detroit: Why
would people paint a Christ-like mural of a known drug-dealer and
drug-user? It is tragic, but is it worthy of a memorial?
POSTED MARCH 24, 1998
John Ferguson, 22, white male
Detroit , MI
ANSWER 1:
There are no tragedies not worthy of memorials. Memorials
are human expressions of grief, rememberances and, in some cases,
outright resistance to hegemonic domination. I would argue that the
Malice Green memorial is a testimonial to the latter point. I would
further add that those allegations of drug involvement actually
strengthen the memorial by contextualizing it; thus, representing a
searing indictment upon the larger society who import the drugs (and
guns), warehouse the drugs (guns) within their own communities and
later distribute their ignoble, odious product to the inner city.
However, their communities - where the largest caches of drugs are
stored - are rarely, if ever, raided. Certainly, all memorials are
clearly subjective, but they are an inalienable, universal human
right.
POSTED MARCH 25,1998
B.T.M., black, male, Detroit, MI
FURTHER NOTICE:
The mural of Mr. Green serves two purposes. As much as it
is a memorial to him, it is also a symbol of protest against police
brutality.
POSTED MARCH 28, 1998
Jay Boyd
<jayboyd@ameritech.net>
Detroit, MI
To respond
BACK TO TOP