Best of the Week
of June 3, 2001
Best of Week
Archives
Here are the most intriguing cross-cultural exchanges
either begun or advanced during the week of June 3, 2001, as selected
by Y? These postings, as well as "Best of the Week"
entries from previous weeks, also can be found by accessing Y?'s new
database using the search form, or, in the
case of answers posted before April 24, 1999, in the
Original Archives (all questions
from the Original Archives have been entered into the new database as
well). In the Original Archives and the new database, you will find
questions that have received answers, as well as questions still
awaiting responses. You are encouraged to answer any questions
relevant to your demographic background, as well as to ask any
provocative question you desire. Answers posted are not necessarily
meant to represent the views of an entire demographic group, but can
provide a window into the insights of an individual from that
group.
First-time users should first make a quick stop at Y?'s
guidelines pages for asking and
answering questions.
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Question:
I love black men, I really do, but so many trends that younger
men embrace are unattractive to me. What's the reason for them? I
miss the days of neat haircuts. I am tired of seeing grown men in
corn rows. I am tired of sagging jeans/shorts. Please stop chewing on
straws, and remove the wave cap before coming out in public. It is OK
to be casual, but sloppy is another thing. Sure, some of you may
retort 'expression' or 'individuality,' but if four out of 10 are
doing the same thing, so much for being unique. Take off the sneakers
and tuck in that shirt! Shine like the diamonds you are.
POSTED 6/4/2001
Shionedy, Los Angeles, CA, United States, 26, Female,
Black/African American, Straight, freelance writer, Over 4 Years of
College, Middle class, Mesg ID 5312001100820
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respond
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Question:
To white females: which racial group's men do you find the
next-most attractive after white males, and what is the reason?
POSTED 5/27/2001
James, Damico, CA, United States, 20, Male, Hispanic/Latino,
Mesg ID 522200140056
Responses:
I'm Anglo (Australian for white British!) and the most attractive
men to me are Eurasian guys - usually half white, half Chinese or
Japanese. They have black hair, usually, and a beautiful face with
fascinating eyes, and usually wonderfully gentle but strong ideas.
And men of Anglo-Indian (from India) descent have a wonderful, pale
brown skin tone that is irresistible. But I haven't visited the
United States yet, so maybe there are lots of other combinations.
POSTED 6/4/2001
Tracey, Melbourne, NA, Australia, 19, Female, Agnostic,
White/Caucasian, Straight, short arm(not handicapped), Technical
School, Middle class, Mesg ID 527200164147
I'd say Hispanics, and, honey, not AFTER white males - I find many
Hispanics, particulatly Puerto Ricans, more attractive than white
males. I don't know what it is. I like the darker skin tone, and dark
hair and eyes. They're beautiful to look at.
POSTED 6/4/2001
Lily, New York, NY, United States, 18, Female, Catholic, Italian,
Bisexual, actress, High School Diploma, Middle class, Mesg ID
527200175548
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respond
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Question:
What are some factors/issues/beliefs that keep white women and
black women from developing close relationships? To thosw who do have
a close friendship with a woman of the opposite race, what, if any,
were the obstacles you had to overcome? Do you discuss racism
together? Do you consider this friend to be your ally? Does/would
interracial dating affect your relationship or becoming friends with
a white/black woman?
POSTED 5/27/2001
Barbara C., Portland, ME, United States, 24, Female, New
Age/Metaphysical, White/Caucasian, Straight, Social Worker, Over 4
Years of College, Middle class, Mesg ID 522200152041
Responses:
I am African American (also Brazilian mixed), and one of my best
friends before I left the states was white. It is possible for the
two to become good close friends. We were co-workers, and the
friendship grew from professional to personal (hanging out after
work, etc.). The thing that made it honest was that neither one of us
tried to be what we weren't. I didn't try to act white or assume I
knew everything about their culture(s), and she did not try to act
black or assume she knew all about black culture(s). Despite physical
difference, women of different races can share the same types of
experiences, joys and pains. I think fear and peer pressure keep both
races from making more friendships with each other. Also, both of us
were in interracial relationships, and we talked about them, too. It
was great that I was able to really talk about black/white issues
with someone who wouldn't be offended or touchy. We were real because
our situations were real, and it was there that both of our
educations began. I think it's always a good thing when you can learn
and grow from sharing your experiences with other races/cultures. You
may not end up being best buddies, but you will never regret putting
your 'fear of the unknown' aside and taking a chance.
POSTED 6/4/2001
Angela, Washington, DC, Germany, 29, Female, Christian,
Black/African American, teacher, Over 4 Years of College, Upper
class, Mesg ID 531200170137
It has been my experience that most white women are very phony.
They smile to your face, then talk about you like a dog when you're
not around. I think most white people are scared of black people.
They see us as violent, out-of-control robbers, burglars and boogey
men. As a result, I think most white women pretend to be our friends
to feel like they're 'out of harm's way,' so to speak. I've tried to
be friends with white women before, but each time have been very
disappointed, to the point that I don't even try anymore. They always
ask me stupid, stereotypical questions about ghetto life. I am not
from the ghetto. I grew up in middle-class neighborhoods. My parents
have been happily married for 30 years, and we've never struggled a
day in our lives. But most whites assume that because my skin is
black, I must be from the ghetto. I have also had some white women
who I thought were my friends make it clear that because they were
white they were more attractive than I was and were somehow better
than me. They never used those exact words, but it was clear what
they meant. They would sometimes make rude comments about the
darkness of another black person's skin right in front of me. Then
when I would confront them about it, they would tell me I was being
hypersensitive. These are the same white girls who would make it a
point to date black men. When I would ask them why they chose to date
black men, 100 percent of the time the answer would be because black
men had bigger penises and were better in bed. When I asked if that
was the only reason, most would pause for a moment, then laugh and
say yes. What a sad and shallow reason for dating someone. There are
many other reasons I don't trust white women, but it would take the
next three days to type them. I find most white women to be lying,
two-faced, phony, manipulative, egotistical and patronizing. I could
never completely trust and feel comfortable with white people in
general because of my experiences with them. I don't write these
things to be hurtful toward anyone, but this is how I feel, and I
don't think I should have to sugarcoat my feelings for anyone. As
long as white women walk around with their fake plastic smiles on
their faces, there will always be someone like me who can see through
it and recognize you for what most of you really are.
POSTED 6/4/2001
Tracy, Absecon, NJ, United States, 22, Female, Black/African
American, Straight, 2 Years of College, Mesg ID 632001101554
To
respond
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Question:
Why are Asian students (Chinese, Korean, etc) most often the
highest achievers in school? Throughout my years in school from
elementary school all the way to college, the highest GPAs belong to
Asian students.
POSTED 5/27/2001
Kelly B., Hempstead, NY, United States, 24, Female,
White/Caucasian, Mesg ID 522200153359
Responses:
In my opinion, Asians and other people who place a high value on
GPA will do well. Students who are involved with choir, baseball,
football, chess club, frat club, etc. are spread too thin to say "my
school marks are important." Everyone chooses what is most important
to them.
POSTED 6/4/2001
Arnold U., Edmonton, Alberta, NA, Canada, 48, Male, Mesg ID
5282001112646
I think you can put Asian in two categories: those who immigrated
here and those who were born here. For the first group, they came
here with the cultural background of being encouraged to achieve
academically more than anything else. Also, the school curriculum in
Asia is generally much tougher than those in U.S. high schools. I
remember that I started learning calculus when I was 14. So when the
first group got here, they just excelled in school easily. However,
for the second group, for those born here, unless they still have
very strong cultural backgrounds tied to their family upbringing,
they are not much different than non-Asians in terms of academic
performance. In addition, many Asians are discriminated against or
feel disadvantaged in other aspects in school, such as sports and
social circles. The only thing, then, that Asians feel they can
compete and win in fair and square is academics. So they spend more
time studying and learning. Moreover, our society strongly rewards
those who have high educations with good jobs. So there you go!
POSTED 6/4/2001
J.C., Boston, MA, United States, 30, Male, Asian, Over 4 Years of
College, Middle class, Mesg ID 530200145915
It's because Asian parents tend to have higher academic standards
for their kids. I'm feeding into a stereotype here, but it's true.
They keep a closer social rein on their kids, too. When you go out on
a Saturday night, you don't often see a lot of Asian kids hanging
out. Their parents either discourage or do not encourage behavior
like this (luckily, I was spared). They're home doing homework.
POSTED 6/4/2001
Sarah C., San Francisco, CA, United States, Female, Agnostic,
Asian, Over 4 Years of College, Upper middle class, Mesg ID
531200121934
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respond
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Question: Why are so many Hispanic males and females gay or
bisexual?
POSTED 5/27/2001
Kelly B., Hempstead, NY, United States, 24, Female,
White/Caucasian, Mesg ID 522200153825
Responses:
I have seen the opposite. Although I know a fair number of gays
and lesbians and a lot of Hispanics, I don't know many homosexual
Hispanics. The Hispanics I know tend to be more homophobic than
average - a result of the whole Machismo attitude. This difference in
observation may have something to do with the fact that Hispanics are
very diverse. Most of the Hispanics I know are from Mexico or Central
America, or their families come from there. The cultures of Mexico
and Central America are much different from the cultures of the
Caribbean and South America.
POSTED 6/5/2001
Lucy, San Jose, CA, United States, 26, Female, Hispanic/Latino,
Straight, Engineer, 4 Years of College, Middle class, Mesg ID
5292001100604
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Question:
Where did the use of the phrase 'Chinese Auction' originate?
There is a common use of this term for fund-raisers, usually in
non-profits. Can this be associated with some kind of Chinese game,
perhaps?
POSTED 5/27/2001
Razor, Pittsburgh, PA, United States, 48, Female, Catholic,
Native American/American Indian, Straight, graduate student, Over 4
Years of College, Middle class, Mesg ID 522200194801
Responses:
I doubt the term has anything to do with China. It's common in
English to speak as if a variation on something or an odd version of
something is foreign, specifically usually 'Chinese' or 'Dutch.' It
can be a way af describing something as exotic or different, for
example, 'Chinese checkers' or 'Chinese jumprope,' or, as inadequate
or inferior, like 'Dutch treat' and 'Dutch courage.' 'French' has
been used that way historically as well, but the only example I can
recall is 'French toast.' I know that some other languages do the
same thing, but with different countries. It's another manifestation
of human tribalism - none of these things actually has anything to do
with the countries they are named after; they are just being used as
symbols of the exotic.
POSTED 6/5/2001
Dara, Berkeley, CA, United States, 32, Female, Linguist, Over 4
Years of College, Mesg ID 530200165301
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respond
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Question:
I grew up in a predominantly black area, which afforded me a
chance to observe another culture. There is one thing I never
understood: I see the black community trying hard to get equality (I
feel they had it years ago and that the tide is turning, but that's
another post). With the leaders of the black community trying so
hard, why on earth is Ebonics accepted? Does this not make those who
use it seem uneducated and lazy? I don't buy the line that Ebonics is
leveling the playing field for African Americans. Is there a reason,
besides laziness, that hinders black youths from learning proper
grammar? Using Ebonics as a guide, I should have passed Trig with an
A; after all, I had a hard time learning trig, so I should have been
given an A. The largest thing holding the black community back is the
black community, and Ebonics is a perfect example. I grew up in the
same surroundings as my friends, went to the same school and had the
same breaks. But while they deal crack, I'm making a good living and
taking care of my wife and house.
POSTED 5/27/2001
Tracy, Farmington, MI, United States, Male, White/Caucasian,
Technical Writer, Technical School, Mesg ID 524200145249
Responses:
When you accept a culture, you accept their language. No language
is 'better' than another - all are used equally well within their own
cultures for communication, to express solidarity, and so on. So
black youths are not lazy, they're just communicating with each other
in a familiar way. Also, the perception of what is 'lazy' changes
over time. Italian and French used to be considered slang, because if
you spoke 'properly,' you spoke Latin.
As for your crack-dealing friends, maybe they just fell in with
the wrong people, maybe they made the bad choice and you made the
right choice. It happens. Not everything is determined by race, you
know.
POSTED 6/5/2001
Netta, Armidale, NA, Australia, 19, Female, Christian,
White/Caucasian, Straight, Student, 2 Years of College, Middle class,
Mesg ID 528200133443
In college I did some research on Ebonics and learned some very
interesting things. According to what I read, slaves developed the
language in order to have private conversations that could not be
understood by the slaveholders. As for why black children today still
speak in Ebonics, we all learn our speech patterns from our parents,
starting at birth. That's why people from Wisconsin, for instance,
have a distinctive accent that can be discerned by people from other
states. Once a person has established those patterns, it is very
difficult to overcome them. Black children speak like their parents,
who speak like their parents, and so on. To go to school and be told
that the speech they hear at home every day is 'wrong' or 'inferior'
is something I can't even imagine. As a former English teacher, I
think children do need to learn standard English, precisely because
they will be judged by the majority on the way they speak. But I
think it can be done in a culturally sensitive manner that does not
place a judgment on their parents, their home or them.
POSTED 6/5/2001
Mary A., Traverse City, MI, United States, 45, Female,
Presbyterian, White/Caucasian, Straight, 4 Years of College, Middle
class, Mesg ID 529200151904
Since the term Ebonics was coined, there has been a lot of
distortion of its original meaning and purpose. The original meaning
of the term Ebonics was a distinct dialect spoken by many blacks in
the United States. The original purpose of integrating Ebonics into
the classroom was not to teach children Ebonics as an alternative to
standard English, but for teachers and other educators to understand
the structure of Ebonics so they could better teach standard English
to children who speak the dialect. It's similar to ESL teachers being
familiar with their students' primary language so they can better
teach them English. Another consideration regarding ESL classes is
that schools with a lot of ESL students get extra money for teaching
ESL classes. Extra money is quite attractive to impoverished
districts like those in Oakland. This led to the movement to declare
Ebonics a separate language, so schools with a lot of students
speaking the dialect could qualify for more funding.
POSTED 6/5/2001
Lucy, San Jose, CA, United States, 26, Female, Hispanic/Latino,
Engineer, 4 Years of College, Middle class, Mesg ID 5292001103058
Blacks are not lazy. You don't say a word about slang and phonetic
words used by white people (fuggedaboutit, youse, gnarly, tubular,
hooch, as if, you are so dead, etc.), but when black people use
deviations from the English language, the country gets up in arms.
Apparently, there is a double standard in this country that says
blacks cannot afford to do silly, care-free things that help define
their culture, but white folks can act as silly as they want. After
reading what you wrote, I'm starting to believe that is true. Where
I'm from, ignorance is ignorance, and broken English is broken
English. If you have a problem with the way some (not all) black
folks speak, then you should also have a problem with the way some
white folks speak when they break the laws of grammar and
punctuation. Sounds like you want total assimilation with the
dominant culture and view your way of communicating as the only one
worth using. Some people find Seinfeld funny because his New York
accent and Jewish mannerisms (oye, aaah), but people like Cedric the
Entertainer or the Wayans Brothers are looked down upon. I'm not
saying I like their particular brand of humor or dialect, but I don't
understand how you can find limitless fault with one dialect but not
another. How can you begin to over-generalize your findings all the
way across black America when you have maybe encountered 1 percent of
all blacks in this country? That's a pretty small sample size for
reaching the conclusion you've supposedly reached. My point is that
you can log some serious hours watching African Americans and hanging
around them, but you don't go home to an African-American home and
spend the night. You are not immersed into a culture of inferiority
day and night where you are told that you won't amount to anything by
both blacks and whites. Your cultural identity isn't questioned when
you make strides toward success and achievement. No matter how close
you are situated to blacks, you're not black. How can you suggest
that we made it and somehow lost it? You're really not in a credible
position to make the statements you are trying to make. I agree
Ebonics should not be formally taught to black children in an
educational system, but I do not see it as bringing down the race.
The factors that led to Ebonics should be looked at more closely than
the dialect itself - it is a symptom of shoddy education, poverty,
inequality and rejection from mainstream society.
POSTED 6/5/2001
Michael F., Chicago, IL, United States, 23, Male, Baptist,
Black/African American, Straight, law student/educational
administrator, Over 4 Years of College, Lower middle class, Mesg ID
529200125830
It's hard to believe that you've supposedly lived in a black
environment all of your life and you don't get Ebonics. It kind of
makes me doubt that people of other races could ever understand
something that one race goes through, if you've been around us all of
your life and still can't understand. But I'm gonna keep hope
alive!To give a summary, I'm a black woman who has grown up in a
black environment all my life. Except that my mother went to white
schools growing up and therefore never spoke Ebonics, and neither did
I. I also went to white private schools growing up. However, I try to
learn Ebonics as much as I can. This is because Ebonics is black. It
shows others that you are black and not afraid of being black. It's
something that is culturally our own. Every race needs something,
some ritual, some way of speaking that is their own. That is why
every race alters the English language just a bit: to make it
identifiably theirs. And that is not limited to races. East Coast
white people speak differently from West Coasters. Southern white
people speak real different, as well as Southern black people. Asian
people and Hispanic and Indian and Native American people all have
their own versions. Ebonics shows that you are down with your race,
because only people of your race actually know the meaning of your
slang vocabulary. I also have to disagree that we are equal, but as
you have, I'll save it for another post. However, as for it holding
black people back: to an extent, it has. We all need to speak
'proper' English because it is universally understood. It's used in
business, taught as a foreign language, etc. But some black people
aren't taught well enough in schools how to speak 'proper' English.
I've been to private and public schools and can attest to that. Some
of the public schools weren't challenging at all, and the teachers
did not care if someone failed or skipped a class or whatever. My mom
made sure I did well in school. I think parents should have more of a
stake in their kids' education. But it's like a cycle. The parent is
not educated well, so the kid doesn't become well-educated. It's very
complicated. Ebonics is not the culprit. We should, need and deserve
to have our unique slang. The education system is the culprit for not
teaching some black kids the proper way well enough.
POSTED 6/5/2001
Yuna, Queens, NY, United States, 17, Female, Black/African
American, Mesg ID 530200122154
I'm not an English major, but I think I've got a pretty good grasp
on the language, and I also speak in Ebonics. In fact, whenever my
friends and I converse in public, others have no earthly idea of what
we're saying. Please understand that Ebonics is the closest thing we
have to a native tongue. Keep in mind that many blacks do not (and
will never) know their native tongues. It was forbidden for our
ancestors to speak their native language when they reached this
country; hence, our Mother tongue was lost.
POSTED 6/5/2001
K.C. Tate, Jacksonville, FL, United States, 28, Female,
Black/African American, paralegal, Mesg ID 531200190846
I don't not like your generalizations. There are lazy
Ebonic-speaking people, but they do not represent the entire black
community. I am black, and I have never done/dealt drugs, I speak
perfect English and I have a great job. I don't fit into your little
stereotypical box, so please don't generalize.
POSTED 6/5/2001
Ife, Houston, TX, United States, Female, Black/African American,
Mesg ID 61200135918
As an undergraduate I majored in English and wrote a pretty hefty
paper on the origins and use of Ebonics by African Americans. I think
it is accepted because it is a part of African-American culture and
is a means of expression. I think many people are misinformed about
the political aspects of the debate surrounding Ebonics. The primary
misconception is that African Americans want Ebonics accepted as a
primary language in school, or even to be taught. In reality, I
believe most advocates of Ebonics want African-American children to
not be punished or castigated for using it. That doesn't mean
standard English should be forsaken. It simply means that if a child
answers a question using Ebonics, that child should not be
embarrassed or punished for speaking non-standard English. Similarly,
a student who speaks French as their native tongue is not called
stupid by their teacher when they slip in a French phrase during
class. Critics of this approach argue that Ebonics is nothing more
than 'broken English,' but that is untrue. Ebonics has a uniform
structure, and it is easy to tell when someone is speaking incorrect
Ebonics. A white person imitating Ebonics might say, 'I ain't be got
nothin'.' Any person familiar with Ebonics would know this is
'incorrect' ('I ain't got nothin'' is correct). The long and short of
it is that advocates want this language acknowledged - not taught -
for the larger purpose of making black students feel that our culture
is legitimate and worthwhile.
POSTED 6/5/2001
R.H., Syracuse, NY, United States, 27, Male, Agnostic,
Black/African American, Straight, Law student, Over 4 Years of
College, Middle class, Mesg ID 62200185023
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respond
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Question:
I have been told that Italians have some black blood in them,
hence the dark, curly hair and darker skin on some of them ... but
not all. I am fully aware that all human beings trace their ancestry
to Africa, but I'm not talking about the beginning of mankind. I am
just curious about Italians' anthropological history, moreover that
they once had blonde hair and blue eyes. Does the Carthaginian
general Hannibal (247?-183? B.C.) conquering Italy have something to
do with their ties to black blood? Furthermore, does it have
something to do with the fact that some Italians don't consider
themselves white?
POSTED 5/25/2001
Jarrett, Oxford, OH, United States, 19, Male, Black/African
American, Straight, Student, 2 Years of College, Upper middle class,
Mesg ID 525200112843
Responses:
I think you may be misinformed: after all, there are plenty of
curly headed blonds, and most people from lands bordering the
Mediterranean are swarthy to various degrees. One of the
darkest-skinned white people I ever knew was Greek; her family had
been living in the hills near Sparta since Hector was a pup. Another
was Jewish. None of that requires sub-Saharan ancestry. I doubt it
has much to do with Hannibal; he, after all, was Carthaginian and
they were Phoenicians, not blacks. There's a good chance that his
army included Berbers and similar people from North Africa, but
again, those people are not black. Also, Hannibal didn't occupy
Italian soil for long. Sicily is very diverse, ethnically, having
been colonized by the Greeks, invaded by the Vandals (a Germanic
tribe that occupied North Africa), and held at various times by
armies from Western Europe. Again, however, there was no widespread
migration or invasion by blacks. Italy was a major commercial hub for
a couple of thousand years, so undoubtedly there were traders (and
slaves) from all over passing through; that would have included Moors
(viz. Othello), again non-Negro Africans, and probably a few folks
from sub-Saharan Africa, Nubia and Ethiopia. I doubt there were
enough to change the complexion of Italy. Finally, let me comment
that the ancient Greeks and Romans knew what blacks looked like, and
they never mentioned that there was any population of them in Italy.
POSTED 6/4/2001
Jerry S., New Britain, CT, United States, Male, White/Caucasian,
Over 4 Years of College, Mesg ID 612001122341
Italians tend to be darker than other Europeans because they have
Semitic (Middle Eastern) ancestry in them. There's probably a little
black mixed in there as well, but that's true of just about all
races.
POSTED 6/5/2001
Jessica B., Jackson, MS, United States, 16, Female, Atheist,
White/Caucasian, Straight, Less than High School Diploma, Middle
class, Mesg ID 527200174701
I believe Italians have their physical appearance due to their
history. You cited Hannibal's invasion of the peninsula, but that
would have been diluted in time. Instead, look at the long history of
the Roman Empire, which extended through Northern Africa and the
Middle East. Keep in mind Renaissance Italy's flourishing trade with
the Middle East and China. I believe Italy's long trade history with
the Middle East gave the peninsula a strong trace of Arab blood; most
dark-skinned Italians more closely resemble Arabs than blacks.
POSTED 6/5/2001
Alex, Elkins Park, PA, United States, Male, Jewish,
White/Caucasian, Bisexual, Less than High School Diploma, Mesg ID
528200183445
I am Italian-American and have some cousins who look African
American. These cousins are Sicilian. Sicily was once conquered by
the Moors; if you look at a map, Sicily is a hop-skip-and-a-jump from
Africa. Of course, there may be some African-American ancestry closer
than that in the family that isn't talked about! Anyway, I have
brown, curly hair, green eyes and a sallow complexion (a lovely shade
of yellow). I have blond, blue-eyed aunts with fair skin. My dad has
blue eyes. My brother looks more Puerto Rican than Italian. I
consider myself white and don't know anyone who's Italian-American
who doesn't consider himself or herself white.
POSTED 6/5/2001
Roxanne, Boston, MA, United States, 33, Female, Catholic,
Italian-American, Straight, Systems Analyst, Over 4 Years of College,
Mesg ID 530200172636
According to some historians, African tribes invaded Italy prior
to Hannibal and intermingled with the natives, producing the
dark-eyed, dark-haired individuals we think of being in this group.
Whether this is true is up to one's interpretation. Greeks, after
all, are dark-complected and dark-haired, as are most Slavic groups.
The theory of African interbreeding hasn't, to my knowledge, extended
to them. Interestingly enough, the native Britons were dark-haired
and dark-eyed, as were the native Irish. The waves of Nordic (Viking)
pirates which came into their area were the cause of any lightening
in their complexion. Most Europeans are dark-haired and dark-eyed.
Blue eyes are a recessive trait, and therefore less common than brown
anywhere on Earth.
POSTED 6/5/2001
Brian, Peru, IN, United States, 25, Male, Methodist,
White/Caucasian, Straight, writer, 4 Years of College, Middle class,
Mesg ID 530200193650
Italians have darker skin because they live in a harsher climate
than Northern Europeans. Over time, people 'evolve' to protect their
skin from exposure to the sun. What we look at as skin color is
largely due to the melanin content in the skin. This is also why a
lot of Spaniards have darker skin. Also, Hannibal never conquered the
Italian peninsula. He razed several towns and then would move on,
until he was ultimately defeated when attempting a siege of Rome.
POSTED 6/5/2001
Kevin, Chicago, IL, United States, Male, Mesg ID 642001101349
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