African-American Culture and me

Over the years, i've learned a few tidbits about African-American culture (my culture) in school (or at least the accomplishments and trials and tribulations of other African-Americans). But for a while, i never saw myself as one of them, it wasn't until i was 13 that i actually asked my mother if we were African-American. This fact played little a role in my life afterwards though (sans only an African-American conference i attended in Middle School), but in my freshman year in High School, a classmate of mine hit new nerve within me (and he was already one of my least favorite people). You see, for whatever reason, this classmate of mine was counting how many black and white kids there were in the class (I don't think he was being racist, but still) and when he got to me, he said that i was Caucasian. I found that to be insulting, no matter how i looked at, especially since he likely only made that conclusion based entirely on the fact that my skin is a lot paler and not as dark as his was (never mind the fact that i have the more rounded nose, the wool-like hair and the pronounced lips).

This issue also happened in the next High school i went attended (my family used to move around a lot); a student there (another one of the people i still hate to this day) also made the assumption that i was white, most likely based entirely on the fact that my skin isn't as dark as other African-Americans. Please don't misunderstand, i am not racist towards Caucasian people, in fact, some have been my closest friends, which actually brings up another related problem; admittedly, i did not encounter the whole "You're not black" problem after the second time, but over the years i spent in Virginia, i've noticed a pattern. From where i stand, a great deal of the issues i had while in Virginia were from other Black kids who treated me like dirt and/or expected me to fall into the basic stereotypes of Blacks and teenage boys (by which i mean; talking like i grew up in the "hood", braiding my hair into dreadlocks and being girl-crazy).

On that note, it really feels like i don't fully embrace African-American culture; I only find a certain amount of it soulful, I don't eat soul food (with the exception of Chicken), I don't get many of the Black-related jokes and in terms of movies and shows; I've somewhat lost interest in "That's So Raven", "Proud Family" and "The Cleveland Show" and i can't really get into Disney's "The Princess and the Frog" for the African-American aspects of it.

By the powers that be, i am not trying to be racist to anyone, I'm just trying to find answers to my plight

I used to walk home from the bus stop with a friend who had sort of the same sentiment. If it's ok to ask, how is chicken soul food? That doesn't make much sense to me. IMO you shouldn't have to worry about fitting into any group preordained by society

You're the same guy who started the "African-American Literature and Me" thread in WB, right?

Just like there, I have no idea what you're struggling with. You're a light-skinned African-American who is frequently mistaken for white, and you don't like certain aspects of black culture.

And? I don't see any "plight" here, just a description of what you are. Unless, of course, you feel like you're not black enough for... Something. You have yet to explain what it is you're insecure about. I'm guessing you feel like you don't belong anywhere, or that you're experiencing a type of guilt for being genetically black, but being mistaken for white and not having been a part of the "black struggle." But why? It's not your problem that some people can't accept racial ambiguity.

And why are you feeling guilty over not liking those things? I'm very black (half afro-american, half Guyanese, with dreads) and I don't like most black comedy (that Black Dude White Dude garbage is so played out), haven't watched any of those shows you listed - most of which weren't even made by black people - and haven't really followed hip-hop since I was in high school, but I don't feel guilty about it.

Just because you're a member of a race, group, or subculture doesn't mean you have to like all the stuff that panders to it. Cecil Baldwin once said he had a hard time reading gay lit because it was so much of it was just about being gay instead of telling a good story. That quote's stuck with me, and it's true about racial lit too. You don't have to enjoy something because it's about a manufactured experience that you're "supposed to have had." If you don't like something, you're allowed to just not like it.

IIRC, fried chicken became soul food because the plantation owners used to give slaves the chicken offal for their rations, and the only way to make it palatable was to fry it. That's how all that other disgusting shit like gizzards, pickled pigs' feet, and chitlins became part of soul food also. (Although unlike more palatable stuff like collard greens and cornbread, those have fallen out of style for everyone outside the hood.)

edited 28th Jan '14 8:05:07 AM by Wheezy

Rural NC must be deep in the hood then

The rural south is pretty much a low-density hood.

But everyone likes chicken.

Truer words have never been spoken.

If these are the prerequisites for being African-American then I was born in the wrong ethnic group, because I like all those things. Except the Cleveland Show.

Chicken is like the most inoffensive food there is. This is making me extremely hungry dammit.

Plot twist: white South African.

woah owah woah hey, don't knock it til you try it. shit's good.

That's the problem with being a minority/ historical minority of any kind,...leads to a need to feel left out and need special pandering too,and said pandering usually ends up relying on stereotypes written by the majority (or accepted on the off chance someone from the inside starts up something inoffensive to preconceived notions such as in this case Tyler Perry and how the black person suddenly became comedy for being loud rather just in some kind of maid/worker role. They weren't the lead and still portrayed as stupider so it's okay)

But just because that's how it is,doesn't mean you have to take it all,to fit in.

And it's even worse when you find yourself born not squarely of one race,or creed,or you identify as bi. But I'd say look for the good and the bad and take what you like.

I'd be considered mixed myself,if we went back to just 60 years ago,but I do not enjoy all aspects of Southern Italian culture.

Or in a religious context,I don't give a damn about the majority of the customs of my religious culture (mostly due to them being waaaay too conservative and repressive),but I celebrate heartily many aspects too.

As for African American culture itself,I enjoy many parts of it too,such as soul food, some of the books, a general theme that life just sucks sometimes and no matter how hard you work,you won't suddenly end up on top,and the dance styles usually associated. When I want some adult cartoon humor,I go to The Boondocks (which manages to have good characters that are good characters,analyzes the ups and downs of African American culture and even culture in general,and has decent humor too.)

On the other hand,I detest Tyler Perry and hip-hop and rap and all that bombastic and kinda bigoted side. So I don't care for The Cleveland Show much either if it counts (which was co-created by Mike Henry who is black).

I mean no offense,because I realize this can get touchy and I'm working with SF Bay Area urban African American culture which could be a little different,and yeah I'm not black,so it can look sketchy.

edited 28th Jan '14 1:04:10 PM by terlwyth

Can I just say that I don't understand any of the black stereotypes? "Black people like grape drinks." And? Who doesn't? Aside from grape haters? What's wrong with watermelons?

Do you have to hate all hip-hop and rap? What about Grandmaster Flash, Afrika Bambaataa or De La Soul? And, of course, not all that stuff is bombastic or even bigoted. Just listen to The Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy (and of course, those I've listed).

edited 28th Jan '14 4:15:14 PM by Quag15

That's just not a genre I pay much attention to,I'm sure there are those exceptions and it may even be significant,but it just seems to prove the rule.

I've had it explained to me, but I didn't really understand it.

I have plenty more names. It's not a case of exceptions. Like in every genre, there's the great, the good and the bad. Check the history of the genre and pick the first two.

edited 28th Jan '14 4:50:51 PM by Quag15

You're forgetting the ugly,and truth be told I'm just not a musical person and have an aversion to that style even without the lyrics.

I appreciate jazz a lot though.

No, I'm not forgetting most Gangster or Porn Rap, nor the bigoted rappers and some of their homophobic statements, or Professor Griff's anti-semitic statements.

Jazz, Funk, Disco, Hip-Hop, House, Techno... I like stuff from these genres. But I had to pick it from the history articles. In short, I had to learn the stuff.

You can dislike hip-hop, but don't say that the majority is bad. And it helps to know about the stuff before discussing it (especially because there's actually quite a lot of variety, especially on the international scenes). But it's ok if you're not into music too much, so I'll stop.

edited 28th Jan '14 7:54:35 PM by Quag15

It's best not to try to explain the merits of a musical genre to someone who's not into music, because that only leads to frustration on your own part

Is this whole thing basically somebody failing to adhere to a stereotype and feeling bad about it?

I totally get that, not being ginger and all.

Hey guys, wanna hear my two cents?

Well, first some perspective, I am Mexican alright Born and raised in Mexico If you cut me I bleed salsa. Well, being a country that is so full of Mexican, and little else, the whole concept of an ethnic identity is pretty much lost to most people here. In my case, I know about it and I understand it, but I can't really feel it. This will probably one the things I will face when I move into a more cosmopolitan place, which I hope is soon. In consequence, I dont think its a big deal, and you should not let it define you. Fun fact, I am not a fan of hot sauce, or anything hot (its bad for my stomach), and nobody here thinks its a big deal. Quirks

I understand the endless quest for identity many people have. Everyone has faced it. But being the old fart that I am I have come to the conclusion that people have got it backwards. Identity does not define you, you define your identity and it will change accordingly. So dont worry about who you are, it comes to you on its own. Just do the shit you like.

Personally, I like chicken gizzard.

Gizzards are delicious. Hearts, too. Just gotta fry them right.

I'm generally a fan of offal dishes, be it giblets or tripe. Lovely stuff.

It's nearing the end of Black History Month, i don't think that i've fully embraced it. There just wasn't enough time; not enough for me observe Black History Month and get into the mood for Valentine's Day. In fact, my attempts to get into the V-Day mood took up most of my February time, i tried to get jump on Black History Month by thinking about it last month, but now it feels like i've wasted my preparation time.

Tell me there's not something wrong with a Black man who fails to fully embrace a month dedicated to the legacy of his culture.

I was hoping to watch the movie "The Color of Friendship" (which was released on February 5th by the way) for Black History month, but at this point, i'm not sure i'm in the mood to even try.