Dare To Ask Talk And News About Our Differences - This topic has 16 replies, 17 voices, and was last updated 21 years, 4 months ago by
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- Why are lower-class blacks (especially women) so loud? And why do they feel they have the right to verbally point out other people's foibles (or what they perceive as foibles) right in their face? They will do this even to fellow blacks, especially ones who don't act or dress as they do. I mean, I was always taught to 'joan' (or tell-off) people when they acted in this way, but sometimes I don't because I'm afraid things might get physical. Besides, I feel that I shouldn't have to get so base with my own kind! Any comments on this?
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Name : Kristina, Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : Black/African American, Religion : Christian, Age : 20, City : Washington, State : DC Country : United States, Occupation : Transcriber, Education level : 2 Years of College, Social class : Upper middle class,What is deemed appropriate in a particular social setting depends on culture. If a particular group of black women were loud at a rock concert it would not be perceived negatively because this is considered acceptable by those likely to be around them. The problem comes when people come from cultures that have different ideas about when to be loud or quiet. Each group is likely to be percieved negatively by members of the other group. About pointing out foibles... This too is simply a difference in culture. If one were to travel to certain parts of the world, one might be surprised to find that people there feel no embarrassment even when asked questions that Americans would find intensely private. These differences are social glues, that identifying people as members of social groups. It has little to do with deep-seated hatred or a desire to physically confront some one.User Detail :
Name : C. Phillips, Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Disability : lupus, Race : Black/African American, Religion : Christian, Age : 25, City : New Orleans, State : LA Country : United States, Occupation : university student, Education level : 4 Years of College, Social class : Middle class,Kristina I've noticed this same thing when ever I go somewhere where there are lots of other black women. I agree with you that it is mostly lower class black women who act this way. The reason why they act this way is because they are undignified, mean spirited show-offs with little or no self esteem. They obviously have no home training and desperatly need attention. Instead of being angry at these girls I just feel sorry for them because they must really have a miserable exsistance to make them treat other people in such a nasty way.User Detail :
Name : Lorie, Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : Black/African American, Religion : Methodist, Age : 23, City : Detroit, State : MI Country : United States, Education level : 2 Years of College, Social class : Upper class,Kristina, I believe that your statement about black women is true in some aspects. If I was asking this question I would have worded it a little better, but the way you stated it does get to the point. I think that black women in general have a 'loud' nature. When we are upset and/or offended, we tend to rasie our voices. It's inapproriete at times, but very natural. In your profile you said that you where a Bapitist. I am Methodist, and us both christians, I know that lots of prayer and meditation on God's promise to help us cope can really put your heart at ease. Now, I'm not hear to preach or to tell you that your ungodly or anything ,that's just my solution to these type of problems. Its just that we can't change people they have to change themselves. I hoped that I helped at least a little bit. I hope thatUser Detail :
Name : Janeka Hector, Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : Black/African American, Religion : Methodist, Age : 19, City : Tyler, State : TX Country : United States, Occupation : College Student, Education level : 2 Years of College,This is not a response - it's really an add-on to your question. I have had a similar observation about 'space' - on a sidewalk, or in an aisle of a store, many black women seem to take up a large part of the center rather than shifting to the right to allow others to more easily pass by. And I'm not sure it is totally a 'class' thing. If dress, type of car and other external markers of class are indicators I suspect some of these women conduct and carry themselves in a very different way in the workplace or other settings -as all of us do. In some respects I envy that apparent ability to stand in the middle, speak up, have opinions and be an unavoidable presence - 'I am ME - take it or leave it, like it or loathe it - I am ME and I am HERE.' Most of the time though, I am annoyed when 'norms' of etiquette that smooth our interactions with others who are not in our intimate circles are breached.User Detail :
Name : Catte32456, Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : White/Caucasian, Age : 50, City : Dallas, State : TX Country : United States, Occupation : Social Worker, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, Social class : Middle class,One reason why African Americans are loud can be traced to their origins. It is a cultural characteristic of Africans that the people speak louder and louder and the lifestyle becomes more and more realxed the farther south you go. People in northern regions of Africa (Morocco, The Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Algeria, Egypt, Ethiopia) are relatively reserved and soft-spoken (particularly Gambians and Ethiopians) and life moves at a brisk pace (we've all seen Moroccan and Egyptian markets on Nat. Geographic). However, as you go farther south (Nigeria, Cameroon, Zaire, Zimbabwe) the people speak louder and louder and life slows down dramatically. Life becomes more lakadasical because the climate is so much hotter (I'm totally serious; just look at the US). As for speaking louder, I'd postulate that it has to do with the southern parts of Africa being historically less populated than the north. Now, Africans were brought to the US as slaves and the majority of those slaves came from central and southern Africa, thus the cultural speech and lifestyle characteristics were passed on. This is the origin of the stereotype of blacks being lazy and shiftless (Stepin Fetchit -> Amos n' Andy -> Jar Jar Binks). BTW, I am not just making this up. The above reasoning is based on actual study (Black English linguisitcs course taught by an African linguist who happened to be married to an African woman) and personal interaction and discussion with people from various parts of Africa. One parting tid-bit: Gambians actually refer to their country as The Gambia.User Detail :
Name : Gopal, Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : Indian, Religion : Hindu, Age : 24, City : Houston, State : TX Country : United States, Occupation : Engineer, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, Social class : Upper middle class,You answered your own question: low class. You can't account for what unclassy people do no matter what color they are.User Detail :
Name : Monika20325, City : Houston, State : TX Country : United States,Kristina, they used to do the same things back in their African tribes. They played bongo drums, chopped off heads, and shrunk them too! DC.User Detail :
Name : Dan-Cubrich27325, City : Omaha, State : NE Country : United States,Kristina, its not only lower class. I come from an upper-middle class area, and my school is heavily diverse. I see what you are talking about everyday. It seems black people ARE very loud and very vocal about, well whatever they want to be, especially those who moved in from lesser neighborhoods. After talking with a few black friends of mine, they said that its a way of asserting yourself, to state that 'I am me, and you can't have that.' Because the more of an identity you are, the less likely you are to be taken advantage of - this of course dates back to the time of slavery. Which in some ways is valid, and in others is obnoxious. I admire you for holding to your way, but perhaps a non-confrontation comment may help with those who may not know its offensive. 'You know _______, did you ever think that your comment may be as offensive to them as their foilbes are to you?' and respond accordingly, adding you don't mean to offend, but its something you've experienced. I ask my black friends everything and they are very open with me and my concerns, as am I with them. I wish that everyone could be as open-minded as them- just as you seem to be.User Detail :
Name : Katie, Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Agnostic, Age : 18, City : Bloomfield Hills, State : MI Country : United States, Occupation : student, Education level : Less than High School Diploma, Social class : Upper middle class,I wish I knew the reason myself. I am one of those 'loud' black women and I can tell you that when I am like that, it's usually due to my exuberance and humor. I am not one of those people who get loud and nasty or angry, usually only when I'm having a good time or joking around. I have found that as I get older and care less about what others think, I tend to get louder when I'm having fun. I have heard one theory that says that as a race, we are more outgoing and exuberant than others, but as with all generalizations, I don't know how true it is. I just know that I am an naturally outgoing person and that I like being the center of attention.User Detail :
Name : Cheri Liggins, Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : Black/African American, Religion : African Methodist Episcopalian, Age : 46, City : Columbus, State : OH Country : United States, Occupation : Office Manager, Education level : 2 Years of College, Social class : Lower middle class,I wish I knew. I have asked myself that for a while. I know people who speak normally and then when the get around others esp. males they speak as if they are talking to someone a mile away. I guess it is for attention, either way it makes no sense. Probably has alot to do with self-esteem, it is in no way ladylike. Some people may just not know any better.User Detail :
Name : Tammy, Gender : F, Race : Black/African American, Religion : Baptist, Age : 22, City : DC, State : DC Country : United States, Occupation : financial analyst, Education level : 4 Years of College, Social class : Middle class,I often wondered this, and what I came up with is our tendency not to eat at the dinner table together. The dinner table is where basic forms of respect are formed. You don't yell at the dinner table, do you? Another idea is the type of schooling in black communities, that of a lower economic class, where nothing good is expected to come of it.Good behavior tends to be at an all-time low. Also, look closely at the Baptist church, where there is a system of 'call and response' ('Can I get an Amen? Amen!' ) and where massive interaction is stressed. Big mouths come from a tradition of big mouths. Think back to the slave days, when the Baptist church was common among black folks. In addition, we were kept from saying our piece when we were slaves, so being loud is our attempt to rebel.
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Name : Randall F., Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : Black/African American, Age : 26, City : SHENYANG, State : NA Country : China, Occupation : Teacher, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, Social class : Middle class,I have noticed that among all groups, blacks do seem the loudest. Could it be attributed to the size of their families? Many children competing for the attention of the parents?User Detail :
Name : Mary-Z, Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Lutheran, Age : 43, City : Solon, State : OH Country : United States, Occupation : Educator, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, Social class : Upper middle class,Yes, black people seem to be very loud. But I really think that that's just a cultural thing. Just as Italians tend to be very boisterous and animated, so do Black people. We are a very -- passionate people. Even back in slavery days, Black people used to sing in the fields. We enjoy eachother's company and it just manifests itself in a different way than White people's display of enjoyment.User Detail :
Name : Kelly R., Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : Black/African American, Religion : Catholic, Age : 25, City : St. Louis, State : MO Country : United States, Occupation : university instructor, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, Social class : Middle class,i tend to agree with the that black people seem to be pretty loud.i hate to generalize or stereotype,but sometimes stereotypes have some truth to them,like white men being poor dancers.i don't know if you been to a club lately but i'd s overwhelmingly white men are bad dancers.i have o insight to the loud question,but i do tend to avoid going to movie theatres where a lot of black people go.that's where i noice the loud thing the most.User Detail :
Name : ray-winston, City : alexandia, State : VA Country : United States,
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