Dare To Ask Talk And News About Our Differences - This topic has 33 replies, 32 voices, and was last updated 19 years, 5 months ago by
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- I have displayed African art (pictures and statues) in our home and have noticed that whenever a white neighbor or friend stops by they seem taken aback by it. The art is not vulgar or offensive and does not express any questionable political views. It is merely pictures and statues of people who happen to be of African descent. After all, that is what I am. This is puzzling to me. Does anyone have any theories as to why they react this way?
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Name : S. Bryant, Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : Black/African American, Religion : Christian, Age : 34, City : Nashville, State : TN Country : United States, Education level : 4 Years of College, Social class : Middle class,I can only speculate, but maybe they're just surprised there is such a thing as African art. I have two masks my brother brought me from Africa, and everyone seems to think they're pretty cool. But perhaps that's the sort of art people associate with Africa.If they're actually offended, then I find that a bit surprising. I could only guess that they don't like black people getting in touch with their heritage. And the reason for that could be as simple as them associating that sort of thing with an ugly militantism.
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Name : Matt22017, Gender : M, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Atheist, Age : 25, City : Sacramento, State : CA Country : United States, Occupation : Software Engineer, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, Social class : Upper class,I remember a white classmate who had a very strong reaction to hearing a tape of Navajo Code Talkers singing 'The Marine Corps Hymn' in their own language. His eyes widened and his jaw dropped, and all he could say after a few minutes was, 'It's downright spooky!' He had almost as strong a reaction to the Black Lodge Singers (a Native singing/drumming group famous on the powwow circuit) even though the song I played was in English.It was pretty obvious to me that something so completely unfamiliar to him simply scared him. He just did not know how to react because it was so utterly alien to him. I've seen African art and variations on it such as Afro-Carribean art. It doesn't strike me as at all threatening, but the style is quite different, say, for someone who might be used to Rennaisance-style art. I think that, being in the majority, some whites are simply so used to being 'the norm' by which everything else is judged, that anything that challenges that worldview, even unintentionally, can bring a strong reaction.
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Name : ACC25036, Gender : M, Race : Mexican and American Indian, City : Phoenix, State : AZ Country : United States,To people who were raised on say, Impressionist artists, anything out of the European context may be seen as odd. I, for example, can't stand modern or post-modern art. It's not 'pretty' to me.User Detail :
Name : Cynthia31730, Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : Asian, Religion : Catholic, Age : 23, City : Toronto, Ontario, State : NA Country : Canada, Occupation : Grad Student, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, Social class : Upper middle class,No, but they have statues and pictures of white people in there houses. They shouldn't be taken aback.User Detail :
Name : D, City : St. Louis, State : MO Country : United States,As a white American, let me tell you my general responses when I see African art in someone's place of dwelling, be it home or office. My first response is, 'Wow, that's beautiful.' My second is, 'Oh, God, here we go, affirming African identity as a means to cast off the oppressive and hateful dominant white culture.' My third reaction is, 'You're (talking to myself) a f***ing racist, you know that?' My fourth reaction is, 'God, I'm a horrible person for having these thoughts and feelings.' My fifth reaction is, 'Well, what should I expect? I'm white. I'm supposed to be like this, right? That's what everyone's been telling me from the time I was nine.' My sixth reaction is, 'Well, it IS beautiful art. And it IS perfectly fine that a person would want to display it to assert his or her identity. And I AM just being a sensitive ninny by assuming that the display of the artwork is really the person trying to say, 'F*** you, you white b****.'The bottom line is that white people in general are threatened by it - and the kicker is that most of us don't even realize it. For those of us who want to consider ourselves tolerant and open to people of all backgrounds, the very suggestion that you ('you' being the generalized) would want to stand up and say, 'Look, I am not like you. I have my own heritage that is different from yours,' especially from the African-American perspective, is like saying, 'We've struggled for equality, now we want disassociation.' (Which, by the way, is perfectly normal, reasonable and justifiable.) I suppose this is a direct reflection of the unconscious mentality that black people are just white people with darker skin. I suppose that's how I've always viewed black people. It may not be right (well, OK, it ISN'T right), but I believe this is the explanation for your friends' behavior. They are probably seeing your artwork and finding themselves stuck on how they should respond to it. More often than not I find myself tripping over myself, trying to decide what is the appropriate response and what will get me lambasted for either being patronizing or racist, when I really should just be myself.
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Name : Jessica, Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : White and Arab, Religion : Christian, Age : 24, City : San Diego, State : CA Country : United States, Occupation : student, lifeguard, swim instructor, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, Social class : Middle class,I am white and my background is Welch, Irish and German. I do not display artifacts from these countries throughout my home. Nor do I wear kilts and dress that are worn in these countries. I interpret people that dress or decorate their homes 'African' as people who are prejudice and have race issues. When I try to analyze why I take it this way, I can only conclude that my life experience with people who surround theirselves in African themes and clothing are angry at white people, because media shows this usually attached to a racial issue. Even putting the race issue aside, it puzzles many whites why people do this when they don't decorate with their heritage.User Detail :
Name : D-Johnson, Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Christian, Age : 50, City : Dallas, State : TX Country : United States, Occupation : Writer, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, Social class : Upper class,One- if the art was beautiful, i would be taken aback for it. I that u as an artist has the right to make art be about anything it they want it to be, and has the right to display it in any matter they want. I wish i could see ur art so i can try to visualize why they would be taken back. second- if you art was controversial or offensive to the viewer, but form wut you said, ur just making art from your heritage and of your african descent- ur showing pride in ur ethnicity and ur culture, and for that, there is no reason for them to be offened. Pride in one's heritage is an important part of everyone's life, and for those who dont respect others when they show pride in oneself for any reasons are closed minded and ignorant people.User Detail :
Name : greg, Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Catholic, Age : 18, City : plainview, State : NY Country : United States, Occupation : student, Education level : 4 Years of College,I wouldn't read much into this. A lot of people are just used to what they're used to, and find anything new somewhat uncomfortable. Your white friends probably see mostly art that is in the Western European mainstream (or velvet clowns, for that matter), and aren't used to Afrocentric material. Other people enjoy novelty. I have a Norman Rockwell, a Mexican mask, and an Indonesian shadow puppet all in the same room, and haven't gotten many comments about any of it. On the other hand, I am always slightly shocked when somebody puts ketchup on a hot dog - to me, the colors clash and I can't even imagine the flavor.User Detail :
Name : JerryS, Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Jewish, Age : 52, City : New Britain, State : CT Country : United States, Education level : 4 Years of College, Social class : Upper middle class,I hear Nahville is just a little more racist than some other states, being in the south and all.So maybe that's a problem where you live?I've been to Nashville about 3 times and the ppl are very nice, but I don't live there so I haven't seen the ugly side of it.Another problem is you. You are referring to these viewers as your 'friends', apparently not if they don't respect a black face. -BlackUser Detail :
Name : Ava, Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : Black/African American, Religion : Christian, Age : 18, City : STL, State : MO Country : United States, Occupation : office assistant, Education level : High School Diploma, Social class : Middle class,I have been in people's houses and felt a really strong impression from black art, but I think good art should leave a strong impression. And I think anyone is a little surprised and taken aback at anything they're not used to. Think back to the first time you tried a strong liquor.User Detail :
Name : Carl, Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : White/Caucasian, Age : 24, City : Richmond, State : VA Country : United States, Education level : 2 Years of College, Social class : Lower middle class,I think black people display African art because of their insecurity with their American ancestry. I am Dutch but do not display wooden shoes in my house. Instead I have beautiful paintings of downtown Memphis and of Beale Street. I also have Monet prints. I am taken aback by African art because I think it is ugly, and I don't understand why blacks have a problem with there American ancestry.User Detail :
Name : Jordan29095, Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Religion : Buddhist, Age : 17, City : Memphis, State : TN Country : United States, Education level : 2 Years of College, Social class : Middle class,My parents were missionaries in Kenya in the '90s, and when I visited them I purchased a considerable collection of African statuary. Most of the statuary is religious in nature - various tribal religions. The animal statuary usually garnishes comments of 'my, that's beautiful.' The human-form statuary is usually met with dropped jaws, wide eyes and 'Oh my' comments, as they are fertility statues meant to bring more children, better crops and more cattle. It's either very phallic in nature or depicts the nude female form with exaggerated breasts. I think it is beautiful work but can see how it would offend the Christian sensibility because of its strong sexual nature and simply the fact that they are 'idols.'User Detail :
Name : Mike, Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : Gay, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Agnostic, Age : 42, City : Ben Lomand, State : CA Country : United States, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, Social class : Upper middle class,Do you or your friends hang out or talk to black people? I'm asking because your friends should know it's not all about whether it's a statue of a white or black person; it's about how you feel when you look at it. Art is supposed to make you feel something in your heart and soul. Art is beautiful, regardless of what it is or is about. Your friends are not in touch with life, because the life we live in now is not about black or white, it's about right or wrong.User Detail :
Name : Simone-P, Gender : F, Race : Black/African American, City : Albuquerque, State : NM Country : United States,Hey this is crazy i just had a white friend of mine tell me like two minutes before reading this that the librarian who is black has a colored nativity set and she asked me if i seen it and i said yes she kinda looked at me funny but i told her why can't that be like that who knows if Jesus was White or Black or Asian or even Hispanic like me huh i haven't seen him! Right!??User Detail :
Name : Heather21452, Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Disability : Partially deaf, Race : Hispanic/Latino (may be any race), Religion : Baptist, Age : 16, City : Montrose, State : MI Country : United States, Education level : Less than High School Diploma, Social class : Middle class,
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