March 6, 2006 at 12:00 am #33612
Amy
Participant
I’m pretty sure this is not limited to African Americans – I would say that Americans in general are pretty fixated on image: looking the right way, having the right stuff, making the right impression. Sometimes the definition of ‘right’ might be different in different cultures or classes, but it’s all the same motivation. On another note, I would point out that the people I know – black, white, or any other race -who are most focused on image are the people who feel that they need to prove something. Often, these are people who want others to believe they have more money/status than they actually do have. Interesting to consider how race might affect that particular dynamic, as well.