[S.W.]

Why is it that African-American pedestrians, mainly men, seem to purposely cross the street slowly, even if the light is about to change against them, causing them to block traffic? This is done in a seemingly antagonizing manner.

User Detail :  

Name : S.W., Gender : M, Race : White/Caucasian, Age : 26, City : Clinton Township, State : MI, Country : United States, Education level : 4 Years of College, Social class : Middle class, 

[Jerry-Schwartz30961]

Quite honestly, I think that your observations may be biased. I certainly can’t imagine how any person, black or white, would benefit from crossing the street slowly. I suspect either that you notice and remember it more when black people do this.

User Detail :  

Name : Jerry-Schwartz30961, City : New Britain, State : CT, Country : United States, 

[D. Rashid]

There is very little in this world that a Black man controls. Therefore, if he can make you wait then he feels alittle better about himself for a few minutes. Can you imagine what his life must be like to need such minor annoyances to feel powerful or simply ‘okay’? Of course, it isn’t all Black men who do this, but enough of a pattern to generalize. This is so unfortunate. This pattern can be observed among all nationalities of teenagers (and yet not all teenagers)! Could be it goes with immaturity and powerseeking.

User Detail :  

Name : D. Rashid, Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : African-Native American, Religion : Christian, City : Fairfax, State : VA, Country : United States, Occupation : Information Specialist, 

[Anton-M]

I concur with this observation. It looks like they slow down purposely and send challenging looks while they do it. People from other ethnic groups don’t act like this; quite the opposite, they hurry. I guess black men have been oppressed so long that they will take any opportunity to grasp the little power they can. You can’t move until they cross, and they know it. I guess this petty form of empowerment satisfies some need for respect in some black men. I used to get upset, but now I take that opportunity to take it easy and chill. I don’t play their game and adopt a non-chalant, cool ‘low-rider attitude’; intead, I enjoy music coming from my radio. It feels good indeed, and makes your driving more enjoyable.

User Detail :  

Name : Anton-M, Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : Hispanic/Latino (may be any race), Religion : Agnostic, Age : 35, City : Oakland, State : CA, Country : United States, Occupation : Teacher, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, Social class : Upper class, 

[Summer27758]

I thoroughly agree with Anton. I lived in a mixed neighborhood for some time, and this was a common occurance. Often, I would have to wait for a large group of men and boys to clear the street so that I could drive to my house. They would be agonizingly slow about it, and would give me barely enough room to drive through. For a while it was funny, but it got old really quickly. I guess if they were trying to power trip they were successful, but in reality, all it did was make me think they were assholes who had nothing better to do than try to intimidate me.

User Detail :  

Name : Summer27758, Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : White/Caucasian, Age : 29, City : Seattle, State : WA, Country : United States, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, Social class : Middle class, 

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