Dare To Ask Talk And News About Our Differences - This topic has 26 replies, 27 voices, and was last updated 20 years, 2 months ago by
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What you describe seems to be a reflection of the display of absence of respect for whites that some blacks, especially among the young, began to display openly as the movement for equality gained momentum in the ’60s. Repressed anger and the reality that the achievement of equality under the law did not bring the promised land to all blacks also seem to be playing a role. The absence of strong parental guidance for many black youths, teaching by some that ‘black pride’ means having the right or obligation to denigrate non-blacks, unusually negative peer pressure and the temptations of ‘the street’ all seem to play a role. The question that haunts us now: What, if anything, can non-blacks do to help alienated black youths find a happier place in our society?
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Name : Frederick, Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : Human, Religion : Christian, City : Charleston, State : SC, Country : United States, Occupation : Teacher, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, Social class : Upper class,It’s because older black people actually had to deal with real racism, while their younger counterparts merely use perceived racism to justify acting rude or obnoxious. Older black people have perspective on the situation, and realize that things are actually a lot better than they were in the ’40s or ’50s. Most young blacks have no idea what racism really is. Having store clerks assume you’re going to shoplift isn’t racism, it’s a conditioned response to the fact that most people who shoplift are young. Not black, white, male or female. Just young.
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Name : Matt, Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : American Indian, Religion : Buddhist, Age : 26, City : Boston, State : MA, Country : United States, Occupation : Designer, Education level : 4 Years of College, Social class : Middle class,If you are finding a hole group of people espically strangers beeing rude towards you maybe the discrepency is you. Maybe you need to check you’r attitude and how you treat people?
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Name : Courtney31866, City : Not gona tell, State : NA, Country : United States,I do not agree with what you have said. Are you white or black? Because yes, when black people walk in a store, it is assumed that they are goin to shop lift. They are watched like hawks. It has happeend to me many times when i walked in to the stores with a white friend that is the same age as me. I get followed whereas she can shop freely because she is white. So, until u encounter such cruel behavior you really cannot speak n that.
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Name : cynthia, Gender : F, Age : 16, City : Boston, State : MA, Country : United States,This is the black generation gap. Older blacks didnt think to blame others much whereas younger blacks did.
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Name : Steve27640, Gender : M, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Catholic, Age : 59, City : Vancouver, State : WA, Country : United States, Occupation : engineer, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, Social class : Middle class,I think that there is such a big level of distrust of Whites among Blacks, especially Black men, that we tend to think that Whites have an ulterior motive, even when the offer of assistance is genuine.
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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 am white and was a supervisor a little over a year ago for drug store chain. My training in loss prevention was to ask ‘Can I help you?’ to everyone. ‘Can I help you?’ is the equivelent of ‘Are you stealing anything?’. I never liked it when I shopped elsewhere (my theory, ‘If I need your help, I’ll ask for it!’), so I never offered ‘help’ until I was asked about something.
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Name : Eric25216, Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Disability : Epilepsy, Race : White/Caucasian, Age : 25, City : Kansas City, State : KS, Country : United States, Occupation : IT professional, Education level : 2 Years of College, Social class : Lower middle class,I can only speak from my personal experiences in dealing with retail personnel in malls and other shopping centers when answering this question. I am an African American female, and a lot of times I find myself trying to flag someone down or waiting hours for a sales representative to help me to buy their stores merchandise. If that is not the case, I am either constantly watched with suspecting eyes, or am asked rudely, “may I help you” like I am not supposed to be in the store. Don’t get me wrong, I am not saying that is the manner in which you approach these younger African Americans, and I am not saying that I have never been asked genuinely if I needed help, by a white sales rep. However, because we as African Americans have to deal with people who do act in these ignorant ways on a daily basis, it is difficult for some of us to let our guard down, even when a sales representative seems genuinely kind.I know that another part of this “dismissive” attitude that you might encounter also has to do with age. Teenagers of all races and socioeconomic class are stereotyped as troublemakers. I remember in high school, when a group of my friends entered a store together it seemed as though employees surrounded and kept a close eye on us. Although we were all African American, I knew this “reaction” was also because of our young appearance. In either case, there is no clear answer to why you seem to encounter young African Americans who seem to have this attitude. It could be that they have had a bad day or are just plain rude, which has nothing to do with race. I personally appreciate nice and helpful sales representatives and I am kind to whoever is kind to me. Those who are rude and act like it takes so much out of them to help me, eventually wish they hadn’t acted in that manner. However, it is important that you know that not ALL young African Americans behave this way and make sure that you evaluate yourself and your own conduct to make sure you are not deserving of this rude treatment.
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Name : D. B., Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : Black/African American, Religion : Christian, Age : 19, City : East Lansing, State : MI, Country : United States, Occupation : Student, Education level : 2 Years of College, Social class : Lower middle class,I’m surprised so many people think this guy ‘deserves’ bad treatment. I have worked in fast food and retail jobs and have been subject to a lot of verbal abuse (‘white bitch,’ etc.) from black customers. I know that what has happened to black people is horrible, but I don’t get paid $7.50 an hour to be a punching bag for customers with low self-esteem.
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Name : Bernie23373, Gender : F, Race : White/Caucasian, Age : 17, City : Minneapolis, State : MN, Country : United Kingdom,For me, personally, I am rude to the clerk when they come over and ask me do I need help in finding anything or may they help me. I do feel that they are asking this because they feel that I am going to take something from their store. I really rarely hear them ask a white person can they help them. I am very offended by that treatment because I spend green money just like every other color. I guess it’s a form of negative reinforcement some blacks are trying to convey. Maybe if you treat them rude enough, they won’t ask you again. If I need help, I know how to ask for it.
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Name : Marron-Bella22138, Gender : F, Race : Black/African American, Age : 23, City : Anniston, State : AL, Country : United States, Occupation : Clerical, Education level : 4 Years of College, Social class : Lower class,I think it is because older African-Americans were taught to hold their heads down and get off the sidewalk when a white person was passes by. Young adult today were taught to be submissive to white people so they arent.
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Name : toast, Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : Black/African American, Religion : Baptist, Age : 18, City : Boca Raton, State : FL, Country : United States, Occupation : student, Education level : High School Diploma, Social class : Middle class,I see your question was from 2002 but its still on the web. As a african american female, I can’t respond for our race because each person has his or hers own feelings. There could be many reasons why a younger black male may resent your help: May think your gay and trying to make a pass, feel disrepected by your offer of help because they are young and can help themselves. Sometimes people feel like they are being watched or harrassed due to their race just for being in the store. Don’t take it personal. It may have nothing to do with you at all. 🙂
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Name : Ronnie, Gender : F, Race : Black/African American, Age : 44, City : Springfield, State : MA, Country : United States, Occupation : Student disabled, Education level : 2 Years of College, Social class : Lower middle class,
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