[Robin29582]

Wherever I go, when I see an African American chewing gum, he or she is always cracking the gum, almost continuously. Why is this? I have noticed fewer white, Hispanic and Asian people doing this. I consider it disruptive and annoying. I am asking this question because I honestly do not know, not out of rudeness.

User Detail :  

Name : Robin29582, City : Pittsburgh, State : PA, Country : United States, 

[annonymous]

I honestly can’t tell you why gum chewing, actually cracking gum, seems to be more popular among black women in particular, but I can remember growing up and noticing that there was a particular skill associated with cracking gum. Many lower-class, and in my own experience, blue collar women, did this with relish. While my mother enjoyed cracking, she reserved this kind of behavior for home or in the company of close friends. But she wouldn’t be caught in public exhibiting this kind of behavior. She considered it rude, but obviously it was a habit, and she enjoyed it. It’s interesting, too, that now in her 50s, my mother no longer does this. None of my friends nor my sister nor cousins do this. At the risk of sounding snobbish, we considered this behavior crude and uncultured.

User Detail :  

Name : annonymous, Gender : F, Race : Black/African American, Age : 34, City : Detroit, State : MI, Country : United States, 

[Amanda31499]

Popping gum is accomplished by blowing a bubble inside your mouth and popping it with your teeth. Often, when children notice that this can be done, they think it’s cool and try to do it (much like whistling or making noise with your armpits). Some people get good at it and impress their playground friends. After a while, some take it as a habit and continue it into their adulthood. I haven’t seen anyone do this since the early ’90s, but I’ll bet some are still doing it. As for your question about why it occurs more with blacks than with whites, I think in some ways it is due to the thought that popping your gum implies a brash attitude and the stereotype that black women have brash attitudes. Mostly, however, it probably has to do with your habituation to your own culture, i.e. you don’t notice things that occur in your own culture as much as you notice it in people from a different culture.

User Detail :  

Name : Amanda31499, Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : Black/African American, Religion : Baptist, Age : 19, City : Boston, State : MA, Country : United States, Occupation : student, Education level : 2 Years of College, Social class : Middle class, 

[T27556]

I always wondered about this, too. I applaud those who’ve answered with sincerity and kindness. I really appreciate finding out why. (I think it’s annoying, too.)

User Detail :  

Name : T27556, City : Springfield, State : IL, Country : United States, 

[K.J.]

Maybe it’s just coincidence, because I’ve noticed that where I live and in my school, more whites crack their gum than blacks.

User Detail :  

Name : K.J., Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : Black/African American, Religion : Catholic, Age : 17, City : Bronx, State : NY, Country : United States, Occupation : High school student, Social class : Middle class, 

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