[Dan31646]

I grew up in a neighborhood that turned from a middle class, predominantly white neighborhood to an increasingly poor black neighborhood over about 15 years. The first black homeowners were mostly middle-class, working professionals. They were quiet, keeping their properties well-maintained, if not in better condition than the long-time residents. They were welcomed with open arms, and there was almost no conflict.

About 10 years after black families first started moving into the neighborhood, the economy of the city fell on hard times. Many families relocated, and there was a ‘die-off’ of a large number of elderly homeowners. Property values plummeted because there was a growing supply of real estate in an area where demand was non-existent. Across the tracks, literally, was a predominantly poor black neighborhood. Some lower-income residents of these areas, assisted by subsidies and loans, bought houses in the ‘good’ areas across the tracks. Absentee landlords also snapped up property, and were not selective in choosing tenants. There was an influx of residents from another class, with different behavioral patterns. You had the stereotypical horns honking, people yelling from the sidewalk without using doorbells, loud music and so on. Lawns weren’t kept up, and some houses had a lot of in-and-out visitors. These might have been acceptable behaviors in their original communities, but not in this middle-class area. Not too shortly afterward, both middle class white and black homeowners left. It wasn’t so much fear of blacks as it was a culture clash.

The yelling and horns honking are not a ‘black thing’ but a lower-class behavior not representative of blacks as a whole. Unfortunately, because there’s a disproportionate number of lower-income blacks, some white people make the observation that all blacks are loud, noise, rude and so on. There are certain stereotypical behaviors among lower-income whites that aren’t too desirable, either – ‘collecting’ inoperable vehicles, leaving toys on the lawn, activities resembling what would be seen on the stage of the Jerry Springer Show, and so on.

Rather than condemn the poster for ‘racism,’ let’s try to answer this question – why is there a stereotype that blacks are loud and sometimes inconsiderate of their neighbors? Stereotypes often have their roots in some actual fact or form of behavior, so there has to be something behind this belief.

User Detail :  

Name : Dan31646, Gender : M, Race : White/Caucasian, City : Buffalo, State : NY, Country : United States, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, Social class : Upper middle class, 

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