Race/Ethnicity Questions 131-140

THE QUESTION:
R140: I am a 50-year-old white female. The other day a black female manager addressed me by saying “Good morning, Miz L.” (L being my first name). I have been addressed in the same manner by other black females. Is there any significant meaning to being addressed this way?
POSTED APRIL 1, 1998
L.S., Ann Arbor, MI

ANSWER 1:
It’s typically a form of respect, and it’s also a “Southern” thing. Here in Georgia, most children are taught to refer to any older person as “Miss A. or Mr. B.,” or whatever their first name begins with. Many adults just carry it over into their relations with other adults with whom they are familiar but not intimate.
POSTED APRIL 6, 1998
Alex, 39 <aleavens@mindspring.com>
Lawrenceville , GA

FURTHER NOTICE:
“Ms.,” a relatively new form of address, is simply a marriage-neutral form to greet females – the equivalent of the male “Mr.” It is often used instead of “Mrs.” or “Miss,” especially when the speaker isn’t sure which of these two former titles is appropriate! Just treat it as a title of respect.
POSTED APRIL 9, 1998
Glenn P., 39, <C128User@GTI.Net>
Washington, NJ

FURTHER NOTICE 2:
I think it is a Southern thing, too. I’m white and my mom, as well as most other ladies, are often addressed as “Miss Firstname” by whites and blacks alike.
POSTED APRIL 24, 1998
K. Matson <kmatson@bellatlantic.net>, Philadelphia, PA

FURTHER NOTICE 3:
I agree with it being a Southern type of thing. I live in Baltimore, which is Southern. I met a woman from Washington state who was here for a visit. She’d been addressed as Miz so-and-so by black people several times while here and told me it was a strange experience, because the people do not address women like that where she was from, neither black nor white.
POSTED NOV. 16, 1998
Siobhan, black <siobhan_101@hotmail.com>, Baltimore, MD
To respond
BACK TO TOP

THE QUESTION:
R139: Why is it considered politically incorrect for white people to take pride in their race? Also, why are white people who do take pride in their race usually labeled “skin heads” or members of the KKK?
POSTED APRIL 1, 1998
Dan, MI <Night6789@aol.com>

ANSWER 1:
Who says? I’m white and I’m proud. I celebrate my German heritage at Oktoberfest, and no one calls me a skinhead. I celebrate my Irish heritage on St. Patrick’s day, and no one calls me racist. I could put bumper stickers all over my car saying “Kiss me, I’m French, German, Polish, Irish, Italian, Russian Swedish, Dutch, Austrian, Hungarian, etc.” and no one would complain. I can go into a Scandinavian crafts store or Belgian restaurant, tell anyone I love Victorian English literature, and no one has ever said I was being politically incorrect for it. I love the histories and the personalities of all the countries my ancestors came from. If anyone thinks that makes me a bigot, feel free to say so.
POSTED APRIL 3, 1998
Colette, 32, French-German-Irish-Polish-Jewish-Native-American (otherwise known as “white”) <inkwolf@earthlink.net>
Seymour, WI

FURTHER NOTICE:
The difference is race vs. culture. To be African American is to be part of a culture, not just a race. When one says one is “black and proud,” one points to the cultural achievements of blacks. In contrast, white pride is based on race, especially in racial superiority. If a white person expressed pride in a cultral heritage, such as being proud of being Irish, no one would have a problem with it.
POSTED APRIL 3, 1998
Michael, African American, Phoenix, AZ

FURTHER NOTICE 2:
To Michael: How can you say that white pride is based on race, especially on racial superiority? White power to me does not mean that whites are superior to any race. I take pride in whites’ accomplishments, not to say they are better than any other race. I am proud of the combined efforts of many different whites (not just the Irish, or just the French, or just German), but all of those combined. Thus the term “white pride.” If a white person expressed pride in a cultural heritage, such as being proud of being Irish, no one would have a problem with it.
POSTED APRIL 15, 1998
Dan <night6789@aol.com>, MI
To respond
BACK TO TOP

THE QUESTION:
R138: Why are there fewer volunteer marrow donators among minorities than whites?
POSTED APRIL 1, 1998
Cathy J., white, 38, female <user192242@aol.com>
Savannah, GA

ANSWER 1:
From the 1940s to the early 1970s, the Federal government legally sanctioned the innoculation and spread of syphilis through the black community from Tuskegee, Ala. The book detailing this atrocity is titled “Bad Blood.” The government tracked these sufferers when they left the state and even prevented them from receiving proper medical attention when they sought it. And as recently as 1996, USA Today reported that a hospital conglomerate in Southern California innoculated only black and Hispanic babies with an experimental vaccine – by mistake! The article was titled “Hospital Oops,” seriously. And I can go on with more such medical examples, recently within this country. Being that most black folk are apprised of the Tuskegee experiment, you have to admit it makes excellent sense not to trust the medical community.
POSTED APRIL 6, 1998
B.T.M., black male, Detroit, MI
To respond
BACK TO TOP

THE QUESTION:
R137: I am a black female with many close friends who are white. I am often invited into their homes or to other social functions where I may be the only black person unless I take a date. After being seen at these gatherings several times, and usually after a few drinks, invariably someone will attempt to tell me a racist joke and/or use the “N” word. Short of not socializing with my friends, how can I ward off such attacks, and what makes certain whites feel they can insult you under the auspices of being friendly?
POSTED APRIL 1, 1998
Claire D., Stone Mountain, GA

ANSWER 1:
Being a bigot is unfashionable these days. Some of the insults are undoubtedly hostility that has been disguised as joking. Another possibility is that your friend’s friends just don’t know any other black people and are nervous around you. The jokes may be an attempt to bring up the subject of your race without saying anything serious, which might make them look like a racist or idiot – an obvious failure in tactics. A suitable response? I don’t know, but try this one on the jokers if you like: “If you’re trying to find a tactful way to tell me I’m black – I already know it!” As for the people who use the N-word, they’re trying to upset you and start an argument. Disappoint them.
POSTED APRIL 3, 1998
Colette, 32, white <inkwolf@earthlink.net>
Seymour, WI
To respond
BACK TO TOP

THE QUESTION:
R136: Why do I get the impression that blacks feel they are “whiting out” if they do well in school? One article I read said suicide rates are higher for smart black students who feel guilty for being successful in school; that they feel they are alienating themselves from black society.
POSTED APRIL 1, 1998
Capriley <capriley@oconee.com>, Eatonton, GA

ANSWER 1:
Smart black children have a difficult row to hoe – most white kids don’t like them much and most black kids don’t like them much. The white kids don’t like them because they’re black. The black kids don’t like them because they’re “smart.” This makes it very difficult to connect with many people. By the way, it’s not only black kids who don’t like “smart” kids – most white kids don’t much like “smart” kids, either.
POSTED APRIL 6, 1998
Alex, 39, white <aleavens@mindspring.com>
Lawrenceville, GA

FURTHER NOTICE:
I went through school being stuck between two worlds. I was one of the only black students in Honors classes. The black kids called me a sell-out because I talked “proper” and got good grades. I felt the only way to prove I was black enough was to revert to using slang. I believe there are more black people who choose not to excel because they may be ridiculed by their own race.
POSTED NOV. 12, 1998
L.S., 23, black female, Orlando, FL
To respond
BACK TO TOP

THE QUESTION:
R135: I’ve always wondered why it seems the majority of older Spanish/Mexican men gawk at females who walk by and even call out to them with lewd jestures and whistles. Are they easily turned on by females? I’ve often heard females say this about being called after, and I too, have encountered such problems frequently.
POSTED APRIL 1, 1998
J. Wu, 18, female, Asian <ChinkGirl6@aol.com>
Lawrenceville, GA

ANSWER 1:
Historically, Spanish/Mexican males have cherished a tradition known as “machismo.” This is a sign or a social symbol of manhood in their culture. This is according to my Gender/Ethnicity Sensitivity class in college.
POSTED APRIL 6, 1998
Carrie, 28, Mansfield, TX

FURTHER NOTICE:
I always understood it to be a cultural thing. This may be somewhat controversial, but I was once told by a friend who grew up in a mixed neighborhood to use the following rules when passing men on the street: Cast your eyes down when passing Hispanic men so they’ll know you’re a modest girl and not inviting any advances. Smile and nod when passing black men so they’ll know you don’t think yourself above them. Make brief eye contact and look confident when passing white men so they’ll know you’re not an easy target. I’ve actually followed this advice for years with good results.
POSTED MAY 2, 1998
A. Morgan, white female, Houston

FURTHER NOTICE 2:
To A. Morgan: I don’t care what culture one comes from, such behavior is rude. Do you honestly believe these men are not aware of what they are doing? I see no reason why a lady going about her perfectly respectable business cannot walk down a street without consulting a list of behaviors to avoid. The proper response to such harassment is to stick your nose in the air and walk on. Who cares if African-American men think you are haughty or European-American men think you are an easy target?
POSTED AUG. 18, 1998
Elaine C. <eoder1@compulinx-net.net>, Columbus, OH

FURTHER NOTICE 3:
Carrie, your professor was wrong and was spreading a stereotype. Machismo is a false projection of us by outsiders of a problem that exists in most, if not all, cultures. The Latino family is run by the female. To A. Morgan: The advice you received was also stereotypical and racist. In Latino culture there is a tradition of aggressive flirting comments called “piropos.” The comments are harmless and are supposed to be as poetic as possible. Unfortunately in the United States the comments are often crude and vulgar because vulgarity is more accepted here. But the important thing is that there is little “dangerous” intent. If you feel there is, you need to reflect on whether you would feel threatened by comments made by non-Latinos. For instance, around here, white country boys do the same thing: Wolf whistles and come-ons.
POSTED SEPT. 25, 1998
A.C.C., Mexican and American Indian male, San Antonio, TX
To respond
BACK TO TOP

THE QUESTION:
R134: Who are included in the following terms: Hispanic, Latino and Chicano?
POSTED MARCH 31, 1998
Mari F., Franklin, IN
To respond
BACK TO TOP

THE QUESTION:
R133: Why do black people like chicken so much? Is it taste, or cost, or what?
POSTED MARCH 31, 1998
Confused, Westland, MI

ANSWER 1:
Here in the South, everybody of all races eats chicken all the time. If you did a study on the eating habits of whites and blacks in this part of the country, it would be my guess you would not find a big difference in chicken consumption between the two. The assumption that only black folks like chicken and greens, cornbread and “soul food” is unfounded. My apologies to any who feel this is not the case, and please respond if you feel differently.
POSTED APRIL 1, 1998
Wallace, 23, white, Suwanee, GA

FURTHER NOTICE:
I totally agree with the response. I am a white Southern woman, and through my entire childhood I remember my mom describing her cooking as “Southern food.” I grew up on chicken, greens, grits, black-eyed peas, cornbread, ham. And I still cook and love all that food today!
POSTED APRIL 3, 1998
Joan, San Francisco

FURTHER NOTICE 2:
It’s totally a region thing, not a color thing. I grew up in the Northeast, and my folks had a philosophy about food: “Cook it until it begs for mercy, and then cook it some more.” Spices? What’re those? My wife is from the South, and her people grew up there, and what a world of difference it is! Fried chicken (good fried chicken), black-eyed peas, collards, cornbread. Yum!
POSTED APRIL 6, 1998
Alex, 39, white <aleavens@mindspring.com>
Lawrenceville, GA

FURTHER NOTICE 3:
If fried chicken were just a “black thing,” I doubt Colonel Sanders would have so many outlets in predominately white suburban areas. Not to mention the Church’s, Popeye’s, etc. (By the way, Northeasterners: Whatever happened to Chicken Delite?) I don’t even think fried chicken is a s Southern dish anymore. Like tacos, pizza and bagels, it’s an “American Thing.”
POSTED APRIL 8, 1998
Di, 41, African American, Maryland

FURTHER NOTICE 4:
I grew up in the South of mixed racial heritage. I don’t recall my father’s family ate any less chicken than my mother’s. I am in an interracial relationship, and at times I am amazed at the amount of Southern cooking my partner (a black male) is not accustomed to eating. Yet at the same time he was amazed that I already knew how to cook sweet-potato pie and barbeque pig’s feet. And as for chicken: It was not eaten on Sunday at our house unless you had fried chicken, mashed potatoes, green peas and cream gravy.
POSTED APRIL 14, 1998
Steve N., 40 <blaster7@hotmail>
Dallas, Texas

FURTHER NOTICE 5:
I agree it’s a Southern thing. I was born and raised in the South, and almost everyone I know prefers chicken over any other kind of meat. Not only does it taste good, but chicken is versatile and inexpensive.
POSTED JUNE 17, 1998
Ann D., 27, FL
To respond
BACK TO TOP

THE QUESTION:
R132: Why do Asian people have slanted eyes?
POSTED MARCH 31, 1998
Andretgirl, Toronto, Canada

ANSWER 1:
The eyes are not technically slanted, but have an additional fold of skin covering the outer lid, referred to as the epicanthus. Through natural selection and adaptation, the human body makes adjustments to protect it from various environments such as extremely sunny climes and locales.
POSTED APRIL 3, 1998
B.T.M., male, Detroit, MI
To respond
BACK TO TOP

THE QUESTION:
R131: Why do most Americans consider all Mexicans poor?
POSTED MARCH 31, 1998
Miranda B., 19 <lbrockwa@gulfsurf.infi.net>
Pace, FL

ANSWER 1:
Because the main things we hear about Mexico in the news are about illegal immigrants ready to leave their own country and come here to work illegally for what we consider pathetic wages, and about U.S. countries relocating to Mexico because they can find laborers there willing to work for a fraction of the cost of U.S. workers.
POSTED APRIL 15, 1998
Colette, white <inkwolf@earthlink.net>
Seymour, WI
To respond
BACK TO TOP