Race/Ethnicity Questions 411-420

THE QUESTION:
R420: I have worked in several hospitals in areas with large Filipino populations. I have noted that many of the women bring lots of food and love to share with all the other Filipino staff on the floor, and will often included me. If this food sharing a cultural thing?
POSTED AUG. 14, 1998
Darci, 31<darlink@hotmail.com>, San Diego, CA

ANSWER 1:
Food is absolutely one of the most important parts of Filipino culture. My mom, who grew up in the Philippines, explained to me that in the Philippines, it’s almost rude not to offer food to guests, even if just a piece of fruit. The Philippines is a poor country, and the most that many hosts can offer is food, as opposed to air-conditioning or more expensive items to entertain with. Also, Filipinos are very family- and friends-oriented – much, much more than Americans – so gatherings are a lot more common among Filipino groups. We’ll find any reason to celebrate and enjoy good Filipino food!
POSTED AUG. 17, 1998
S. Guthrie, Filipino <sguthrie@gateway.net>, USA
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THE QUESTION:
R419: Are Ebonics and Jive the same thing? If not, what is the difference?
POSTED AUG. 14, 1998
J.T., white <guyuf@yahoo.com>, Gainesville, FL

ANSWER 1:
As an English teacher, the analogy I give my students is that Jive is to Ebonics as Slang is to English. One is a stylized jargon, the other is a language, but in each case, the language subsumes the slang.
POSTED AUG. 18, 1998
Max H., English teacher, Oakland, CA
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THE QUESTION:
R418: Why are so many East Indians named Patel? I know it’s not possible for them to all be related.
POSTED AUG. 14, 1998
Sanford, 51, black <sfinley@earthlink.net>, Naperville, IL

ANSWER 1:
It may seem that way in the United States, but it’s not true of Indians in general. “Patel” is a very popular family name in the state of Gujraat in India. It so happens that of the Indian population in the United States, Gujraatis make up a disproportionate chunk. Why that might be is a matter of conjecture. Some popular hypotheses: Gujraatis are more business-oriented/enterprising, etc.; immigrant Gujraatis tend to get their entire extended families to immigrate too, more so than other immigrant groups , etc. I am not sure if anybody has done a proper study of this topic. It will be very interesting to know for sure.
POSTED AUG. 27, 1998
C., Indian male <p2k4@hotmail.com>, MI

FURTHER NOTICE:
In the company where I once worked there were five Patels out of seven Indian engineers. My manager (he was a Patel too) just told me that Patel means “a farmer.” Probably that’s why this last name is so common.
POSTED SEPT. 14, 1998
Vladimir, 29, Russian <vgurevic@cisco.com>, Fremont, CA
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THE QUESTION:
R417: My kids go to school with two children whose race I am unsure of. The children’s mother always wears clothing that covers her entire body, except her face and hands. My children would like to know why she does this, but her children do not.
POSTED AUG. 13, 1998
M. Sanders <ccsandman1@webtv.net>, Hammond, IN
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THE QUESTION:
R416: Why is it that some black people in chat rooms call white people “white devils”?
POSTED AUG. 13, 1998
Molson, 19, white <molson_c@hotmail.com>, Windsor, Ontario, Canada

ANSWER 1:
In my opinion, the devil is often associated with death and destruction. I feel white people have shown themselves through history to be the devil. Examples include: 1) the production and releasing of nuclear weapons and atomic bombs; 2) the killings of several races or cultures by the Ku Klux Klan, through biological weapons such as AIDS or through the introduction of drugs; 3) the constant development of more powerful guns and weapons, ships and submarines; and 4) the constant belief of superiority over others. In my opinion, the white man is clearly the equivalent to my definition of the devil.
POSTED AUG. 21, 1998
Rita, black female, Newport News, VA

FURTHER NOTICE:
It’s easy to see how Answer 1 could be arrived at. So many black Americans are still treated with hate by many white Americans. However, evil behavior is like any other stupid behavior – it does not discriminate. I feel hateful acts by blacks are not made very visible because many in the media are afraid of “offending” black Americans and being accused of further racism. The problem is that because blacks still endure racism in this country, many feel that when black Americans do something hateful, they should not be held accountable for it. This creates a double standard that is both confusing and destructive. If I as a gay American commit a hateful act, the fact that I have been discriminated against does not give me the right to do it. I feel this issue is a significant barrier to improving race relations in America
POSTED AUG. 24, 1998
Lesbian, 45, female <pridewks@centraltx.net>, Kempner, TX

FURTHER NOTICE 2:
To Rita: 1) Nuclear reactions also gives us tons of electricity. We just need to figure out how to dispose off that radioactive waste. 2) I wasn’t aware that AIDS was a biological weapon. 3) And hence this freedom we enjoy in the United States. And the technology that goes into it is pretty cool, too (I am not advocating war; I just like those cool gadgets on Apache helicopters and Stealth bombers!)
POSTED AUG. 24, 1998
S.L , 22, American, FL

FURTHER NOTICE 3:
I am surprised the moderator posted Answer 1. It seems to me the message was one of hatred and misinformation. Rita gave as evidence that whites are the devil the creation and use of bombs and creation of better guns and other weapons. My father works in the defense industry, where his Asian, African American, Native American, Hispanic, European, male and female co-workers all contribute to the creation of bigger, better weapons and fighter planes. I don’t see how this can be attributed solely to white males. In addition, I was most surprised to see Rita’s assertion that the white man is responsible for “biological weapons such as AIDS.” Is there some evidence I am unaware of that white men created this disease? I have never heard such an accusation. Please either educate me on why these allegations are or may be true, or stop posting such hate-filled responses.
POSTED AUG. 24, 1998
Michelle, 26, white, St. Louis, MO

FURTHER NOTICE 4:
To Rita: Newport News would not even be on the map if it were not for those evil submarines. And if memory serves me correctly, was not AIDS originally an African disease?
POSTED AUG. 25, 1998
Tim, 49, white, Syracuse, NY

FURTHER NOTICE 5:
I am glad to see Rita’s answer. While I agree with Michelle that hate is involved, I also see a large magnitude of honesty. I believe part of this country’s problems are due to the quieting of the unpleasant. However, it seems to me her examples are after the fact, and I have to wonder what initiated her belief. I have read that Black Muslims truly believe the white race stemmed from the devil incarnate, and I wonder if this reason is involved in her answer.
POSTED AUG. 25, 1998
Mark, 37, CO

FURTHER NOTICE 6:
To Michelle: I believe you missed the point of the “Y” forum. It’s supposed to be an international exchange of cross-cultural, gender and racial questions, and answers. It is not supposed to be all nice and tidy answers.
POSTED AUG. 25, 1998
L.W. 24, black female, Detroit, MI

FURTHER NOTICE 7:
To Rita: I feel it is unfortunate that hatred, racism and half-truths have shaped your opinions of white people. But equally unfortunate is that you exhibit the same qualities you abhor. Each of us is responsible first for ourselves. If racism is to end, it must end first from within.
POSTED AUG. 25, 1998
M.O., 45, white male, FL

FURTHER NOTICE 8:
To Molson: What I understand is that according to Elijah Mohammed, the founder of the Nation of Islam, white people are basically devils, black people being the true children of God. Read Alex Haley’s Malcolm X or another history of the Nation of Islam for the whole story.
POSTED AUG. 27, 1998
Bakum, white Jewish male <bakum@bigfoot.com>, San Francisco, CA

FURTHER NOTICE 9:
To L.W.: I think most of the people who have written in opposition to Rita’s statements, including Michelle, have a good understanding of the rules of this forum. They object to Rita’s answer for many reasons, all personal and subjective, but they point out that it seems to violate the spirit of the forum. Why? These are the rules given by the forum itself: It does not accept submissions that “contain broad, presumptive statements, internal bias or falsehoods,” “contain language deemed hostile, profane, vulgar or abusive” or “deemed to be insincere, a prank, or designed to provoke or bait, rather than promote dialogue.” Rita’s answer violates all of these rules. Her statements are extremely racist, and one might wonder whether a similar statement against blacks or some other minority would be so strongly defended. We, as a society of many differing cultures, need to denounce racism of all kinds, by all people.
POSTED AUG. 27, 1998
John K., 25, straight Irish-American male, <the-macs@geocities.com>, Cranford, NJ

FURTHER NOTICE 10:
The term “white devil,” in reference to white Americans, became popular when deceased Nation of Islam leader Malcolm X stated publicly his distrust and disdain of whites. The notion of being “devils” reflected that whites were considered evil and extremely toxic to civilization. These feelings are likely a result of white supremacy and America’s long-term legacy of racism. Are whites literally devils? Certainly not. Has racism scarred relationships between blacks and whites? No doubt. Name calling is only one attempt to organize our feelings and thoughts around this difficult issue.
POSTED AUG. 28, 1998
D. West <westde@hiram.edu>, Cleveland, OH

FURTHER NOTICE 11:
Rita (Answer 1): In your opinion, the devil is often associated with death and destruction. And you feel white people have shown themselves through history to be the devil. Then I guess you forgot what happened in Rwanda in 1994. Among others, a former mayor in Rwanda was found guilty in the bloodletting that killed more than 500,000 Rwandans – genocide, crimes against humanity, torture, rape and genocide against women, children and men. So it seams that the devil comes in all colors.
POSTED SEPT. 4, 1998
Greg, white male, Yorktown, VA

FURTHER NOTICE 12:
Whoa. This seems to be a touchy subject. But, I want to add a spiritual side to this. Where in the Bible does it say the devil is white or black? I don’t recall it mentioning any color. Another point to bring up is, What happened to equality? Everyone screams for equality. How can you expect equality if you can’t give it? Lumping a whole race together is prejudiced and not representing equality. If I were to say “black people are all criminals,” that would be the same as saying all white people are devils. If that is the way all black and white people really are, I feel sorry for us all. Who wants a bunch of criminals and devils around them? I certainly don’t!
POSTED SEPT. 10 ,1998
Regina W., white female <reginak@clt-online.com>, Charlotte, NC

FURTHER NOTICE 13:
To Rita: Was it not the Egyptians (blacks) who enslaved the Hebrews thousands of years before any whites enslaved people? At one time, Egypt was a mighty culture in North Africa that conquered many nations through war. The histories of all races have war and oppression written all through them. It is only within our own recent history that the white man has dominated the black man. If left to our own, humans will never find the answer to this problem. Power and dominance would shift from one group to the next until each race had at one time or another been oppressed. I believe this problem will be solved through divine intervention, but that is another subject altogether.
POSTED SEPT. 19, 1998
M.A.M., 25, Atlanta , GA

FURTHER NOTICE 14:
Obviously white people or white men are not devils, and I am sure Rita does not think they are, either. A bunch of white people wrote back condemning her racist attacks on white men. While it is necessary to have zero tolerance for stereotypes – it is important for us, if we are to be constructive, to understand where Rita’s comments were coming from. Rita is making an analysis of American society in which for the most part, power is in the hands of a few, and those few are for the most part, and I stress for the most part, wealthy white men. This is due to largely institutionalized racism (sorry folks, most of the time it ain’t personal) in which the majority of non-whites receive poorer quality education, health care, jobs and housing. Also, the experiences of non-whites and women (especially of color), gays and lesbians and other oppressed groups are silenced (ignored, censored, not encouraged, discouraged, underfunded, tokenized, rejected, considered unimportant or not canonical) and their histories are not taught or known by the majority of people.

We must understand the functions of this very subtle process by which oppressed people’s lives, histories and struggles are suppressed. What purpose does it serve? I have come to the conclusion that it serves the purpose of keeping the majority of people unaware of all the crazy racist and oppressive stuff that goes on in this country and in the world. If we don’t have to see the faces of the one million children who have died because of the sanctions on Iraq, then it is that much easier for us to be complacent about such atrocities. If indigenous people are being kicked of the one little plot of land they have left in New Mexico to make way for uranium mines, it is that much easier for the majority of us to stand by the wayside and not make a peep because we don’t even know about the humanity of those people or how much they have suffered at the hands of their colonizers.

There is two points to be made here. First, racism is institutional for the most part, and if we want to support and fight for the self-determination and liberation of non-white people, then we need to understand institutional racism. Secondly, if we are to understand and combat institutional racism, we need to undestand the racist ideology that goes with it and helps perpetuate racism in all forms. That is, as long as we are not fully aware of and are not celebrating the humanity (arts, literature, beauty, struggle, politics,etc.) of non-white people (in the same way we celebrate the humanity of white people), we will not be outraged by their oppression – whether that oppression be in the form of us killing 4,000 civilians in the Panama invasion, cutbacks on welfare, the scapegoating of immigrants and increased border violence, to unchecked police brutality.

I am writing this in response to the personalistic nature of the responses, as if racism were largely a personal problem. As if most black people would be happy as long as white people would just be nice to them or something. The problem is not a matter of niceties. It is an immense systemic problem. Non-white people are systematically denied equal opportunities in this country, and we need to fight against that if we are truly for life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
POSTED DEC. 2, 1998
Eva O., white straight women, <eva.owens@oberlin.edu>, Boston, MA

FURTHER NOTICE 15:
Rita, I’m very troubled by your answer. That sort of blindered reasoning could be (and is) used to justify any sort of prejudice. To look at only evil done by white people and ignore the good, and to ignore all the evil committed by people of other races is a very biased and selective view of the facts. As a Jew, I could look to the history of the treatment of Jews by non-Jews and particularly by many Christian churches and conclude that all non-Jews are the devil. Or, as a woman, I could look to long centuries of oppression of women and conclude that all men are the devil. I don’t think that would be fair or moral or productive.
POSTED DEC. 4, 1998
Marcia, NY, NY

FURTHER NOTICE 16:
To Rita: Do you seriously believe that if everyone on the planet woke up tomorrow black or any color other than white, that all the planes, bombs, submarines and other devices of destruction in this world would be eliminated, or that wars and killing would end? Your comments are those a racist or someone who stereotypes people by the color of their skin would make. You have allowed yourself to lose your objectivity for the sake of your personal agenda. All people are not bad, and all are not good. The ability to distinguish between the two is a mark of your wisdom and character. You do not sound so evil yourself as much as you do unwise and misguided. Knowledge is power; seek it and you shall be enlightened. However, seek knowledge of not only what makes you “feel good.” I once thought as you do about races other than my own. If you really have the desire, you can change your way of thinking. It is acceptable to judge people within your own mind, but I suggest you do so based on the character they display to you on a personal level rather than the color of their skin. When you have developed the ability to do that, you will see a whole new world open before your eyes.
POSTED DEC. 7, 1998
White Male, 47, retired Navy <ckll0@aol.com>, Muncie, IN

FURTHER NOTICE 17:
While I can’t argue that white people have been responsible for actions such as Rita describes, any view that white people are the only ones who have is a bit myopic. Both India and Pakistan have recently conducted nuclear testing for the purpose of developing an atomic bomb. There is also evidence that Iraq was on a similar course prior to the Gulf War. For evidence of cultural genocide, try the Hutus and Tutsis in Rwanda. Throughout history, people of all colors have worked to develop weapons of all sorts. Nobody has a monopoly there. And if you have evidence that AIDS, or the use of drugs, was introduced into a culture or society in order to deliberately kill its members, please tell us about it.
POSTED MARCH 19, 1999
John, 48, white male, <voiceman@electrotex.com>, Houston , TX
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THE QUESTION:
R415: Why do some East Indians refer to white Americans as “Satan”?
POSTED AUG. 13, 1998
Molson, 19, white <molson_c@hotmail.com>, Windsor, Ontario, Canada

ANSWER 1:
The recent bombings of Afghanistan and Sudan are an example of why white Americans are referred to as “Satan.” There is no proof that the people in these countries were behind the terrorist acts in Kenya and Tanzania. There is no proof that the bombed plants were used as terrorist camps or were used to manufacture chemical weapons. America’s response to the crisis was reactional. It is possible that America killed a number of innocent people. Is it considered justice to act without obtaining or considering all the facts?
POSTED AUG. 24, 1998
Traci C., black, Tempe, AZ
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THE QUESTION:
R414: It seems that most people with the last name of Washington or Jefferson are black. I understand that slaves took their masters’ last names, and that Thomas Jefferson, in particular, had many descendants by relations with his slaves. But what seems strange to me is that not as many white people seem to have these two surnames, even though George Washington and Thomas Jefferson were so prominent in U.S. history. Is this my imagination, or is there some basis to this?
POSTED AUG. 13, 1998
Rosie, 49, white female, Santa Rosa , CA

ANSWER 1:
I also wonder about this, as my boyfriend, who is black, has the last name washington. But I’m also acquainted with several white people with the same last name. The only answer I’ve come up with (going by just the Washingtons I know) is that people of color (I know several American Indians also named Washington) have larger families than whites do. I know this is somewhat of a stereotype, but by and large, my family included, minority families value large families more and tend to have more kids. Also, remember that while George Washington and Thomas Jefferson had white kids, think of just how many black women they impregnated, as opposed to their one white wife, leaving many more black children behind.
POSTED FEB. 10, 1999
S.G. FL
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THE QUESTION:
R413: I notice that many Asians have difficulty using the “s” sound after words to indicate the plural. For example, they might say “two dollar” instead of “two dollars.” I also notice the difficulty in using the “c” sound, for example saying “Ni try” instead of “Nice try.” Why is this, or is it just my imagination?
POSTED AUG. 12, 1998
Paul S., 61 white male <paul@ioc.net>, Mission Viejo, CA

ANSWER 1:
I am a Thai-speaking Asian. The reason for the difficulty is not in pronouncing the “s” sound or the “c” sound, but because in Thai, the noun does not change, i.e. there is no addition of an “s,” whether the word is singular or plural. In Chinese (from what I know) this is also the case, except for some exceptions where the noun is given a different spelling. In Thai the “s” and “c” sounds normally come at the beginning of the word. Words ending with the Thai equivalent of “s” or “c” will be pronounced as a “d” or an “n”. For example, SAS-SA-NA (in Thai means religion) will be pronounced as SAD-SA-NA. So it is not that we cannot pronounce the “s” or “c” – it is that in speech we are not automatically programmed to add the “s” to the noun in plural.
POSTED AUG. 13, 1998
Kanokwan, Thai-Chinese <kanokwanp@hotmail.com>, Bangkok, Thailand

FURTHER NOTICE:
Ditto that to the Japanese language as well. There is no plural form for nouns. An English counterpart for this convention would be a word such as “deer.”
POSTED AUG. 24, 1998
David S., Japanese-American <Dsugimoto@aol.com>, San Antonio, TX
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THE QUESTION:
R412: I wonder: Are black Americans jealous of gay Americans because they are making such strides toward equal protection under the law?
POSTED AUG. 11, 1998
Alma J., African American <pridewks@centraltx.net>, Kempner, TX

ANSWER 1:
A number of black Americans are offended by gay rights activists who equate the gay rights movement with the civil rights movement. In the eyes of many blacks, that isn’t an apt comparison, because there is/was no closet for a member of a visible racial minority to retreat to. The thinking is that the that racial discrimination differs from homosexual discrimination in that the latter is based on certain types of behavior that many people believe to be immoral. And being that most black people either believe in conservative Christianity or were at least exposed to it in their youth, it is not surprising many might not be quick so draw a parallel between the two movements.
POSTED AUG. 18, 1998
Jay B., 38, black male, <jayboyd@ameritech.net>, Detroit, MI

FURTHER NOTICE:
Although systematic, institutional and pervasive racism still maintains white hegemony in virtually all aspects of American life, it has been many years since African Americans have been denied the range of civil rights still denied gay, lesbian and bisexual people. So queer-folk are still fighting for fundamental rights that (at least on paper) black people – at least black heterosexuals – enjoy. My concern is that the myth of “special rights” for gay people, in my opinion, is being steadily promoted to the African-American community by political interest groups that want to incite hostility between the two communities.
POSTED AUG. 18, 1998
Max H., semi-white gay male, Oakland, CA

FURTHER NOTICE 2:
I do not think black people are jealous of advances the gay community is making. I do think the majority of them resent the parallels drawn between the civil rights movement and the gay rights movement. It is a fact that the majority of black people are extremely homophobic – it stems from the fact that this majority was either raised with a Christian or Islamic background and thus were taught homosexuality was sinful and disgusting. With that idea firmly entrenched into our psyches from childhood, it’s no wonder black people want no parallels drawn, even though they exist. We forget that only 80 or so years ago, we were considered just as immoral and disgusting by the dominant culture as gays are now. In truth, the gay rights movement has a tremendous way to go and really has not advanced past the civil rights movement, though it is true it has benefited tremendously from the precedents set. So have many other groups, but since they are not persecuted on moral grounds, they are not resented as much.
POSTED AUG. 20, 1998
Andee B., 20, black female <abrowne@sophia.smith.edu>, Northampton, MA
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THE QUESTION:
R411: Is it true that some African Americans believe that allowing a baby to see its image in a mirror might bring bad luck? If so, why, and what is the origin of this belief?
POSTED AUG. 10, 1998
FloT <umzamo@ij.net>, Tampa, FL

ANSWER 1:
Your question made me smile. As a new mother almost 19 years ago, my mother-in-law became highly upset with me when I allowed my baby to look in a mirror. She claimed my daughter would be toothless for life. As a young, white new mom, I looked to this 70-plus, black woman for her reasoning. Having been raised in the deep South, she explained that this was absolutely true, as were many other beliefs, such as that looking at a snake when you are pregnant will give your baby snake skin. (And she swore she had seen a baby with snake skin). My blessed mother-in-law told me many stories and superstitions throughout the years, all of which I listened to intently as a learning of her heritage. Many of these were based in the church (she was a Pentecostal minister), many from old voodoo. Regardless, they were fact to her. I cherish these memories as a part of my daughter’s rich African-American background. By the way, my daughter does have teeth.
POSTED SEPT. 2, 1998
Kathy T. <kdm05@bellsouth.net>, Jacksonville, FL

FURTHER NOTICE:
The same belief is prevalent in India and Pakistan. The babies are not allowed to see themselves in a mirror until they are about 16 to 18 months old. It is considered bad luck, and also it is supposed to stunt the growth. I was also told by a friend that some babies get frightened looking at themselves in the mirror. Another reason might be that since babies are still learning to judge the shape, color, dimensions and distance factors associated with surrounding objects, a mirror reflection might give a distorted orientation and confuse the infant in some way.
POSTED SEPT. 25, 1998
Brian C., Dubai, United Arab Emirates