Race/Ethnicity Questions 71-80

THE QUESTION:
R80: In television reports on racism, black men who have attained high positions often say that to be accepted, they had to “act white.” Having lived in a mostly white area (and having little basis for comparison) I’m curious to know what characteristics and behavior are considered specifically “white” by other races.
POSTED MARCH 23, 1998
Colette, 32 <inkwolf@earthlink.net>
Seymour, WI
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THE QUESTION:
R79: Fairly frequently I have made business appointments with black people, only to have them not show up and not call to explain or apologize. Is this a cultural difference, or am I just dealing with insensitive people?
POSTED MARCH 23, 1998
Dana B., 32, white female <dburke@execpc.com>
Milwaukee , WI

ANSWER 1:
No, it’s not a cultural thing. There are many African American professionals who handle their business the way they should. You just had the misfortune of dealing with some really trifling folks – they exist in all races.
POSTED MARCH 31, 1998
Michelle, 36, African American <kmichell@umich.edu>
Ann Arbor, MI
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THE QUESTION:
R78: I am a 35-year-old white male with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering. All the engineers where I work are white males. This is the norm for companies I visit or tour. Why are there so few minorities in engineering?
Dave, 35 <david.drewes@apwesa.com>
Wales, WI

ANSWER 1:
The absence of black engineers is often attributed to the absence of engineering role models in the community. Some years ago, an organization called the Southeastern Consortium for Minorities in Engineering was started involving several Southern schools, including Georgia Tech, and its goal was to introduce engineering as an option to students in minority schools. The path to middle- and upper-management is often through the engineering professions, and while there is still much to be done, SECME is offering assistance in leveling the field through education.
POSTED MARCH 25, 1998
Alan Gravitt <agravitt@randomc.com>
College Park , GA

FURTHER NOTICE:
Possibly it’s a mechanical engineering thing. In electronic and software engineering (in the United States and in Northern Europe) a large proportion of my colleagues have been from “minorities” – Far Eastern, Hispanic or from the Indian subcontinent. In the United States, though, there are far fewer “black” engineers than I’d expect.
POSTED MARCH 28, 1998
Eric S., 28, Celtic <Eric.Silver@blighty.com>
Boston, MA
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THE QUESTION:
R77: I live in a mixed neighborhood and am noted for trying to involve all of us living here in making general improvements to the area. We have had a lot of trouble with gang members, drug dealers and thelike. Some black juveniles have taken to calling me “the white bitch” loudly when I am out in public. They seem really puzzled when I seemingly take no offense or ignore it. However, I have been known to respond (pointing to myself) “No. 1 Bitch!” Is this (white bitch) a really serious slur, and how should I handle it?
POSTED MARCH 23, 1998
Elizabeth D. <ecd@sbt.net>
Waterloo, Iowa

ANSWER 1:
I think the key word here is “juveniles.” They usually have little or no respect for anyone who espouses an attitude opposing theirs. They refer to you as a “white b—–” because you pose a threat to their existence. If it’s any consolation, they would refer to me as a “black b—-” if I were doing the same things that you’re doing. At any rate, please exercise caution because in their minds, you are disrespecting them by your actions, and they could get violent.
POSTED MARCH 24, 1998
Claire D., black female, Stone Mountain, GA

FURTHER NOTICE:
I lived in a mixed race area most of my life.It surprises me that you need to ask if being called the “white bitch” is dangerous. It is obviously not respectful and said out of dislike of you. You may want to be careful – your well-intended efforts at trying to improve may be “stepping on people’s toes.” Drug dealers and the like count on people turning their heads and being passive and not trying to get involved. You should be commended for your concern and involvement. Most whites move from declining mixed racial areas. Be careful, and be sure to involve professional help such as the police, say in neighborhood watch groups, etc. Good luck!
POSTED MARCH 24, 1998
Kelly, 35, Detroit, MI
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THE QUESTION:
R76: Why do most black people wear their hats backwards? I have tried this many times, and I do not think this is comfortable.
POSTED MARCH 23, 1998
Matthew, Houghton, MI

ANSWER 1:
Most African Americans do not wear their hats backwards. But among the white, black, Chicano, Asian, etc. youth for whom this is the style, it remains an identifier of youth culture. I have recently been more aware of a style of wearing baseball-style caps off to the side rather than backwards. I don’t know if these particular styles started among African-American youth. If they did, they were certainly developed as identifiers of racial, ethnic or community culture. I understand your discomfort, though. Other examples of such identifiers that I personally would find uncomfortable include high heels, piercing, tattoos, branding, etc. but hey, different strokes for different folks, right!
Larry, 34, African American, NY
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THE QUESTION:
R75: In England, the term “Asian” almost always refers to people from India/Sri Lanka/Bangladesh/Pakistan. In America, it seems it usually means Oriental people – i.e. Chinese/Japanese/Korean, etc. In each case, the color/features identify roughly the group, but not the precise term to use. Is it insulting to a Pakistani to be called “Indian” or to a Korean to be called “Chinese”?
POSTED MARCH 22, 1998
Gill Othen, 42, white, English <101540.540@compuserve.com>
Kenilworth, England

ANSWER 1:
I’m half Japanese, and if someone says I’m of Asian descent or that I’m an Asian, that’s fine – it’s a geographic qualifier. But if someone refers to me as Chinese, I get a bit ruffled because it’s a completely different culture.
POSTED MARCH 28, 1998
Linn S., 29, <linnick@pcisys.net>
Denver, CO

FURTHER NOTICE:
My ancestors came from Japan, but my family has been in Hawaii for more than 80 years. I was born and raised in Hawaii and currently take residence in Washington. People have wrongly assumed I do not speak English or that I am not from America because of my appearance. This is why I take offense at being called any Asian race, be it Chinese, Indian or even Japanese. I am American and have never been anything else.
POSTED MARCH 29, 1998
Vicky T., 25 <vickyt@bigfoot.com>
Seattle, WA

FURTHER NOTICE 2:
I’m a senior at a racially mixed high school. I find it an insult when I am called Vietnamese/ Korean/ Laosian and so on, when I’m actually Chinese. I call those people ignorant because they do not bother to try to distinguish. I think if you’re not sure what nationality the person is, don’t call them anything. I’m very proud of my nationality. I have no problem with the other nationalities, I just don’t like to hear people generalizing all Orientals in school as either Chinese or Vietnamese. What happened to Koreans, Cambodians and such?
POSTED APRIL 1, 1998
J. Wu, 18, female <ChinkGirl6@aol.com>
Lawrenceville, GA

FURTHER NOTICE 3:
As a person of Chinese descent, it’s OK to me if people mistake me for Japanese or Korean, because it might be difficult for Western people to recognize the physical differences (if any). Anyway, I may not be able to tell if a white person is an American, Australian, etc., until I hear him/her speak. But to some people who take pride in their race, it might be quite insulting if they are mistaken for some other race (which sometimes they consider less superior).
POSTED APRIL 14, 1998
Chi Yu, Chinese female, Indonesia

FURTHER NOTICE 4:
I find it somewhat insulting if I’m instantly labeled by someone as “Chinese,” because that tells me they didn’t bother to ask or find out. This doesn’t mean I have anything against Chinese people. “Chinese” seems to be the first thing to pop into mind, due to a various number of factors, such as Confucius, Bruce Lee, etc.

If someone asks me with a sincere curiosity, I’m more than happy to tell them I am Japanese (I take the American part for granted) and answer any other questions they have.
POSTED MAY 23, 1998
Jerome, 25, Japanese, Clinton Township, MI
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THE QUESTION:
R74: Why do some German people not comb their hair very often? I have noticed this in some who have stayed with me.
POSTED MARCH 22, 1998
Pat G., FL

ANSWER 1:
I lived in Germany for two years and was convinced Germans are much better groomed in their clothing – fit, coordination of colors and fabrics; shoes, socks and other accessories – than Americans, who tend to wear (in contrast) clashing colors, poor fabrics such as polyester, and sport shoes no matter what. But it’s strange you have noticed it; maybe there is some basis to it. I work with German tourists and have noticed they tend to use tanning lotions or do suntanning in those tan salons, so their skin, especially their faces, take on a strange hue. When they come to visit California, the sun is the No. 1 thing they are seeking, and sunburn, cancer, wrinkles, etc. don’t come up very often. German women tend to keep their hair short.
POSTED AUG. 4, 1998
Mary, 35, Irish-American <Alleskaput@aol.com>, San Francisco, CA
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THE QUESTION:
R73: Do straight men in Italy still hold hands as friends in public, or is this custom fading?
POSTED MARCH 22, 1998
P.D., white, Jacksonville

ANSWER 1:
The custom of straight men holding hands is not limited to Italy. The custom is still in practice in Italy, or was as of my last visit to Sicily in 1995. I have observed this same custom among the Island people of the South Pacific as well as the Greek and Turkish people. The intimate and supportative nature of such a gesture is not lost on me, who as an American sometimes feels that we have created a personal space fixaton that results in personal isolation and (does not offer) the support that can come with close friendship. I am a career U.S. Navy sailor with 23 years in the service and have traveled extensively. I serve as an equal opportunity advisor to Navy personnel. I would enjoy answering any questions put to me or assisting people in finding answers.
POSTED MARCH 24, 1998
Miles Minson, 46, white <dadymel@aol.com>
Jacksonville, FL

FURTHER NOTICE:
I was also in the Navy for a number of years and spent most of my time abroad. I spent a lot of time in the Mediterranean countries such as Italy, Sicily, France and Spain and witnessed a lot of straight male hand-holding, too. But what made an even greater impression on me was that in all of these countries, the men danced together as well. In fact, they danced together more than with women; much the same way that American women dance together at bars. (Of course, I am referring to dance music, not slow body contact dancing).
POSTED MARCH 25, 1998
Jacqui, 28 <pollyanna_87@yahoo.com>
Dearborn , MI

FURTHER NOTICE 2:
On a recent trip to India, I noticed many young men holding hands with other young men. I am assuming that these men were heterosexual, since homosexuality is taboo in India, especially in public. Therefore, I feel that different cultures treat gender relations differently.
POSTED APRIL 3, 1998
V.S., Toronto, ONT., CAN
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THE QUESTION:
R72: Why is it that many people of Asian descent turn a reddish color from drinking alcohol? Their alcohol tolerance seems to be lower as well. Is there a scientific explanation for this?
POSTED MARCH 21, 1998
T. Hughes, Walled Lake, MI

ANSWER 1:
I am a white female, and when I drink an alcoholic beverage, my face turns red. The more I drink, the redder it gets. Is this really a race issue or does it depend on genetics?
POSTED MARCH 24, 1998
VK, MI

FURTHER NOTICE:
My husband, who is Chinese and a scientist, agrees there is validity to the notion that Asians get more flushed when drinking alcohol. As to the explanation, it is probably due to the dilation of the blood vessels after alcohol consumption. Those vessels close to the skin will be seen more clearly, and people with more yellow/olive pigmentation have a reaction to the adjustment by looking “flushed,” i.e. more red. Black skin would negate the redness, and white skin will vary.
POSTED MARCH 24, 1998
T. Hsu, white <TanyaHsu@compuserve.com>
Atlanta, GA

FURTHER NOTICE 2:
The Japanese have a genetic defect in their DNA that accounts for their low tolerance of alcohol. I don’t know if this is the case for all Asians.
M. Suzuki <hanakana@hotmail.com>
Colorado Springs, CO

FURTHER NOTICE 3:
I am half black and half Japanese, and not only do I get very red in the face from drinking, but my nose gets stuffed up and my face gets extremely hot. I remember a woman from a college in Colorado doing a study on this, and she told me that Asians (and also Native Americans) were unable to break down a particular enzyme found in alcoholic beverages. However, whether this is true or not I couldn’t say.
Linn S., Afro-Asian <linnick@pcisys.net>
Denver, CO

FURTHER NOTICE 4:
Approximately 50 percent of Chinese people produce a chemical that reacts with alcohol. This chemical is similar to disulfiram (Antabuse), a drug used to treat some people with alcohol problems. When this chemical is combined with alcohol, it causes an uncomfortable flushing of the face. In the case of disulfiram, it causes much more severe reactions. A smaller percentage of Japanese people have this chemical, thus a larger number of Japanese people can consume alcohol.
POSTED MARCH 29, 1998
David Roberts <davidrob@cyllene.uwa.edu.au>
Perth, Australia
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THE QUESTION:
R71: Why do many Russians come to America to find work and privileges like the rest of us, but then put down America and refuse to become citizens?
POSTED MARCH 21, 1998
Skooter, 16, white
St. Clair Shores, MI

ANSWER 1:
Unfortunately, the attitude you mentioned seems to apply to most (if not all) immigrant groups. I think the attitude is based on the immigrant’s perception of what America was like before they came here. Not finding what they thought it was, they become disillusioned and thus develop the attitude. As with most people, the “negative” attitudes are the ones that surface. If you should ask any one of those Russians (or any other immigrant) where they would rather be (the United States or their homeland) when all things are considered, the majority would say the United States. Ask them why, and you would be surprised by the number of “positive” reasons given.
POSTED APRIL 3, 1998
Trevor S., 32, black Jamaican <tsteer@worldnet.att.net>
Ypsilanti, MI