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Race/Ethnicity Questions 91-100

THE QUESTION:
R100: Can someone please explain to me why white people insist on tanning (artificially or naturally)? Especially since tanning in the sun can cause skin cancer?
POSTED MARCH 25, 1998
K.C., black female, Kansas City, MO

ANSWER 1:
I tan because darker skin looks better and healthier than being completely white. It’s kind of like natural makeup. Sure it is dangerous, i.e. skin cancer, but I think the benefits far outweigh the risks. A pale, white person looks like he/she is sick or something, whereas a tanned person looks much healthier. Black people are lucky they don’t have to worry about such things.
POSTED MARCH 28, 1998
Andrew V. , 32, San Diego, CA

FURTHER NOTICE:
There are subtle social indications connected with tanning. In the 1700s and 1800s, pale skin was considered beautiful. It indicated that a person was a member of the rich, privileged class that didn’t have to work in the sun but got to sit indoors all day. Work situations have changed – the lower-class worker has to sit indoors at work all day, while the rich upper-crust get to lounge around their pools and beaches all day, aquiring a tan. Also, some people feel a tan makes you look better. It increases visual muscle definition and makes skin blemishes less visible by decreasing color contrast with the rest of the face.
Colette, 32, white <inkwolf@earthlink.net>
Seymour , WI

FURTHER NOTICE 2:
Sun-tanning can have beneficial results. Acne and psoriasis can be treated this way.
POSTED MARCH 28, 1998
C.M., 23, white, Eastpointe, MI

FURTHER NOTICE 3:
I used to try and tan when I was younger. I grew up in a mixed neighborhood and had a lot of black friends. I know I got teased a lot for being pale from my black friends. They were just teasing, but I did want to be tan. All my white girlfriends tanned, so it was “the thing to do.” To be honest, I am pretty pale, and I do think I look healthier with a tan – but it’s not worth enduring sunburn and skin cancer to get it. I think it’s for the same reason that white girls want to be so thin. All you hear growing up (as a white female) is how you’re supposed to be thin and tan and blonde, etc. I can’t speak for everyone, but I know that most of my white girlfriends had self-esteem problems. I think the white culture places way too much emphasis on physical traits. As I got, older I realized it was all stupid. I don’t tan, I don’t wear much makeup and I weigh what I do because it’s what I feel comfortable with, not what others think I should.
POSTED MARCH 29, 1998
Andrea, 27, white, Seattle, WA

FURTHER NOTICE 4:
I think Andrea has a point, in that society does place too much emphasis on physical traits. My wife, who is from the Philippines, has a delightful olive complexion that does, however, darken with exposure to sunlight. Consequently, she avoids exposing her skin to the sun. The average Australian, on the other hand, still seeks the sun-bronzed look, even while the skin cancer rate is climbing. So you have whites risking death to become brown, while people who are brown would give anything to become white. Very strange, no?
POSTED MARCH 29, 1998
David, 51, white <dave@metzke.com.au>
Perth, Australia

FURTHER NOTICE 5:
While it may be true for folks brainwashed into thinking that pale skin is most beautiful, plenty of brown-skinned folks adore their naturally sun-kissed complexions. I know African people from Limon, Costa Rica, to Harare, Zimbabwe, to Harlem who revel in the inherent beauty of dark, boldly black skin. Every time I visit the Carribbean, I cherish the new coat of brown I wear back to chilly New York. So, never underestimate black pride. Don’t fall into the trap of thinking blacks want to be white and vice versa. Blanket statments shroud truth.
POSTED APRIL 3, 1998
Ansariyah G., African, Syracuse, NY

FURTHER NOTICE 6:
I feel that all of us need to learn to like ourselves and not try to be what we are not. I agree that one shouldn’t tan to fit in with society’s image of what is beautiful and shouldn’t seek to starve to fit society’s version of “sexy.” I feel that living a life that creates happiness and wholeness without worrying about what others think and “expect” shows a healthy and mature self-esteem. This is a sad society in which little girls especially see themselves in terms of what TV and magazines say they should be.
POSTED APRIL 4, 1998
Mjtate <mjtate@ix.netcom.com>
Bremerton, WA

FURTHER NOTICE 7:
Having a tan or being a little brown is OK – as long as it’s not too brown. White people will get tan, but I don’t think naturally dark white people will try to get darker. The same with Asians and Indians: They think lighter is better, and this holds for many other non-Western cultures. And for the most part, the light/dark split is related to class. In many cultures, those who are darker worked the land and were poorer, and light skin was associated with wealth.
POSTED APRIL 4, 1998
Vincent, Philadelphia, PA

FURTHER NOTICE 8:
I have to disagree with Andrew (Answer 1). I am a naturally fair-skinned redhead of Irish descent who does not leave the house with anything less than SFP 15 on my face.
POSTED APRIL 6, 1998
Mary Beth, Canada
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THE QUESTION:
R99: I work at a “hang-out” for many people, but I have noticed a lot of young black males are starting to wear nylons and nylon-type material over their heads. I am fearful that it is too easy for a person wearing a nylon cap to pull it over their face and rob me or my coworkers. I want to know where this practice started and if I should be concerned about anyone of any color doing this.
POSTED MARCH 25, 1998
M.M., white male <superpacmania97@hotmail.com>
Ann Arbor, MI

ANSWER 1:
Wearing the nylon cap is only what is happening in the young urban black fashion scene. It is nothing criminal, just what’s the “in thing” to wear. A lot of the caps have fashion designers’ names on them. It is no different than back in the western days, when men wore cowbay hats.
POSTED MARCH 28, 1998
Avenger, Dallas, Texas

FURTHER NOTICE:
What someone wears is not an indicator that you will be robbed. It is what is in their mind. Baggy jeans and nylon caps will not make me rob you. I have to want to do it in the first place.
POSTED AUG. 4, 1998
Lilly
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THE QUESTION:
R98: Why do some black men have the sound so loud in their cars that you can hear the metal vibrate? Doesn’t it get annoying when the noise is that loud? Does it make the music more enjoyable, or is it for status?
POSTED MARCH 25, 1998
M.S., white male, 24 <mdsmith@emich.edu.com>
Ann Arbor, MI
(Similar question posted June 27, 1998, by Mark H., 32, white, Vienna, VA)

ANSWER 1:
I think that no matter who you are, some people like loud music. I am a 38-year-old white female who rocks out in her car. Sometimes the music is so loud that the windows feel like they are shaking. I do think that males like bass a little more, and that can make everyone around you “feel” the music as well. Music knows no race. There are quite a few of us that like it loud.
POSTED MARCH 26, 1998
Bren W., Pueblo, CO

FURTHER NOTICE:
Bass tends to travel.. You cannot feel it when the source is close to you, but if you move away a few feet, you can really notice it. That is why the person’s car next to you sounds so muffled. In my opinion, all these people should turn down the radio a bit, in order to hear emergency vehicles.
POSTED MARCH 31, 1998
Dee, 27, white female
Detroit, MI

FURTHER NOTICE 2:
I want to support what Bren W. said. I’m an African American female who happens to love loud music – the bass in R&B and hip-hop music just sounds better that way. Like the writer, I live in Ann Arbor, and there’s a young white man who lives around the block who rocks the entire street whenever he drives by!
POSTED MARCH 31, 1998
Michelle, 36, Ann Arbor, MI

FURTHER NOTICE 3:
Not only blacks turn up their music really loud. My boyfriend, who is Chinese, has all the works in his car and is planning to get more to get his car to sound “better.” It is a status thing, somewhat. He wants to be impressive, but the most important thing is simple: He likes it that way. He likes the way his music sounds, and frankly, I like it, too. I happen to like the way the music and bass surround me in the car.
POSTED APRIL 1, 1998
J. Wu, 18, female <ChinkGirl6@aol.com>
Lawrenceville, Ga

FURTHER NOTICE 4:
To tune out your country music! I have heard white guys whose music is loud, too.
POSTED AUG. 4, 1998
Lilly
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THE QUESTION:
R97: I have heard from many of my black female friends that it is all right for black men to date white females, but not to be serious about them. Is this the general feeling among black women? Especially mothers?
POSTED MARCH 25, 1998
A.J. Johnson, 23, white <jabez123@yahoo.com>
Howell, MI

ANSWER 1:
I would be disappointed if my son seriously dated a white female. It’s not a rational reaction, but I would feel that he had rejected the beauty of African-American women. So yes, if he had to date white women, I would want it to be just a “phase.”
POSTED APRIL 6, 1998
L.R., African American, N.C.

FURTHER NOTICE:
To L.R.: Do you mean that if your son met a woman and they fell in love and they were very compatible and she treated him well, you wouldn’t want them to be together just because of her skin color?
POSTED APRIL 26, 1998
Sara S., Oakland, CA

FURTHER NOTICE 2:
I can’t choose the person with whom my son will fall in love, and I would never try to change that. I just think that he will have a lot to offer, and other things being equal, I would prefer that it go to a black woman.
POSTED APRIL 29, 1998
L.R., African American, N.C.

FURTHER NOTICE 3:
I would be upset if the black guy chose to exclusively date white women. This would be an indication to me that he thought white women were superior to black women, and that would be offensive.
POSTED AUG. 4, 1998
Lilly
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THE QUESTION:
R96: What is the origin of the Mexican slang word “ese”?
Michael M., MI
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THE QUESTION:
R95: Is claustrophobia more prevalent in Western cultures as opposed to the more closely knit Eastern cultures?
POSTED MARCH 25, 1998
Michael M., MI

ANSWER 1:
I’m a Westerner living in Japan, and while I can’t speak to the clinical “claustrophobia” aspect of your question, I can say that Japanese people in general seem more tolerant of close quarters than the average American. The concept of personal privacy differs here, an outgrowth of the close-knit features of the society you spoke of. Homes are closer together, people sit closer in restaurants, stand closer in line or on the subway. Many homes and apartments are half the average U.S. size or smaller, and people just take this as a matter of course – it’s normal here. My own apartment is rather old, but it’s of comparable size to many units Japanese families with small children live in. To be honest, I haven’t a clue how they manage – I just need more personal space, a little more privacy. Whether this tolerance for proximity and smaller living quarters would affect the incidence of claustrophobia, I don’t know. It might be more accurate to ask if the social conditions in the West (or United States) result in an increased incidence of claustrophobia compared with Asian cultures.
POSTED APRIL 18, 1998
Geoff C. <boston@eolas-net.ne.jp>
Asahikawa, Japan

FURTHER NOTICE:
I am white and currently living in Japan. I have to agree the living conditions in Japan are much more cramped than those that I am used to. However, I don’t think differences in culture play that much of a role in a person’s ability to live in a small space. I think that in many cases, such as in Japan, the proximity of relatives has much more to do with economic means rather than culture, moral standards and expectations. From talking with many of my co-workers, I have come to realize they have had adapt to these living conditions to survive. Many have said they would prefer larger living quarters but can’t afford them. Also, many of my exchange student friends have said they preferred the larger living quarters upon coming to the United States.
POSTED APRIL 20, 1998
Tom J., 22 <tmjast@hotmail.com>
Shiwa, Iwate, Japan
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THE QUESTION:
R94: I work with two white males who think it is important to use phrases like “He’s the C.E.O.” or “He’s the V.P. of sales.” Do they think that because I’m a black woman I need to be reminded that these individuals have a higher status than me? They don’t remind other white workers of the same people’s titles.
POSTED MARCH 25, 1998
Trudy D., News Reporter
Detroit , MI

ANSWER 1:
I’m not sure why males do that sort of thing. I have been around people who have a need for using acronyms, though. Perhaps these males have an acronym fetish. I don’t think it’s a black or white issue, but merely an individual needing to feel that they fit in. Perhaps by using titles they are making up for any lack of manhood elsewhere.
POSTED MARCH 29, 1998
Bill, 30, Ann Arbor, MI

FURTHER NOTICE:
I disagree with Bill from Ann Arbor because I believe what the original author was asking was overly sensitive to race or something equally as “sinister.” What these title-slinging oafs are engaging in is probably no more important (or sinister) than folks who profess to have met well-known athletes or other celebrities. Corporate America (all races) is full of the title thing. Don’t get too wrapped up in it!
POSTED MARCH 29, 1998
Tim, Canton, MI

FURTHER NOTICE 2:
I am confused about why you would see men describing a person according to their title as a racial issue. To me, this is the problem in society today. Anything and everything can be construed as racist. I think that because men are so success-oriented, referring to someone according to their title is related more to status and position than to insult someone. We can all derive racist insinuations if we look that far into comments made. Try to see it for what it is and don’t look too far into it.
POSTED JUNE 10, 1998
E.T., 30, Ft. Collins, CO
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THE QUESTION:
R93: Why do blacks call fellow blacks “brothers” and “sisters”?
POSTED MARCH 24, 1998
Chris F. <lauriethornton@sev.org>
Sylvania, OH
(Similar question posted April 3, 1998, by Kate H., Clinton Twp., MI)

ANSWER 1:
That has to do with the slavery days, when citizens used to consider African Americans all equal to one another; therefore, they where looked at as one big family of brothers and sisters.
POSTED MARCH 25, 1998
John, Romeo, MI

FURTHER NOTICE:
Historically, black people have had extremely strong religious backgrounds. The use of the terms “brother” and “sister” began in black churches. Since we are all children of God, we consider our fellow churchgoers brothers and sisters. This custom just happened to spill over into secular speech.
POSTED MARCH 29, 1998
Denise, 26, black, Bronx, NY
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THE QUESTION:
R92: Why is it that when a city is majority black the crime rate is considerably higher than a city that is majority white? (Director’s Note: Y? would prefer a qualified expert in law enforcement to answer this question and verify whether the assumption contained in it is correct.)
POSTED MARCH 24, 1998
Rob <innvertigo@aol.com>
Southfield , MI
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THE QUESTION:
R91: In reference to the Malice Green beating in Detroit: Why would people paint a Christ-like mural of a known drug-dealer and drug-user? It is tragic, but is it worthy of a memorial?
POSTED MARCH 24, 1998
John Ferguson, 22, white male
Detroit , MI

ANSWER 1:
There are no tragedies not worthy of memorials. Memorials are human expressions of grief, rememberances and, in some cases, outright resistance to hegemonic domination. I would argue that the Malice Green memorial is a testimonial to the latter point. I would further add that those allegations of drug involvement actually strengthen the memorial by contextualizing it; thus, representing a searing indictment upon the larger society who import the drugs (and guns), warehouse the drugs (guns) within their own communities and later distribute their ignoble, odious product to the inner city. However, their communities – where the largest caches of drugs are stored – are rarely, if ever, raided. Certainly, all memorials are clearly subjective, but they are an inalienable, universal human right.
POSTED MARCH 25,1998
B.T.M., black, male, Detroit, MI

FURTHER NOTICE:
The mural of Mr. Green serves two purposes. As much as it is a memorial to him, it is also a symbol of protest against police brutality.
POSTED MARCH 28, 1998
Jay Boyd <jayboyd@ameritech.net>
Detroit, MI
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