Black folks vs. White folks

This idea was prompted after thinking about the “What do you like most about black women?� thread. I was going to post a few things but realized that what most black women do, that most white women don’t, could be applied to most of the black culture. There are just things that black folks do that white folks don’t, and vice versa. (Please remember, this is one white girl’s observations (with a couple from my brother) but I have shared some of them with my black friends or coworkers and they often agree.) These are my favorite things about black folks:

1. Black folks invite everyone to come over to “get a plate� when any meal is made.

2. If the meal is any type of informal gathering, the food is served in big aluminum containers.

3. Spaghetti is served as a side dish, white folks make it a meal with meatballs and wouldn’t think about serving it with chicken in the same meal.

4. Saying “no, thank you� to any food or not helping yourself is only acceptable if you are very new to the group. However, after an hour you are no longer new, so dig in!

5. Meat is cooked well done. (I like my meat and tuna medium rare so this is not something I love.)

6. Soda (or pop) is rarely a cola product. Most often it is a fruit-flavored soda. Or juice. Or Kool-Aid.

7. The greeting is not just “hello� or “hi�. It is also, “how are you doing?�

8. Men greet each other with a nod “up.� White men nod “down.�

9. Auntie is pronounced like it is written “au�. White folks pronounce it with a soft “a�.

Okay, this is an ongoing list because I know I have more. Post more that I may not know about. Please realize that I have generalized a whole group, and I am aware of that.

 

I think that many of the points that you mention are culturally SOUTHERN and not exclusive to African Americans.

I have found that African American New Yorkers (for example) are much different from African American Southerners.

An African American New Yorker could probably only identify with maybe 2-3 of those points

 

I agree. Most people I know in Texas, if they are having a cookout or eating and you come by, you are invited. And filling your plate is a must.

I am editing to add, the emphases on feeding people seems to be stronger in the lower incomes or groups of people who come from lower incomes even though they might be doin better now. I think it comes from when people had to pull together to make it.

I have some Mexican friends and I have never walked into their home without their mother getting up fix fix me something to eat. Even when we come in after a late movie and everyone is in bed. She gets up in her house coat and makes us something to eat.

 

Yeah I think only 8. may be exclusively black.

 

Hmmm...interesting. Okay, white northern folks vs. non-NY black folks then...

10. Older black folks listen to, or are at least aware of, contemporary music much more than white older folks.

 

LOL to this

 

Go to France, Greece, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Turkey, Germany, Malta, Serbia or Hungary and you will see that people behave exactly the way you described - yet I never heard them to be called "black" people.

 

I've never seen anyone serve spaghetti as a side dish.My parents never did it either. Thats new to me. I've known people who have done all the stuff on the rest of the list. But they were usually spanish and other cultures.

 

I have seen some "soul food" restaurants in the South have spaghetti listed as side dish. Catfish (the main dish) with spaghetti and slaw (side dishes) was very common as a meal.

However, in today's world, with the internet and the meshing of cultural/regional nuances, (I hear the Southern accent for example is slowly dying out as well) I don't know if they still do that. Somehow I doubt it, because it would be confusing for most people, and a bad business decision (a little expensive for a side dish)

 

I know people who serve it as a side dish. Many times they will even serve the left over spaghetti cold as a spaghetti salad. But, I dont know any black people who do this. Most of the people I know who serve it as a side are european or from european immigrants.

 

I think this all boils down to geographical location, since I have never seen any black folks (including myself) eat spaghetti as a side dish here in my city, and various cultures throughout the world have these festive cookouts (or whatever you want to call them) often when celebrating holidays, so, whatever.

 

I've never come across that one but again, it depends on the region you are.

This is more of of a immigrant thing. I have a lotta Nigerian family and friends up in Chicago and they do this a lot. None of my non-Nigerian friends do this.

Its more of a Southern thing i suppose and not necessarily a black thing.

I have to agree with this. We Nigerians are particularly guilty of this one :lol:

Absolutely.

This is very common with African-Americans. :wink:

That may be because black folks are not as uptight as white folks and dont attach any necessary familiarity with greeting people.

Without a doubt

Very much true as well as words like "head".

Thats quite ok, it was not taken seriously anyway. :wink:

 

??? Educate me.

 

Not quite what you were thinking :lol: What i meant was that a lot of black folks especially those from the Midwest and Northeast like Chicago, Philly and Jersey would pronounce the word very thick with almost or every vocal organ of theirs. As in "haed, the strong emphasis on the middle dipthongs. But white folks, with the exception of Southerners, would just pronounce it freely. Get it now?

 

It is unusual for me not to think dirty. :lol: I honestly didn't know what you are talking about. Now I do!!! I am close to Chicago and know about "huead". We could go on and on discussing the difference between White and Black Vernacular, most respectfully attributed to the dominance of the Niger-Congo African languages rather than "slang". (A good book on this that is geared towards educators is "The Real Ebonics Debate" edited by Theresa Perry and Lisa Delpit.)

 

I have a feeling the webmaster is going to pull this thread...

 

If you believe this thread should be pulled, please let me explain my intent. I have not outlined differences I have noticed between white folks and black folks with the intent to bash. It is in appreciation of a culture and race outside of my own. I have learned that many of these differences have been regional.

As for the diversion to pointing out the differences in vernacular, that is in no way an insult on any group. It is something that would be a difference between the majority of black people and white people.

If the thread runs its course, however, so be it. Delete. No tears.

 

I think people have been quite civil in this thread actually.

 

I think it's funny actually.
The only one I really agree with is number 8 [also known as "the brother nod"].