Wednesday, 08 July 2009
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What Defines Being 'Black'?
When I went to Ohio for my big sister's early college/high school graduation I saw my friend Tara at my big sister's graduation party. According to my friend Tara I am no longer considered a black person. I am only half black (my mom is white, my dad is black), but according to her I'm all white. She said that black people don't dress the way I do, so I am no longer black. She is white but considers herself black, she hates white people, don't ask me why. I asked her to define being black. She said "Black people aren't emo and don't wear what you wear."
See where this got confusing? So I asked what do they wear and what more defines them.
So she said, "Well black people are 'gangsta', they listen to rap and they where brands such as Sean John, Baby Phat and South Pole. They don't wear things from...Hot Topic. Well Alexis is the only other emo black person I know."
You can kind of guess my reaction. She being such a stereotype. Not all black people are like that. I wanted to rip my hair out. I know other black people who aren't like that, not all of them are 'gansta', listen to rap and wear baggy clothing.
So I want to know what defines being 'black'? Wearing baggy clothes and listening to rap? Or what? Tell me what you think.
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About the Author
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- From: Blood_Wolf_Girl@xanga
- Name: Blood_Wolf_Girl
- About Me: When people first see me they lable me as 'emo' because the way I dress, my make-up and hair style, but I'm not. I have a saying that goes 'No music, no life' or in other words 'No Craig Mabbitt or Max Green, I'm going to jump off a cliff.' I have issues I know. What to know about me just message me.
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Comments (190)
Being black = being black.
Wearing baggy clothes and listening to rap = wearing baggy clothes and listening to rap.
should we really define 'black people"? a race, or skin color shouldnt have a 'definition'...
i'm asian. define me pls?
@abcdefgaby@xanga - Short and simple. Well said.
black vs white ?
gangster vs preppy ?
rap vs rock ?
i don't know =S
stereotypes . . .
@abcdefgaby@xanga - Well said.
Black cannot be capsulated in any style of dress, confined to any piece of land. It cannot be limited to a certain pigmentation nor can it be defined in terms status or class. It is universal. It is limitless. It is the origin of life. Its not a color. Its not a race. Its a demeanor. Its a lifestyle. Its a principle. It symbolizes strength, perseverance, determination, courage, pride, LIFE.
That's what black means to me
is that alicia keys? Man, shes pretty
So pretty much she stereotyped you...using more stereotypes. Good for her. **rolls eyes**
is that alica keys? Man, she pretty.
Wow, I am utterly shocked at your friends stereo-typical ways! I'm not sure how I would define being black... It completely bothers me when others automatically label you and place you in a ceratin category because of your skin colour. "I am indian, therefore I must smell like curry." -- Really? Really? Because I am Indian & I dislike the taste of curry very much. You are born with a skin colour but that is only skin deep, that does not define you as a person. Being black does not automatically mean you should listen to gangster music or shop at certain stores. Being black or any other race just gives you a background, a heritage. What you do with that and how you choose to define yourself as a person is up to you. People are just people... You are defined by the ways you present yourself, your intellect, your decisions...not the colour of your skin.
Reading this has brought back a few memories of my own. I remember in high school reading a book, (Twilight was it..seriously don't remember) and one of my classmates telling me "Why don't you read black people books?". I didn't know i was only restricted to "black people books" and that i couldn't go outside my own ethnicity. I can relate to you to a degree. I don't like most gangsta rap, and anything that is "gangsta", I listen to rock, shop at Old navy (i'm too cheap for hot topic), and i do not wear baggy clothes. Ironically I am 100% black but I have been called white wash, oreo, and fake because of how/what i choose to talk, wear, listen to, watch and act. I find it horribly hypercritical for people to bitch about being yourself but when you try to, they do nothing but put you down. Being black for some people is nothing but the stereotypes and generalizations that we once again as americans have twisted so much that people begin to question their own culture and personality. Being black is a skin color and tells you where you or your ancestors are from. If you are literally "brown" you are "black". That is it. No personal characteristics should make a person black, white or mexican but we use it to make it easier for ourself to label people. sorry rant over ._.
Being of African descent. And that's all.
Wow that woman is really ignorant. It makes me laugh though...her ignorance.
tell her to shut her trap.
The only thing that defines being black is being of african descent. I can not stand when people push their steretypes on others, trying to make them feel bad. It doesn't at all surprize me that you got this shit in Ohio, because Ohio sucks balls. I got that shit growing up and stopped even bothering to reach out to my own race for friendship and companionship because a select few made me feel so awful about myself, what music i listened to, what television shows I watched, how I dressed, how I talked.... it's all just bullshit. It's a terrible thing to not feel accepted by your own race.
Ok, im sorry about the author of this post but the topic is waaaay too ridiculous to be answered.
speaking of stereo types, i don't see mj is black. he was born black but his skin pigmentation was white and look at his kids they are all white. any idea?
What the? Like she would know? Ludicrous beyond criticism.
On another note, I love Alicia Keys!
this is weird.
Just the genes, of course. Right?
@Endowedbythecreator@xanga - As you say that using the English language, on a computer, using electricity, with a picture of yourself wearing a shirt and tie...
skin color. that's ....it. it's people like her who keep stereotypes like that perpetuated.
@crazysogul@xanga - No, no ideas...some facts though.
They're not "his" kids, and though he went to awful lengths to superficially change the exterior, inside he was always genetically Negroid, his death certificate says 'Black'.
ignorance. I want your friend to come to my city and try and say something like that. Baggy clothes?! Gangsta rap?! are we not in 2009!!?!!!!!! I am almost 100% black and I wear what I want and listen to what I want regardless of what stereotypes there are and what other people think. So do you! I can't even write down what else I am thinking right now, lol this post is that crazy.