Stereotypical Differences

[lalaladylegit]

Okay so I had a hard time thinking of a topic, so I thought about myself. I realized that I'm an African-American girl, who grew up in a different environment from the 'normal' stereotypical 'black' environment. I apparently act 'white' according to my parents and other African-American kids. I like anime and the Japanese culture and language of course. Does this give people a right to tell me I'm not 'black'? What is your opinion on the stereotypical differences between races?

[sprogjcrisis]

Coming from a country which still has racism, and growing up as a part of the generation against it, I think that we shouldn't be defined by our race. I think everyone is an individual, and therefore race shouldn't determine who we are. But, I think I can see where you are coming from, people do associate things with race. I know that in school people say I'm 'brown' because I'm quite modest when in reality I dissapear in the White Company Stores. So immediately if you have different interests or behaviours ect. to what is expected of race or even religion, status, political beliefs, then people assume that you are not trully those things. There shouldn't be a stereotypical difference between anything, each person is entitled to their own beliefs, behaviours and hobbies and those what some would define as 'material' things shouldn't be applied to practical things. There are some interesting studies in Psychology which look at this, I remember one where I think Allport had participants watch a video of a white man pulling a knife on train and threatenning a black man with it. When asked to recall most said it was the black man so this study does show that there is definite stereotypes associated with race. Personally, I think racial differentiation has been going on for hundreds of years and I think its about time it stops.

I hope that's clear ^^

[Ryoga]

I've personally never understood racial stereotypes, and I never will. I mean in my country we're supposed to be so "united", but unless it's a time of war, people separate themselves in terms of race, class, and culture (even though it's the same culture). The real question is, exactly how is a certain race supposed to act? People should stop allowing others to define who or what they are, and people need to start defining themselves, in terms of what sort of person they want to be, and how they act in their everyday lives.

[baki]

@ lalaladylegit : I do find it strange that people have told you that you act 'white'. It does not give people the right to tell you that you're 'not black'. Unfortunately, the 'stereotypical differences between races' are based on a dose of reality - like black people being more likely to have a quick temper, and more likely to pull out the 'race card' than other races. Asians, on the other hand, are far less likely to have a quick temper or to pull out the 'race card'. Generally, 'races' do tend to stick together - asians with other asians, blacks tend to be more comfortable with other black people. It is important to remember that some behaviors that are acceptable by one race may not be acceptable by another race. For example, when someone speaks to a large group of people, an audience of blacks will have a sometimes loud commentary to the speech, while asians would find that kind of behavior unacceptably rude.

@ Ryoga: Just how do you define yourself without others? You can fantasize about being a science genius, or being a runner as good as Usain Bolt, but you define yourself only in contrast to others. If others say you don't have the PhD, so no, we're not going to define you as a scientist, there's nothing you can do about it, but go to school until you convince others that they can define you as a scientist. Yeah, you need to have a definition of yourself that you can call your own, but you still need to be a member of society.

[Ame]

@Lala, I married a half St.Lucian half Englishman here in England. He is the biggest Anime geek aside from myself, (lol) and talks with a posh British accent, just like the likes of any other white British guy. His family often jokes about how 'white' he is, and he (at times) takes pride in being somewhat different from the 'ghetto bang bangs' (I don't know ._.) and at other times makes jokes with them. I think it's all light-hearted for them and they don't take anything too seriously.

In this day and age, I think it's incredibly note-worthy to say that us younger generations are completely sh*tting on racism as a whole, and completely rejecting it. I despise racism, wholeheartedly.

However, that's not to say I don't have a good sense of humour when it comes to racist jokes. I laugh at White, Black, Asian, etc. jokes. Then again, I laugh at Religious jokes, I pretty much laugh at everything that's not really bad. I love jokes as much as the next person!

To be fair, I'm an extremely white-looking half Asian. I have green eyes, white as snow skin, and long, thick curly hair. I get it all from my Polish side, I suppose. :D But I deal with quite a bit of racism myself from my Asian side. Some don't view me as 'Asian' because I do not look the part. It doesn't bother me all the much though, because at least I can speak/understand the language and culture. My brother and sister look a great deal more Asian than I do, and joke that I'm the 'Fed-Ex' kid. Again, I really don't mind one bit. :P I'm the only person in my family with big curls, and I love my hair. I'm the only person in my family with green eyes, and although I prefer brown eyes, I can at least say that I'm different or something! :D

But really, I don't agree with anyone feeling bad because they are or look different. Its' something you should celebrate. And Lala, I don't know what your parents deem as 'acting Black'. That's a really controversial topic, because what IS being Black? What IS being White? What IS being Asian? What IS being Hispanic? I think we should all be proud of our roots and such, but more proud of ourselves as individuals.

[Belgrade_assassin]

@Lala: It's simple to find out if u are ''black'' or not.
Ask those that tell ''u are not black'' for what being ''black'' means.
It's stereotype, you shouldn't take these things too personally.
As baki already said:

like black people being more likely to have a quick temper, and more likely to pull out the 'race card' than other races. Asians, on the other hand, are far less likely to have a quick temper or to pull out the 'race card'.

But this doesn't mean u can't find calm black, or short tempered Asian.

In all of this, the most important thing is for u to be your self and not to try being something that others think it's ''natural'' for u to be.