Why do black people self-segregate?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:To be racist you must have power to oppress another group of people.

*drops mic* Thank you, I get sick of explaining this on a weekly basis.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow. Lots of impressive stereotypes. I've never actually read a thread that has made me want to be less nice to people from other races and cultures, but now I have. What's the point of treating people like fellow humans if I am going to be thought of as biding my time to sue you for something, just itching to ask you about your hair, or doing it to assuage my guilt over slavery.

Exactly. What's the point of trying to "integrate" if I am going to be judged when I let my white voice slip into Black slang, asked endless questions about my hair, I have to work twice as hard to get half as much, I get tired of being THE ONLY Black person in work settings, and I get angry about something and then get counseled about being too aggressive (when the white boys blow up and curse they are passionate).

It works both ways.

So if everyone's retreated to their corners, I guess we're all just fucked.

I guess so. White people will NEVER understand how hard it is for Black people to assimilate. It's the small things that are exhausting; the intangibles. I was in a store in Friendship Heights and was followed by security for about 15 minutes. Really!!!! I went in there after work so I was dressed appropriately. My hair was nice. I had on really nice shoes and was carrying a nice bag. I guess the brown skin was too much for them. I didn't even get angry. I just left, went home, poured a glass of wine and said, "tomorrow is a new day."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
"Predominantly white spaces can be exhausting to navigate. I have to consciously be aware of what I am saying, of who is around me, of what I am wearing, of what I am doing, of what others are saying and doing. In critical ways, I cannot let my guard down for a moment. Because -- and even as I write this I recognize how paranoid this may sound to people unfamiliar with the experiences I refer to -- at any point I may be forced to defend myself, defend my presence.

In stark contrast, when I am at home, or at my wife’s church, or with my fraternity brothers, or at the club listening to house music, I am at home. I am not a statistic. Not a threat. Not an outsider. Not an anomaly. I am safe to “be.” I can be the “representative for the race.” I can be the one black person in the room. But I don’t have to be. . . . I can, in those spaces, breathe. "

Lester K. Spence-Assistant professor of political science at Johns Hopkins University.

Thanks for posting, pp! Very nice explanation.

I am a white person. I feel like this simply by being out in public. All of us do. It is natural to feel more relaxed among your friends and your family. It has nothing to do with race, in my opinion.

+1. Exactly. It wouldnt be a bad idea for the assistant professor above to conduct some serious research to identify some good insights rather than talking blah blah--no matter how poetic-sounding.

Nope, it has everything to do with race. That's why many black people "feel more at home" with their own race. They don't have to "decode" the "black experience" for white people who always seem to think that they "get it" when really they don't.

[Anonymous]

I trust white people as far as I can throw them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I trust white people as far as I can throw them.

Then you're an idiot. And, no better than the people you are judging.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Genuine question, NOT TRYING TO OFFEND ANYONE. I'm just perplexed that the AA community in my experience tends to be so cliquey and only socializes among themselves. I see this all the time in the workplace, and I saw it in college too.

This quote above just shows how unaware and naive you are. I work for a VERY large financial services firm, and like most corporate jobs, there are very few Blacks. Now when I go to the cafeteria, there are tables upon tables of white employees eating lunch together. However, when there is a table of blacks eating together, suddenly we are self segregating???

[Anonymous]

Strength in numbers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow. Lots of impressive stereotypes. I've never actually read a thread that has made me want to be less nice to people from other races and cultures, but now I have. What's the point of treating people like fellow humans if I am going to be thought of as biding my time to sue you for something, just itching to ask you about your hair, or doing it to assuage my guilt over slavery.

Exactly. What's the point of trying to "integrate" if I am going to be judged when I let my white voice slip into Black slang, asked endless questions about my hair, I have to work twice as hard to get half as much, I get tired of being THE ONLY Black person in work settings, and I get angry about something and then get counseled about being too aggressive (when the white boys blow up and curse they are passionate).

It works both ways.

Joyful. Well, I'll avoid you, and you avoid me.

[Anonymous]

I guess the OP has never been in a situation where she's a minority. People, in general, are drawn to what they know and are familiar with. Ever gone to a conference and the only person you know is someone you don't really like? Chances are, you'll still sit by that person anyway until you feel more comfortable. Room with 100 women and 10 men- the guys are going to congregate. Room with 100 black men and 10 white women- you can bet the wagons would be circled. I find it hard to believe the OP doesn't even see how blatantly racist the initial question was even worded. How about "why do people tend to self-segregate?" This is not specific to one race. But the fact that OP only notices groups of Black People speaks volumes to me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I trust white people as far as I can throw them.

Then you're an idiot. And, no better than the people you are judging.

Never said I was better than anyone. I have a right to my opinion.

[Anonymous]

AA here.

I do not blindly accept friendship from anyone. But a friendship is easier to forge from shared experiences. I currently live in what some people call a diverse “newly re-emergent” neighborhood in DC that has historically been where professional and working class AA’s live. I have made the following two points in various DCUM discussions about race over the years. Just for context, I have lived, gone to school in and worked in diverse environments my entire life. These points reflect my own experiences and are not indicative of my race as a whole.

First, a lot of Whites are under the impression that AA’s feel/should feel differently about them. Honestly, we have the SAME suspicions about you as you do about us. When our new White neighbors moved in, I did not automatically assume that they were making the place better. I sized them up to see what kind of neighbors they were – did they share my same values? You know? Like what White people do when an AA family moves onto their block. When my AA son brought home a White girlfriend, I wondered what type of person she was and what type of family she came from. Like her parents did with my son. Furthermore, we use the same criteria to determine whether you are the type of person we would want to be friends with. Do we share common interests? Common experiences or origins? You know – what every other race does! And if I have to work too hard to force a friendship, it is not worth it. Folks do not have to want to be your friend or to interact with you socially. Seems that OP wants to hold AA’s to a higher standard on this front.

My second point is usually met with a lot backlash. The only people is this country who can afford to be “color-blind” are White people – even to the point that they are naïve about some pretty basic things. Minorities often get accused of “making everything about race.” In fact, I think the opposite is equally (if not more) as true. White people tend to be “race-neutral” about things that clearly have a racial context. Not to pick on a PP, but the reaction to the quote form the JHU prof bears this out. His quote was, I think, a very insightful statement from an AA that directly addressed the question asked by the OP. Most AA’s can relate and a few agreed. Then you had a poster or two who, instead of trying to understand the prof’s perspective, immediately went right to the “it is not racial” to downplay the racial aspect of it. Honestly, it is insulting. Look at this way, if a White woman was giving her perspective on gender bias on the job. And a White man responded by saying “you women are overreacting – it is not because you are women.” She would be insulted.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Black people don't like white people.

Black people don't TRUST white people.

What about the black people who are married to white people?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:AA here.

I do not blindly accept friendship from anyone. But a friendship is easier to forge from shared experiences. I currently live in what some people call a diverse “newly re-emergent” neighborhood in DC that has historically been where professional and working class AA’s live. I have made the following two points in various DCUM discussions about race over the years. Just for context, I have lived, gone to school in and worked in diverse environments my entire life. These points reflect my own experiences and are not indicative of my race as a whole.

First, a lot of Whites are under the impression that AA’s feel/should feel differently about them. Honestly, we have the SAME suspicions about you as you do about us. When our new White neighbors moved in, I did not automatically assume that they were making the place better. I sized them up to see what kind of neighbors they were – did they share my same values? You know? Like what White people do when an AA family moves onto their block. When my AA son brought home a White girlfriend, I wondered what type of person she was and what type of family she came from. Like her parents did with my son. Furthermore, we use the same criteria to determine whether you are the type of person we would want to be friends with. Do we share common interests? Common experiences or origins? You know – what every other race does! And if I have to work too hard to force a friendship, it is not worth it. Folks do not have to want to be your friend or to interact with you socially. Seems that OP wants to hold AA’s to a higher standard on this front.

My second point is usually met with a lot backlash. The only people is this country who can afford to be “color-blind” are White people – even to the point that they are naïve about some pretty basic things. Minorities often get accused of “making everything about race.” In fact, I think the opposite is equally (if not more) as true. White people tend to be “race-neutral” about things that clearly have a racial context. Not to pick on a PP, but the reaction to the quote form the JHU prof bears this out. His quote was, I think, a very insightful statement from an AA that directly addressed the question asked by the OP. Most AA’s can relate and a few agreed. Then you had a poster or two who, instead of trying to understand the prof’s perspective, immediately went right to the “it is not racial” to downplay the racial aspect of it. Honestly, it is insulting. Look at this way, if a White woman was giving her perspective on gender bias on the job. And a White man responded by saying “you women are overreacting – it is not because you are women.” She would be insulted.

+1

Well said!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Black people don't like white people.

Black people don't TRUST white people.

What about the black people who are married to white people?

Well, clearly those black people are not self segregating - which was the OP's question.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Black people don't like white people.

Black people don't TRUST white people.

What about the black people who are married to white people?

Well, as a PP said, those particular white people are different. Or else they don't trust their spouses.