I don't like today's "hip hop" (I'm all about the old school). I'm always trying to better myself as a person. I like to listen to rock and other "non-Black" music. I'm (trying to) study Mandarin Chinese. I'm not an athlete - I don't hoop. I try to act like I have sense when I'm out in public. I try to treat women with respect. I try to respect others. I'm not as radical or militant as some of the other brothers out there. I'm not an extreme liberal. I don't sag. I try not to live up to any of the 'stereotypes' that are out there. I'm not a 'gangsta'. I try to work hard at what I do. Certain women I find attractive, others I don't. I think conservative women can be attractive. I want to be able to live without having to always fight. I don't want to live among rats and roaches. I don't have a 'ghetto' mentality. Can I be myself without being labeled as 'odd'? Does any of the above label me as 'uncool'? Does that make me 'not down'? Yeah, I know that these are trivial insecurities, but I am I crazy? Am I weird. Am I a 'Brotha From Another Planet'? I'm not trying to be uppity or I don't think I'm better than anyone else. Just issues that I had to put up with my entire life. I could never be myself because people were always wanting me to be something that I'm not. People thought I wasn't down because I didn't act out any stereotypes. I was mocked because I didn't have a 'ghetto' mentality (yes, that does exist). I don't want to have any beef with anyone here. I just want to express myself.
I shouldn't, but I just wanted to fit in. Didn't want to be the reject. But you can't make everyone happy. I realize that now.
I love being the odd man out. I could give a damn what others think. I will add another to the list. I will try to get a doctorate degree.
I think these qualities make you who you are! We have all tried to "fit in" in our lives-but don't worry about that! You seem like a very nice guy and have a great attitude. Trust me-there is a great woman out there for you. You are a great catch. Don't worry about trying to be cool or fitting in with people. A classy , intelligent, girl will appreciate all of your aspirations. :smt052
It's interesting because white people are allowed to run the spectrum in all areas of life. No one is dismayed if one white person is conservative, the other liberal, one likes country music, the other likes rock etc. In the black community it's much less acceptable to venture out of some of the stereotypes. I have asked black men if they resent people assuming that all black people think from one collective brain and they do resent it. Blacks have as much diversity in thoughts, preferences, lifestyles etc. as any other race. White people need to gain a better inderstanding of that and the black community needs to be more accepting of that without labeling someone a sellout because their thinking does not align with the status quo.
As many others here have already said, none of those makes you anything less than what you are. I listen to ALL music (well, not country) and take ballroom dancing as a hobby. NO ONE calls me a house negro for it!
A lot of black people listen to rock and country and no it does not make you a house negro asking that question seems dumb as hell. Sheesh! There is not really a status quo on how black folks should act that is just people expecting you to act a certain way because you are black.
This guy sounds a lot like me, and I know for a fact that I'm no house negro. I'm gonna get back to this thread later. I got a lotta points to add.:mrgreen:
I agree with Juli. I hate that many black people think that I should act the stereotype. But I do what the fuck I want, regardless of what people think. Also, I think that maybe we need to put this field-negro versus house-negro stereotype to rest, as if house negroes were all traitors and never fought for the rights of black people. That is a dangerous stereotype, and it promotes classism within the black community.
All of that stuff that you listed SmoothDaddy makes you who you are. And if people in your life can't appreciate that, then find people who will. Be real to yourself and the rest will follow. :smt023
"House Negro". I'm still laughing at that. Anyways, you know the answer to your own question, Smooth. "Field Negro" vs. "House Negro"? Both sound ridiculous, yet funny kinda. (I know, it's a sick sense of humor). I think the newer generations of "blacks"(whatever you'd like to classify as black) are gradually changing from the older. What I mean by that is, nowadays, living up to the stereotype isn't as much of a big deal as it used to be. Kids in the hood nowadays will wear skinny jeans or skateboard or listen to rock music. Accepting "white" or "non-black ideas/hobbies" aren't condemned as much as they used to be. Of course there will always be the stereotypical black person, but there will always be the stereotypical white person, latin, etc. Did you really think people would reply, "Yeah, you sort of act like a house negro."?
I definately understand where you're comming from but It's as simple as this bro --- Anyone that would look down on you or think you are a "house negro" for the above listed is trash you dont want to be around anyway. I have alot of taste and beliefs that go against what is "stereotypically black" but I never let anyone black, white or etc. shake me down for not being "black enough". Just keep confident. Think of someone like Barack Obama for example. Comming up he probably wouldnt be considered "cool" by ghetto trash, hood rats and the like minded wiggers, but he would def. be considered cool, charasmatic and popular to the rest of the actual decent people that make up the majority of the population. Trust me you'll get much further in life the way you are with everything from career to women if you don't aspire to fit the "black stereotype". Just dont let your insecurities eat away at you.
Smooth, I think these qualities are what most ww are probably looking for. So if your looking for one you will probably be more appreciated it you aren't the stereotype. Anyway I didn't know that term "house Negro" was still used anywhere. That shows how little we deal with racism here, at least that used to be the case. I hope the new population boom in Phoenix doesn't mean we are getting a bunch of backward minded people who expect blacks to stay in the ghetto or on welfare. Arizona needs more people like you!
