Ask a Black Girl Anything . . .

[MASSIVEPKGO_CHUCK]

Do you think that black sitcom/dramadies have had any influence on you, and which era, past or present?

 

[prepstudinsc]

Naughty:

I find it wild that anyone, anywhere could possibly order a "catfish sandwich" at a fast-food joint. Totally surreal to me.

I must be the most un-southern poster (temperamentally) on this site. Catfish and okra and black-eyed peas and collard greens literally make my skin crawl (I am shuddering just typing this!). Maybe it's because I've never had much exposure to that kind of cuisine.

But I just realized I've been stereotyping. Being born and raised in California, I have always thought of black-eyed peas and sweet potatoes and collard greens and homemade biscuits as "black food" (soul food), when in fact, they're just plain old southern cooking.


Here's something interesting I found on wikipedia:

"As slaves, African Americans would "make do" with the ingredients at hand. The fresh vegetables found in Africa were replaced by the throwaway foods from the plantation house. Their vegetables were the tops of turnips and beets and dandelions. Soon they were cooking with new types of greens: collards, kale, cress, mustard, and pokeweed. African American slaves also developed recipes which used discarded meat from the plantation, such as pigs' feet, beef tongue or tail, ham hocks, chitterlings (pig small intestines), pig ears, hog jowls, tripe and skin. Cooks added onions, garlic, thyme, and bay leaf to enhance the flavors. Many African Americans depended on catching their own meat, and wild game such as raccoon, opossum, turtle, and rabbit was, until the 1950s, very popular fare on the African American table.

There was little waste in the traditional African American kitchen. Leftover fish became croquettes (by adding an egg, cornmeal or flour, seasonings which were breaded and deep-fried). Stale bread became bread pudding, and each part of the pig had its own special dish. Even the liquid from cooked greens, called potlikker, was consumed as a type of gravy, or drink."
----------

You get the feeling that nothing (for economic reasons), no part of the pig or cow or chicken was wasted or discarded. It ALL ended up, in some form, on the dinner table!

My grandfather was a butcher, his family owned a slaughterhouse. He grew up having a lot of the good cuts of meat at his disposal, but growing up in the Depression, in order to save money, the family ate a lot of the lesser cuts, as well as organ meats. My mother grew up eating a lot of that same food, as well, because it was there. To this day, she will happily gnaw on a pig's foot, or eat some sort of organ. She claims that those pieces have more flavor. I'm not quite sure about that, but...

As to the collards, black eyed peas, etc., they are staples of country cooking in the South. White or Black, most everyone eats that kind of food. It's hearty and filling and you can make money stretch by eating that sort of stuff. Personally, I'm happiest when I've got a pork chop and some okra and greens on the side.

 

[D_ExJagSack]

black girl u must be getting sick of this thread by now??

 

[prepstudinsc]

Here's a question I have after being in a parking lot the other day. Why do white people drive into a space, but black people often tend to back in?

 

[naughty]

Here's a question I have after being in a parking lot the other day. Why do white people drive into a space, but black people often tend to back in?

Baby,

as you well know, we are best at rear view...:wink::biggrin1:

to quote Grace Jones in "Pull up to the Bumper"

"...Pull up to it, Don't drive through it
Back it up twice, Now that fits nice..."

 

[prepstudinsc]

Baby,

as you well know, we are best at rear view...:wink::biggrin1:

Bootylicious!

 

[naughty]

Bootylicious!

You know it. Among our many gifts from the mutha land!

 

[jeff black]

Are we still asking people questions?

 

[Principessa]

Ah, let me rephrase the question then.

Do you view people who are 1/4th or some other fraction Black, yet who look white, as Black people? Or do you view them as white, because they look white, and are unlikely to face the same daily racism that Black people face?

I view them as black. Not because of the one drop rule but because I know my own.

Black Girl,

I was only goofing. I like goofing with you, as you are one of the easiest-going, au currant, sassy, quick-witted, dishy posters on this site.

Oh. Here is old ebonics, with June Cleaver speaking jive in "Airplane!" (Oh, stewardess, I speak jive"): YouTube - Airplane! - "Oh stewardess, I speak jive"

I love that movie! :biggrin1:

Naughty,

I find it wild that anyone, anywhere could possibly order a "catfish sandwich" at a fast-food joint. Totally surreal to me.

That only happens in certain parts of the south.

I must be the most un-southern poster (temperamentally) on this site. Catfish and okra and black-eyed peas and collard greens literally make my skin crawl (I am shuddering just typing this!). Maybe it's because I've never had much exposure to that kind of cuisine.

I hate okra and am not crazy about fish with fins but if prepared properly fried catfish is okay.

I can DT no problem, but my gag reflex is activated by "California cuisine." Fish tacos, alfalfa sprouts on a burger, sushi. uke: veggie burgers :yuck: Yes, I know sushi is actually Japanese in origin but it's very popular in California. I wouldn't feed alfalfa sprouts to a rabbit why would I ingest it?

But I just realized I've been stereotyping. Being born and raised in California, I have always thought of black-eyed peas and sweet potatoes and collard greens and homemade biscuits as "black food" (soul food), when in fact, they're just plain old southern cooking.

This is true.

You get the feeling that nothing (for economic reasons), no part of the pig or cow or chicken was wasted or discarded. It ALL ended up, in some form, on the dinner table!

That's true. I think that's why you rarely see black people committing suicide in times of economic depression. We been there already or our recent ancestors have so we know we can survive it.

Black people have done so much, with so little, for so long, until now we can do anything with nothing.

Do you think that black sitcom/dramadies have had any influence on you, and which era, past or present?

Nope, I avoid most of those shows like the plague as they tend to show blacks as uneducated, ghetto buffoons. The only black centric shows which I have watched regularly and related to were: The Cosby Show, A Different World, and Girlfriends.

black girl u must be getting sick of this thread by now??

Nope, not really. Must be the educator in me.

Here's a question I have after being in a parking lot the other day. Why do white people drive into a space, but black people often tend to back in?

Because we can. :biggrin1: Honestly, I don't know, :dunno: maybe it's so we can make a hasty get away if need be. :tongue:

Are we still asking people questions?

Yes, we are.

 

[pornographicpoet]

<<I view them as black. Not because of the one drop rule but because I know my own. >>


See, that's interesting, because I can't tell you how many times I've found out later that someone was biracial and I just assumed they were white. LOL. Even my cousin who with her brown skin and curly black hair should have been a dead giveaway I thought of as white until I met her mother who is from Martinique....

 

[Principessa]

<<I view them as black. Not because of the one drop rule but because I know my own. >>


See, that's interesting, because I can't tell you how many times I've found out later that someone was biracial and I just assumed they were white. LOL. Even my cousin who with her brown skin and curly black hair should have been a dead giveaway I thought of as white until I met her mother who is from Martinique....

Black people know their own. As do people of other ethnicities and cultural backgrounds.

 

[D_Ireonsyd_Colonrinse]

"Black people know their own. As do people of other ethnicities and cultural backgrounds."


No. Not always true.

I remember several black commentors saying Barack Obama wasn't "black enough" - whatever that means - when he announced his candidacy. This was before the largely white population of Iowa gave him a stunning primary victory. Polls, pre-Iowa, showed Obama significantly trailing Hillary Clinton among black voters. Bill Clinton was considered the "first black president", and blacks lined up behind the first black president's wife.

Bi-racial Obama was viewed by many in the black community with distrust. Kenyan father. White mother. Not black enough. Hints of Uncle Tom.

Blacks accept him now as one of "their own". But this wasn't true pre-January 2008.

 

[Principessa]

"Black people know their own. As do people of other ethnicities and cultural backgrounds."

No. Not always true.

I remember several black commentors saying Barack Obama wasn't "black enough" - whatever that means - when he announced his candidacy. This was before the largely white population of Iowa gave him a stunning primary victory. Polls, pre-Iowa, showed Obama significantly trailing Hillary Clinton among black voters

No one wants to back a loser and until about March 2008 many didn't believe Obama had the chops to beat the Clinton machine.

Bill Clinton was considered the "first black president", and blacks lined up behind the first black president's wife.

Yup, :yup: I admit it I was a Hillary supporter. I was hoping she would be as good a President as Bill had been. :redface: However, I switched to being an Obama Supporter in about February 2008 because I was sick of her bald-faced lies and mug slinging. In addition, I saw her speak on a talk show and she said if elected she would bring the troops home during her first 100 days. Now I don't know much about politics or military stuff but I do know that is impossible. After that I became an Obama supporter and never looked back.

Bi-racial Obama was viewed by many in the black community with distrust. Kenyan father. White mother. Not black enough. Hints of Uncle Tom.

Technically, because he has no black ancestors who were slaves in America he is not black. Hence the haterati saying he is not black enough.

Blacks accept him now as one of "their own". But this wasn't true pre-January 2008.

Not being black enough isn't the same as not being black. I am often accused of not being black enough. It has nothing to do with skin color (in my case) but with my diction, style of dress, and education.

 

[naughty]

"Black people know their own. As do people of other ethnicities and cultural backgrounds."


No. Not always true.

I remember several black commentors saying Barack Obama wasn't "black enough" - whatever that means - when he announced his candidacy. This was before the largely white population of Iowa gave him a stunning primary victory. Polls, pre-Iowa, showed Obama significantly trailing Hillary Clinton among black voters. Bill Clinton was considered the "first black president", and blacks lined up behind the first black president's wife.

Bi-racial Obama was viewed by many in the black community with distrust. Kenyan father. White mother. Not black enough. Hints of Uncle Tom.

Blacks accept him now as one of "their own". But this wasn't true pre-January 2008.

Willtom,

I can not speak for exactly what NJ means by know their own but I do have something to say about the president elect. Mr Obama is truly an African American. Most people of color who are refered to as African American are not the first generation descendants of Africans . Mr Obama fits into the category for many Americans of African descent as an example of "you may be my color, but you sho' ain't my kind". I mean this to say that Mr. Obama though golden of hue, is not the descendant of African slaves as are many here in the US. He is the product of two free individuals, one Caucasian and American and the other African and Kenyan.
This should not be easily dismissed. He therefore though having had many identity issues and experiences related to his African ancestry and features does not have the generational psychic damage and generational history of slavery , segregation and discrimination in his back ground that many others who are also called African American have. Prior to his move to Chicago his experiences of the Civil rights movement and all that went before it was basically ideological and his readings about it were one of the things that pushed him to move to Chicago and take up community service in the Black community to become more in touch with the group of people with whom he for good or bad was linked.
He was raised by his WHITE mother and grandparents. He obviously received some wonderful training and experiences and perhaps it was this freedom that they were able to communicate to him that helped him to feel he had just as much right to become whatever he chose to be as anyone else. So yes he is African American but he probably was not black at one point in his life but through experience and through the eyes of his beautifully bittersweet chocolate wife and in laws as well as individuals such as Reverend Wright, who has now become a villain in the eyes of America,(when I look at Reverend Wright his responses are a result of his time and experience. He as is the case of individuals such as Jesse Jackson Sr are like looking at a Holocaust victim. To expect them to see things through a lense not tainted by their experiences is unrealistic) that this American son of Kenya got a bit of soul. I think it is because Mr Obama is a product of this particular amalgamation of race and culture that he is perhaps the best man for attempting to bridge the great divide of race in this country. I only hope we as Americans can realize that he is not the Messiah and can not change for us the things that we should be changing for ourselves.

 

[Cowabanga]

My ancestor were the largest slave trader in America under the name of Dewolfe, a ship builder magnate and cotton and cane export business. Over several generation I myself manage to have african american and native american blood in my genes.

Being both a descendent of slaves and slave owner, will I find peace?

 

[naughty]

My ancestor were the largest slave trader in America under the name of Dewolfe, a ship builder magnate and cotton and cane export business. Over several generation I myself manage to have african american and native american blood in my genes.

Being both a descendent of slaves and slave owner, will I find peace?

I often tell people that I could have played almost all the roles in "Gone with the Wind". Find peace in in being your personal best now. You cant change the past and are not responsible for your lineage but you can be a wonderful role model for social change now.

 

[Principessa]

My ancestor were the largest slave trader in America under the name of Dewolfe, a ship builder magnate and cotton and cane export business. Over several generation I myself manage to have african american and native american blood in my genes.

Being both a descendent of slaves and slave owner, will I find peace?

Sure, frankly I don't see why you don't have peace now. Don't you have enough in the current day to worry about? Why do you have to go digging up 300 year old wounds?

I often tell people that I could have played almost all the roles in "Gone with the Wind".

Find peace in in being your personal best now. You cant change the past and are not responsible for your lineage but you can be a wonderful role model for social change now.

I agree with this advice.

 

[musclebutt2]

You know naughty, you should probably also explain the reverse one drop rule just for clarity's sake. Because in some cultures, having one drop of caucasian blood makes a person not black. IMHO, in this day and age, claiming a person of mixed ancestry as one of their own is more strongly linked to positive achievements, physical beauty, power, or some sort of success, etc., than actual blood percentages. In the same vein, conveniently rejecting a person of mixed ancestry who obviously shares the same blood because of misdeeds or perceived failures is also common. Of course, the same double standard also applies to full blooded individuals.

Oops, forgot my question... how would you describe the fresh musk/BO of most black men? It's different, speaking from personal, uh... contact, I'm not sure how to describe it to someone who hasn't had intimate knowledge.

 

[naughty]

Musclebutt,

Because quite often people tend to make assessments based on appearance at least on a wide scale the idea of not being called black because of one drop of white blood really hasnt seemed to be a concern.

Because of the unfortunate history of Blacks in America, there have been many who have done all but scrape off the black skin and blood that abides within them. It is not easy having the history that Blacks in America have experienced. The one drop rule was not something that Americans of African descent created but it is one that has had a long lasting effect on them long after legal segregation and discrimination have disappeared. As I have said before even up till the time our incoming president was born it was not safe, popular or even legal for the white parents of mixed raced children to acknowledge their offspring. or at least the parents marry. in the last fifty years we have seen a sea change in the way in which mixed parentage has been dealt with here. You now see white grandparents proudly strolling around in stores with their caramel colored grandchildren in tow.
On a larger scale, blacks as a group have been pretty open to all who live under the designation of black. So that means in the bad times as well as in the good times. WHy shouldnt they be proud of those who have achieved ? They without question are given credit for many of the negatives in this country.
As far as ala carte racial associations are concerned I tend to see other groups participate in the what I call, "My grandmother was an indian princess " syndrome since it has become fashionable or even profitable in some way to be a minority. Nobody wants to own you when you are down...

As for the musk of a black man, to quote the 70's group The Brothers Johnson, "...funkiness is something all of us release..." :biggrin1: Personally, I prefer a freshly washed man be they black, red, brown or white .

You know naughty, you should probably also explain the reverse one drop rule just for clarity's sake. Because in some cultures, having one drop of caucasian blood makes a person not black. IMHO, in this day and age, claiming a person of mixed ancestry as one of their own is more strongly linked to positive achievements, physical beauty, power, or some sort of success, etc., than actual blood percentages. In the same vein, conveniently rejecting a person of mixed ancestry who obviously shares the same blood because of misdeeds or perceived failures is also common. Of course, the same double standard also applies to full blooded individuals.

Oops, forgot my question... how would you describe the fresh musk/BO of most black men? It's different, speaking from personal, uh... contact, I'm not sure how to describe it to someone who hasn't had intimate knowledge.

 

[D_Ireonsyd_Colonrinse]

In a post-racial society, I, as a caucasian, should have exactly the same stake in claiming Barack Obama as "my own" (the white mother), as njqt does because of the Kenyan father.

There. I said it.

So I'll quote njqt one last time: "Black people know their own. As do people of other ethnicities and cultural backgrounds"

and (dis)regard it as antiquated, pre-Obama thinking... a sentiment that the african-american community can snatch up and "claim" a mixed racial being as "their own". I HAVE AS EQUAL A CLAIM TO RACIAL & CULTURAL HERITAGE!

Somewhere along the line (probably after we're all dead), we'll come to the reasonable conclusion that we're all from planet earth -- and this commonality will take precedence, because in actuality, we're all multi-racial mutts and racial delineations will have to start to melt away (and it's happening now).