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Black Man In America

Black men quietly combating stereotypes

NEW YORK - Keith Borders tries hard not to scare people.

He's 6-foot-7, a garrulous lawyer who talks with his hands.

And he's black.

Many people find him threatening. He works hard to prove otherwise.
Ref. https://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060701/ap_on_...iving_blackness

America Man Black

The black man in America does have a stereo type attached to him. Almost any white woman and many white men will inadvertently express their hidden fear of black men when they see them by moving out of the way or "protecting" items they are carrying. Not looking a black man in the eye is another sign of fear that is obvious but not always intentional. Its a stereo type that is hard to break, even when you don't have biased against someone of another color.

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We, white and black, are not born race prejudice. We are taught race prejudice. Thank God my parents failed to teach me. This gives me a unique view of people at times. I don't go out of my way, but when a person of another race meets my eyes I always meet theirs and greet them with a cheery Good Morning, or Good Afternoon. It is often sad for me when I meet a person that obviously has no intention of meeting my eyes.

I didn't know until the night I graduated high school that my father had been taught race prejudice. I dropped by my house for something I had forgotten before going to a party. I had Warren Shackleford with me. Since I was only going to be a moment , Warren stayed in the car. My Dad looked out and said, "What's he doing in your car?" I innocently asked, "Why?" Dad said, "He's black!" I said, "So what?" I don't believe there was an answer. If there was I didn't hear it. I was already out the door on the way to our party. It was never mentioned again.

I didn't raise my children to be prejudiced. A race prejudiced remark was made in front of my (then) teenage daughter once. She was ready to fight. I had to calm her down, but I was very proud of her.