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A call to the Black Guys

wade

wade

Save The Humans
I have been feeling very anti Politically Correct tonight. Every once in a while someone will make a comment that is deemed not PC in regards to racial content. Very rarely do we hear any comments from anyone from the black community. Usually it is from some outraged honky that feels the comment may be offensive to black people.

I know of one black guy here who I have found to be a pretty good guy. Are there any others? I don't mean to out you if you're hiding. But I am curious. The topic comes up here from time to time. Have you been offended? Or are there simply no black guys that like snakes?
 
I had cornrows twice...does that count?

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Josh, you are a Mormon, you can't be a black guy. Besides, you have Little Duck Syndrome.
 
I have always wondered about that...

I guess it is a cultural thing. But over the years, I have met very few non-Caucasian Americans into herps. I can only remember a couple of blacks and very few Hispanics, and maybe a few more Asians who were into the hobby.

At first I thought maybe it was because there were not as many minorities in the middle class who can afford hobbies as easily. But I think it is more than that - having to do with cultural views about pets and animals. Of all of the various minority groups, I have seen way more Asians into the hobby than anyone else. My sister in law is Korean, and only likes reptiles to eat, just like most Koreans, she says. Yet I have met a few Koreans, and many more Japanese, who keep reptiles as pets. I have also met a few people from Hong Kong and from the Philippines who like pet herps.

It would be interesting to discuss the topic with the few minorities who are involved in the hobby, to hear from them why they think there are so few, and what their family and friends say about their hobby (probably not too different from what YOUR friends and family say, lol!)

It is an interesting cultural question that I like to hear more about.
 
As usual you said it much better than I Kathy but that is exactly what I was trying to say. When I think of the shows I have attended I can't think of very many minorities. I know in the Utah Herp Society there aren't any. I wonder why?
 
I've had very frank conversations with several black women that I've worked with over the years about what's offensive and what's not. I had to explain that most white people are so afraid that something they say may be considered racist that we walk on egg shells to avoid anything that might be deemed offensive or inappropriate. They were shocked! They had no idea what it was like on the other side of the race fence. I'm glad I've been able to talk to people of many cultures about this very subject and more often than not, neither side realised what the other was really feeling about it. I think the whole PC thing has gotten out of control. I'd like to see people treat each other with respect, but not have to be afraid that some little thing might be considered racist without having any ill intent behind it.

As for people from other cultures in the reptile hobby, I know of only a few.
 
carol said:
You know....

You could put an eye out with that thing....
Click to expand...

LOL! Are you thinking what I'm thinking, Carol?

Um, Josh- glad you changed your looks. Corn rows on a white guy= dorky. Bald= hot.

This may be a generalization, but I work with a lot of blacks. From housekeepers up to physicians and PhDs. I only know one, a woman, who likes snakes. The others, universally, think snakes are evil. Is it a religious thing? Generalizing again, but the whites of the same couple religions _also_ hate snakes.
 
At the local All Animal show in Wheaton there are a good number of African American Herpers. One must take into consideration the population mix in the area around the shows. Chicago has a relatively large population mix so one would expect to see a better representation of all races. Utah, on the other hand, would probably rank with Wyoming in the number of non-Caucasians living there. Hence you wouldn't see much diversity at local shows. Remember too, African Americans only make up about 13% of the US populous. Most of these people are concentrated in big city centers on the eastern seaboard and southern states.
On the other end of the spectrum, shows in the Chicago area have an overwhelming preponderance of tattooed individuals, biker babes and Goth dressers. Is that a fair representation of the industry? LOL

Terri
 
It is true, Terri, that Utah does not have a large minority population. I think the tattooed biker chick is becoming very much more common at snake shows. But even here a CS.com, we represent the whole world. I don't know what most of the people here look like but of the ones that I do, I can only think of one black guy.
 
Proportionally speaking, is there that big of a difference between the numbers of caucasian herpers and the number of minority herpers?

I'd like to think that the numbers of minorities within the hobby in the US is directly proportional to the general population. I don't have solid numbers, by any stretch of the imagination, so please take this with a grain of salt. But if the number of white herpers is proportional to the general population of whites in the US, wouldn't that proportionbe the same for any other race? At least to a rough estimate?

I mean...we, as herpers, are a rare breed to begin with. If, for the sake of argument, only 10% of the caucasian population are herpers, wouldn't it make sense that black Americans, brown Americans, Asian Americans, etc, is likely close to 10% as well?

Again, I really have no idea. It just seems to me that the percentages would be very similar, even though the actual numbers might be vastly different...

As for what is offensive and what is not...I try not to be offensive in my daily life. I have great friends, relationships, and relatives of just about every race. They all know me, and find very little of what I say "offensive". But people that don't know me might be offended. So I imagine context and familiarity play a HUGE role in what people of different races might be offended by.

I don't walk on egg shells to please anyone, ever. But I certainly don't use the same familiar tones online or in a public location as I would with my close friends. It's only polite...
 
airenlow said:
I frequent the Columbus show and still don't see many black herpers...
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I go to the Anaheim Show. This isn't the case. There are herpers from all walks of life. Certainly there are more non-minority attendees. But as I said above, I think the number is very proportional to the general population.

Just another observation...
 
I would think it should be proportional as well, that would make sense. It seems to be less than proportional however.

I can't judge offensive using my minority friends because we have a relationship such that I can talk casually with them about things that I wouldn't talk to a stranger about.
 
In general the black african colleagues I know well at work, mainly of Nigerian origin, are quite anti-pet all together. Almost universally they find the fact that I keep snakes amusing and or horrifying. One of the women I've worked with often over the last few years has now told just about every other Nigerian nurse on the flexi-bank about me being the 'snake woman', so I get amused questioning about my pets quite often. Requests to see their pictures on the computer if we've got time during a shift. They think I'm crazy but harmless! I've got used to their reactions now, and have a few converted to agreeing that the corns are pretty colours and a strange but sort-of acceptable hobby.
Actually I've got the same status with the Phillipina and Phillipino nurses now, as an example of an eccentric Englishwoman. I don't mind their reactions because talking about how their culture regards the snakes has turned out to be quite interesting and I accept that they aren't being rude about my pets, just coming from a different point of view.
Just as I can't imagine life without pets at all, they don't understand why anyone would devote time and attention to keeping animals in their home.
 
Joel has a very mixed bag of friends, I guess that comes from living in a city....
I caught Joel being racist with his jokes once.... I went to chastise him for it, then found out they were all comparing racist jokes with each other....
They asked me to judge who had the best racist jokes..... I was very uncomfortable with the situation.....
They took it all in their stride.... I guess it comes down to how you were brought up and how much venom there is in your statements/jokes etc.....
And whether the humour is cruel or observational.....
 
tyflier said:
I go to the Anaheim Show. This isn't the case. There are herpers from all walks of life. Certainly there are more non-minority attendees. But as I said above, I think the number is very proportional to the general population.

Just another observation...
Click to expand...

I would think that the percentage of black people in Columbus is much higher than the national average (or at least the regional average)...so there "should" be more at the show. I can only recall one black guy that was walking around with a 3 foot gator. I'm glad a more diverse group is involved in your area, Chris!

EDIT: African Americans in US=12.4% and Columbus=26.4%
Source, Wiki...sorry.
 
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