by PC Marks

Created on: May 19, 2008

The real issue is how one perceives African American Women. Generalizations of any group of people are asinine. No one can honestly say that all white males between the ages of eighteen and twenty four will blow up their work place. No more than it can be legitimized that all black women are neck rollers, hand on the hip tell you off at a drop of a dime loud mouths.

The Black women in my life are Educators, Bankers, Lawyers, Mother, Sister and Friend who share similarities with the White women in my life whom are also Educators, Bankers, Lawyers, Nurses and Friends.

All of whom have dyed there hair, brown, auburn, black, blond, etc, doesn't mean they are having an identity crisis. It's hair! In the seventies, whites wore afros and were not accused of not knowing who they were.

The issue is not understanding a particular race or perceived behavior patterns of that race. It's solely the individual's personality. Personality traits in all people are shy, outspoken, driven, lack luster and several more.

I've witnessed my white friend go off and embarrass us in public as many if not more times than my black friend.

My favorite personality term is "hotheaded." Two of my best friends of opposite race both falls into this category. The aforementioned will not conform nor do they fit in any conceived stereotype.

The "hotheads," both will chew you up and spit you out before you can ask, "What the hell happened?"

In our minute circle we have teased both out of earshot of others saying things like, "You guys were sisters in a formal life," "The salt went off before pepper this time."

The difference with us making these remarks is that we love them. It's offensive to hear someone outside of our little sister circle say the same when they haven't taken the time to know either of them.

If they did the common responses heard for both would be, "She's smart and intelligent, fun person to be around, will give you the shirt off her back." Honestly these remarks would also end with, "Just don't piss her off."

This could be true for all, black, white and otherwise. I dare not say all white men are aggressive. It is unfair to say that there is a need to "understand African American women's identity."

The minority in this aspect are those that feel there is a problem, not those of us that know who we are, what we would like to be and are unconcerned with that minorities perceptions.

And last but far from least, I am offended that supposedly educated, enlightened, well rounded individuals could even come up with such a ridiculous summation of one's behavior based on ethnicity!

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