What is black?

[blueberi1920]

We just has this discussion on my campus and I wanted to hear more thoughts on it I guess. Is black race or culture ? Is it something else?

[DOVE1920]

Biologically speaking there is no such thing as race. That makes "being" Black is a social construction. In that social construction lies= physical characteristics (She "looks" Black) certain behavior (You know you Black when...) culture, beliefs, etc. This social construction is something that has been something we as Black people have defined and it has in some ways been defined for us.

[Kimmie1913]

Originally posted by DOVE1920
Biologically speaking there is no such thing as race. That makes "being" Black is a social construction. In that social construction lies= physical characteristics (She "looks" Black) certain behavior (You know you Black when...) culture, beliefs, etc. This social construction is something that has been something we as Black people have defined and it has in some ways been defined for us.

I think this was a wonderful answer that I completely agree with. The fact biologically there is not such a clear demarcation of race is part of the difficulty with our attempts to define it. No definition that has veer been put to me has been sufficient. Physical characteristics- there are always variations. Even in a closed society any gene pool has variations lending itself to different characteristics. And since we can breed with anyone human, the variation is greater and greater as the gene pool mixes. How much "color" does it take to be black? I will never profess to know the answer. Then there is the cultural aspect. While we find many similarities n how we live/were raised, etc. again there will always be variation. I think this is one of those things that will always be open to debate.

[DreamfulOne]

Being black is a mentality. It is not a true state of existance. It is perceived by common characteristics and personality traits within a setting. "Black" as a race is undefinable and definitely a culture...not within the terms of ethnicity.

[ChaosDST]

I think Black is both a race and a culture. Usually, there are distinct features that distinguish "negroids, caucazoids, and mongloids." That terminology sounds terrible , but I didn't make it up. This may not have so much to do with "biology," as it does with other factors (of which I don't feel like getting into). However, you will find Blacks who do not have any "distinct Black" features. This is why it is important to consider cultural Blackness. If folks don't know what cultural Blackness is, it could be b/c you're so used to it, that you don't "notice" it . I do not agree that Black is ONLY a culture. If this was the case, what would be stopping a white or Asian person from calling themselves Black, b/c they feel a sense of understanding or oneness with the Black culture?