Why be ghetto? Why would a person choose to have that personality?
In my sociology class last week we were talking about stereotypes and what is seen as stereotypical for different races. When we got to the category African-Americans one of the first words that came up was ghetto. The person that said this went on to say that alot of black females have created the stereotype that black girls are ghetto.
And my question is why do so many African-American girls choose to act "ghetto? Do they think that it's cute or something? I'm an African American female and I hate having people of other races expecting me to be really loud and "ghetto" when they first meet me!
I mean do they not see that they are creating a negative stereotype for African American females? What makes that type of personality so popluar?
And okay, maybe there are some places where girls really are ghetto, that's how they grewup and that's how they've always been. But why would someone really want that personality? Why would someone really want to be like that?
It really makes no sense to me!
Why be "GHETTO"?
By EriJA - Posted on April 2nd, 2007
It's not really just with African-American females, but pretty much EVERYONE that chooses to act like that. I just wish these people would realize how dumb they act and sound when they try to act "ghetto", but I guess trying to act like an intelligent human being isn't on their minds.
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"They can smash your cookie, but you'll always get your fortune."
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Who says you cannot "act ghetto" and be intelligent as well?
But intelligence should tell you that acting and being "ghetto" has nothing truely positive associayed with it!
What really the purpose and what do you really accomplish by being ghetto and feeding into a negative stereutype?
to define 'ghetto' now don't we? Acting 'ghetto' to me is NOT lack of knowledge, wearing pants around the ankles, believing going to jail is "cool", being afraid of/adverse to the police, etc. All of that is simply ignorance-there is no other word for it. Acting 'ghetto' (to me) is being submerged in what most consider African American (or black, whatever you prefer) culture. I believe a person (black, white or otherwise) can speak ebonics and still be intelligent. I don't always speak proper English, but I know how to, and I use is just as much as I use vernacular. I see nothing wrong with being loud-as a matter of fact, the white kids at my school seem to be more 'loud' than the black kids. There is a difference between being loud and being obnoxious. While I would prefer to hang with people with a more eclectic taste in music, there is nothing wrong with ONLY listening to hip-hop, RnB, reggae, and/or Gospel music.
That is what 'being ghetto' is to me. Many people I know use it in a way that simply suggests black culture as well, and there is nothing wrong with black culture.
In my opinion, being ghetto isn't secluded to any specific ethnicity. I think the ghetto lifestyle entails an extremely apathetic outlook toward getting ahead in life. It just so happens that a large portion of black America falls into this category, so the stereotype is understandable; however, as I said, in my opinion, being "ghetto" isn't limited to black people. Everything I'm saying I have gotten from Ken Hamblin's book Pick A Better Country, and I suggest it to everyone.
OKay ghetto, to me, does not include going to jail, wearing your pants down to your ankles or any of that. I would call that: trying to be hood or trying to be thug or being VERY stupid. I don't consider being ghetto as being what African American culture is all about. there is so much more to the African American race than being GHETTO. And I believe that the "ghettoness" overshadows all the other things that are a part of African American culture. I don't always speal proper english either, and I don't consider that as being ghetto.
And actually from reading what you have written, I wouldn't consider you as being completely "ghetto" (at least not by my standards). Ghetto girls are seen as loud unintelligent, oblivious to all other ways of life, with a "stank" attitude and ALMOST ignorant.
ndGhetto to me does not include the types of music that AFrican Americans usually listen to.
To me there is a difference between 'being ghetto' and African American culture. being ghetto is a sub-culture within African AMerican culture. I don't think it should define a whole race of people.
"there is so much more to the African American race than being GHETTO."
And this is precisely why 'ghetto' needs to be defined. Some people WOULD categorize wearing pants down to the ankles as ghetto. 'Ghetto' does not have a rigid definition. I do not believe 'ghetto' has to have negative connotations, but instead IS what black culture in the United States is about. To me it is NOT a negative subculture-it is the ENTIRE culture, including music, movies, television, etc. 'Ghetto' does not define the whole race. As a matter of fact, African-American culture doesn't even define the whole race, because there are PLENTY of people who do not fall into that category, and that does not make them any less black.
Ghetto is...
"Originally, the section of a European city to which Jews were restricted. Today, commonly defined as a section of a city occupied by members of a minority group who live there because of social restrictions on their residential choice."
www.dictionary.com :)
the original definition. But thanks.
Wasn't directed to you...just wanted to put it out there, just in case :)
I think that most people know the origns of the term ghetto, and I think that most people understand the meaning of the word in today's society. The only thing is that there are many variations of the defintion. I still feel like 'being ghetto' has a negative commontation and a description of 'ghetto' shouldn't be synonymous with Black/African-American culture.
I try not to judge people so it bothers me when other people do. I hate stereotypes and the way they can affect people.
First of all I think that you are being condescending to black people when you say why be ghetto. ghetto is a personality of someone and should not portrayed as something bad. If someone choices to be "ghetto" then that is them and their decision and they should not be critized for it.. being ghetto has nothing to do with a person's intelligence. Am i ghetto because i don pronounce my words correctly but i still have a high G.P.A. and take honors classes. I know how and when to talk "proper", although the way i talk in front of my friends may be different and more chilled then when I am at a job interview. people should not feed into sterotypes, all they do is lable races into groups. you cannot label someone into a certain group because ALL PEOPLE OF ALL RACES have diverse perosonalties. that is why America is known as a melting pot.
Being Down for your freinds.
Being proud of where you are from and you're people, even or especially when others look down at it.
Ready to fight for your right.
Not a sucker on the street.
Not a victim.
If I'm Ghetto I do not look up to some Yuppie punk, or envy anything they have.
Being Ghetto does not describe a way of dressing, talking, or even acting it IS ATTITUDE. Most people who want to be Ghetto are just fronting it. That might be why you show the disrespect that you do.
"In my jungle you'd be just another A**hole"
Jamie Shannon
The Dogs of War, 1981
"Little vicious minds abound with anger and revenge, and are incapable of feeling the pleasure of forgiving their enemies."
Lord Chesterfield