Cultural Differences

I find that the differences between Black and White culture are enormous. We have, after all, thousands of years of separate development behind us. One sees it in some of the details -- bearing in mind that these will not be universal. A few examples:

• Ask a Black chemist to renew your prescription too soon -- for the Black chemist this is no problem -- the White chemist will balk at it

• Sit down in a room with a clear glass door while people pass in the street -- a White person will close the curtains -- a Black person will open them

• Buy a Black child a toy -- even an "unbreakable" one -- and it will be broken within a day -- in a White household, it will still be there a year later 

• Sit in a Church pew -- White congregants will leave a large gap between their shoulders and the next -- Black congregants will sit shoulder to shoulder 

• See a friend in the street -- a Black person will shout from the other side of the street -- a White person will speak quietly on the same side of the street 

• When having a bath -- the White person will lock the bathroom door -- the Black person will bring a bath into the family lounge 
• When leaving for an appointment -- the Black person will hear the car engine starting -- the White person will look at their clock 

• When it comes to bereavement -- the White person will lose a family member every ten years -- the Black person will lose a family member every year  

OBSERVATION: There are many more examples besides. Again, this will differ -- sometimes very much so. There are differences in particular between Blacks who are still close to their ancestral roots -- of whom there are many -- and those more distant from them.