The Official "Ask A Brotha" Thread

[Pink Ranger]

Wouldn't a white or Asian person with that accent be the same?

I can't speak for white, but when you're Asian, anything you say is automatically hilarious to anybody else, so there's no real basis for comparison with respect to accents.

 

[Manic]

You know what I find particularly funny?




White people talking like 'black people'.


"aaaAAWWW SHIIIiiiiiiii-....!!"

Ever seen some white teenage girl say that? It's very bizarre.

Eh, that kinda varies by the white person and how genuine they are with that. The ridiculous ones are on the "Daniel Tosh's black voice" end of the scale, but the ones who sincerely talk like that are on the Michael Rapaport end.

I can't speak for white, but when you're Asian, anything you say is automatically hilarious to anybody else, so there's no real basis for comparison with respect to accents.

"Hope everyone thinks i'm funny just because I'm Asian" is the basis for Dr. Ken Jeong's entire career.

 

[KalMart]

I can't speak for white, but when you're Asian, anything you say is automatically hilarious to anybody else, so there's no real basis for comparison with respect to accents.

I have a funny little story....


I'm Korean, born and raised in the US near and in NYC. I'm amongst other things a guitarist and sometimes singer. Years back (but still in the 21st century), I was performing with a blues band in NYC, and I sang a few songs. After the set what looked like a regular white/American couple comes up and nicely compliments us, then the woman turns to me and says "And you do a great American accent."

The band was rather stunned, and I quickly responded "Thanks, so do you." And the woman looked very confused, which made the rest of the band burst into laughter.

Sometimes I would go to open mic jams or just perform out, and it almost seemed like people were watching a circus act at first...some Asian guy dressed like he's out of an LL Bean catalogue...playing guitar and singing with an American accent. Hey...whatever puts on a show, right?

That's not nearly as bad as being mistaken for a delivery person in my own apartment building, though.

 

[KalMart]

Eh, that kinda varies by the white person and how genuine they are with that. The ridiculous ones are on the "Daniel Tosh's black voice" end of the scale, but the ones who sincerely talk like that are on the Michael Rapaport end.

Like you inferred...any which way, it's still funny.

 

[charl_huntress]

I haven't posted there before, but I did read her essay. Prior to this essay though, her tongue was not as civil on this topic. Ultimately though I get it...I do. That pain is real and is too often dismissed. Will it give me pause? Yes. Will it dictate who I ultimately end up with? No.

For me that thread is more enlightening on how black men (world wide) view American black women.

Or, if they have stubble (male or female) like Jason Statham.

Very true....very true. The also check for scarves and a keen fashion sense depending on if their smart...

You know what I find particularly funny? White people talking like 'black people' "aaaAAWWW SHIIIiiiiiiii-....!!" Ever seen some white teenage girl say that? It's very bizarre.

I don't find that as bizarre as I used to because that sort of speech is common now for everyone and in a lot of movies I see the "cool" white kids all talk that way.

I have a funny little story....


I'm Korean, born and raised in the US near and in NYC. I'm amongst other things a guitarist and sometimes singer. Years back (but still in the 21st century), I was performing with a blues band in NYC, and I sang a few songs. After the set what looked like a regular white/American couple comes up and nicely compliments us, then the woman turns to me and says "And you do a great American accent."

The band was rather stunned, and I quickly responded "Thanks, so do you." And the woman looked very confused, which made the rest of the band burst into laughter.

Sometimes I would go to open mic jams or just perform out, and it almost seemed like people were watching a circus act at first...some Asian guy dressed like he's out of an LL Bean catalogue...playing guitar and singing with an American accent. Hey...whatever puts on a show, right?

That's not nearly as bad as being mistaken for a delivery person in my own apartment building, though.

I laugh at this, but years ago that would have seemed odd. It was against the type of "Asians". You don't expect them to be the type who play guitar, can sing, or would jam out...lol

 

[chamber-music]

The UK Birmingham accent is often voted the stupidest sounding British accent.

British Birmingham singer Jamelia is gorgeous but sounds dumb as hell
[YT]/NPy_2J_NPfo[/YT]

If I ever met a black person with a Cornish accent, I'd probably die of laughter. I'd have to ask them to repeat everything they said to me-- partly because of the silly accent, but also because they'd be impossible to understand.

South West England is the whitest part of Britain. You won't see many Black people outside of the city of Bristol and some in the town of Bath.

 

[Pink Ranger]

"Hope everyone thinks i'm funny just because I'm Asian" is the basis for Dr. Ken Jeong's entire career.

Pretty much.

And it doesn't matter which accent you have. If you have the stereotypical Chinglish accent, then other people find it hilarious. I imagine KalMart is a real New Yawker, and other people find that amusing. Due to a complex set of circumstance, I basically talk like Niles Crane, and I know people find that funny. It goes with the territory; if you're smart, it can work to your advantage.

 

[blknrdcllctv]

For me that thread is more enlightening on how black men (world wide) view American black women.

What are your take-aways?

 

[charl_huntress]

The UK Birmingham accent is often voted the stupidest sounding British accent.

British Birmingham singer Jamelia is gorgeous but sounds dumb as hell
[YT]/NPy_2J_NPfo[/YT]

This reminds me of why I have to watch Dr. Who with the subtitles on. t:

What are your take-aways?

That some may have animosity toward their mother... I can't explain it any other way

 

[Erzengel]

Karen Gillan with her Scottish accent.

 

[KalMart]

Pretty much.

And it doesn't matter which accent you have. If you have the stereotypical Chinglish accent, then other people find it hilarious. I imagine KalMart is a real New Yawker, and other people find that amusing. Due to a complex set of circumstance, I basically talk like Niles Crane, and I know people find that funny. It goes with the territory; if you're smart, it can work to your advantage.

Some people I think are so freaked out about it that they think I'm an actor....or wearing movie makeup or something. I leave phone messages and then after meet in person, and they're like "...wh-....OH..." 'Oh' what?

I work on some films that have 'Italians' or guys playing mobsters...sometimes I have to help with rehearsals and read-throughs. I end up sounding more Italian than a lot of them. I've spent time in Florida working with local high schools and start to naturally pick up their 'twang', and then some start to think I'm from the South. And so it goes.

 

[chamber-music]

Pretty much.

And it doesn't matter which accent you have. If you have the stereotypical Chinglish accent, then other people find it hilarious. I imagine KalMart is a real New Yawker, and other people find that amusing. Due to a complex set of circumstance, I basically talk like Niles Crane, and I know people find that funny. It goes with the territory; if you're smart, it can work to your advantage.

What do you think of actress Gemma Chan's accent?
[YT]/q89eKGRJnTE[/YT]

 

[KalMart]

I laugh at this, but years ago that would have seemed odd. It was against the type of "Asians". You don't expect them to be the type who play guitar, can sing, or would jam out...lol

Why not?


Too busy solving algebraic riddles or designing VCR's?

I found it particularly odd in NYC, since this is one of the biggest 'melting pots' of a city in the world.

 

[Pink Ranger]

What do you think of actress Gemma Chan's accent?
[YT]/q89eKGRJnTE[/YT]

The rules are different for attractive Asian women. They basically "belong" wherever they are, whether it be London, Paris or New York, whereas all other 70-80% of Asians: men, old people, women who don't look like models: are perceived as foreigners by definition.

Basically, it's a variation of, I think it was Chris Rock, who stated the difference between "African-Americans," "Blacks," and the, um, other term. I characterize it as the difference between being Asian-American, Asian, and Oriental.

 

[chamber-music]

I'm pretty oblivious to most ethnic stereotypes. I only heard about the Asian maths stereotype a couple years ago.

 

[Feenix]

I'm pretty oblivious to most ethnic stereotypes. I only heard about the Asian maths stereotype a couple years ago.

I look to Family Guy for all the up-to-date information on stereotypes.

 

[Manic]

I fall back on the Asian math thing every time me and my friends go out to eat.

"How much is the tip?"
"I don't know. Why do you think I hang out with you people?"

 

[Pink Ranger]

I look to Family Guy for all the up-to-date information on stereotypes.

Next to Honey Boo Boo, the most educational program on television today.

 

[charl_huntress]

Some people I think are so freaked out about it that they think I'm an actor....or wearing movie makeup or something. I leave phone messages and then after meet in person, and they're like "...wh-....OH..." 'Oh' what?

I work on some films that have 'Italians' or guys playing mobsters...sometimes I have to help with rehearsals and read-throughs. I end up sounding more Italian than a lot of them. I've spent time in Florida working with local high schools and start to naturally pick up their 'twang', and then some start to think I'm from the South. And so it goes.

Have any of you ever heard of Theo Mizuhara? This dude had the entire county of Los Angeles thinking he was black until it was revealed he was Asian. I can't post any youtube links because I don't know how, but listen to his voice if you get a chance. I think this man did more to help change stereotypes against Asian than a lot of folks know... Seriously. t:

Why not? Too busy solving algebraic riddles or designing VCR's? I found it particularly odd in NYC, since this is one of the biggest 'melting pots' of a city in the world.

Yeah...but it was a very prevalent stereotype.

 

[KalMart]

Have any of you ever heard of Theo Mizuhara? This dude had the entire county of Los Angeles thinking he was black until it was revealed he was Asian. I can't post any youtube links because I don't know how, but listen to his voice if you get a chance. I think this man did more to help change stereotypes against Asian than a lot of folks know... Seriously. t:

Yeah...but it was a very prevalent stereotype.

Again...in my own apartment building, where I own an apartment and had been in for eight years, I was mistaken by some other tenant as a delivery person one day when carrying a plastic bag.

 

[Breogan]

Anyone find it offensive when darker Dominicans don't want to be grouped in with blacks?

Thing is it works the other way too, they might not identify as white European either. By demanding they choose one like we've done here you might be projecting your own bias, and many are mixed Taino(native American)/Quisqueyanos too, and identify just as much with that.
It might really be a cultural thing, if they identify their whole lives as Latino or Hispano or more likely Dominicano! That’s who they are; which is a cultural identification not race specific.
Then they come over here or meet with North Americans who suddenly need to project their own racial history and bias on to them wanting them to choose, - hey are you one or the other, black or white?
- They're probably thinking ¿QuéTF? soy ¡Latino! -

[YT]fdi7VoAa8rI[/YT]

[YT]bVnHFBDxppo[/YT]

 

[charl_huntress]

Again...in my own apartment building, where I own an apartment and had been in for eight years, I was mistaken by some other tenant as a delivery person one day when carrying a plastic bag.

How recent was this?

 

[KalMart]

How recent was this?

Like two years ago.

 

[charl_huntress]

Like two years ago.

Wow...

I thought most stereotypes against Asians were starting to diminish a bit from being so prevalent. The only one that still persists is that Asians can't drive...and I don't know if that's a stereotype...lol t:

Joke

 

[KalMart]

Wow...

I thought most stereotypes against Asians were starting to diminish a bit from being so prevalent. The only one that still persists is that Asians can't drive...and I don't know if that's a stereotype...lol t:

Joke

They can only drift, right?