Black men don't smile?

Discussion in 'Stereotypes and Myths' started by brewcitychick, Dec 8, 2007.

  1. brewcitychick

    brewcitychick New Member

    OK, this is the one stereotype/myth that I have seen in many bm around my age. Specifically, that bm are less likely to smile in pictures. What is this? Is this a regional trend or does it have to due more with black culture? Or is this unique to my personal experiences and I am just making something out of nothing?

    Please share your unique experiences or thoughts!
     
  2. ---woman---

    ---woman--- New Member

    I've never noticed such thing!
    Lots of smiley faces on their avatars here. :D
     
  3. KnCA

    KnCA New Member

    I don't know what your age group is.

    I think it's men in general though and not a racial thing. Some men (on here even) will say that the smile thing is "cheezy" so they don't do it.

    I've noticed that a lot of younger guys aren't big on smiling in pics.
     
  4. brewcitychick

    brewcitychick New Member

    KNCA - I think you might be onto something...

    I am only in my mid twenties, so maybe age has something to do with it. Or maybe it is just that my bf is a fuddy duddy! I have to tell a joke while we are having our picture taken in order to get him to smile. Which is a shame because he has the sexiest smile I have ever seen!

    It is always good to get a different perspective :)
     
  5. jellybird

    jellybird New Member

    I dont think its an age thing. I definitely think its culture. Im not a big "smiler" and none of my black friends or even guys from my old neighborhood were "smilers." But I also grew up in a rough neighborhood and lets just say that the emphasis definitely was on looking tough, not friendly.

    Brewcitychick, have you noticed a difference between black guys from "rougher" areas vs. suburban (middleclass) areas?

    Maybe it is a black thang...along with the "head bob" and hand shakes.
     
  6. DI

    DI New Member

    I dont think it depends of skin colour! i can even say the BM have the best humour! I always lough a lot with them! I love their humour!!!!
     
  7. KnCA

    KnCA New Member

    I think there is a thing about wanting to look tougher or cooler or something. Not that they would necessarily admit to that.

    I think it is sortof a trend. Look at pics of celebs and such....many of they aren't smiling and are doing more the deep looks into the camera.

    I'm really big on eyes and smiles - I want to see them!
     
  8. dudaroosky

    dudaroosky New Member

    Well for me, it's not about looking "hard" or "tough", it's the fact that I choose not to.
     
  9. AliasSmithandJones

    AliasSmithandJones New Member

    People tell me that I have a great smile and that I smile a lot, but when I'm not smiling, if I'm focused on something or just thinking people say I look "mean or angry", which isn't the case. I don't try to look hard, but whatever my mood is, if I'm not ammused or entertained, my expression usually doesn't feature a smile. I have to have a reason to smile. If I'm amused, particularly happy or something you'll see a smile. Otheriwise you get :-|.
     
  10. Bryant

    Bryant New Member

    I smile in almost all of my pictures now. When i was younger i didn't, because i thought it was cheezy. But now i don't care, i just smile away. :lol:
     
  11. MistressB

    MistressB New Member

    I would wish for men to smile all the time. There is not much that is prettier than a set of beautiful white teeth against dark skin! (on men and women).

    I am now having flashbacks of my mother marvelling over how white and clean my (Ghanaian) ex's cuticles looked against his very dark fingers, and how white his teeth were! haha... :lol: he was a beautiful man, to be fair!
     
  12. Soulthinker

    Soulthinker Well-Known Member

    I smile a lot when I'm happy. I try not to frown unless it is necessary. In most of my photos I smile.
     
  13. ---woman---

    ---woman--- New Member

    Agree!!
    Is it just me or do majority of black men have almost unearthly white teeth!? Maybe it's just the color contrast that baffles me.. :lol:


    Keep smiling, you have a cute one!
    I seem to have a permanent case of grin face too when being photographed :lol:
     
  14. brewcitychick

    brewcitychick New Member

    That is unfortunate - but it might explain why us ladies might be less inclined to approach some of you "non-smiling" guys! lol

    This is why I like to crack jokes around my man all the time; so I get a glimpse of his award winning smile :D :D :D
     
  15. jellybird

    jellybird New Member

    Very true! I think its something I need to address because its one thing to not smile, but its another to look mean. And people always tell me I look mean, even when really Im in a pretty good mood.

    Maybe I (along with every other man in the world) need a wonderful woman such as yourself to make me smile more often. :smt058
     
  16. joliemarie

    joliemarie Guest

  17. Chigirl

    Chigirl New Member

    :smt045
     
  18. brewcitychick

    brewcitychick New Member

    Here here Jolie!

    I challenge all of you "non-smilers" to post some pics featuring your beautiful smiles :) There is a pics thread going...you know what to do :wink:
     
  19. tuckerreed

    tuckerreed New Member

    think it may be a cultural/class and age thing.

    seems alot of the poor and working class whites and blacks dont seem to smile --may be also its urban vs rural.

    many are posing, many are acting out stereotype to be so called "cool"--lame.

    also many of the youth think being or acting angry makes one cool.

    also there are ligitimate reasons for their look--horrible family life, drugs, alcohol, poverty and lack of personality, whining
     
  20. TheChosenOne

    TheChosenOne Well-Known Member


    That's probably the case for many "non-smilers."

    I smile when I'm happy (which is most of the time) but I don't smile just because it's "polite" or "classy." If I'm smiling...it's for good reason and not as a way to shield any emotional turmoil.

    But people do need to smile more...so here goes.... :D
     

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