"The White Negro: Superficial Reflections on the Hipster" is an essay by Norman Mailer that recorded a wave of young white people in the 1920s, 1930s and 1940s who liked jazz and swing music so much that they adopted black culture as their own. It was originally published in "Dissent" magazine. Mailer took on the complicated subject of race relations. The wave of young white people in the 1920s, 1930s and 1940s were so enamored of jazz and swing music that they adopted the black culture as their own. They would associate mainly with black people, distancing themselves from white society. This movement gave rise to the hipster of the 1940s, the beats of the 1950s. The phenomenon of white people adopting stereotypical black mannerisms, slang, and apparel has appeared in several generations since slavery was abolished in the western world. The concept has been documented in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom and other white-majority countries.
For more info check out this insightful article on Race Relations
Friday, October 03, 2008
The White Negro: Superficial Reflections on the Hipster
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Wow-so much of our culture (American) is so integrated now that in Simi Valley-you see even young white males wearing saggy pants and blasting rap music as they pass by in their cars. Its amazing to me how much our cultures have melded together. In reference to your post, its probably been written how over the years, African Americans have done the same in reverse.
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