Black Folk Dont: Tip

Tags: knowledge, race/ethnicity, common sense, culture, stereotypes, 06 to 10 mins
Year: 2011
Length: 8:54
Access: BlackFolkDont.com

Summary:  "Black Folk Dont..." is a website that analyzes stereotypes of black people. As the creators ask about tipping, "Do black people tip any less than others? Or do black folk just tip for a different set of services?" Producer Angela Tucker "explores this questions with regular folk on the street, and a range of black folk from cultural critics, to bloggers, comedians, actors, and more." This episode shows black people both agreeing and disagreeing with the stereotype that black people do not tip. Several African-American commentators note that they (as former servers) tip well because they know how serving is a low wage job, while others (as black people) over-tip "to make up for the stigma ... for the stereotype," and others note black folk just tip differently (not tipping much in restaurants but do so for hairdressers or barbers). As the clip continues, the commentators raise issues of culture, history, and economics in how people choose to tip (e.g. "I think tipping is a class question and not a race question"). While the clip only offers anecdotal views, it might serve as "research stimulators" by challenging at least some students in the class to locate data or studies that would support or refute relevant speculation. Students can be encouraged to think about where these beliefs come from, how they are reproduced, and the consequences of stereotypes about different groups of people.

Thank you to Michael Miller for suggesting this clip and ideas for how to use it in the classroom!

Submitted By: Paul Dean

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