5 ms·

How Turbans Helped Some Blacks Go Incognito in the Jim Crow Era

183 points by TheBiv 12y ago

tokenadult 12y ago
A good long-form story (and a true story that is quite gripping) about how changing the classification can change the perception of the person is the book Black Like Me by John Howard Griffin,[1] which I read once in childhood and reread a few years ago. Powerful stuff. It's stark to understand that events like the events described in the book happened during the lifetime of a lot of people still living today. [1] http://www.amazon.com/Black-Like-50th-Anniversary-Edition/dp/0451234219 http://www.amazon.com/Black-Like-50th-Anniversary-Edition/dp...
- daviddaviddavid 12y ago
  And for a hilarious satirical romp which treads similar territory, see Black No More by George Schuyler: http://www.amazon.com/Black-No-More-George-Schuyler/dp/0486480402 http://www.amazon.com/Black-No-More-George-Schuyler/dp/04864...
analog31 12y ago
My parents had a friend who used this trick in the early 1950s, to get into restaurants. They told the story to my siblings and me, to illustrate the stupidity of racism. On the other hand, I had a summer internship during college, where one of the employees was a white guy and wore a turban. He told me that he got searched every time he crossed the border between the US and Canada, during the period before 9-11 when most people just got waved across.
- ceejayoz 12y ago
  "You've been randomly selected for a screening" is a bunch of bull. It's sure as hell not entirely random.
mjn 12y ago
Minor nitpick, though with this caveat the article is great: > At the time, ideas of race in America were quite literally black and white. Not so much America as specifically the south, where white vs. black was the dividing line, and anyone nonblack was "close enough" to white, at least for the purposes of politics and segregation. In the north, where the white-vs.-black line wasn't as front-and-center, dynamics were different, and there was a higher bar for just how white you had to be to really be white. During some parts of the 20th century, Arabs, Jews, Greeks, Italians, Indians, etc. wouldn't be allowed entry to "whites-only" establishments in New York, even though they were white enough for a "whites-only" restaurant in Atlanta. edit: Although now that I think of it, this would probably be true for some things even in the north. For example the "no selling to negroes" deed restrictions in Chicago, as far as I can find, really meant you could sell to anyone except a black person, including some people with quite dark skin. Race is complex, I guess.
- pessimizer 12y ago
  You exaggerate the difference between the north and south in regards to race. You overestimate the tolerance of the south to Jews, or people with foreign accents, and you underestimate the discrimination against blacks in the north. Restrictions against selling to blacks were not unique to Chicago, they were largely universal. The NAR regarded introducing new ethnicities into a neighborhood as an ethics violation until 1968. http://www.inman.com/2014/04/17/realtor-code-of-ethics-once-required-discrimination/ http://www.inman.com/2014/04/17/realtor-code-of-ethics-once-... published in New York: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Negro_Motorist_Green_Book https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Negro_Motorist_Green_Book
  - nightpool 12y ago
    I get how he might underestimate the intolerance in the South, but I didn't get the sense he was doing so in the North? In fact, he seemed to be saying the North was MORE intolerant, in a lot of ways, then the South could be sometimes.
- deleted 12y ago
  [deleted]
themoonbus 12y ago
My uncle immigrated to South Carolina from India in the 1960's, and worked as an engineer at an otherwise white company. The Christmas party was at a segregated establishment, and they had no idea what to do with him. I think that ultimately they decided that it was ok for "others" to attend, even though by skin color, he was definitely closer to the black end of the spectrum. Must have been a fun party.
rectangletangle 12y ago
This is actually kind of funny. I think this may be tapping into some sort of deep seated in-group/out-group psychology. If you look/act exotic enough that you don't fit within the definition of the out-group, then you clearly must be part of the in-group.
- dictum 12y ago
  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Narcissism_of_small_differences https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Narcissism_of_small_difference...
drakaal 12y ago
Interesting read, especially since today you might be called a "towel head". I find in my day to day interactions that these days Blacks are less discriminated against than many others, but it seems it is now less about color and more about accent. Likely what I am seeing is a bias against non-European immigrants. Being a well spoken Black is fine to hire or hang out with. Someone who looks and sounds like Will I Am, or Quincy Jones, or Colin Powell all good choices. Flavor Flav likely not so much. The same goes for 3rd generation Hispanic, but not 1st. Those from India if they grew up in an affluent house hold and sound like they are from England, but those with a heavy accent no. My home town has no non-white people. We had 2 half native American kids in school, and I think a 1/4 Hispanic girl. As odd as that sounds I think that helped with not being racist. There were no stereotypes because there was no history of seeing anyone of another race. When I was in the Sudan, I told people I was Canadian, it was safer. That wasn't a Race thing either. This may have rambled but I think today there is less racism and more Originism (I know that isn't a word) but I think where you come from matters to people more than the race. That's not better. Just different. It is still beyond your control.
- mandeepj 12y ago
  > I find in my day to day interactions that these days Blacks are less discriminated against than many others, but it seems it is now less about color and more about accent. I totally agree with you. I have experienced lot of stuff by myself that you mentioned. I am living here in US from last 7.5 yrs. I still have very thick accent. I tried a lot to get rid of it. Even hired an accent trainer but due to lack of time could not practice. At the end, my trainer gave up. I have lost lot of opportunities due to my accent. It is not just my accent, my tone is also so rough that when I speak my voice becomes so rough and it sounds so unpleasant. I think I need throat surgery to speak properly. I don't blame them who show me off faces. My only complain is they don't even try talking with me. I can see the change in their body language when they see me coming. Not all are bad. Some people are still very welcoming. I wish there were more of them. I have seen my European friends getting so warm welcome even though they speak more worst than me. I am not jealous about this. Just sharing how people treat others differently who are from different origins
maxdemarzi 12y ago
This goes sideways as well. I was dating an Indian girl in High School (almost 20 years ago). If any older Indian men were around or crossed our path, she would say a few words in spanish. They would assume she was Mexican which would make it none-of-their-business who this "Mexican girl" dated and would stop staring.
- thesimpsons1022 12y ago
  yeah, the difference there aren't indian businessman stopping you from using their services or letting you work there. and there aren't indian admissions officers not letting you in because they don't like white people. so there is a little difference.
  - refurb 12y ago
    It's not about race, but see the caste system in India.
- yummyfajitas 12y ago
  This happens today also. Strangely, I observed this more in the us than in India. I'm now in India and have dated a number of African girls here. I'm very tall, Africans are tall, Indians are short, hence I am the last man on earth. The reaction of Indians is interesting. If they look up at the girl (I.e. they are 5'8", she is 6'2"), they say I should marry her. If they look straight (she is 5'9") they say I should find a white girl.
  - masklinn 12y ago
    > This happens today also. Strangely, I observed this more in the us than in India. That makes a perverse but common amount of sense: by being strict in their adherence to their original culture (where in the old country things are usually more fluid) they aim to show they haven't been swayed/corrupted by the one they're now living in.
satjot 12y ago
As a Sikh American that wears a turban every day [https://www.facebook.com/satjot https://www.facebook.com/satjot], it's great to see a positive piece on Turbans in the US. For the most part I've dealt with comments like, "Hey Osama", "You Towel Head", "Taliban!"...
- dmritard96 12y ago
  I'm really sad to hear this.
  - judk 12y ago
    Even sadder is the fact that (according to a recent Algerian speaking at TED), while westerners are calling all Muslims (and Sikhs) terrorists, they ignore that 85% of the direct victims of terrorism (ignoring USA drone strikes etc) are non-fundamentalist Muslims in Afghanistan, Algeria, Egypt, etc.
    - thejosh 12y ago
      People are going to be racist and xenophobic assholes no matter what unfortunately. Anyone outside of their race / religion / country will be hated upon with the fire of a thousand suns.
    - disputin 12y ago
      Do "westerners call all Muslims (and Sikhs) terrorists"? Rubbish. Do "they ignore that 85% of the direct victims of terrorism ... are non-fundamentalist Muslims"? No, they don't. People throwing around blanket statements while complaining about blanket statements.
- deleted 12y ago
  [deleted]
- HarveyKandola 12y ago
  As s Sikh Brit that also wears a turban I usually feel quite at home when I'm routinely in the US. Hardly any noise direct my way (must have got lucky) but plenty of folk do glance in a curious sort of way. People seem to remember us more which is no great surprise given we tend to stand out a mile. Back in my consulting days I used to work a lot at Microsoft offices around the world. For some strange reason no matter which country I was in, the local staff used to assume I was there for a speaking gig! But I'll never forget the time I went to Argentina -- the whole airport stopped as I got off the plane. I didn't go back there in a hurry...
senthil_rajasek 12y ago
Stereotyping is bad and can be exploited. Don't stereotype people it can be used against you is what I learned.
bhoomit 12y ago
Personal experience - Few years back went to open an account at a bank BOB, India. In the morning I was in tshirt and jeans and everyone was too busy to help me. Just 3 hours later went in a black formals and I didn't even need to ask them for help. And I've had such experiences quite a few times.
- jeffasinger 12y ago
  I've had potential landlords spontaneously offer me a discount only because I was white, well-dressed and mentioned a 9 to 5 job. That certainly isn't fair.
krishnasrinivas 12y ago
Reminds me of this prank: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zhMASNNjl0s https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zhMASNNjl0s

183 points by TheBiv 12y ago

A good long-form story (and a true story that is quite gripping) about how changing the classification can change the perception of the person is the book Black Like Me by John Howard Griffin,[1] which I read once in childhood and reread a few years ago. Powerful stuff. It's stark to understand that events like the events described in the book happened during the lifetime of a lot of people still living today. [1] http://www.amazon.com/Black-Like-50th-Anniversary-Edition/dp/0451234219 http://www.amazon.com/Black-Like-50th-Anniversary-Edition/dp...

daviddaviddavid 12y ago
And for a hilarious satirical romp which treads similar territory, see Black No More by George Schuyler: http://www.amazon.com/Black-No-More-George-Schuyler/dp/0486480402 http://www.amazon.com/Black-No-More-George-Schuyler/dp/04864...

analog31 12y ago

My parents had a friend who used this trick in the early 1950s, to get into restaurants. They told the story to my siblings and me, to illustrate the stupidity of racism. On the other hand, I had a summer internship during college, where one of the employees was a white guy and wore a turban. He told me that he got searched every time he crossed the border between the US and Canada, during the period before 9-11 when most people just got waved across.

ceejayoz 12y ago
"You've been randomly selected for a screening" is a bunch of bull. It's sure as hell not entirely random.

mjn 12y ago

Minor nitpick, though with this caveat the article is great: > At the time, ideas of race in America were quite literally black and white. Not so much America as specifically the south, where white vs. black was the dividing line, and anyone nonblack was "close enough" to white, at least for the purposes of politics and segregation. In the north, where the white-vs.-black line wasn't as front-and-center, dynamics were different, and there was a higher bar for just how white you had to be to really be white. During some parts of the 20th century, Arabs, Jews, Greeks, Italians, Indians, etc. wouldn't be allowed entry to "whites-only" establishments in New York, even though they were white enough for a "whites-only" restaurant in Atlanta. edit: Although now that I think of it, this would probably be true for some things even in the north. For example the "no selling to negroes" deed restrictions in Chicago, as far as I can find, really meant you could sell to anyone except a black person, including some people with quite dark skin. Race is complex, I guess.

pessimizer 12y ago
You exaggerate the difference between the north and south in regards to race. You overestimate the tolerance of the south to Jews, or people with foreign accents, and you underestimate the discrimination against blacks in the north. Restrictions against selling to blacks were not unique to Chicago, they were largely universal. The NAR regarded introducing new ethnicities into a neighborhood as an ethics violation until 1968. http://www.inman.com/2014/04/17/realtor-code-of-ethics-once-required-discrimination/ http://www.inman.com/2014/04/17/realtor-code-of-ethics-once-... published in New York: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Negro_Motorist_Green_Book https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Negro_Motorist_Green_Book
- nightpool 12y ago
  I get how he might underestimate the intolerance in the South, but I didn't get the sense he was doing so in the North? In fact, he seemed to be saying the North was MORE intolerant, in a lot of ways, then the South could be sometimes.
deleted 12y ago
[deleted]

themoonbus 12y ago

My uncle immigrated to South Carolina from India in the 1960's, and worked as an engineer at an otherwise white company. The Christmas party was at a segregated establishment, and they had no idea what to do with him. I think that ultimately they decided that it was ok for "others" to attend, even though by skin color, he was definitely closer to the black end of the spectrum. Must have been a fun party.

rectangletangle 12y ago

This is actually kind of funny. I think this may be tapping into some sort of deep seated in-group/out-group psychology. If you look/act exotic enough that you don't fit within the definition of the out-group, then you clearly must be part of the in-group.

dictum 12y ago
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Narcissism_of_small_differences https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Narcissism_of_small_difference...

drakaal 12y ago

Interesting read, especially since today you might be called a "towel head". I find in my day to day interactions that these days Blacks are less discriminated against than many others, but it seems it is now less about color and more about accent. Likely what I am seeing is a bias against non-European immigrants. Being a well spoken Black is fine to hire or hang out with. Someone who looks and sounds like Will I Am, or Quincy Jones, or Colin Powell all good choices. Flavor Flav likely not so much. The same goes for 3rd generation Hispanic, but not 1st. Those from India if they grew up in an affluent house hold and sound like they are from England, but those with a heavy accent no. My home town has no non-white people. We had 2 half native American kids in school, and I think a 1/4 Hispanic girl. As odd as that sounds I think that helped with not being racist. There were no stereotypes because there was no history of seeing anyone of another race. When I was in the Sudan, I told people I was Canadian, it was safer. That wasn't a Race thing either. This may have rambled but I think today there is less racism and more Originism (I know that isn't a word) but I think where you come from matters to people more than the race. That's not better. Just different. It is still beyond your control.

mandeepj 12y ago
> I find in my day to day interactions that these days Blacks are less discriminated against than many others, but it seems it is now less about color and more about accent. I totally agree with you. I have experienced lot of stuff by myself that you mentioned. I am living here in US from last 7.5 yrs. I still have very thick accent. I tried a lot to get rid of it. Even hired an accent trainer but due to lack of time could not practice. At the end, my trainer gave up. I have lost lot of opportunities due to my accent. It is not just my accent, my tone is also so rough that when I speak my voice becomes so rough and it sounds so unpleasant. I think I need throat surgery to speak properly. I don't blame them who show me off faces. My only complain is they don't even try talking with me. I can see the change in their body language when they see me coming. Not all are bad. Some people are still very welcoming. I wish there were more of them. I have seen my European friends getting so warm welcome even though they speak more worst than me. I am not jealous about this. Just sharing how people treat others differently who are from different origins

maxdemarzi 12y ago

This goes sideways as well. I was dating an Indian girl in High School (almost 20 years ago). If any older Indian men were around or crossed our path, she would say a few words in spanish. They would assume she was Mexican which would make it none-of-their-business who this "Mexican girl" dated and would stop staring.

thesimpsons1022 12y ago
yeah, the difference there aren't indian businessman stopping you from using their services or letting you work there. and there aren't indian admissions officers not letting you in because they don't like white people. so there is a little difference.
- refurb 12y ago
  It's not about race, but see the caste system in India.
yummyfajitas 12y ago
This happens today also. Strangely, I observed this more in the us than in India. I'm now in India and have dated a number of African girls here. I'm very tall, Africans are tall, Indians are short, hence I am the last man on earth. The reaction of Indians is interesting. If they look up at the girl (I.e. they are 5'8", she is 6'2"), they say I should marry her. If they look straight (she is 5'9") they say I should find a white girl.
- masklinn 12y ago
  > This happens today also. Strangely, I observed this more in the us than in India. That makes a perverse but common amount of sense: by being strict in their adherence to their original culture (where in the old country things are usually more fluid) they aim to show they haven't been swayed/corrupted by the one they're now living in.

satjot 12y ago

As a Sikh American that wears a turban every day [https://www.facebook.com/satjot https://www.facebook.com/satjot], it's great to see a positive piece on Turbans in the US. For the most part I've dealt with comments like, "Hey Osama", "You Towel Head", "Taliban!"...

dmritard96 12y ago
I'm really sad to hear this.
- judk 12y ago
  Even sadder is the fact that (according to a recent Algerian speaking at TED), while westerners are calling all Muslims (and Sikhs) terrorists, they ignore that 85% of the direct victims of terrorism (ignoring USA drone strikes etc) are non-fundamentalist Muslims in Afghanistan, Algeria, Egypt, etc.
  - thejosh 12y ago
    People are going to be racist and xenophobic assholes no matter what unfortunately. Anyone outside of their race / religion / country will be hated upon with the fire of a thousand suns.
  - disputin 12y ago
    Do "westerners call all Muslims (and Sikhs) terrorists"? Rubbish. Do "they ignore that 85% of the direct victims of terrorism ... are non-fundamentalist Muslims"? No, they don't. People throwing around blanket statements while complaining about blanket statements.
deleted 12y ago
[deleted]
HarveyKandola 12y ago
As s Sikh Brit that also wears a turban I usually feel quite at home when I'm routinely in the US. Hardly any noise direct my way (must have got lucky) but plenty of folk do glance in a curious sort of way. People seem to remember us more which is no great surprise given we tend to stand out a mile. Back in my consulting days I used to work a lot at Microsoft offices around the world. For some strange reason no matter which country I was in, the local staff used to assume I was there for a speaking gig! But I'll never forget the time I went to Argentina -- the whole airport stopped as I got off the plane. I didn't go back there in a hurry...

senthil_rajasek 12y ago

Stereotyping is bad and can be exploited. Don't stereotype people it can be used against you is what I learned.

bhoomit 12y ago

Personal experience - Few years back went to open an account at a bank BOB, India. In the morning I was in tshirt and jeans and everyone was too busy to help me. Just 3 hours later went in a black formals and I didn't even need to ask them for help. And I've had such experiences quite a few times.

jeffasinger 12y ago
I've had potential landlords spontaneously offer me a discount only because I was white, well-dressed and mentioned a 9 to 5 job. That certainly isn't fair.

krishnasrinivas 12y ago

Reminds me of this prank: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zhMASNNjl0s https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zhMASNNjl0s