Is The Black Bass Player Stereotype True?

[cnltb]

Well lots of people say if Black people are going to play an instrument its going to be the bass, I find it funny that I am Black, and the first instrument I chose was the bass! Not trying to say the stereotype is true but what do you think?

I think that there isn't much to it and form what I hear and read black and white are no different in their choices of instrument.

 

[Egbert89]

This thread is hilarious xD
I do have to agree with one of the earlier posts
"music is colorblind"

 

[f.c.geil]

Most, if not all of my bass idols are black bass players, My guitar idols are all white.. go figure.

And I'm just the opposite. My biggest bass heros are James Jamerson and Bootsie Collins, and Eric Clapton and Joe Satriani are my favorite guitarists...

 

[SJan3]

Dude, of course, it's true.

In fact, black people are better at *all* instruments.

But America is the biggest economy in the world. And white people control all the money in the USA.

But white people didn't want to listen to black people playing.

The record industry caught on and now white bands are de rigeur. You know, rustle up some college boys, get their daddy to bankroll the project....

- Jimmy Rage

Boy, did you buy into the b.s.! Tell that to Obama, Don King, Jessie Jackson, All Sharpton, Condie Rice, Air Jordan, RGlll, Muhammad Ali...man I could go on and on! Who's got the money honey??

 

[interp]

There are plenty of black bass players, guitar players sax players, keyboards, drummers....
It is whatever music speaks to you that helps you choose.

+100

 

[Hounddog]

I refuse to acknowledge there is different races. If ppl would stop talking about it and simply call ppl by their names a lot of this would stop. I know this post was started in fun but in no way does it help racial equality. I wish everyone would understand we are all ppl who are fighting our own battles and all deserve equal respect.

 

[Kmonk]

Not sure why but I do not run into black musicians very often. I have been playing for 35 years and have only met one black bass player and a few black drummers. I really don't think about anyone in terms of color. If they can play and are a good person that's all that matters.

"Until the color of a man's skin is of
no more significance than the color of his eyes" - Bob Marley

 

[f.c.geil]

I refuse to acknowledge there is different races. If ppl would stop talking about it and simply call ppl by their names a lot of this would stop. I know this post was started in fun but in no way does it help racial equality. I wish everyone would understand we are all ppl who are fighting our own battles and all deserve equal respect.

Refusal to acknowledge different races merely blinds and handicaps you/, while making not a whit of difference to the rest of the world. There are different races, and may always be (although with interracial marriages becoming more prevalent, we may one day all be the same race). More, the races are not "equal." This is simple fact. Should we all have the same rights? Absolutely! Should we all be equally respected? Don't be ridiculous! Murderers, pedophiles, gangbangers, idiots, a$$holes, welfare recipients, members of certain political parties, and... don't deserve respect. They deserve contempt, at best. Everyone is different, and the truth is that some people are worth more than others.

 

[TigerInATrance]

I don't know if the OP is true or not, but I do know that at large chain type music stores (GC, Sam Ash, etc.) there are 3 constants. Middle aged white guys will sit for hours playing butchered SRV and Hendrixish garbage on every guitar priced over $1000. Young white kids will bang out something that I like to call atonal, arhythmic punk metal that features way too much buzzy distortion on the cheapest guitars and amps in the place. And there will almost always be a black gentleman working on his slap technique (and it always needs a whole lot of work) with a tone that could only sound good to Fran Drescher in the bass area.

 

[Clef_de_fa]

But I never saw a black bass player outside of funk music ... you know it has to groove.

 

[Clef_de_fa]

Should we all be equally respected? Don't be ridiculous! Murderers, pedophiles, gangbangers, idiots, a$$holes, welfare recipients, members of certain political parties, and... don't deserve respect. They deserve contempt, at best.

Seriously ??? what does it have to do with race ???

Everyone is different, and the truth is that some people are worth more than others.

This is in the eye of the beholder because you may have a wife ( or husban ) with kids and all but to me you are the worst human on earth.

 

[AaronMB]

Well said, Clef.

Refusal to acknowledge different races merely blinds and handicaps you/, while making not a whit of difference to the rest of the world. There are different races, and may always be (although with interracial marriages becoming more prevalent, we may one day all be the same race). More, the races are not "equal." This is simple fact. Should we all have the same rights? Absolutely! Should we all be equally respected? Don't be ridiculous! Murderers, pedophiles, gangbangers, idiots, a$$holes, welfare recipients, members of certain political parties, and... don't deserve respect. They deserve contempt, at best. Everyone is different, and the truth is that some people are worth more than others.

You're confusing race, ethnicity, and individuality here. Race is in our blood. There's not much we can do to change that and despite genetic disposition to particular diseases and a few nuances in physical variations, I'd say we're all about created equal (especially when in comparison to 'ethnicity'). Ethnicity (cultural upbringing, etc) is when 'un/equality' comes into play. This is a social construct which [purposefully?] undermines the equality of race.

When we move past this and think of murderers, political parties, or whatever, we break social structure(s) down further and for the most part, race/ethnicity become stereotypes in which to judge these things that are--or should be--more accurately described as characterizations of the individual. There are ethnic-based trends/norms, but recognizing these only plays into and reinforces those same socially constructed boundaries, stereotypes, expectations. For countless generations these social constructions have been reinforced and have become the norm, as they are built, quite often, to justify power, rule, subjugation, etc. The powers that be (any of them, worldwide) thrive on this dichotomous thinking. Look at the two party system in the U.S., for example; it simply perpetuates itself because the U.S. population has been indoctrinated to think in black and white, Rep vs. Dem. One or the other. (this is not a political rant, just an example of a divide and conquer mentality/method of subtle social control)

We need more people willing to look past the color of the skin or the genetic make-up of an individual to see through the construct. Continuing to recognize and acknowledge these classifications only continues to handicap us (we become stagnate in the status quo) - not those who are trying to rise above the gate keeping that these structures ultimately create.

We all bleed red and, in general, are all capable of the same awesome things, be they positive or negative.

 

[f.c.geil]

I didn't confuse anything.

Debating this further would be inappropriate in this thread, but feel free to start another in the lobby, PM me the URL, and I'll gladly join you there.

 

[papilgee4evaeva]

Interesting how some of the replies here are having fun with the topic, sharing their own experiences, poking fun at stereotypes, and remembering how this is the "Bass Humor" section of the forum...

... and then we have the social justice group as well as the cultural anthropologists.

Chill out and have fun, everyone.

 

[PurpleDrank]

Does that include Bagpipes, Glockenspiel, Theremin, and Banjo?

Angelo Moore from Fishbone TEARS UP the theremin. Just saying.

 

[geoff_in_nc]

I've never done any statistical analysis on it, but it seems to me via casual observation and recollection, that pretty much in all bands that have a black bass player, you'll find almost 100% of the time that the bassist is black. I know I'm generalizing, and that can get me in trouble, but I stand by my opinion.

 

[BayStateBass]

I've never done any statistical analysis on it, but it seems to me via casual observation and recollection, that pretty much in all bands that have a black bass player, you'll find almost 100% of the time that the bassist is black. I know I'm generalizing, and that can get me in trouble, but I stand by my opinion.

Funny. Good stuff there.

 

[john_g]

According to Jimmy the Greek, its true!

 

[john_g]

Well said, Clef.



You're confusing race, ethnicity, and individuality here. Race is in our blood. There's not much we can do to change that and despite genetic disposition to particular diseases and a few nuances in physical variations, I'd say we're all about created equal (especially when in comparison to 'ethnicity'). Ethnicity (cultural upbringing, etc) is when 'un/equality' comes into play. This is a social construct which [purposefully?] undermines the equality of race.

When we move past this and think of murderers, political parties, or whatever, we break social structure(s) down further and for the most part, race/ethnicity become stereotypes in which to judge these things that are--or should be--more accurately described as characterizations of the individual. There are ethnic-based trends/norms, but recognizing these only plays into and reinforces those same socially constructed boundaries, stereotypes, expectations. For countless generations these social constructions have been reinforced and have become the norm, as they are built, quite often, to justify power, rule, subjugation, etc. The powers that be (any of them, worldwide) thrive on this dichotomous thinking. Look at the two party system in the U.S., for example; it simply perpetuates itself because the U.S. population has been indoctrinated to think in black and white, Rep vs. Dem. One or the other. (this is not a political rant, just an example of a divide and conquer mentality/method of subtle social control)

We need more people willing to look past the color of the skin or the genetic make-up of an individual to see through the construct. Continuing to recognize and acknowledge these classifications only continues to handicap us (we become stagnate in the status quo) - not those who are trying to rise above the gate keeping that these structures ultimately create.

We all bleed red and, in general, are all capable of the same awesome things, be they positive or negative.

Yeah, and we will all be best buds when the little green men from Mars come for a visit/hostile takeover!

 

[Hounddog]

Interesting how some of the replies here are having fun with the topic, sharing their own experiences, poking fun at stereotypes, and remembering how this is the "Bass Humor" section of the forum...

... and then we have the social justice group as well as the cultural anthropologists.

Chill out and have fun, everyone.

Your right. Sorry. I was trying to say I try not to stereotype and treat everyone the way I like to be treated which is with respect. I learned a long time ago not to stereotype a Bass Player.

This is humor so I will share this. We were on vacation and walked to a little bar across the street from out hotel and watched a band with a Bass Player that was truly amazing in every way and to this day I have no idea if it was a man or woman and really didnt care. Who ever it was made me want to go home and practice.