And the people said, ‘Amen’

Can I get a witness? Can I get an Amen?

According to WorldNetDaily, PBS’s Tavis Smiley said that he didn’t issue a “no applause” rule for the recent Democratic presidential debate at Howard University because “black people are an emotional people. I know it wouldn’t have worked.”

WND is trying to stir up controversy, no doubt, but I doubt Smiley’s remark would offend the average black person. Why not? Because it’s probably true. Actually, I think blacks simply are less restrained emotionally and feel “no shame” showing emotions.

There was a lot of clapping and verbal reactions among the mostly black audience of VIPs at the debate. In fact, there was clapping and verbal reactions among the black bloggers, including me (there was no “no applause” rule in the media room). I thought nothing of it at the time, but afterward, a white blogger said the debate “seemed like church” or something to that effect.

I thought about it for a few seconds and told him he was right. A black liberal blogger in the group agreed with me, and she and I also agreed that even if the audience had been comprised of black conservatives and black Republicans, it still would have “seemed like church.”

It’s part of the “call and response” tradition of the black church and certain black music styles (although not every black person or black church does it). I went to a relatively conservative black church, with no whooping, hollering, or shouting, but when I’m listening to a particularly inspirational speaker in or outside church, I have to suppress the urge to verbally respond even in a pin-drop quiet room. Responding just seems natural to me. Is it some cultural genetic trait? Oops! Can’t talk about genetics. Anything but that.

Also see “The Black Church,” a brief story…

(Photo: Campus Echo)

Addendum: You have to clarify everything around here. I’m not saying that blacks can’t or shouldn’t be expected to control themselves. I was agreeing with Smiley’s “blacks are emotional” statement with a twist: that blacks tend to be less restrained in showing emotions. Nothing more, nothing less. Blacks should not be held to lesser or lower standards.