RANDOM THOUGHT – White People and Sandals

October 24, 2006 by Marc Lamont Hill

As I was driving to a nearby coffee shop to do my daily writing, I decided to stop at an ATM to get some cash. I walked into the Student Center of a nearby university (not Temple or Penn) in search of a machine and saw something that was deeply shocking and disturbing: 10 White students, both male and female, were wearing sandals.

To put this in context, today is arguably the coldest day of the season in Philadelphia. Although the 50-degree temperature was far from frigid, most of the people who I passed on the streets were wearing coats, hats, hoodies, etc. The only people who were (in my opinion) underdressed were of the Caucasian persuasion.

Today’s experience wasn’t an isolated incident. Every year, when there’s an unseasonably warm winter day, i.e. it’s 54 degrees in February, I see White students on campus playing volleyball in shorts and tanktops or rocking open-toed shoes to class. Inevitably, a conversation gets sparked among Black students and faculty about White people and cold weather.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not alleging any biological link between White people and cold weather, nor am I attempting to essentialize all people who identitfy as White. Rather, I’m genuinely curious to know the cultural rules and rituals that inform this cutural difference.

Can someone explain this to me?

Categories: MLH
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14 Comments

1. ChgoSista wrote:

Nuh-unh, John!! Hahahahaaa….

October 24, 2006 @ 12:22 pm

2. Kristalogy wrote:

Marc my sister and I joke about this all the time! The only correlation I can make is to the sun; If the sun is shining, guaranteed you will see white folks with flip-flops and/or shorts on, no matter it is 25 degrees with a 10 windchill.

October 24, 2006 @ 12:30 pm

3. Marc Lamont Hill wrote:

When I was in high school, we used to rock boots with no socks in the summer. my feet used to be hummmmmmmmin at night… i went through like 10 odor eaters on the boots too!

October 24, 2006 @ 12:39 pm

4. Hal wrote:

I’ve never recognized the Timbs all year round on black people. Interesting.

October 24, 2006 @ 12:51 pm

5. ChgoSista wrote:

RWS–> :-O

October 24, 2006 @ 3:07 pm

6. RAD wrote:

October 24, 2006 @ 3:08 pm

7. RWS wrote:

Oh I am just kidding!!!

[psssst, hey Katie, what do you think?]

October 24, 2006 @ 3:15 pm

8. RAD wrote:

b/c that’s what their moms and their moms and their moms told THEM, LOL!!!

October 24, 2006 @ 3:38 pm

9. ChgoSista wrote:

RWS, maybe those were their attempts to come inside the WGs’ world–you know–kinda like when they try to cook collard greens…

October 24, 2006 @ 3:38 pm

10. ChgoSista wrote:

Touche, RAD!!

October 24, 2006 @ 3:39 pm

11. RWS wrote:

I feel you ChgoSista, why do they try to cook collard greens. They be phucked up too!!!

October 24, 2006 @ 4:17 pm

12. ChgoSista wrote:

GUYS, I GOT IT–I GOT THE MESSAGES LOUD & CLEAR; RE: THE ORIGIN OF THE COMMON COLD. THANKS!!!!!!!!

October 24, 2006 @ 4:25 pm

13. Hal wrote:

Timaree!! I think you just answered the question!!! THat shit is hilarious!! I am so glad that this blog provides us with good jokes. Thanks to all the white people for being honest and jumping in!
And as for Mike, you need to lighten up a little. Believe it or not, a lot of us are very well educated and we know how the common cold is spread. Thanks for your input. ChgoSista, you don’t have to defend your thoughts. Say whatever the hell you feel like saying. I got your back on this one.

October 24, 2006 @ 5:54 pm

14. jameelah wrote:

oops, maybe i should not have said that.

Anyway, one of my best friends in jr. high was white and she just said she was not cold.
She was a bold chick too. She wore punk clothes and shorts in an all black school and got teased for it every winter.

October 24, 2006 @ 8:33 pm

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