Where are the African Americans?

[bill4long]

I throw this out there for your consideration:

Why does ham radio seem to be a middle-aged, fat, European-American hobby in the USA?

(Don't get me wrong? I'm one of those myself.)

Where are the minority races?

Your thoughts?

 

[SCPD]

Actually there are a few black operators in my area one does the weekly net on 3.965 a few times a week and another blind gentleman I had the pleasure of meeting about a hour drive from me that welcomed us into his home and we installed his radio system for him.

 

[Jimru]

I've wondered myself.

Reading the ham mags, or all of the various radio hobby mags it is clear that it's mostly (in the USA and Canada) just as you describe; white middle-aged guys. Or even older, really. I'm 56 and I feel young at the various ham related events I attend.

It's easy enough to account for the older age of the average ham (smart phones, Internet, etc. superseding radio as "cool") but not so much to account for the ethnic demographic.

Could it be that in poorer school districts, science and math are not stressed? That there may be less mentoring of all kinds, never mind Elmering? What about poor rural white school districts? Are there fewer hams per capita in that case as well (my guess is yes, but that is a guess based on no knowledge)?

 

[mmckenna]

It's an expensive hobby. This country is very striated in our economy. White European males, overweight or otherwise, tend to make more money. More money leads to expensive hobbies. Go out on a lake on Saturday and look at the demographics of the guys with boats, White, European, males.

Not to say there are not plenty of other minorities in amateur radio, it all depends on where you are. In central California, it's mostly white (sounding) males, but there is a fair amount of Spanish language, and the occasional female, as long as they don't get chased off.

 

[elk2370bruce]

There are a wide number of minorities on the air (easpecially on 40, 20, and 17 meters - both internationally and domestically. Also hearing an increasing number of teens (both genders) lately. If you're listening on 2 meters or 440 locally. you may be losinig out. Besides, how can you tell what color an operator is? Operators don't have to sound like Al Sharpton or Speedy Gonzalez. Money is the great equalizer - it can be a daunting problem for newcomers of all genders, nationalities, and races. Amateur radio is the original colorblind hobby, Expand your listening and become part of the great experiment,

 

[Jimru]

I'm glad to hear that!

I wasn't going by the sound of someone's voice, but by my experience meeting people at the local clubs I have belonged to and the representation in the literature.

I hope over the coming years more people of color, ethnic "minorities" and women join the ranks, for sure.

The same diversity that has driven the expansion of this country should also expand the hobby.

 

[elk2370bruce]

I would agree that minority club membership and hamfest attendance is often unrepresented. In that regard, perhaps I have been lucky in that a Rainbow Brigade is represented in the two clubs I enjoy. Perhaps it is the "technology" aspect that is an initial turnoff to some women but once we get tem on the air and actively talking to others (and other female licensees, the science and math issues just disappear because the assumed difficulty does not exist and exam prep classes open the doors to understanding. Getting kids involved is often an easy effort through Get on the air program designed by ARRL

 

[LtDoc]

There are quite a few 'Afro-American' (Negro) hams. Why should they, or anyone of any heritage, go out of their way to say so? In general, I personally don't care what 'color'/race/creed you are. It's the 'you' part of it that makes a difference.
- 'Doc

 

[N5TWB]

I encountered probably about 10 older black males at the Oklahoma City hamfest this past weekend that interacted with a number of the white men there so I guess they are connected through the local clubs. When I lived in OKC, I did some metal fab work for a black ham who was working on an antenna project. As others have mentioned, this is not a cheap hobby so that limits participation by anybody without economic resources. Also, the age group of the hams I noticed would point to getting exposure to technical skills while in the military.

 

[elk2370bruce]

There are quite a few 'Afro-American' (Negro) hams. Why should they, or anyone of any heritage, go out of their way to say so? In general, I personally don't care what 'color'/race/creed you are. It's the 'you' part of it that makes a difference.
- 'Doc

Can I get a big amen to that. We are, after all, a world-wide brotherhood (and sisterhood).

 

[JoeyC]

Where are the African Americans?

Why do some people drink Coke, and others Pepsi?

 

[bill4long]

Where are the African Americans?Why do some people drink Coke, and others Pepsi?

Is that a racial thing?

 

[mmckenna]

Can I get a big amen to that. We are, after all, a world-wide brotherhood (and sisterhood).

Amen!

To be fair, I wasn't, and I don't think anyone else was, being racist. Radio is blind and the color of the persons skin on the other end doesn't matter, just like it wouldn't matter if we were talking in person. The ugly truth is that economics play into this. I don't agree with it, I don't like it, but it is what it is. In the end, this is an expensive hobby, but one a lot of people could benefit from.

 

[Scatcatpdx]

I never think on the bases of race as amateur radio is an international hobby .
By the way I refer to refer to myself as Black not eh quasi politically correct term African American .

 

[n4yek]

I have friends that are ham radio operators, don't care if they are black, white, red, brown, yellow, green, blue, purple, violet, amber, orange...you get my meaning....

 

[Jimru]

I grew up in NYC and lived there for most of my life. I am used to, and prefer, a diverse human experience.

Ham radio, on the other hand, once again, in my personal experience over the ten years I have been licensed; is not diverse. Not nearly as much as it should be.

And, btw, my on the air experience is that I know almost all of the folks that are on the various repeaters, either because of my ARES participation, or club participation. So I have met them in person. It's not a case where I am assuming that because they "sound" a certain way that they are a certain race or ethnicity, I don't play games like that.

So, my personal experience, both in NYC, here in Cape Cod where I live now and reading the ham rags over more than thirty years is that ham radio is overwhelmingly a white, male, middle-aged hobby.

It shouldn't be that way, is my point.

Do I care who I'm talking to other than that observation? No, of course not. When I'm on the air or at a meeting, or working an event, I am there to have fun and play radio.

The OP, seems to me, has made an observation and is wondering why there is this aspect of the hobby. He is not enunciating a preference.

Or, he's a troll trying to get an argument going, but so far I don't think that's the case.

 

[K4APR]

Where are the minority races?

I have known amateurs of all race and creeds. Have you ever been to Hamvention before?

Having said that, we're all HUMANS. It's people like you that keep interjecting race into everyday life, pointing out PHYSICAL differences. You're part of the problem.

I find this thread in complete poor taste.

 

[bill4long]

I have known amateurs of all race and creeds. Have you ever been to Hamvention before?

Having said that, we're all HUMANS. It's people like you that keep interjecting race into everyday life, pointing out PHYSICAL differences. You're part of the problem.

I find this thread in complete poor taste.

It's valid sociological question. That you find it in bad taste is puzzling given that there is no trace of "baiting" or judgement. Whatever. I guess some people will fight about anything. Cheers.

 

[KR7CQ]

75 % of black children are now born without a father in their life, as can easily be verified with five minutes of research. When you have no father in your life, you grow up fast, way too fast, and ham radio is probably the last thing on earth the average young black person would possibly care about.

Many young black males are in trouble early, which is why half of all violent crime is committed by blacks, who are only 1/8th of the population. 19% of young black males are incarcerated. The black poverty rate is much much higher than that of whites in America.

Blacks have so many issues on a cultural level, it's no wonder that few get into ham radio really.

If more blacks would ditch the race-hustlers and welfare sugar-daddies that they support, and start getting back to the basics of honest hard work and old-school conservatism, there might be hope.....but last I checked Kindly King Obama, giver of "free" stuff, enjoys a 95% support rating among blacks in America. Doesn't seem that anything will be changing any time soon.

 

[902]

As I read through the posts, I thought of 7 black men and 1 black woman who are all hams. Some of them have been hams for longer than I have (35 years +). The interesting thing is that until I met them, I had no idea who was what. Frankly, it didn't matter, either. They are all "regular people" on the air - except for a former co-worker, Joe. Joe was a retired Merchant Marine radioman who could easily do 40 WPM CW with a Vibroplex Bug in his sleep. Joe was superhuman in both operating and repairing stuff.

Speaking as a fat old white guy with usually politically centrist views, and from an Eastern European lineage (just to be up front), you might also be surprised that they all had their unique beliefs and some were quite conservative - well beyond my usual views. We fall into a trap when we generalize because we stop looking at the individual and only consider the group.

Now, whether the actual number of black amateur radio operators represents the general population, I'd have to say no. I cannot say what the root cause is, but it would be a fascinating study. We are at a turning point in ham radio. I'm going to start another thread to ask a simple but deep question. Thanks for a civil dialogue on these issues.