Raven

Remember: African American culture is diverse by region, class, religion, etc.

Anyway.

Etiquette

Don't stereotype. Avoid assuming anything.

Be mindful of hair comments

DO!!! NOT!!! USE!!! THE!!! N-WORD!!!!!!!

Respect name pronunciations no matter what

Don't generalize "black experiences" based on media

Understand code-switching and why it exists in these contexts

Avoid complimenting by saying somebody is articulate or well-spoken

Respect personal space

Listen more than you speak when talking about racial topics

Avoid trying to prove youre not racist. Just be respectful!

Communication

Express yourself! Emotion is a cultural norm.

Understand 'roasting' etiquette. Don't overstep.

Humor and sarcasm vary

Respect directness

Learn community-specific vocabulary

Avoid phrases like "I dont see color"

Trust builds slowly, but deeply!

Food

Try soul food, but know not all African Americans eat soul food regularly.

Learn the cultural significance behind the dishes, too.

Learn the cookout etiquette. Ask where you can help.

Bring a dish to gatherings

Compliment the cook!

Learn the difference between Southern, Caribbean, and Northern black cuisine

Community

Respect family structures

Don't assume fatherlessness or criminal stereotypes

Understand barbershops and beauty salons as cultural hubs

Know the importance of hair care.

Participate in cultural celebrations like Kwanzaa.

Sorry if it isnt enough, or thorough enough. Its honestly pretty hard to find African American culture without stereotypes sadly.

Style

Wear gold jewelry

Natural sun-kissed makeup

Thick-looking hair. Use texture sprays

Wear linen!!!

Aviator or thick black framed sunglasses ALWAYS

Good leather sandals

Open collar shirts

Blue & white, sandy colors, olive

Loose tops w/ fitted pants

Layered jewelry

Subtle evil eye accessories

Light fragrance

Natural hairlines

Expressive eyebrows

Tousled hair in summer, neat in winter

Behavior

Talk with your hands

Use friendly eye contact

Speak with passion

Offer food, drinks

Family is central in life

Reference your family often

Call people by diminutives or nicknames

Teasing is a sign of trust

Speak in a slightly loud tone

Be direct but kind

Smile with your whole face when greeting

Kiss on both cheeks when appropriate

Complain about weather, traffic for humor

Express yourself!

Habits

Drink strong coffee

Take leisurely walks

Have hours-long meals with others

Dip bread in olive oil

Cook with olive oil

Eat late dinner (9-11pm)

Buy local produce

Eat sunflowers seeds as a snack or sesame bars (pasteli)

Wear sunglasses even on cloudy days

Sit at cafés for long time periods, just talking

Constantly drink water. Often served without asking

Keep a bead bracelet for fidgeting

Language

Know all the basic Greek greetings

Use "opa!" in a playful or celebratory way

Look at Greek Orthodox symbols

Also, consider learning about Hellenic Polytheism!

Learn about evil eye protection

Understand name days! Its like a birthday. But names.

Coffee fortune telling. TRY IT

Reference summers on the islands or beaches

Listen to Greek music genres

Recognize key holidays (biggest is Easter)

BE HOSPITABLE :)

Mannerisms

Be proud, and self-ironic. Greeks like self-deprecating jokes

Walk fast and energetic

Gesture with palm down to beckon somebody over

Don't point with the whole hand though. Use fingers

Be protective and helpful

Tell dramatic stories

Value your community

Have strong opinions about food. And food quality, which is especially important

Social Etiquette

Learn to greet with Namaste and a slight head nod.

Use formal titles (auntie/uncle, sir/ma'am) for elders unless told otherwise

Avoid using first names right away, ask for permission

Refusing food repeatedly is considered rude

Stand when elders enter a room

Keep in mind that people often soften refusals, so be patient when communicating

Yes may mean "I hear you," not a literal agreement

Don't openly challenge elders, phrases disagreements gently

Apologize softly ("sorry, sorry") for small bumps or misunderstandings

Touching somebody with your feet (accidentally) requires a small apology gesture

Food/Eating

Eat with your right hand only (if possible)

Accepting second servings is a compliment to the cook

Wasting food is VERY frowned upon

Respect vegetarian preferences. Many families avoid meat

Remove shoes before entering some households, but make sure the homeowners preference (is it okay to leave your shoes on or not? always ask)

Spices vary. Don't assume all Indian food is spicy.

Yogurt (curd) with meals is perfectly normal

Offer to help clean up but expect the host to refuse once

Know the difference between tea and chai

Meals are social bonding time, not rushed

Communication

Head wobbles can be mean yes, maybe, okay, or acknowledgement

Silence can mean respect or avoiding conflict, not disinterest

Humor often involves playful teasing

People speak physically closely to each other

Direct eye contact is okay, but staring is rude

People might ask personal questions. This is normal.

Gift-giving isnt required, but sweets are always a safe bet.

Never give gifts with overly dark symbolism (shoes, clocks, sharp objects, yknow.)

Avoid too much PDA

Keep public disagreements private, as publicly disagreeing can embarrass others

Mindset

Speak positively about learning

Decisions often involve extended relatives because family is very valued

Spirituality is very diverse, so dont assume one religion

Karma and interconnectedness shape thinking

Tradition and modernity co-exist, Indians arent one or the other generally

Saving face matters. Avoid making somebody "lose respect"

Adjust culture. Flexibility and compromise are valued

Time is fluid. 5 minutes can just mean 'soon'

Generosity and sharing are a part of social life

Language

Even knowing a few words of Hindi helps socially (“Namaste,” “Dhanyavaad”)

India has HUNDREDS of languages, so dont assume somebody speaks Hindi

Speak slowly and clearly with mixed-language groups

Avoid sarcasm unless you know somebody well

Compliments should be direct but modest. Avoid bragging

People may nod even if they don’t understand, so clarify.

Learn common gestures: palm rotation means “wait,” finger flick means “what?”

Using mild English swear words casually is much more offensive than in Western contexts.

Avoid religious/political jokes entirely

Praise any mother's cooking :)

Dress

Dress modestly in traditional settings. Chest and shoulders covered.

Remove shoes in temples and sometimes homes

Respect religious symbols (bindis, bracelets, necklaces)

Don't touch somebody's head casually. This is considered sacred

Offer your seat to elders in public transport

Feet are considered unclean, so avoid pointing them at people.

Queues are often chaotic, so stay patient

Carry tissues. Public restrooms aren't always equipped

Gift bright colors, not dull ones

Show curiosity about festivals, people love to explain them

There ya go!