'Who's Afraid of Black Men?'

With or without the dog, the crux of the story is the same: an innocent utterance by a black man is mistaken for a threat; fearful white people make fools of themselves; and the black man turns out to be a celebrity (a gracious one, at that). The formula works.

The anonymous preamble pasted into the present version calls the story "a cautionary tale about racial prejudice." On the surface it appears to be just that, but it's important to note that while many urban legends come in the form of cautionary tales, they don't necessarily convey a sincere moral message. Is this story likely to affect anyone's racial attitudes? No. But it never fails to provoke a nervous laugh. If it seems like a comedy bit from a TV sitcom, that's because it has been one.

In truth, the elevator story – which has not lost an ounce of its impact or popularity in 20 years – is less a warning against racial prejudice than proof that it's still very much with us, even if we're not always conscious of it. The story wouldn't work at all, if not for the continued existence of the stereotype that all black men are dangerous.

In a study published in Psychology Today, researchers measured people's heart rates as various men walked in and out the room in which they were sitting. When a black man entered, the subjects' heart rates shot considerably higher than when a white man came in. Surprisingly, it wasn't just white people who had this reaction. Black people did, too.

The study was cited in a recent article by Jeneen Jones, About.com's Guide to African-American Culture.  "Who's afraid of black men?" she asked, half-rhetorically. The research confirmed what she already knew from personal experience: "Sadly enough, it seems everyone is."

Folklore may not be able to save us, but it is a window on our collective social attitudes and unspoken fears. Look for them when you hear the nervous laughter.

Relevant Links:

Hit the Floor!
Commentary by Barbara Mikkelson for the Urban Legends Reference Pages

Who's Afraid of Black Men?
From About.com: Jeneen Jones finds disturbing answers to a disturbing question

Celebrity Legends
Rumors, legends, and private parts of famous people

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