Southern culture demanded that blacks act and be treated in a manner appropriate to their status. Black people of all ages were called by their first names and nicknames, or simply "boy," "girl," or "nigger." Most whites, on the other hand, expected blacks to greet them with a formal "Mr.," "Mrs.," "sir," or "ma'am." Similar deference was expected in all situations. Blacks were expected to wait in any line until all whites were served first, and to yield the right of way to whites when walking or driving. When blacks entered a white home, they customarily entered only through the back door. For a black man to laugh at, contradict, or express anger toward a white man could prove unwise. It was also dangerous for a black person to assert or even hint that a white person was lying. Furthermore, blacks who demonstrated intellectual curiosity or superior intelligence were discouraged from education. For example, Richard Wright states in Black Boy that his local library prohibited blacks from borrowing books. His white coworkers expected him to be ignorant, so he felt compelled to hide from them the books that he read.
Blacks who did not follow these rules of interracial etiquette with an outward cheerfulness were accused of being "uppity." They risked retribution from whites who wanted to ensure that blacks "stayed in their place." A reputation for being "uppity" could lead to difficulties in securing a job, as it did for Richard Wright in Black Boy.
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