Product Description

A newly revised modern manual of manners and etiquette that has become an African American classic.

Unlike the more traditional etiquette books that many African Americans may find stodgy, off-putting, and culturally alien, The New Basic Black is for real people who live real lives—and it addresses many of the issues of a growing black middle class. Straightforward, user-friendly, and illustrated with line drawings, The New Basic Black includes all the information any well-mannered person would want to know about the social rites of passage (marriage, birth, christening, death), the corporate workplace (standard work issues and the more delicate issue of race and its impact on a work environment), various occasions (having guests or being a guest at a summer home, etc.), and everyday rules and rituals that make living in hectic times a little easier. The revised edition of The New Basic Black also contains the intricacies of Internet etiquette, tips for travel in the post-9/11 age, and a wealth of other invaluable information that will make life more comfortable.

For singles and families alike, The New Basic Black takes the mystery out of conventional etiquette and will arm the reader with confidence in any situation.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #111452 in Books
• Published on: 2005-12-06
• Released on: 2005-12-06
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 544 pages

Review
PRAISE FOR BASIC BLACK:

“Covering such situations as how to handle yourself in a restaurant where you’ve received unacceptable treatment, common courtesies to be shown to household help and how to respond to racial harassment at work, Bates and Hudson offer a guide that will be of benefit to men and women, singles and families.” —Publishers Weekly

“Full of information about appropriate behavior at soirees of various sorts, from simple cocktail parties to formal dinners, and about how to plan parties, weddings, even tea parties, Bates and Hudson’s advice also includes less obvious subjects such as maintaining family and community ties, taking pride in one’s heritage, and coping with racial incidents at work. After an overview of basic rules, the authors cover communicating; life lessons; “Dating, Mating, and Begetting” ; planning events; and life milestones, closing with a Q & A section, dos and don’ts, a glossary, and a request for reader feedback. Each subject is discussed briefly and entertainingly, with solid common sense. A useful compendium.” —Booklist

“Hallelujah and amen for Basic Black! This engagingly written guide to the social behavior of our times is charming, wise, and truly quite helpful.” —Shirlee Taylor Haizlip, author of The Sweeter the Juice

“Basic Black: Home Training for Modern Times…reminds us of the importance of grace.” —Benilde Little, author of Good Hair

About the Author
Karen Grigsby Bates is a correspondent for NPR’s national news magazine Day to Day. For several years, she wrote for Time magazine and was a contributing columnist to the Los Angeles Times Op Ed page. Bates is the author of Plain Brown Wrapper and Chosen People, suspense novels featuring reporter-sleuth Alex Powell. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband and son.

Karen Elyse Hudson writes an advice column titled “Talk to Me” for the Wave Newspapers Group and is the author of a biography of her maternal grandfather, Paul R. Williams, Architect: A Legacy of Style, and a biography for young people, The Will and the Way: Paul R. Williams, Architect. She speaks extensively on etiquette, party planning, and architecture.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
Chapter 1

IT GOES WITHOUT SAYING

"If you're going to play the game properly, you'd better know every rule."
Barbara Jordan

Here's where we run through the basics. And basics are the foundation upon which good home training is built. You know what the basics are; you learned them in Sunday school. Or at the knees of your mother, grandmother, and aunts. And though the hectic pace of daily life sometimes threatens to hide that foundation, you know that if you reach deeply enough, you'll find the basics right there when you need them.

Manners transcend social status, race, and gender. Courtesy and consideration help to make the unbearable parts of life a little more bearable. And you probably know, from having met one (or better, being one yourself), that a person who is considerate of others is welcome almost anywhere.

All major religions have a simple phrase that distills what good manners are: doing unto others as you would like others to do unto you. This Golden Rule applies to friendships, workplace relationships, romances, and family interaction--virtually all human relationships.

The basics of good manners (besides the above) include the very things that, in another age, were referred to in our culture as "home training." We're sure you remember them. They include the following:

Respect for Elders

-Standing (if sitting) when being introduced
-Offering to pull up a chair or help put on a coat
-Offering a seat when on public transportation
-Speaking respectfully (saving one's slang for one's peers)
-Offering to serve as an extra pair of arms and legs:
"May I bring you some dessert, Aunt Emma? Let me tell you what's on the buffet table."
"Would you like me to reach that for you? Those cereal boxes are always stacked up so high!"
"Excuse me, but you dropped your change purse."

CP Time

We all know what CP time is. But when we let our personal clocks dominate Greenwich mean time, all kinds of trouble happens. (We've been told this is not endemic to "colored people"--a Jewish friend assures us there's JPT, an Italian IPT, etc.) If you're going to be late meeting a personal friend, try to call so she's not kept waiting. Definitely call ahead as soon as you know you won't arrive at a business or professional appointment on time. (Here's where cellular phones can be a blessing: "I'm calling from my car; a big accident up the road has tied things up for miles. I'm afraid I'm going to be at least twenty minutes late; would you check to see if he'd still like me to come, or should we reschedule?")

The same should apply to an appointment with a doctor, lawyer, or hairstylist: call and let them know you've been delayed for reasons beyond your control, ask if it will still be convenient for you to come, or, if not, if you can reschedule the appointment. People often don't mind trying to accommodate you if they feel you've shown them a little consideration. For someone who owns his own business or who bills by the hour, time is literally money. And this works two ways: doctors should not keep their patients waiting, either.
Note: Do not have a chronic excuse. If you're always late for a haircut because of "heavy traffic" or some other excuse, sooner or later your stylist will simply factor in your habitual late time and make you wait. If you always overbook your patients or clients, sooner or later they vote with their feet and move elsewhere.

Excuses, Excuses, Excuses

Sometimes excuses are unavoidable: your child becomes sick at the last moment; you get a flat tire; your plane leaves late. In those cases, you explain briefly what's delayed you or forced your deadline back: "Janet, I'm so sorry. We were planning to come to your party tonight, but Courtney has a sore throat and a temperature. I hope we haven't inconvenienced you too much."

For work, you need to indicate that you're aware the delay may cause problems and will try to clear things up as soon as possible: "Mr. Sanders, my mother-in-law died this morning, and I'm afraid I'm going to be gone for the rest of the week. I plan to take the Jeffrey account with me and I hope to have my recommendations to you by next Tuesday."

Never invent an illness or death as an excuse for not completing an assignment or meeting a deadline. If you're not ill but don't wish to go to a social engagement you've already agreed to attend, think of an excuse that doesn't require you to "gift" your family (or yourself) with a dire fate you'd like to avoid in real life. Remember what the old folks say: what goes around comes around.

Public vs. Private Manners

Don't make the mistake of being more courteous to strangers or people upon whom you wish to make a good impression than you are to your own family and close friends. The same rules of consideration apply: there is no such thing as second-class manners (or if there is, we don't want to know about it). Everyone in your life should be treated as if it's vitally important that he or she thinks well of you.

And Brother, Remember

It may be your sister, your wife, your girlfriend, or a casual buddy at work; when you honor and appreciate your relationships with women, you'll be surprised at what you receive in return.

Race and Good Behavior

"Act your age, not your color" used to be how some folks reminded others that the world expected lesser standards of us because of our race. When we behaved poorly, we were "acting like . . ." well, you know. And when we behaved well, we were considered a "credit to our race." Both phrases assumed that black people were one big population, one lumpen stereotype. Good behavior, like manners, transcends race, gender, and even age. Reflecting well on oneself should be the rule of thumb.

Respect for Other Cultures

Variety is the spice of life, and the patchwork of different cultures and ethnicities is part of what makes America such a vibrant country. As we continue to evolve into what sociologist Marshall McLuhan called a global village, our exposure to and comfort level with other cultures increase. And we learn that what is acceptable in one circumstance may be offensive in another. In some Asian cultures, for example, a recipient wouldn't think of opening her present in front of the giver; in the Western world, we consider it important to open a gift when it's given to us. It's always a good idea to ask if you're not sure: "Mai Lee, when we go to your sister's wedding next Saturday, how should we dress?" "Robin, do women have to have their heads covered to visit your mosque?" The key here is to be as sensitive to another culture's traditions as we would want others to be to ours.

Welcoming People into Your Home

From the first time we came to these shores, even in the dark, lean times, we have been a hospitable people. So honor that tradition. When folks stop by to see you, tell them you're glad they've come to visit. Offer them refreshments. Warn them if you have pets they may be afraid of or allergic to: "Do you mind cats? We'd be happy to put KitKat in our bedroom while you're here." You want your guests to feel comfortable, and people are always more comfortable outside their own environment when they know what the rules are. If you don't smoke and don't want others to do it, either, a lack of ashtrays is usually enough of a hint to the astute guest. If someone doesn't catch the hint, feel free to let him know it's okay to smoke outside, but not in your home: "Oh, Jay, we don't smoke here. You can use our patio/balcony/sunporch if you need to, though."

When "No" Is All You Need to Say

Some things need no explanation, just a blunt, clearly understood "no." Never feel you have to explain why you'd prefer not to:
-Accept an alcoholic drink
-Indulge in drugs
-Consider an improper sexual overture
-Participate in anything you consider illegal, immoral, or unethical

Making Things Right When You've Offended

They're the faux pas from hell, and they happen to all of us at one time or another: You've spoken badly about a woman who's turned out to be the listener's best friend. Your child, while tearing through someone else's house, bumps a table and a vase smashes. Your date mortifies you at a dinner party by drinking too much and making a pest of himself for the rest of the evening.

A sincere apology goes a long way toward easing bruised feelings. If you've spoken badly about a person who turns out to be a dear friend of (or worse, related to!) your listener, 'fess up: "Oh, gee, that's your sister? Me and my big mouth! I'm really sorry. Maybe we were both having a bad day when we met, but we did not get along."

If you or someone with you has broken a host's belongings, point it out, immediately offer to make repairs or replacements, and ask where the item was purchased: "Oh, Marcy, I am sorry! That was a beautiful vase. If you'll tell me where it came from, I'll call tomorrow and see if it can be replaced." (Your host may decline the offer, but she will appreciate the fact that you've made it.) In the case of irreplaceable objects, such as antiques, make profuse apologies and an offer to make amends for the appraised value of the item (even if you may have to pay it off in installments).

And if your inebriated date makes a fool of himself and puts a dent in everyone's evening, apologize to your hostess. And make your date (who, we hope, will be smart enough to figure this out on his own) send the hostess a written apology the next day. (Flowers wouldn't hurt, either.)

Can You Hear Me?

Unlike stereos, people don't come with dials or knobs you can use to turn down their volume. For the habitual shouter (and some people aren't aware that they are being loud), it's best to quietly take him aside and tell him he's decibels above everyone els...

Customer Reviews

What to do When and Where
This is a great book to answer those questions that your mama and grandmama can't help you with. Anything and everything related to social situations that are part of the African-American community are in this book, as well as, what good manners are.

The Perfect Coffee Table Book.
I bought this book so long ago, but never reviewed it... basically it has all your basics for proper etiquette.

I purchased it for my boyfriend who was, let's just say- not trained in manners. Many of the people in life, pre-college, were people with a "hood-mentality". We're totally opposite, as my mom my taught my sisters and I had to act when we go in public, how to be proper etc etc... and what happened was that my boyfriend would sometimes do things that were, lets just say... embarrassing.

Once at a ball event, when entered a room and were going to our purchases seats, the people at the table greeted us, and I thought that my boyfriend was going to pull back the seat I was eyeing so that I could sit-down... instead he pulled it back then SAT DOWN HISSELF. It was soooooo embarrassing because everyone was looking- any they all had the "omg" face. Anyway I decided to get this book for him after that...

I gave it to him, wrote a nice message in the front cover, and hoped that he'd read it. And well, we're broken up now. But I'm not sure if he's ever really read it. I know he's skimmed it. My suggestion would be to read a passage weekly with your significant other, or whomever you purchased this for.

Overall its a nice book and I plan to purchase another just to have as a reference book.

If you're a mom or someone buying this for your daughter or for yourself to have around, I would also purchase: The Modern Girl's Guide to Life. This is a cute book to have as well that will help you to know what to do, or what to do properly in certain situations like- throwing/planning a dinner party, what to bring when attending a dinner party, etc.

Plus this book is so inexpensive now on here opposed to when I bought it, so if you're thinking of whether or not to get it- for $4.40 plus shipping why not?

Mind Your Manners
This book is a must for people who are moving up. It is unfortunate. Many people do not know basic etiquette. Who should be tipped? What is a proper wedding gift or baby gift? This book helps out the reader. Read it. Many people will learn things that they will not know.