Actually, it's in Asia also. Lots of celebs over there with big, black, burly bodyguards. Rock stars, especially. I think part of it–at least in Asia–is that black people are so different. Maybe they think it's somehoe exotic to have a black bodyguard. Maybe they genuinely think (for lack of cultural experience) black men are tougher than everyone else, because they is what they see in rap, hiphop and in American movies. I think it definitely perpetuates a stereotype, but these men get paid to do the job and they don't seem to mind so why should we care? And…let's be honest…they themselves help to perpetuate the stereotype. If they didn't **act** like big, burly, brutes then people wouldn't stereotype them that way. I think it would be interesting to see some stats on the number of black men who are bouncers in clubs and bars in the U.S.

Most people hire bodyguards from a private security firm. They don't generally stop the largest black man they find and ask him if he wants a job. Now, it's possible the security firm recruits that way, but usually they recruit former military servicemen, federal agents and cops, all of whom have to go through a thorough vetting before they are given assignments.

I personally wouldn't mind making a six figure income for covering camera lenses with one hand, throwing a coat over the head of my employer, or in the most extreme instances, holding out both arms red rover style while getting a little jostled by people behind me.

I'm not sure where the idea that bodyguards are "ogreish and brutal" comes from. In essence bodyguards are about the prevention of harm and to react to danger, not cause them. So why would it perpetuate the stereotype of ogreish and brutal black people? Big certainly doesn't come of as such (from the little I've seen..Rob Dyrdek annoys me).
The argument seems to be based around your low appraisal of the work done by these men due to the use of violence. How do you feel about black cops or soldiers?
Might there also not be more (in absolute or relative terms) large black people than large white people pursuing the job?

Stopping By: What? Now you've annoyed me by making think in terms of race about my friends in order to formulate a response. Of my close friends 5 could be considered big, black and burly. One is a sound engineer, one is a visual artist, one is a musician, one is a network engineer and the other is a systems analyst. None has ever worked security; nor have they, to my knowledge, ever acted brutish. In fact, my friend Kareem finds it immensely amusing that whenever he's in a club and someone accidentally runs into him or spills something on his jacket they apologize profusely with fear in their eyes.

The biggest reason stereotypes get perpetuated is that people see what they expect to see, so every instance you witness that fits a stereotype deepens its validation for you. By the way, it should be noted that while you will sometimes see a black man in a KFC it does not actually mean that all black people like fried chicken. Also, while they aren't numerous, there are actually black men in the NHL.

Why do you keep butting your head up against this wall, Cord?

Lily the Pink says: The biggest reason stereotypes get perpetuated is that people see what they expect to see, so every instance you witness that fits a stereotype deepens its validation for you.

Fully agreed.

As well, there are a disproportionate number of black men incarcerated in the U.S. (which has the highest incarceration rate in the world). I'm sure this helps to fuel all sorts of stereotypes about their “ogreish and brutal” nature.

Simple answer:big black men are scary. Youre not gunna try and attack some one when theyre being protected by a giant mountain of intimidating obsidian rage. Thats how you get shot!

One can always count on Danny for an open-minded, unbiased, politically correct response.

Luz, you made me laugh so hard I almost spit out some beer. (I mean that as the highest compliment, because I don't ever believe in wasting beer.)

I am not a big, intimidating, mountain in physical form.

But I have made grown, intimidating, mountain size, giant men tremble when I am pissed or when I have had a beer.

I bring some strong, willful energy and a big helping of crazy, and my hair is so grey that it is almost white, so I get some of the residual training that their grandma instilled.

I mostly think it's the crazy part that gets me through. They just don't know how far I will go.

Neither do I. (Don't make me go there.:-) )

this is sweet. Cord wants us to help him understand himself.

I think the only requisite for being a body guard is having the appearance of being able to make mashed potatoes out of people's faces.
I've seen many many types of body guards in tabs and gossip sites. Wasn't the body guard who beat down that camera man for Nicole Kidman white? I also recall the body guard who helped with K-fed's child custody case against Britney as being Latino. Wasn't Busta Rhyme's now deceased body guard Latino as well?

This is a silly topic, but thanks for the picture of Rob & Big. I heart skaters.

maybe its because most people think black people have guns and therefore theres an automatic savings on arms costs…

…or maybe you're just noticing the black ones?

Tiny, Please.

I also some of it has to do with the whole "hey, im not racist! see, i have a black body guard and he's my best friend! slavery was like, so lame man!"

Hi Stella,

I would like to take you for a ride on my board;do a couple kick flips while you are on the board with me. I'll break my board in half to prove I heart you*sigh*…STELLLLLAAAAAAAAAAA, come get this afro/white/asian american skater called Deano

I mean, the only african-american bouncer i was ever friends with was actually a chain-smoking, misanthropic, out of shape former co-worker at a video store. then he realized when he moved to new york that school was expensive, and got the highest paying job he could. then he got the crap beaten out of him by a tiny belligerent white guy and decided it wasn't a great career move. for bouncers, it's easy money. for security guards, as lily pointed out, the ones to the stars are essentially mercs. they go from "killing is our business, business is good" to "step back! into the car ma'm." and a lot of them are white.

What a silly and racist article! I've seen plenty white burly and ogre-ish bodyguards. Even bringing up the subject is ignorant! IMO

It's just like asking - why are most lawyers WHITE and SCUM?

luuk be talking smarty times, butt he ain't smarty times.