Deciding whether all black people love fried chicken was the topic of a panel discussion conducted by the Center for Black Studies and Sigma Gamma Rho on Tuesday night.

The moderators for the event, Tara McDonald and Russell Hanes, addressed several myths associated with blacks.

The first question posed was the generalization that all blacks are “ghetto.” The audience members needed more clarification on what being ghetto actually meant.

“Ghetto is more of a mentality,” panelist Tia Speat said. “It has evolved to an over-generalized term.”

Hanes said black people have a tendency to make a negative word positive.

Panelist Briant Williams said people have become overexposed to the images seen in the media.

“We become so exposed to these images that eventually, we start to feed into them,” he said.

Hip-hop culture also was addressed.

Williams said parents must teach their children to differentiate between what is real and what is not.

The black family system also was questioned.

Hanes addressed the high number of black children who are raised in single-family homes.

“Ever since our family came to this country, they have been torn apart,” Speat said.

She said people must start to take responsibility for what is happening with the black family structure.

Hanes also said the education system must be modified, questioning what a having a “good education” really meant.

He questioned whether having a good education was having knowledge of culture, or was it measured by Western ideas.

About 30 people attended the event, which was held as part of Black History Month.