Why is it when African-Americans talk properly, it is considered "acting white"?

Answer 1

I like your question. I also have issues with this. While I'm not African American, my ex boyfriend is and he was very articulate in his conversations and people would tease that I have more soul in me than he did.

While I found it amusing because I also speak that way (articulately), I believe that a lot of people especially African Americans might tease others even more because they think they've sold out or whatever. They feel while they might be educated, they have a certain image to uphold and so they speak improper English.

Answer 2

I agree. It actually baffles me how people can be so ignorant. Nobody can act a certain race, it's impossible. Everybody, even if they are the same race, is different. As you can see, I'm black and I'm using proper language and I don't think that would be considered "acting white".
Now,I guess the reason why it's considered "acting white" is because of all the stereotypes in the media or the fact that some people don't say the n-word every five seconds.

Answer 3

I don't know. Maybe the idea is that, since white people are considered mainstream and majority, then the rules of proper grammar somehow belong to them and refusing to abide by the rules is a form of rebellion again the establishment or protest against disenfranchisement? I've noticed the same phenomenon when black children earn good grades in school.

Either which way, it has always baffled me. I want to have a good life, and that requires some sacrifice. I don't like the sort clothes I have to wear to keep my boss happy... I'd rather be in jeans. Same basic type of thing.

And to Jugling: the asker isn't the one who is "seeing race." The black people who call other black people "white" when they try to achieve are the ones who are seeing race everywhere. These phenomena happen whether the asker and I notice them or not.

Answer 4

I never actually heard that being said before, but maybe it comes from people who are not white and are less than happy with those who actually care about using the English language properly.
For some reason in today's society, there seems to be an epidemic of wanting to speak in slang and spell in abbreviation as if it's too much trouble to speak properly or spell a whole word out correctly.

Answer 5

I hope this is not out of line for me to say, (as you can tell I am white) but I have never liked the idea of Ebonics. I think that if you put a Asian, white person, black, and any other color person and put them (raise them throughout their child hood or for a lengthy amount of time) in the inner city or ghetto or any place where this type of dialect is common, you are going to have this person speaking in this manner with that type of accent. The same goes for taking all those different people and putting them in England, they will have an accent indicative of where they live. It has more to do with where they live , where they were raised and how they were raised and not the color of their skin. I do not think that the color of their skin has anything to do with someones dialect, accent or absolute murder of the English language.

Answer 6

This might not be the best analogy, but i'll put it out there anyway.

A few years ago, when I was single, I was at a bar with some friends. A girl approached, who I was not physically attracted to, and was trying to get into my pants. I wasn't interested. A few of my friends started callign me a p*ssy when I told them I wasn't going to take this chick home and get it on with her. I'm not the kind of person who is going to sleep with someone I barely know or am not attracted to in order to prove my "manliness" to my loser friends.

To them I was a p*ssy, and a disgrace to men everywhere (their words) because I didn't get it on with this girl.

So back to your question:

I'm not african american, but it seems like people who hold this kind of attitude probably want you or others (in this case, well-spoken people) to be like they are, to think like they do, because when you don't, it makes them feel badly about themselves and they way they act (most likely because they know that they are in the wrong.)

Answer 7

Why is there a book for women called "How to talk to a Woman of Color." We have these ridiculous standards and then we label things like "talking white." Why can't we just talk without having to consider the color of the person we are talking to. It would be a big improvement.

Answer 8

I've never heard of that. Maybe because I'm a white African American (I was born and raised in South Africa).

Answer 9

This is a racist view. Alot of poor people in this nation are poorly educated and happen to be black. This says nothing against the black race but against society as a whole The IGNORANT people who say this have issues- whether they are black or white.

Answer 10

Thankfully, as more African Americans move into the middle and upper classes, this is a dying attitude.