What's with "acting white" or "acting black"?

Question

There was this unintelligent kid in my class, he's white if you don't mind me mentioning it, and he said i'm "acting white" just because i speak properly most of the time. i love my different cultures, and i'm proud to be a Black American. This is not the first time some one said this...i try to explain thst he shouldn't be so ignorant, but it's no use. What the hell?! Why do people do this?

I love my culture, but I hang out with all types of people, black, white, hispanic, (most of my friends are hispanic or of hispanic decent, including me go venezuela!), and I listen to all types of music except for country and pop, and hip hop. I like underground or just regular rap, not hip hop, there's a difference.

Answer 1

I can tell you why. As an African-American male I know what this feels like. The reason that person said that is due to not only his ignorance, but what he is used to. He is ignorant in assuming that all black people speak ebonics, wear FUBU, and listen to rap music. What he is used to are blacks who do fit those common stereotypes and when he sees a black person who doesn't fit those stereotypes, he doesn't know how to react to it and his ignorance is exposed. People live by stereotypes because its all they know how to do and when they see someone who doesn't fit the common stereotype of their ethnicity, sometimes people aren't mature or intelligent enough to handle it.

Answer 2

You are screwing up this white kid's world, all he knows is that black people speak Ebonics, drink malt beer and listen to rap music. This is all his brain can't handle and now here you are an obviously intelligent black woman making him reconsider what he thought he understood as being a natural state.
Get used to it, some people regardless of whether they are white or black do not have the capacity to live beyond stereotypes. That is all they know and that is all they will ever be able to comprehend. Is like they are cultural imbeciles.
Start growing that thick skin, you are going to need it for the rest of your life.

Answer 3

I have no idea why people do it. I'm sure we all have stereotyped somebody in our lives at least for a second. And that goes for anyone. Just looking at someone and thinking I bet there really good at math or I bet they like to party. Judging a book by its cover I guess. Well anyways. In high school I had a friend that gave me a hard time cause i loved wu-tang. Called me names and acted like a Jerk. I was like well FU I may be the whitest white girl but I know good music when i hear it. I just had to pretend i didn't care and ignore him (even if it did hurt my feelings) People who say these things obviously have insecurity issues about themselves and are most likely not happy people. :)

Answer 4

I don't think there is anything wrong with a *gasp* intelligent black person. But you shouldn't have to try super hard to dispel stereotypes. You can still listen to rap and embrace your "blackness" hahah. I like rap and black people; I'm white and I act white too but I still like mixing it up sometimes with the lingo. Peace and ignore that stupid, jealous terd but don't be mean and cocky :)

Answer 5

All epidermis shade aside, you sound knowledgeable, and nicely mannered, not loud and sloppy ghetto, and that is a great plus for you! you already do not ignore that being black does not require you to be ill mannered and obnoxious. human beings will like you in case you stay that way, and also you epidermis shade will be irrelevant, because you're civilized. That makes you fit in. Black human beings do not desire you to fit in with different ethnic communities like white and latino. and considering you do fit in with all of us, no count number what their race is, you're looked down upon by different blacks, because they were bred to be loud and ghetto.

Answer 6

There no such thing as acting white or black. Speaking proper isn't acting white because Frederick Douglas spoke proper.

Answer 7

That my dear is the true explanation of a 'ni**er' Dont feed into his ignorance. Blow it off, Im sure you can think of more important things to worry about. People like that in my book can eat s*it an die. Just a mean person

Answer 8

Stereotyping. The real question is what percentage of people have to act a certain way before a stereotype is created, and how hard it is to change it.

Answer 9

intellectually,there is no such thing,but socially and just being real,there is a difference.How you act,how you speak,and how you dress determines that.If you always hang around white ppl,don't wear the popular name brand clothes,speak weirdly proper,ect its considered acting white.You can argue with this,but ur the 1 arguing.

Answer 10

i dont like ppl like that either i am mexican and i dont know any spanish and i go to a school with mostly hispanics and they call me white too. cause i speak proper and sometimes i act preppy..lol but its the way i am. but dont get mad or whatever.