Is it possible for someone to "act" like a different race?

Question

The question is basically can actions in life define various races? (i.e if your black can you "act" white or vice versa). please post comments, this is for a film study project @ my high school. Please be careful not to offend anyone (please no racial slurs or offensive language)

Answer 1

No offense, but rapper Eminem, he does the Black thing quite well for being a so called trailer trash white fella. Gotta hand it to him...

Answer 2

I have come to the conclusion that there is no such thing as "acting" like a certain race. In reality we act according to the cultural in which we live. There is often the distinction of racial ways of acting only because we tend to socialize with other people that we perceive to be more like ourselves and race is a big identifier of self. It is our social groups that define our culture.

So, the short answer is, very definitely.

Just to give you an example, I spent some time living in Portugal. There was a short period of time when I spent more time with some Brazilians and my Portuguese began to take on a more Brazilian accent. The Portuguese people I did talk to would sometimes laugh at me for talking that way but it was because of the people I spent most of my time with.

Answer 3

I believe people are a product of their environment. I am white and have some poor family in Kentucky. When I visit I always eat Fried Chicken, collard greens, corn bread, watermelon, etc. Some would call that Black food. I call it Southern Food. If I grew up in the projects I would probably talk in slang (Ebonics if you will). I would probably wear alot of baggy clothes, etc. I think people stereo type races because the race is more predominant in those areas.

Then there are those people that are rebelling. You get all sorts of people rebelling in different ways, punk rockers, people who wear rap gear, etc. They for the most part have family issues.

I find that sometimes people subconsciously start to change a bit according to the people they are around which goes back to my statement on your environment. I spent a month and a half in Kentucky and came back to California with a southern drawl. Kind of funny.

Answer 4

I totally agree with Paul. No race is defined by a certain action or personality type. Your personality is affected by your environment simple as that. If one race is in a specific environment more than another, that could lead people to assume how they're acting is a characteristic of their race when really it's caused by the environment they're growing up in.

Answer 5

I personally think that assigning certain actions to a particular race is just another form of discrimination and ignorance. A person will act however their personality dictates, and also I believe your environment influences. Say a black or white person grows up in a hispanic country, does that mean they "act" hispanic cause thats how they were brought up? Good luck on your project!!

Answer 6

no because all black people dont act the same, nor do all white people. there will always be stigmas attached to the races. do all blacks have baggy pants and 10 kids? no they dont. yet if a white guy has baggy pants he is said to be acting black. bull. people should quit grouping others together by race. my sister is married to a black man. i am married to a white man. we are both spoiled rotten, loved and taken care of.

Answer 7

well, i think somebodyz race n action aint got nuthin to do w/eachotha....race is basically classifyin yo skin color. well, i really think that "race" should be taken out. think about it.....if somebody black, r they fully black? if some1 white, do that mean they fully white? what about in Asia....they just classifyed as asian or yellowskin, when Asia is more than just the Orient....what about Indians, Arabs, Siberians??? they all fall under Asian. i think "race" in itself is just a stereotype. n as far as actin anotha "race"...they aint no such thang....u gotta act the way u is, da way u wanna be! nobody can act "black" cuz they aint no "ways blacks act"...same w whites. i think race is given to let ppl easily use a factor to judge ppl by...

Answer 8

Well I personally believe, it doesnt matter what race you are. All men were created equal and just because they're a different color, it doesn't really mean they can't have as much rights.