Why do black americans expect to act a certain way.?

Question

I was watching the movie Crash (2004) and Terrence Howard's character gets ridiculed by his wife because he acts white. Why is it that if you are a black american, you are expected to act a certain way such as being able to speak proper English and if you don't then you are an Uncle Tom or whatever they want to say. What's worse is that is other black americans that are doing this sterotype to eachother.

Answer 1

My theory is that it's part of a shift that occured in the civil rights movement in the 1970s. When the movement first gained momentum in the 50s, the goal was equality for all. Blacks wanted to become part of the larger society, and reap it's benefits, just like other minorities - like irish or italians, for instance - had by assimilating. Early accomplishments, like the integration of schools, were aimed in that direction.

However, in the '70s, mutliculturalism began to dominate the thinking in the movement, and assimilation and equality was no longer acceptable. Instead, it was vital to have, keep, and exult an ethnic and cultural identity, sepparate from that of the broader society. So the African American sub-culture of the time became a treasured ethinic identity.

Answer 2

I totally understand. Well, I'm only half black, but people see me with my wave cap on, my sunglasses, earrings, baggy jeans, and a jersey, and when I talk I speak with proper english. It totally blows them out of the water. I ask them why that is, and they always respond you talk white, and I didn't expect that. I think it has more to do with the stereotypes that rap, and the movies has given black people for the past 30 to 40 years. I mean what would the rap listeners think of a rapper who rapped about living in the suburbs and rapped using proper english? I don't know. As I said it's mainly about stereotypes.

Answer 3

Historically, since blacks were not offered opportunites to be educated it was naturally accepted they act and behave a certain way-uneducated and not speaking properly. As time went on, some blacks were able to move up and better themselves "like the whites" and were therefore labeled as trying to "be like" the whites and therefore trying "to BE" white. Even today, most blacks that are highly educated are living in better areas, attending better schools,that are dominated by a mostly white population. I spoke proper english as a kid and I got teased as a kid too. Most of my neighborhood was black and the older people were from the south,so everyone sounded "country" but me. I don't know why I didn't follow everyone else, just didn't sound good to me. Now I naturally gravitate to people who speak like me who are mostly-ironic?- white, or non black.

Answer 4

Excuse me? What exactly is acting black or white for that matter? You are exactly what the meaning of racist is! Racism has always been motivated by Greed and the Sgtock market was based upon the Slave Trade, rum, sugar and Cotton!

Those are your Low Expectations of what people are without having any understating or Knowledge of cultural differences or of American or World history. Stop embarrassing yourself! What does this have to do with Illegal Immigration? Blacks are Legal Citizens! Illegal Immigration affects everybody negatively!

Answer 5

are you an immigrant asking this question??

Well the same thing goes for all races. If you see a white person acting gangsta, talking ebonics, dresses like a gangsta you are going to see people that don't approve. I find it to be annoying myself because you know that person wouldn't survive a day on the streets but oh well if it makes him feel good dressing and acting like something he's not, so be it.

If you see a black man "talking white" you are going to see people not approve. Some people feel like if someone is choosing to speak more white with the tone of voice then it's because they feel pressured to do so in order to achieve success.

In America some people feel the pressure to give up their roots and feel it's the only way to achieve success. It makes people bitter that they've chosen greed over something that makes them happy with no material value.

Answer 6

Comments like the one "sugardaddy" left are one reason why blacks (and whites) are always looked at a certain way. Usually that way is the negative way.

The question cant just be extended to blacks but to all races. Were all expected to act a certain way based on stereotypes. If we see a white man listening to hip-hop and and dressing hip-hop, then he's not white, he's trying to be black.

If we see a black man (like myself) listening to a rock song with his pants at his waist, and speaking with an extended vocabulary than he's trying to be white.

For some reason, lots of people belive that they have to stay within their r"ace bounds." People like familiarty, if they see something of someone being different, they will intimidatly challange that persons motives.

You do see this alot amoung the black community alot. Because we all beleive that we need to stick together. If one of our kind is straving from the pack, then he's betraying his race.

Until we can stop certain stereotypes, these things will continue to go on. Lots of people (who are prejudice against blacks) hate to see an educated black person. When they meet them they usually expect "yo whats the deal dog. Holla at cha boi!" But in the real world, black white Asian whatever, we're all different. People just need to deal with it.

Answer 7

I've been asking myself the same question.
What is acting "white" and acting "black" anyway?
Who sets these standards?
I think it is stupid to expect people to act a certain way,they are all Americans and can act how they want to act, talk how they want to talk as long as no one else gets hurt.
I thought we wanted to get rid of discrimination, I think races segregagte themselves from each other more than ever and don't even realize it.

Answer 8

i don't think all blacks expect anything, but i think that sometimes in general we as a people make generalizations about other races. In comedy shows, whites are portrayed as uptight, kind of goofy..the wonderbread type. so it's only a generalization that gets carried over to the culture as a whole. you can teach us all something different. just educate people about you and your culture.

Answer 9

Brian, I totally feel you on that one. But it's all about ignorance driven by economics. What sells and is popular now, will disappear before very long. Because of our fast paced lifestyles, most people believe everything they see and hear on television & radio, without thinking twice. As it's only in America that one will embarrass and discredit themselves for 5minutes of celebrity status or monitery gain. Just be true to yourself and your beliefs. You have to stand for something, or you will fall for anything...

Answer 10

Thats not a problem...

What IS a problem is white people trying to be hip-hop and black. Often called "wiggers", these are the stupidest people around, who always try to rap like African Americans, wear large jewlery but just end up looking stupid.