acting black vs. acting white? whats with the denial?

Question

I've noticed on many occasions that people object to the use of the phrases "acting black" or "acting white." Why is that?

while I applaud people's effort to be color blind I think these folks are, in fact, simply blind to reality. Saying that two things are different does not imply one is better than the other. So I dont understand why people feel compelled to negate the obvious cultural difference between Black and White.

There are differences between the way Black people and white people TYPICALLY act. There is a different rhythm in speech (regardless of grammar), walk, style of dress, ect. A black church is different than a white church. we decorate or houses different from eachother, we season our food different, and so on. With so many distinctions between black and white how can somebody honestly say there is no such things as "acting black or "acting white?"

ROCKSTAR - I went to school down south. and I am musician. so I ahve spent a lot of time in Black churches and White churches. They are not the same by far. Though I will say there are a lot of integrated churches.

Answer 1

I understand what you're trying to say, but I have to respectfully disagree.

I stand by my opinion that there is no such thing as "acting black" or "acting white". And it has nothing to do with any kind of effort to be color blind but rather recognizing that individuality is more important than race, culture, etc... and, therefore, we should have the right to be whoever we want to be without being labeled as trying to be something/someone that we are not.

I have been accused of "trying to be black" for most of my life. White people said that I was abandoning my heritage. And black people told me to be myself and stop trying to change. On one occasion, a black woman approached me and said the following: "Why you white girls always comin' up to us and talkin' like that, like all black people talk like that? All black people don't talk like that." She was right about one thing- that not all black people speak as I do. Not all black people talk the same. But, the fact of the matter is that she was the one who was guilty of making generalizations. Just as not all black people talk the same, not all white people who speak the same as many black people speak are making an effort to do so. Are all black people who do not speak with the dialects/sub-languages which are spoken by many blacks making an effort to do so? No, of course not.

In another question, you posted about talking "properly". Your point was that talking "properly" isn't the equivilent of "talking white". I agreed with you on this but not with your logic. But, just for the sake of argument, let's say that I completely agree with your logic- that George Bush is a perfect example of what it means to "talk white". Who is the perfect example of what it means to "talk black"? There must be someone if there is such a noticeable difference between blacks and whites. Correct? If George Bush represents "white" culture to the extent that you would name him as an example of "talking white" then certainly there must be someone who represents "black" culture to the extent that you are willing to name him/her as an example of "talking black". So who would that person be?

You can't name anyone, can you? Of course not. I have read many of your questions and answers in which you talk about the fact that not all black people speak the same. You have made a point to say that Black Vernacular English isn't even one single dialect/sub-language but is rather made up of several different sub-dialects. And I completely agree with you. However, it is a contradiction for you to say this and then claim that there is such a thing as "acting black". If there is such a thing as "acting black" then there's such a thing as "talking black". But how can one "talk black" if there is no universal "black" language?

There is no universal black language. And there is no universal white language.
There is no universal black behavior. And there is no universal white behavior.

This is my point: Culture (languages/dialects, food, body language, clothing, celebrations, music, etc...) can be "rooted in" particular races. And you can even argue the strong possibility that more members of a particular race embrace so-and-so culture than anyone else. However, as a culture is recognized and learned by many others, it expands beyond boundaries. It branches off into sub-cultures and is embraced by people of other backgrounds. The culture sort of takes on a life of it's own. It becomes far more than what a particular race defines/defined it as. It becomes something that brings people together in spite of our differences. And, if people let it, it promotes individuality rather than labels.

Embracing a culture cannot mean "acting black" or "acting white", in my opinion, because culture isn't race. It's so much more, regardless of it's roots.

"There are differences between the way Black people and white people TYPICALLY act." ----Considering the definition of typical, I must say that there is no way that blacks and whites can "typically act" as the majority of blacks and whites.
If you beg to differ then, by all means, please give me a couple of names who are good examples of what it means to "typically act" black and "typically act" white. In your other more recent question, you said that George Bush is an example of "talking white". Do you also think that he is an example of what it means to "act white"? Who else? The Dukes of Hazzard? Faith Hill? Hillary Clinton? The Dixie Chicks? WHO? Who "acts black"? Denzel Washington or Will Smith? Joseph C. Phillips or Jay Z? What about the late E. V. Wilkins? WHO? Who "acts white", and who "acts black"?

I hope that you understand what I am saying. I agree with you on many things, but I just cannot agree with you about this, and I hope that I have made myself clear as to exactly why I cannot agree with you. Regardless, thank you for your question. Keep'em comin', $0.02!

Answer 2

the way i feel is black people have a reputation of acting ghetto. but that's not acting black. its acting ghetto. Black people have a stereotype of acting ghetto. And the acting white thing is a stereotype as well because most of them wasn't raised in the ghetto. I feel like this. If u wasn't raised in the ghetto, don't act ghetto cause you don't know a damn thing about it. And when you see a black, white, green, person doing what u do, its insulting. Something u been doing all yo life and some one who has the good life is mocking you cause of the way you act. It all depends on how u was raised. If you go in front of yo friends and act all ghetto and then go home to yo parents and act all sophisticated that will piss me off. because that means you a fake. Just watch ATL. new new was the perfect example of that

Answer 3

For one you can't act like a color. Two simply being white or black doesn't make whites or blacks have the so called typical behavior they have. It's environment that makes people who they are. Yea, so maybe blacks and whites normally being around their own group for so long makes a certain behavior seem more normal for the specific group, but that doesn't mean black = such and such behavior or white = another behavior. Stereotypes can't be applied to all so saying they're wrong isn't denial.
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Answer 4

I disagree, while there are GENERALIZATIONS that people make about black and white people, the fact of the matter is I don't act "ghetto" or "talk like black people". I speak "proper" and people assume that I am "acting white". I am in no way an actress of any sort, I don't act any way but like me. There is no act or facade going on. It is very ignorant to say that someone who speaks properly and things of that nature are acting a certain way, should I be the stereotypical black person or be true to myself? This line of thinking really sickens me, as I have been dealing with this BS all my life.

I experience this crap on both ends, I get the whole act thing from black people and the "oh you speak so well" from white people which is insulting either way. We need to stop putting each other down when we aren't out making a fool of ourselves and stop behaving like crabs in a bucket.

Answer 5

I think that you are only looking at the surface of this problem.Most people are " raised " a certain way ( if you will ) in certain communities . For instances, if you take a young brother at a very early age and raise that kid in Little Italy instead of Harlem, it's a good chance that that child will take on the characteristics of the people in Little Italy and not Harlem. It's not only where you live but how you are taught to live. Whether you realize it or not the question that you are asking has more to do with our social development , or lack of, more than race.

Answer 6

What you're describing are cultural differences, not necessarily race differences. True, there are more black people than white who listen to hip hop, speak in Ebonics, etc, but what about the white people who legitimately grew up in that culture, and vice versa?

The "reality" you're talking about is NOT acting black or white or yellow or green or blue. It's about the race of people that fit BEST into a culture.

Yes, we ARE colorblind. Maybe you should join us.

Answer 7

Why do you need to care? If anything, we all need to destroy all the distinctions and just have one culture. We as humans would all be best suited if we acted as individuals rather than cultures. The way I see it, whites typically act alone and make decisions independent of any community, whereas people of color tend to let their neighborhoods and leaders do their thinking for them. This is probably not correct, but it is my interpretation of what I see.

Answer 8

I understand what you are saying....the TYPICAL black and white people..we are kinda different....im mixed...and people say i 'act white' but i dont care. i am who i am. and i used to go to a private catholic school..where we had to go to church at the school every friday...the church was different than a black church. I like both churches tho...currently I go to a 'white' church, its what i prefer. and as usual, there arent relly any black people there. but thats fine...I totally understand where your coming from, acting typically black, or typically white. but we arent all the same, sometimes i act 'black' but overall i act'white' just the way i am

Answer 9

People integrate into their surrounding cultures. Spend a few months living somewhere where people have strong, distinct accents. You will pick up that accent in that short amount of time. Then you'll understand more about the question you're trying to ask.

You'd also be well served to read some literature about culture, class, privilege, linguistics, and child development.

Answer 10

these answers are showing exactly what you mean by denial.. or maybe others cant see it. but people can act and do act different,,, there is a difference between the history and cultures. I agree, Im not saying one is better than the other either, but different groups do have different actions and mannerisms and so forth. its sort of like saying that boy acts girly or that girl acts boyish. not offensively , just honestly
and to answer one reply, how can there be one culture, when its the blacks that keep insisting that their culture be remembered and taught? not that its a bad thing

Answer 11

That may be the case for you but not the case for others. Down here in the south. blacks and whites are very similar in the Churches, foods, speech, and etc. etc.

The is no such thing as acting black or white.