"THEY", at work get on my case daily if "THEY" could for acting too Black... Oh well... Wait til I come out wit my Jeri Curl!!! Hey, yo man, that's my curl activata!

LOL - I REALLY understand what you are saying frat. For those that need clarification this is my example. When I first attended a black college everyone would say "What's Up!" I would respond by saying "Hi - How are you" in a loud happy voice. That's has been many years ago for me but just the memory is sad and funny at the same time. While I'm not ashamed of my background, I find that individuals often act and speak differently given a particular setting. I certainly don't consider myself an Uncle Tom but I am guilty of changing the tone and the vernacular used in different settings. I don't think this is a bad thing. I just use what I have and know to be successful wherever I may be.

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"The World Belongs to Those Who Care Deeply,
Who Dream Broadly, and Who Work Steadfastly."

"uncle tom" demeanor is nothing more than clever assimilation--you know that. And in case you're wondering my identity--I am from the Sons of Sudan, '83.

WAZ UP, SPEC!!!!!!! 'bout time we got some mo representation!!! Let's sho 'em how we do it in the MIDWEST!!!! one nine, two five, ALPHA TAU IS STILL ALIVE!!!!!!!

key #40 I presume!!!!!

Okay, now we're going too far. Dress like them?????????????????? What's dressing "white," Ralph Lauren and Izod? What's dressing "black," all FUBU gear and Tims? If a white person came up to me and said something like that, we'd be in the mix. It sounds no better when we say stuff like that...

How can you be sure that they were faknig it? In the scenes where Ruthie is with her two sisters, she acts the same way. So I never thought her behavior was a front. Tek, I'm not sure of because there weren't many Blacks in Hawaii that he interacted with. Perception is key, and remember, we're seeing there lives through MTV's filter, so who knows if they were trying hard to get along, or if that is really how they behave.

What one may perceive as "trying hard" to be someone thay are not, may actually be someone gelling with people who accept them for who they are.

I'm talking from personal experience, because I got along best with Blacks who came from a similar background as myself. We were a considerably small minority of the Black students population. Because of the way we talked and acted, we were ostracized by the Blacks becasue we didn't fit their mold of "accceptable behavior." But the White and Asian students were much more accepting of our differences, so we got along better with them. Its not always about turning your back, it could be about hanging with people who like the things that you like.

I would never trade being Black for anything, and I love who I am. But skin color is not a road map for one's behavior.

No problem T.O.A. I was just checking to see that we are all on the same page.

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You are taking my post out of context. When I said dress like them I meant that he dressed like his new white friends. That does not have to insinuate certain designers and/or brands. It is just the way in which he dressed.

Example, Say that my wardrobe consisted of mostly khakis and jeans. I start to hang out with some people that wear mostly shorts and slacks so I start to wear the same things just to fit in.(I know its a corny example; but its the best I could come up with off the cuff)

I hope that helps to explain what I meant by that comment.

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"The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy."
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Thanks for the clarification. I guess I was having flashbacks of folks in high school saying I wore "white girl sneakers" (Tretorns) and played a "white instrument" (violin) and wanting to slap the stupid out of their mouths. I've also witnessed people saying stuff like "so and so dresses like a white girl...", so I thought you were speaking from that vein. Never mind my previous post.

That's my Key, Bruh!!! Are you on line from home?

I would never trade being Black for anything, and I love who I am. But skin color is not a road map for one's behavior

I agree with your statement; however, I still have noticed some people trying toooo damned hard to be accepted by their white counter-parts.

Some of us are....

Perception, perception, perception...

I was raised to speak with correct diction, subject-verb agreement, correct enunciation, etc. etc. You get my drift. I was also raised to 'deal' with people on all levels. I am 100% black female who loves every melanin drop of my heritage.

I say all of this to give you background on what I'm consistently faced with from my family and strangers on the street. My cousins and I spent our early childhood years together. I moved from Cleveland when I was 8. They consistently make stupid comments like "you sound like a white girl when you answer the phone" or " dayum, we must seem ghetto to you". Now, I love my people to death in all of their glory; yet, they perceive from my outward appearance (i.e. my diction, clothes I wear, etc.) that I personify "white folk". From strangers on the street (I live in DC), I am constantly asked "You don't sound or look like you're from here. Where you from?" "Are you mixed, what island you from?" I tell you it drives me nuts! "When I breathe in deeply and state that I'm black and no I ain't mixed with nothin'! They look at me as if I'm lying!

So my point (long-time coming I know), is that from my experience-people's perception of you may be 360 degrees different than what is the authentic you. Furthermore, I refute the claim that talking "white" (WTF is that anyway) and dressing a certain way definitely does not make one 'an uncle Tom'. It's simply in the ATTI-TUUUDE and within the make-up of a person's character that makes them an Uncle Tom. Clarence T knows what I'm talkin bout.

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"Unless you know the road you've come down, you cannot know where you are going"
~Temme proverb, Sierre Leone~

I appreciate your point. In fact, everybody that responded had good points. When I posted this, I was refering to people that totally dismiss their culture-in every way they can, deliberately; not those that speak properly and maintain their relationships with their own. I have to go back and see what I possibly had said that made people miss my point. The fact that I used an adopted intonation as an example may be the culprit. Perhaps I didn't explain what I meant well enough. If that's the case, again I apologize. Most people know who/what I'm referring to. Again, you have a good point.