Color Lines

Taz182 · #1 01-15-2002, 02:52 PM

You know, I get so mad when people tell me that I act like a white girl. It happened again today, and I just really need to vent. I consider myself to be a proper, well spoken African American female. Just because I speak clearly, don't have namebrand clothes, and have no limits as far as my taste in music, does not mean that I am trying to be white. I have been, am, and will always continue to be proud of my African American heritage. If I like it, I like it, may it be for black people, white people, orange or yellow people. I mean really, how do you "act a color" anyway?

Does anyone feel me on this one?

SoTrue1920 · #2 01-16-2002, 03:32 AM

I sure do. I used to get called "sell out" by some of the Af-Am students at my Alma Mater because of the kind of music I listened to, the diverse ethnic backgrounds of my friends, and any number of things.

I finally came to the conclusion that I'm not to blame for other people's essentialist ideas of what it means to be Black. There are as many ways to exhibit "blackness" as there are Black folks on this planet.

Rachel0497 · #3 01-16-2002, 08:02 PM

This used to get on my last nerve. Growing up, I was exposed to all sorts of influences, and there were always those little kids who saw things like getting good grades, speaking properly, or wanting to be in the choir instead of band as being too "white". It bothered me for quite a while, and then I just let it go.

NOWorNEVER · #4 01-21-2002, 03:16 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Taz182
You know, I get so mad when people tell me that I act like a white girl. It happened again today, and I just really need to vent. I consider myself to be a proper, well spoken African American female. Just because I speak clearly, don't have namebrand clothes, and have no limits as far as my taste in music, does not mean that I am trying to be white. I have been, am, and will always continue to be proud of my African American heritage. If I like it, I like it, may it be for black people, white people, orange or yellow people. I mean really, how do you "act a color" anyway?

Does anyone feel me on this one?

I know exactly what you mean. Middle and High School was hell for me. From elementary school throughout high school, I was the only black person in my AG, honors, and AP classes. All the other black kids thought I was "trying to be white" and it really hurt me. I couldn't wait to get out of school and for a while I carried a bitterness and a grudge toward them in my heart, but I had to let it go. I'm a sophomore college student now and all those fools who talked about me are either in jail, doing hair out of their houses to make ends meet (nothing wrong w/ that btw), selling drugs, pregnant, or working at KFC.

You just continue being who you are and don't let anyone discourage you or try to make you feel bad because of your individuality. It really bugs me when people say you "act black" or "act white." You can't act a color, but you can act ignorant. And the fact that people associate ignorance w/ "acting black" and properness w/ "acting white" is prejudice, stereotypical, and just plain ridiculous.