Talkin' white

[ziasha07]

I have SO often been told by my black friends that I speak too proper or too "white." This has been going on since I was ten or so. As someone prior to me said, I had to learn to be bilingual.

I often tell my mother I speak job interview, standard English, Ebonics, and a little French. I've just learned that you have to speak to certain people, certain ways, in certain settings.

As far as behavior, I've been criticized quite often by my parents and peers. A specific example: My hair is down to my shoulder and I am accused on a daily basis of flipping my hair "like a white girl" with a head shake.

Socially: I went to a get together (or small party) hosted by a White girl where I was the only Black American present and when I got home my father said "Don't you have any Black friends?" Of course about a year later I went to a party hosted by a Black American. There were party crashers, and when my parents came to get me and saw the police there (no problem, just a precaution) they said "See this is why we don't let you go to things like this." Meaning parties hosted by my Black acquaintances. Where is the middle ground?

Furthermore, what is with the Black Community’s pre-occupation with identifiably or stereotypical "white/black" behavior? Why is it often considered wrong for a black person to not adhere to stereotypes?


*Sorry it's long. *