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The Origin of "Acting White" in America Dear Colleagues, Kim "PCG Intern" Campbell wrote a profound blog, and raised an important issue concerning the July 23-24, 2008 CNN discussion on what it means to be Black in America. She raised an important question at the end of her revealing blog. She asked that I read it and share some comments on its content. She asked what we can do to change the mindset of Blacks in America. My thoughts are as follows. THE ORIGIN OF “ACTING WHITE” IN AMERICA Most cultures have created a system of acceptable behavior. If you do not support your race or culture, you can be labeled by that culture with a symbol. For instance, African Americans who do not support their culture are labeled as an “Oreo”, black on the outside and white in the middle. Native Americans refer to one from their culture as an “apple” –red on the outside and white on the inside. Likewise, Asian Americans refer to themselves as a “banana”, yellow on the outside and white on the inside. The Latinos label their members as a “coconut”-brown on the outside and white on the inside. Hargrove asserts that these are self-imposed descriptors. When approaching this topic on “Blackness” or “Am I Black Enough for You”, one has to understand that there are at least two key assumptions operating in the environment. The way that race plays itself or should I say displays itself in America, can be traced to the following assumptions: 1) I am better than you because I have all the “physical attributes” to be placed ahead of you in the societal pecking order. Example, I have good hair, and you have bad hair; I have two parents, and you come from a single parent home; I have a car, and you ride the bus; I have middle class friends and you are ghetto; I live in an upscale community, and you live in the projects; I have a wardrobe, and you all have clothing; and 2) Because I have all these things, I am closer to “Whiteness” than you. This is a “mental assumption” that allows one to believe that he/she is better than another. The way these two assumptions play out in America is through a “divide and conquer” mentality. The two assumptions met head on in 1992 and crashed. The Rodney King verdict caused the middle class Blacks to see themselves as no better off than the poor Blacks. As a result of a racially divided society, after the Rodney King verdict, followed by the O.J. Simpson verdict in 1994, Blacks were gradually forced into a unified position.The Million Man March of October 16, 1995, spearheaded by Minister Louis Farrakhan, was able to galvanize significant numbers of Black men to Washington D.C. The country had been more polarized than ever. Middle class Black students had begun to see society through the lenses of poor black students. In public schools in America, smart Blacks no longer wanted to “act white,” by displaying their intellectual prowess. In other words, being smart was rejected by large numbers of both poor and middle-class Blacks. The Gena Six issue in the 2006-2007 school year created a new re-awakening in the younger generation, and the cause for social justice began to surface by a newer generation. In summer 2006, the demise and burial of the “N” word and the resistance to call or refer to Black women as the “B” word and the “H” word caused a pause in the negative images perpetuated by Blacks toward Blacks. In 2008, the good news and positive signs continue to emerge, particularly with huge numbers of young people registering and participating in local governance and national elections. This renewal of energy has stirred the souls of this new generation to make positive changes in America. The 2008 Presidential campaign of Senator Barack Obama has done more to instill a sense of pride and unity because he is viewed by many to be a qualified candidate who can represent this nation as President of the United States. As a result of this, young African Americans are now talking in culturally prideful terms. The time is right for real education reform to begin in America so that gaps in learning and achievement can be closed. As Dr. King would say, the fierce urgency of [the moment is] now! What are your comments?—Dr. Jesse Hargrove Posted by Dr. Jesse J. Hargrove at 12:01 AM 0 comments The Origin of "Acting White" in America About Me Dr. Jesse J. Hargrove My book is about the Deuce Millennium Generation. View my complete profile
Posted By: Dr. Jesse Hargrove
Monday, August 4th 2008 at 6:14PM
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This is interesting, especially so if we measure ourselves against white people. I don't, so the concept of "acting white" is rather moot to me.
Blessings...
Monday, August 4th 2008 at 7:07PM
Dee Gray
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Dear Dr. Easterling,
I love the way that you tied "culture" to the importance of race. You also made a powerful point about how language is intricately connected to one's culture and race. Race was created and popularized in the 1930-40s to make distinctions in the growing, yet race-conscious society. Its experiment proved to be a dividing tool of racial division. On the other hand, we have not discussed its much mistaken cousin, "ethnicity." As you are aware, race and ethnicity are slightly different. Together, we can change America for the better! Thanks for your wisdom in advancing what it means to be Black in America.--JH
Monday, August 4th 2008 at 8:41PM
Dr. Jesse Hargrove
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You tell 'em Dr. Hargrove!
I've been fighting uphill to get mainstream researchers to stop using race and use ethnicity. If we are looking for learned behavior...race doesn't fit. Culture is learned...therefore ethnicity is the variable that we seek.
http://www.lulu.com/content/3132461
Monday, August 4th 2008 at 8:49PM
Dr. Ahmad Glover
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Dear Dr. Glover,
Thanks for your energy and enthusiasm! There was a time when it was thought that "race" would win. The "them vs Us" logic did not work. The falacious logic said that we can beat back those who have aspirations for uplifting themselves and their culture. However, those who aspired to overcome "changed the game" and began to connect themselves to a cultural sense of identification rather than to a racial identity called "black". Thus, our identity went from being identified as slaves, to Colored, to Negro, to Black (say it loud "I'm Black and Proud") to Afro-American to African American. It was easier to connect to our ancestral ties than it was to connect to a color. African American connects us to our African ties. Black connects us to a color. In addition, the word black was never placed in capital letters in school textbooks even when it discussed "blacks" as a people who were tied to a culture.
When the "black and proud" era lost its momentum in the 1980s, our culture lost it grip, and the movement began to slip. The racial tensions that we held within our souls caused some of us to self implode. From the Rodney King Verdict, we saw racial violence explode.
Society can be changed for the better, if we focus on the tenets of Social justice! With your energy Dr. Glover, we shall prevail!--JH
Monday, August 4th 2008 at 9:47PM
Dr. Jesse Hargrove
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You have me laughing. So it must be true! Thanks!--JH
Monday, August 4th 2008 at 10:55PM
Dr. Jesse Hargrove
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After reading your comments, the question kept coming up in my mind..."who determined that SMART equals WHITE? Intelligence is our birthright, dumbing down for the sake of fitting in is more like "playing dumb to a slave master". For God's sake, when are we going to help our own "keep it real" we are smart, we should not deny it, we should exploit it, let it be our standard regardless of our neighborhoods, our ancestors showed that we were brilliant by coming out of slavery and owning businesses, land, and educating our great, great (etc.) grandparents...STOP THIS MADNESS.
Acting like we are ANIMALS without CLASS is so BENEATH US. More than that it is an INSULT TO ALL OF THOSE WHO CAME BEFORE US WHO STRUGGLED FOR US TO BE ABLE TO SHOW OFF OUR "Smarts". Is anyone out there LISTENING, you generation X and Y and whatever, holler
Tuesday, August 5th 2008 at 1:01PM
Cynthia Harvey
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You also forgot to mention the by-product of Black Power. During the 1960's Malcolm X and James Browns' "I'm black and I'm proud," influenced many involved in the civil rights movement. Case in point, Stokely Carmichael became Kwame Toure, the Last Poets, dashikis and Afros. All of this was positive. Years before, the anglo/dominate group and culture portrayed blacks as animals, used them for advertising watermelons with pickininnies, the sambo, mammy and pops. Since slavery, black was ugly. Prior to our ancestors enslavement, slavery of Africans began around 1444 by the Portuguese. At that very moment, the clash of those appearing to be black and those appearing to be white began. In Europe, most ethnic groups view the color black as negative; black cats, witches wear black, black plaque, etc. So, once this close to white human came into first contact with another human that appeared black, the African was immediately identified as inferior, evil, nasty and unacceptable, despite the major technological accomplishments made by them in Egypt, Timbuktu, Mali and Songhai.
Back to 1960. Blacks from 1444 have been brainwashed to see their black selves as ugly until brother James Brown, Malcolm and others intervened with the black power movement. Arms raised and fists high became a symbol of triumph, power and unity. However, it also added a sinister and crippling by-product. As a child in the 70's I remember the dashikis and Afros and fists up high. I remember hearing," to hell with Mr. Charlie" , " watch out for those honky's," and much more. We ingrained these ideas into our heads to the point where if you wore a suit, spoke proper english, traveled the world, went camping, lived in the suburbs, etc., then you were a sellout and a sucker. So now, we still resist dressing like the white man, speaking like the white man, enriching our lives like the white man. Our children that speak correct English get criticized. Our children that travel the world get told they are "acting white." Our children that pursue education and get academic scholarships are called, "actin white."
It is my opinion that we need to assimilate educationally and monetarily. We can still be unique and have our own culture, norms and values. We don't have to be like Mr. Charlie. But we do need to find a way to rid ourselves of this backwards mentality of putting each other down for being successful and not acting like pimps, hos, gangstuhs and thugs.
Tuesday, August 5th 2008 at 1:18PM
ted irving
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Thank you Cynthia for your comment. I absolutely agree! My son will be a sophomore in high school beginning in September 2008. He is an honor student and I am very proud of him! During the past school year he mentioned to me that there were several times at school when he felt as if his was being picked on because he didn't talk like the other kids or dress like the other kids or because he cares about his grades. I did not hesitate to tell him that he shouldn't change a single thing about himself. When did acting like a fool become cool? Why are there so many of us who associate intelligence with acting white? And, why don't we realize that when we make statements like this we are hurting ourselves?
Tuesday, August 5th 2008 at 11:50PM
MaLorie LOtt
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Roderick, I like how you articulated your response. I am in total agreement, when you mentioned ACCENT (I like to say tone of voice) and the black suburbans. For me it has never been the issue with the words a person chooses. I think we give white Americans too much credit. I see many white folks, who don't speak, write or dress well for that matter. Let's stop comparing ourselves to others. I think some people "get-off" by saying that "why am I accused of talking white, why am I accused of dressing white, why am I accused of living white, blah-blah." I mean what do you say when a white person speaks well, puts on a suit or live in the suburbans? Besides, I want to be like you. I mean come on. We got grown people with degrees, taking issue with this crap. Just educate the youth in your charge and talk to them about the importance of dressing nice and public speaking. It's the ACCENT and how you straighten your back, when others enter the room, that might cause people to say that you are sounding and acting white. Nothing else, don't give white America too much credit.
When everyone starts wearing suits the next thing will be that the suits are too stylist or flashy. We will continue to get "hated on" for any reason at all. While some people are concerned about being accused of talking white. As if they didn't have a clue.
Wednesday, August 6th 2008 at 12:24AM
Kenneth X
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Great Post, thanks for the Reading
and I love this comment
if we measure ourselves against white people. I don't, so the concept of "acting white" is rather moot to me.
Blessings...
Monday, August 4th 2008 at 6:07PM
Dee Gray
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YES deeGray all the COLOURED should NOT be emulated in 20125
cause the actions of "blackWhiteRedYellow' - 1492-Now have been a product of racistIgnorance of the European paganChristian Era
History Month should be as Our Leader President Barack Hussein Obama stated last week a reflection of our humanity and our collective Human Progress....
Wednesday, February 11th 2015 at 8:06AM
robert powell
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Thank you so much Robert. Tonight Elaine Brown, formerly of the Black Panthers, came to Philander Smith College for African American Heritage Month. She gave a reflection on the status of our humanity as it relates to poverty, prison, education, health, police brutality, etc. Take a look at my book, The Legacy of Celia Adams : From Slavery to Freedom. Let me know what you think.-- JH
Thursday, February 12th 2015 at 12:50AM
Dr. Jesse Hargrove
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Ms. Vera Snyder and Mr. JH,
I hear your crying out for help. I am the answer to your crying out for help! I am Black America’s first anointed prophet. I was anointed by the same God that anointed Prophet Jesus and Prophet Mohammed and therefore I am authentic.
The answer to your crying out for help is a permanent solution. That permanent solution is that we Black Americans descendents of plantation slaves shall become a sovereign people in a country of our own.
Our country will be the territory from the northern borders of Tennessee and North Carolina into the Gulf of Mexico and from the middle of the Mississippi River into the Atlantic Ocean and this will be done before I pass away since it is my prophecy and no one else’s.
Your crying out amounts to whining and complaining since you did not present a permanent solution like I have! I want the whining and complaining of my people to permanently stop.
What say you!
Saturday, November 2nd 2019 at 1:39PM
Harry Watley
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You need to stop this BULL 💩 right now because you can't help yourself and you are no prophet from God. So, STOP Crying HARRY, shut up, sit down and STOP THAT LIE, this subject is not about some permanent solution that you can't PROVE or you have made no preparation to act on.
What a shame you happen to be HARRY.
Saturday, November 2nd 2019 at 1:57PM
Dea. Ron Gray Sr.
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THE ORIGIN OF “ACTING WHITE” IN AMERICA
SUBJECT
Most cultures have created a system of acceptable behavior.
.....paganChristian, latinoChrist salemWitch burners did not show a culture of acceptable behavior
1. euroChristians COLORED themselves 'white' and African Asians 'blackBrownRedYellow'
2. euroChristians stole African Asians to rape, torture and murder
3. euroChristians stole African Asian Native land to rape, torture and murder.....
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THE ORIGIN OF “ACTING WHITE” IN AMERICA
...was euroTrash paganChristian latinoJesus cultures-ethnicities infesting America
AND for the COLORED byWhiteSlavers-when they took euroPagan-latinoJesus Belief from MasterSlaver
euro kingJames thought
...that was their ORIGIN OF “ACTING WHITE” IN AMERICA.....
Sunday, November 3rd 2019 at 9:01AM
robert powell
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