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Sabiana
Regular Poster
Username: Sabiana
Post Number: 106
Registered: 08-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, May 01, 2007 - 11:27 pm: | 
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When black isn't black enough
One black student questions the causes of African Americans' self-imposed stereotypes
Colby Chapman, Page Editor
4/25/2002
Is it the way I speak that causes others to whisper? Perhaps it’s the clothes on my back that cause laughter as I walk by my peers? Maybe it’s the company I keep that generates the rejection I receive from my own people, rejection because I’m simply not “black enough."
In a world where the black race has continuously suffered from prejudice and has worked so hard to overcome this adversity, it astonishes me to see black people limiting their own capabilities today. We place limitations on our intelligence as well as our personalities. No longer is it only the white society barring us from prospering; now black people are posting their own “white only" signs.
Despite Montgomery Blair’s harmonic racial diversity, there is an obvious form of prejudice present within its walls. Not discrimination amongst different races, but discrimination within one culture–the black culture.
My ninth grade year was one of confusion and awkwardness because of these “signs" posted throughout Blair. Before coming to Blair most of the students and teachers I knew were white. All I had experienced was the white culture. As a result I didn’t resemble many other African American females. In the words of junior Rosemary Emelike, who is black, people like me are Oreos: “Black on the outside and white on the inside," says Emelike.
Is you is or is you ain’t black
Upon questioning my black peers about what is “black enough," someone confronted me and told me that I sounded white. I asked her why, and she told me it’s because of my word choice and pronunciation. The girl told me that where she would say “what was you doin’?" I was more likely to say “what were you doing?"
I was confused as to why speaking properly was considered the white way. According to Emelike, it’s because if you’re black, “you should talk like [a black person]."
Freshman Sharick Lungrin explains that there are also just certain words and phrases that are never associated with black people, such as “loser," “whatever," “omygosh," “as if," “like" and “freak."
Language is a ridiculous way to judge the level of ethnicity of black people. That misguided conception that blacks are not supposed to speak proper English is a throwback to slave mentality. In this respect, black people have regressed back to a point where they were yielded by chains and whips of the white folk.
Black people didn’t speak the language of the white people then, but instead created their own language to communicate with one another. Don’t get me wrong, the language we created is a beautiful one, yet in this time and age, proper English is no longer only representative of white society but an educated one.
Versace shoes and designer wear
In ninth grade I probably looked like the stereotypical white girl despite my brownish tint. I wore loose jeans, clothing brands such as American Eagle and Abercrombie and Fitch, New Balance sneakers and an Adidas jacket. This was the style I was comfortable with, and it was what I was used to seeing.
I never knew I had to dress a certain way to fit into my own racial category. I thought I was just supposed to dress according to what felt comfortable. However, I have come to learn that material things are a large basis for judgment.
According to Lungrin, “Black people are supposed to be dressed GQ." She cites Sergios, Versace, Jordans and Paresucos as the appropriate attire for black people. Mountain boots and high-water jeans with rolled down socks, on the other hand, are for white people.
Although I no longer dress the same way as my ninth grade days, I find myself to fit in neither of the categories listed by Lungrin. I have developed my own style, but does that make me not “black enough"?
The educated Negro
In the eyes of some Blair students, education level is another indicator of blackness. “Not all black people do their work and get straight ‘A’s," says Lungrin. In her eyes, school is not usually the main focus of African Americans, and therefore, school-oriented blacks are considered to be acting against their culture.
Lungrin and her friends feel that it is often hard to connect mentally with an educated black person. She says she sees these types of people as sellouts to the black community.
It is sad to hear that my desire to learn makes me a sellout. Black people are already classified as one of the lowest-achieving racial sectors, so when someone criticizes another black person for being educated, all that person is saying is that black people can’t be smart. I can’t understand why blacks would want to limit the abilities of our own people.
Many prejudice people already looked upon on our race as unintelligent, ignorant and incapable of achieving a level of learning equal to that of whites. Yet black people continue to join in on the bandwagon of prejudice against the black race.
Why the discrimination?
English resource teacher Vicky Adamson believes black-on-black discrimination stems from contradicting experiences and exposure. She feels that some black people develop an idea of what is black based on their own self-identity and what they themselves have achieved.
These people then compare others with that idea, and the result can be the association of certain characteristics with whiteness. “My black pride is reflected in many ways which might not fit someone else’s notion of black," Adamson says. “But that should not mean they can question my racial identity."
Some students agree with Adamson. “I don’t know a lot of other black people with the same experiences I have," says senior David Chachere. Because he is in the Magnet Program, Chachere is a minority in all of his classes, thus he is frequently exposed to other cultures. Usually when people associate consistently with other cultures, they tend to pick up selective habits of the cultures they are exposed to.
Like Chachere, I have always been in a white atmosphere—from elementary school to high school, my classes have been predominately white. But that doesn’t mean I have turned my back on my own culture but that I have opened my mind to new experiences.
I feel that a person can’t talk, act, or dress black. Black is a race and not a personality trait. I should be able to wear what I want and act how I want without facing criticism. For goodness’ sake, can I live? Can I have space to create my own personality?
So many people have fought for black freedom and prosperity. Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X and Thurgood Marshall have contributed greatly to black history. There was a time when a black person couldn’t receive the same education as a white person and where there were restrictions placed on what a black person could achieve.
Those times have changed. With more opportunities now available for black people, it is a shame that instead of taking advantage of them, we shun them because of our own narrow-mindedness.
Although I present myself differently from the demeaning stereotypical image of a black person, I am still black and I am angered when anyone suggests that I’m not “black enough." It is not that I'm not “black enough"; it is just that some black people are too narrow-minded to see that blacks are represented in an increasingly wide world. It is a world wide enough to encompass blacks who are scientists, doctors, and political leaders: It’s a world that includes real blacks who speak standard English and even who occasionally wear clothes purchased from Abercrombie and Fitch.
How do YOU feel? |
Sabiana
Regular Poster
Username: Sabiana
Post Number: 107
Registered: 08-2006
Rating: 
Votes: 1 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, May 01, 2007 - 11:38 pm: |
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The real question is: What do you define "black" or a "black person" to be. (and who the hell is doing so) |
Renata
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Username: Renata
Post Number: 2117
Registered: 08-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, May 02, 2007 - 11:19 am: |
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I like this girl. She defines her own individuality and wonders why she has to fit into some group mold just because other people don't want to be alone being uneducated, gangbanging, and such.
And she GETS it, too: when people say you can't speak well or be educated because you're black, all they're saying is that black people are so INHERENTLY STUPID that your being smart AND black is a contradiction. AT LEAST SHE KNOWS WE'RE INSULTING OURSELVES.
It's quite sad that that which is considered "black" is actually that which keeps us on the bottom: Uneducated, inability to learn languages including the only one you've spoken since birth, overpriced clothing that everyone else is wearing, children out of wedlock, derogatory language, etc.
One question she should have asked: When did these fools start making the rules? |
Chrishayden
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Username: Chrishayden
Post Number: 4310
Registered: 03-2004
Rating: 
Votes: 2 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, May 02, 2007 - 11:34 am: |
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She's probably one of these self loathing Negroes that hangs out with the white folks hoping it will rub off on her. They usually get their reward and get rabidly militant.
This is life. You go somewhere and there is peer pressure to be this way or that. If she went to school in Beijing do she think they would be in love with her nappy head?
Disgusting. She ought to be glad she's IN school.
She needs to go to school at Bob Jones University or Brigham Young and really get discriminated against.
The kind of weak kneed, complaining Negroes being born today could never have even lived 30 years ago. |
Abm
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Abm
Post Number: 9344
Registered: 04-2004
Rating:
Votes: 4 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, May 02, 2007 - 12:29 pm: |
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Chapman: "I was confused as to why speaking properly was considered the white way. According to Emelike, it’s because if you’re black, "you should talk like [a black person]."
Freshman Sharick Lungrin explains that there are also just certain words and phrases that are never associated with black people, such as "loser," "whatever," "omygosh," "as if," "like" and "freak...Language is a ridiculous way to judge the level of ethnicity of black people. That misguided conception that blacks are not supposed to speak proper English is a throwback to slave mentality. In this respect, black people have regressed back to a point where they were yielded by chains and whips of the white folk."
In most cases where young White people are saying ""loser," "whatever," "omygosh," "as if," "like" and "freak."", they are NOT speaking "proper English". They’re speak White slang, which is not inherently closer to "proper English" than much of the Ebonics you hear young Black foks say. But because they’re WHITE, what they’re saying is considered to be more acceptable.
Chapman: "In ninth grade I probably looked like the stereotypical white girl despite my brownish tint. I wore loose jeans, clothing brands such as American Eagle and Abercrombie and Fitch, New Balance sneakers and an Adidas jacket. This was the style I was comfortable with, and it was what I was used to seeing."
Why is it okay for her to style herself like, as she herself describes, "the stereotypical white girl" but it’s NOT okay for her to style herself like the stereotypical [Black] girl?
Chapman: " In the eyes of some Blair students, education level is another indicator of blackness. "Not all black people do their work and get straight ‘A’s," says Lungrin. In her eyes, school is not usually the main focus of African Americans, and therefore, school-oriented blacks are considered to be acting against their culture."
Does she HONESTLY think ALL White kids do all their homework and get straight A’s? Does she HONESTLY think school is the main focus of all White foks?
Now let’s analyze what Colby’s saying here: When she was mostly around WHITE kids, she dressed, behaved and spoke as White foks did. She had no problem with doing that and consider it to be the preferred, appropriate way to dress, behave and speak. But when she moved to an environment where there were more Black foks, she became much more critical and resentful of what SOME Black foks say and do.
Basically, she appears to be advocating individuality and self-expression as long as such allows her to appear more White.
I agree with Chapman that foks should, with some limitations, be free to speak and dress how they choose to. But talking and dressing White (and, again, there’s often a HUGE difference between talking White and speaking proper English) are NOT effective measures of determining how smart and industrious one may be, be he-she Black, White or Brown. |
Renata
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Username: Renata
Post Number: 2118
Registered: 08-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, May 02, 2007 - 12:33 pm: |
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Man, whatever.
This girl is ABSOLUTELY RIGHT. She probably is glad she's in school, but to have that held against her and be treated like she's a traitor to her race because of it just shows that the wrong people are making the rules somewhere.
What does she have to do to NOT be "self-loathing"? Have a baby with a dude who's going to jail soon and hope the people in the welfare office speak enough "ghetto" to understand her? |
Abm
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Abm
Post Number: 9345
Registered: 04-2004
Rating: 
Votes: 2 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, May 02, 2007 - 12:38 pm: |
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Renata,
Do me the courtesy of directly addressing my rebuttals of what she actually SAID and NOT project your own biases that have NOTHING to do with what I've actually expressed. |
Renata
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: Renata
Post Number: 2121
Registered: 08-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, May 02, 2007 - 12:47 pm: |
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LOL....I was talking to Chris.
I hit the submit button before even seeing your post. I kind of type...walk off and do something else....then come back and hit submit. |
Yvettep
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: Yvettep
Post Number: 2010
Registered: 01-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, May 02, 2007 - 12:50 pm: |
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I went down a similar path as this young woman: majority White school and neighborhood environments until high school. But I rarely experienced much of what she is talking about and I would have to reflect a bit more before I could state opinions why.
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Renata
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: Renata
Post Number: 2122
Registered: 08-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, May 02, 2007 - 12:56 pm: |
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Actually, ABM, I just read your post and it does make sense.....
Those are questions that would best be answered by the parents. Teens can't wear clothing or hairstyles that their parents don't approve of (unless she just kept them at a friend's home/in her locker, etc.)
I didn't dress like the kids at my school at all, and I went to an all black school. I was made fun of because I didn't wear Girbaud, Nike, etc., but that was for two reasons:
#1. My mother wasn't going to buy it. She didn't care who else was wearing it.
#2. I didn't like them. I can't wear something that I see at least two other people wearing.
But, if she's living in an area where they're using white slang, wearing "white clothing", etc., chances are her parents chose to live in an area where that was the norm. |
Serenasailor
Veteran Poster
Username: Serenasailor
Post Number: 1550
Registered: 01-2006
Rating:
Votes: 2 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, May 02, 2007 - 01:28 pm: |
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Chapman: "I was confused as to why speaking properly was considered the white way. According to Emelike, it’s because if you’re black, "you should talk like [a black person]."
Freshman Sharick Lungrin explains that there are also just certain words and phrases that are never associated with black people, such as "loser," "whatever," "omygosh," "as if," "like" and "freak...Language is a ridiculous way to judge the level of ethnicity of black people. That misguided conception that blacks are not supposed to speak proper English is a throwback to slave mentality. In this respect, black people have regressed back to a point where they were yielded by chains and whips of the white folk."
In most cases where young White people are saying ""loser," "whatever," "omygosh," "as if," "like" and "freak."", they are NOT speaking "proper English". They’re speak White slang, which is not inherently closer to "proper English" than much of the Ebonics you hear young Black foks say. But because they’re WHITE, what they’re saying is considered to be more acceptable.
Chapman: "In ninth grade I probably looked like the stereotypical white girl despite my brownish tint. I wore loose jeans, clothing brands such as American Eagle and Abercrombie and Fitch, New Balance sneakers and an Adidas jacket. This was the style I was comfortable with, and it was what I was used to seeing."
Why is it okay for her to style herself like, as she herself describes, "the stereotypical white girl" but it’s NOT okay for her to style herself like the stereotypical [Black] girl?
Chapman: " In the eyes of some Blair students, education level is another indicator of blackness. "Not all black people do their work and get straight ‘A’s," says Lungrin. In her eyes, school is not usually the main focus of African Americans, and therefore, school-oriented blacks are considered to be acting against their culture."
Does she HONESTLY think ALL White kids do all their homework and get straight A’s? Does she HONESTLY think school is the main focus of all White foks?
Now let’s analyze what Colby’s saying here: When she was mostly around WHITE kids, she dressed, behaved and spoke as White foks did. She had no problem with doing that and consider it to be the preferred, appropriate way to dress, behave and speak. But when she moved to an environment where there were more Black foks, she became much more critical and resentful of what SOME Black foks say and do.
Basically, she appears to be advocating individuality and self-expression as long as such allows her to appear more White.
I agree with Chapman that foks should, with some limitations, be free to speak and dress how they choose to. But talking and dressing White (and, again, there’s often a HUGE difference between talking White and speaking proper English) are NOT effective measures of determining how smart and industrious one may be, be he-she Black, White or Brown.
ABM YOUR POST WAS LIKE A BREATHE OF FRESH AIR!!!
KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK!!!! |
Doberman23
Veteran Poster
Username: Doberman23
Post Number: 988
Registered: 01-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, May 02, 2007 - 04:19 pm: |
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abm:
that was a pretty thorough analysis. you should send it to the author. |
Sabiana
Regular Poster
Username: Sabiana
Post Number: 108
Registered: 08-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, May 02, 2007 - 04:55 pm: |
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My question to you all, however, is what defines being black, or what do you consider on being black based on: skin color, behavior, loyalties, etc. Its an interesting conversation. |
Cynique
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Cynique
Post Number: 8509
Registered: 01-2004
Rating:
Votes: 1 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, May 02, 2007 - 04:58 pm: |
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People like this poor girl need to realize that there's a special set of rules for blacks to follow when maneuvering through this crazy-azz society. The first one is to have a split personality. You have to know how to git down with your peeps and save the bleached-out image to shock any white folks who expect you to act like Shanequa. This versatility is particularly helpful in the corporate world. Anybody who can't switch back and forth is suspended in limbo.And so it goes. |
Cynique
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Cynique
Post Number: 8510
Registered: 01-2004
Rating:
Votes: 1 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, May 02, 2007 - 05:17 pm: |
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You could say that blackness is a mystique, a state of mind. It transcends skin color and certainly has something to do with feeling an instinctive bound with members of your race even if you don't come from similar circumstances or share the same views. A black person who can't make eye-contact with another black and read each others minds when in the presence of a clueless white person exhibiting benign racism, is missing the "black" chip. IMO. heh-heh. |
Misty
Veteran Poster
Username: Misty
Post Number: 892
Registered: 02-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, May 02, 2007 - 08:30 pm: |
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"Does she HONESTLY think ALL White kids do all their homework and get straight A’s? Does she HONESTLY think school is the main focus of all White foks?
Now let’s analyze what Colby’s saying here: When she was mostly around WHITE kids, she dressed, behaved and spoke as White foks did. She had no problem with doing that and consider it to be the preferred, appropriate way to dress, behave and speak. But when she moved to an environment where there were more Black foks, she became much more critical and resentful of what SOME Black foks say and do.
Basically, she appears to be advocating individuality and self-expression as long as such allows her to appear more White.
I agree with Chapman that foks should, with some limitations, be free to speak and dress how they choose to. But talking and dressing White (and, again, there’s often a HUGE difference between talking White and speaking proper English) are NOT effective measures of determining how smart and industrious one may be, be he-she Black, White or Brown."
Very true and well stated ABM |
Yukio
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Username: Yukio
Post Number: 2318
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, May 02, 2007 - 11:14 pm: |
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I'm glad I read some of your replies on this article by Colby Chapman. It was written by a h.s. student, a child, and so it is even thankful that this young woman was thoughtful enough to engage such a topic. But it is five years old, and one hopes that this young woman now, has more sense.
But, I think was her thoughts imply is that there is a gap between the black working class and the black middle class that need to be closed.
I'm speaking in generalities here. I come from a working class background, but was raised to speak standard English. I also did not equate race with speaking "proper English."
But, I suspect that she had this conversation with her parents, and I wonder what they said...because as much as she seeks to embrace diversity among blacks, she doesn't make the same assertion about whites. In other words, if we are to presume language is something that pertains more to class than then it would make sense that poor whites not speak standard English, right?
And that perhaps her parents are partially responsible for her practically absolving white folks of their role in this, and confusing teenage chicanery w/ oppressing a group. |
Renata
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Username: Renata
Post Number: 2126
Registered: 08-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, May 03, 2007 - 06:05 am: |
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I'm glad I've never had this problem before. I kind of don't fit in with any particular race (in the "attitude" or stereotypical sense of traits that are generalized)....which, ironically, kind of makes me fit in equally with everyone. |
Yukio
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Username: Yukio
Post Number: 2319
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, May 03, 2007 - 10:36 am: |
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I am so fortunate that I don't believe in "race," though racism is another story.
By not believing in "race," I don't have expectations that I will, or have to, get along with all black people.
By not believing in "race," though I believe in being African American, I don't have expectations that all black people--africans, west indians, south americans, people of african descent in Europe, etc--will embrace me because we allegedly the same, according to racial thinking that is.
And without these expectations, I fit in with my ethnic group-african americans, and I get along with others blacks that share my political perspective--pan african, and I get along with people because it ain that serious. |
Renata
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Username: Renata
Post Number: 2130
Registered: 08-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, May 03, 2007 - 12:11 pm: |
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Heck, I believe in race, and I don't expect to get along with all black people. |
Yukio
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Username: Yukio
Post Number: 2320
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, May 03, 2007 - 12:56 pm: |
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LOL! Well, that is your right.
I don't believe in it. I believe in cultural groups. I'm african american, from nyc, thirtysumthin, a writer, pan africanist, love hip hop; hate misogyny,stupidity, provincialism, and I could go on...these qualities, interests, etc...that I have may match other people, but it aint because we share some biological that begets alike thought and political perspective. |
Cynique
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Cynique
Post Number: 8521
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, May 03, 2007 - 01:01 pm: |
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Just out of curiosity, Yukio. Would you be good friends with a caucasian or asian person with whom you had a lot of things in common? |
Renata
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: Renata
Post Number: 2132
Registered: 08-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, May 03, 2007 - 03:58 pm: |
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Well, Yukio, to me, sharing a race doesn't necessarily mean that you share any of that other stuff. |
Yukio
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: Yukio
Post Number: 2322
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, May 03, 2007 - 08:41 pm: |
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I already do, elder Cynique.
Renata, and I hate to harp on this, there is no biological differences between you and a person of european descent that constitute or make what can be called racial differences.
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Tonya
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Tonya
Post Number: 5433
Registered: 07-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, May 03, 2007 - 11:15 pm: |
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How is this bytch any less racist than the hip-hop niggers and Don Imus? |
Misty
Veteran Poster
Username: Misty
Post Number: 893
Registered: 02-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, May 04, 2007 - 11:59 am: |
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she's not |
Latina_wi
Regular Poster
Username: Latina_wi
Post Number: 343
Registered: 08-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, May 04, 2007 - 01:07 pm: |
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ABM: In most cases where young White people are saying ""loser," "whatever," "omygosh," "as if," "like" and "freak."", they are NOT speaking "proper English". They’re speak White slang, which is not inherently closer to "proper English" than much of the Ebonics you hear young Black foks say. But because they’re WHITE, what they’re saying is considered to be more acceptable.
Very good point ABM. for the record I thought all that slang was just an american thing, I used to say that stuff all the time when I was 14 or 15 (lol back in the day when me any my pals emulated americans).
I still say 'whatever' and 'loser' and words like it. I ain't grown up at all! |
Yukio
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: Yukio
Post Number: 2323
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, May 04, 2007 - 01:37 pm: |
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Tonya, she wrote this when she was a sophomore or junior in high school. It was written in 2002! |
Nels
Veteran Poster
Username: Nels
Post Number: 834
Registered: 07-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, May 05, 2007 - 10:46 pm: |
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Well, after reading all of these rather intellectually weighty posts, I've come to the conclusion that 'black is black enough' when you pronounce "th" as "ff". Damn... That's almost the entire undereducated inner-city U.S. Negro population. Oops! I'm finished. Gotta go to the "baffroom". |
Cynique
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Cynique
Post Number: 8531
Registered: 01-2004
Rating:
Votes: 1 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, May 06, 2007 - 02:14 pm: |
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I don't necessarily think blackness has anything to do with enuciation. Blackness has more to do with what you identify with. A black person can be dismayed by Ebonics but still prefer Mary J. Blige to Gwen Stefani or R&B to C&W. |
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