Within the African-American community, there is a certain phenomena called "acting white". This is a term used by some African-Americans to describe other members of their race who have adopted and better identify with predominantly or historically white social practices instead of the traditionally "black" culture. It is used mainly in an accusatory and pejorative context. The single story in this issue is the assumption that there is only one way to be black, and that any different interpretation is incorrect.
This issue was notably raised this past year when Russell Wilson, the star quarterback for the Seattle Seahawks of the NFL, was accused by teammates of not having enough "blackness". In this CBSSports article, the author recounts interviews with teammates of Wilson in which they argue that Wilson, an African-American, does not act black enough or exhibit "black behavior". Wilson was single-storied in this case, as he has been identifed as nothing more than an African-American who does not exhibit what some percieve to be traditional "black behavior." There is an implication that there is only a certain and specific way for black people to act, and Wilson is being singled out as someone who does not follow that.
Similarly, this video challenges the percieved traditionally African-American behavior. In this instance, the woman argues that African-American speech habits are being retained in order to avoid acting white. Some people in the black community believe that talking "white" is a transgression against their own racial culture, and they should make efforts to retain that style of speech. Here, the implication is that talking any other way than the traditional black diction is wrong and any African-American doing so is acting white. But to quote the title of the video, "speaking properly shouldn't be viewed as "Talking White". It should not have any racial connotation.
It is not necessarily the media telling the single story, but instead it is one group of African-Americans speaking for the whole while not necessarily actually representing the majority. It cannot be determined what gives one group of any race to tell any other group of the same race how to act accordingly based on their race. It seems to be an overstepping of authority for any group within a race to determine the "correct" behavior for the entire race. The single story here is that there is only one way to be black. Those who do not fit this supposed standard are single-storied into being traitors or deserters of race.
I never thought about "acting black" being a way to avoid "acting white" or continue a cultural tradition of sorts. I agree with the point that speaking properly isn't dependent on race. As we continue to tell people to "act their color," we perpetuate the stereotypical cycle.
ReplyDeleteThis is a very interesting take on the subject. I feel as though this is something that is done due to societal pressure to be in fact different. In our society I feel like we love to compartmentalize and put people in boxes. Whites are here and the act this way, blacks over here act this way , hispanics, etc. I feel like due to these pressures both races impose this stereotype and story
ReplyDeleteI grew up in Chicago so I can totally relate to this post. I have heard the terms "acting black" or "acting white" on more occasions than I can count. It's crazy how sometimes we perpetuate the problem within our own groups (like how when Wilson was accused of not being "black" enough).
ReplyDeleteAnother recent example was Dr. Ben Carson saying something about how President Obama was "raised white" and therefor, if elected, Dr. Carson would be the real first black president. To connect the black identity with a certain experience and discredit it otherwise undos progress. If black Americans are trying to improve their lives and escape lower class, why do some people discredit those efforts?
ReplyDeleteYeah, I think it is a form of racism in and of itself, that black people don't want to "act" white, that whiteness is something to be avoided, and the english language something to be butchered.
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