You are not "black" enough

<p>I think people who act black are rarer at top colleges than people who are black. Wiggas should be a URM.</p>

<p>It happened to me during my high school years. I've learned to brush their comments aside. Hopefully, when I start college this year, it won't be a repeat of high school.</p>

<p>the only black girl in my hs school class was probably (and ironically) the whitest girl i knew (in ALL areas of her life).</p>

<p>Jesus Christ, this is like the thread of my life. My parents are African, so they are like, not your typical black people. I grew up (and currently live in) the county with the most affluent African Americans in the country. I went to primary school in DC, and it was a rich kids school. Even though I only spent 2 years there, that was pretty much where I got "the white talk". It was no big deal in elementary school, and most of middle school because no one cared in elementary and in middle, even though most of the kids were black, they were like me because it was another rich kids private school. Then I made the strange decision to go to public school, because I felt somehow deprived. I knew I didn't talk as ghetto as everyone else, but I never knew I sounded white. The first time someone said I sounded white, it was when this friend of my mom's was leaving a message on our home phone. My voice was on it, and she was like, who's that white girl on your answering machine. I was kinda crushed and deleted my voice off the answering machine. Now, even my best friend of 12 years has started commenting on my voice.</p>

<p>It can't help that I have a Blonde and Smart shirt (i'm not blonde so I thought it was funny) , I wear relatively expensive clothes that most of my peers can' afford, my parents drive luxury cars that everyone sees when they pick me up, and that my white public school friends say I'm whiter than they are. (which is pretty much an oxymoron, considering my skin is probably one of the darkest tones you've ever seen). Should I really have to change me to be accepted as black? I've got great friends, but everyone once in a while, they'll comment and it ****es me off. Now, people see me as a rich kid, which I am compared to them, but not to the rest of the world. All my other private school friends who go to my school were able to just drop their "hi's" for "wassups" and "cools" for "gangsta". I just keep telling myself, once I get to college, I'll be able to fit in better than them and I won't be the anomaly anymore, and my good grammar will put me ahead of them in the running for jobs and such, but still, it gets really annoying when you meet strangers whose first words are, you sound like Becky.</p>

<p>It's ridiculous how some people expect blacks, whether they be ghetto poor or upper-middle class, to all act like they were born to crackwhore mothers and absentee fathers.</p>

<p>princessbell: i was just about to say that myself. My parents are African too, and you know how Africans are all about success in school, college, and getting a good job like the stereotypical asian. When people call me white i sometime say, "I'm not white, I'm African"</p>

<p>I'm glad that a lot of you guys say that you are confident with your situation but i honestly have to say i have had trouble achieving that. When I was young I wasnt really aware of the whole stereotypical black people thing. Other kids (not black) weren't either so no one would come up to me and call me white. As I got into middle school and high school I became more conscious and started feeling awkward and kids (white kids) started labeling me as white. I noticed that because of this I started talking more "black" and wanting to dress more "black." I also tried to become friends with more black kids eventhough I'm not good friends with them. And it's not like I didnt want to. I didnt have many friends in general anyway. I actually like myself better now because in reality, the "white" me was what my surroundings and my parents shaped me into being. </p>

<p>But i also agree with g-unot about how stupid it is that some rich black ppl in suburbs claim to know everything about hoods. I'm not about to do that because I'll be mocking a very serious subject matter just to be cool, which is bs.</p>

<p>The whole situation has mad me so uncomfortable that the word "oreo" (which only white or asian ppl call me) offends me even more than the n word.</p>

<p>Right now i'm just tryna be watever makes me happy</p>

<p>I'm surprised people even care if someone thinks they act white. I'm a black guy myself but I don't live in a predominantly white country so its a little bit different. I went to the typical ghetto public primary and junior high schools over here. When I went to high school I went to the rich preppy "white" school here. Its the only school here with more white people than black people and the kids who go there for the most part were there since pre-reception. Alot of the black kids in that category aren't like the usual ghettocentric people from where I came from. Usually when there are functions and gatherings when a number of schools gather people from my school always comment about the mannerisms of the black kids in my school. People always ask me why I'm going there, they claim that "they arent my type of people". I usually say who cares if there are a little different. No on there cares. The kids in my school do care themselves on how they are perceived. I'm just saying this to say it doesn't matter if you act stereotypically white or black because in the long run n oone really cares becasue there is no difference</p>

<p>it's funny that you guys brought up the whole African vs. African-AMERICAN thing....the two are completely different (from my experience). Africans are completely success driven and "making it big" in AMERICA, and getting good grades, etc...trying to fulfill the American dream, I guess like most immigrants..but the stereotype of African-AMERICANS is completely different. :)</p>

<p>well, for me it's different. I'm black and I graduated from a high school with a 98% black student population located in a country club community. Despite the affluency of the area, alot of the students tried their best to be as hood as they could be even though all of our parents could pretty much give us whatever we wanted on a silver platter...most of us have NEVER had to struggle for anything. I was never considered to be an "oreo" or a stereotypical "thug". I was right in the middle...I wore Abercrombie and Sean John, listened to rock and hip-hop. I've never had any problems. On the other hand, at my place of employment, I'm one of only like 3 black people there and I'd say 90% of our customers are white...and, like high school, I get along with pretty much everyone and haven't had to change my character one bit.</p>

<p>let's see how I fare at UGA this fall...only 5% of the 35,000 student population is black...I don't think I'll have any problems at all <em>knock on wood</em> lol</p>

<p>"My family lives in the deeeeep South. People would ask me, "Are you white or are you black?" Hello, I'm neither! They would touch my hair."</p>

<p>Good Lord! Where does your family live? I honestly can't believe that anyone could be that dumb...and I live in rural East Texas, so that's really saying something.</p>

<p>Princessbell and flyguy64, I'm totally in the same situation as you.</p>

<p>Sometimes it's just easier to laugh it off. But when people give me that ****, I'm like, "I was born in Africa, my parents are doctors, and we live in suburbia. What do you expect?"</p>

<p>It's kind of sad that we have so little choice in "acceptable behavior" because of our race. For sure.</p>

<p>nope, never got that. i guess i am black enough <em>shrugs</em></p>