Throughout our discussion we have come to realize that whiteness and blackness lie on, sort of a, continuum--meaning there are many factors contributing to race such as symbols and people's embodiment of those symbols. When people of other races refer to each other as acting "white", does that give the notion that being white is defined in only one way?
I feel that labeling someone as acting "white" gives the notion that there is a single, white culture that is practiced by everyone who is classified as being white. But throughout our readings, we have seen that that's not true and that geography, social class, and education contribute to a person's identity.
By saying that someone who is not white is acting "white", does that imply that that person is doing something that only white people are perceived as doing? I know that we have talked about President Obama and how some perceive him to not be "black enough" because he attended Ivy League School Harvard (composed of majority white students) and has a very eloquent and articulate speech habit. But is these are things that "acting white" is based upon, there are millions of white people who have not attended Ivy League schools, or any schooling at all for that matter, and who cannot communicate their ideas properly or eloquently.
Are there certain practices that mark white people? I remember someone bringing an example in class earlier on the semester about how white girls who run cross country usually have their hair tied in a pony tail with ribbons in it in addition to wearing certain kinds of sportswear. I certainly know the picture, I used to run cross country and noticed this all the time! But it doesn't mean that everyone does this. This example just highlights what happens to be, in my opinion, one kind of white racial identity. But then again, I cannot say that only white girls do tie thier hair in a pony tail with ribbons.
Is "acting white" then used to describe someone who does not partake in their ethnic or racial identity? But even here there are exceptions. There are many white people with different ethnic identities. These people may be racially white, but practice different ways of life, traditions, and culture.
What do you guys think?
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The interesting thing here is that in a way looking at the Obama example it seems that minorities use acting white to describe what is not them. It is similar to the Orokaivan where they address whiteness in terms they can understand because it is not them. Do minorities who address being white do the same thing? Do Asian cross-country runners not wear their hair up with ribbons? Are they saying that is white because that is something they don't do? It is an interesting concept.
ReplyDeleteIt is also interesting to look at that statement and not see a stereotype but struggle with knowing that that stereotype is partially true. This individuality we strive for seems pushed away when being white is so stereotypical. Is that how most minorities feel?
On the other hand we can see as whites that there is such a diversity simply within our own race. That in turn means there must be in other races as well. Taking a stereotype that applies to being white and being able to look at it and say there is so much more to being white than that help bring realization to the fact that stereotypes do not encompass being black or asian either. There must be so much more that that to being those races too.