"You don't act your race/age/etc etc."

I was thinking about this since it was introduced a little in the have you been bullied before thread. I've heard many accounts of this and have gone through it myself.

Why does society or certain parts/certain members of society put emphasis on this? Also, have you experienced something like this?

For example, a lot of my friends say I "sound white". I'm equating it to the fact that I pronounce words how they're meant to be pronounced minus slang and such (well, I use an occasion slang word here and there). I've had both races say this about me. I was ridiculed about this growing up as a kid.

Jam it back in, in the dark.

Originally Posted by Stealth

It's that they can't accept the fact that you're just another person that happens to have a darker skin color. My skin doesn't predispose me to have a shitty hispanic slang, and only like a certain type of music.

You'd be surprised at the shocked looks I get when I open my mouth and out comes English the way it's suppose to be said, not garbage ebonics.

Most amazing jew boots

I don't understand why it should be a shock. There are people in this world that aren't white that can speak just as good. What's the big deal with all the looks? It's annoying. Sometimes I feel like letting out some ebonics just to get on their nerves, but I would be playing right into their hands.

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

Originally Posted by Rydia

I get the "You don't act your age" one a lot. I look younger than I really am, so people tend to be surprised when I begin discussing things that wouldn't seem fitting for my appearance.

Another one is "You don't act like a smart person." Although silly, I got this one a lot during high school for various reasons.

I ALWAYS get the "omg, you don't look your age at all!". It's beginning to get annoying because people are still asking me when I'm graduating from high school. I usually say something along the lines of "nine years ago"...

Also, how does a smart person act? There's lots of brilliant serial killers running around here. So, should you be acting like them?

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

People really shouldn't make assumptions like that. Being black, I'm expected to dress like I walked out of a rap video and I don't. I think it confuses some people, which I really don't care.

I was speaking idiomatically.

Originally Posted by dat_kasu

When I was small, I was said to be acting older than I was and because of that I started to act as childish as I could <_<

But a classmate of mine who goes on holiday to the USA every year always tells me that ALL(!) african americans talked ghetto language .
He once even told me that you had to say "I'd like a cap of caffee" instead "I'd like a cup of coffee" in a restaurant if the waiter/waitress was black because they otherwise wouldn't understand it <_<
Besides, he always speaks of his "inner nigger" and that he had the wrong skin colour and should be living in the US (while listening to some hip hop of course)
If I'd show him the posts of some people here who say they're black and don't talk ghetto language he'd say I'd faked the posts myself *cough*

Well, tell him to talk to me. I think that's stupid to believe all black people only understand garbage. Hell, I'm black and I can't even understand half of that garbage! It annoys me to no end to know there's people out here that are too lazy to learn how to sound out words and phrases correctly. It doesn't help that rap videos play on this garbage as well.

Like I said, if he wants to talk to someone that is black and speaks properly, tell him to IM me. My AIM's in my profile.

Originally Posted by FallDragon

But yea, I'm 22 and get carded for R rated movies & M rated videogames.

The only time in my life I got carded for a movie was when I was 24 and I was trying to see an Eddie Griffin movie. To make matters worse, I couldn't find my driver's license for five minutes and the surrounding kids were laughing at me...

I get told all the time I look like I'm between the ages of 18 and 22. I once had some weirdo tell me I was 16... I suppose looking young is a good thing. That means people like us will age gracefully!

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

Originally Posted by Eleo

Yeah, I hear you.

Being black, a lot is expected of me in a stereotypical way. This bothers me. I am happy with who I am, but other people aren't, which sometimes makes me wish that I were white. Not because I sincerely wish for it, but rather for the sake of acceptance.

Honestly, I've been ridiculed for listening to jazz. And black people made jazz. ??????

That's weird that you get ridiculed for listening to jazz. I'm told that's the thing with black folks (not I). I'm used to listening to the polar opposite of all the music I'm "supposed" to be listening. I used to care about fitting in somewhere, but then I realized I couldn't and stopped caring. I figured if I'm going to be different, I should just go ahead and be different all the way.

Because I don't follow trends, I'm ridiculed, but I pay it no attention. And with my music, if people start critizing it, on goes the headphones and I can't hear anymore BS. You should try it, it works.

FELIPE NO

Oh wow! It's great to see that I'm not the only black person going through crap like this alone! Wow!

What, you don't want my bikini-clad body?

I find it funny when people tell me that I don't act black. My question to them is "well, what do I act like?". So far that question hasn't been answered. So, now I'm a no-race...

Jam it back in, in the dark.

Talking about getting names messed up, it seems as though a lot of people can't say my name correctly. I've literally had certain people say my name in a way that makes it sound more of something of their own race. It's annoying. Has anybody else ever had this?

There's nowhere I can't reach.

How is looking people in the eye rare? Is it rare where you live?

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

How do you even say something like that?

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

Originally Posted by Soluzar

I think the people who would say "You don't sound <race>" are the biggest, most prejudiced racists there are. They deny the possibility for a <race> person to be how he or she wants to be, and say that you have to be how society wants you to be instead. That's so very wrong.

Racism might not be their intention, but a racist manifesto is what they are expressing. If a black person wants to use ebonics, that's their choice. If they want to speak in perfectly formed grammatical sentances, that too is their choice. How you act should never be constrained by your race, any more than the opportunities you get in life should be.

Amen, Brother! Now, would you mind convincing some of these idiots I live around that it's OK to look and act intelligent? But seriously, it is annoying when people keep accusing me of sounding "white". Just how does one sound any race anyway?

I was speaking idiomatically.

I get accused of not acting black a lot. Trust me, it gets on my nerves. I actually asked some fool one day, "alright, then how does a black person act?" and basically dared her to say some stupid crap to me. She had nothing to say.

I agree with you that people are all the same. It's annoying when people try to separate each by race like that. I don't know what's worse, black people telling me I act white like I'm some sort of traitor or other people telling me I don't act black enough. What is enough? I would love to know the answer to that.

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

You're entitled to your opinion.

Anyway, I'd like to know what is enough still.

Most amazing jew boots

Because I want to know why people think this way.

What, you don't want my bikini-clad body?