"Whites say a black youth with a book is acting white..."

"Whites say a black youth with a book is acting white..."


First of all, what is "acting white" all about? Its a defaming phrase mostly applied to black people. In its usage, its a label phrase for people trying to be like the usually stereotyped identity of the white people. The simple question is, what does a book have to do with acting as a white? Is being with a book really an identity of the white race? To make things easier to understand let's replace the word "book" to "education", cause' by nature books do really educate us. After that, then the statement will make sense:


"Whites say a black youth with education is acting white..."


The Caucasian race also known as "Whites" are known for their achievements and contributions about things in our world. These people includes Americans, British, Germans, and other European countries which resembles white. We've already witnessed their importance throughout the whole course of history through media, books and etc. Now, just because they're known for being like that, does having education or bringing a book has to be associated as being an act of a white? No. Naturally speaking, everyone can freely read a book, even receiving education regardless of their race. In a nutshell, you can't label someone's race associating it with another race just because of the person's thoughts, actions or behaviors. Childish it is, when you think of a black kid reading a book while teased by a white as 'acting like a white'. Even when a black kid reads or brings a book this observable action doesn't mean he/she is trying to be a white.

'Acting white' is really a pejorative term used in the statement. Why does it have to be called 'Acting white' and not 'Acting educated'? That would made it a valid statement. The reason why is to defame the black race. Blacks are frequent victims of racial discrimination from whites. Some of them might even hate blacks just because of their color and will treat them inferior. In some movies, black actors are associated as criminals or gangsters. As a result, audience with small minds will get biased according to the nature of blacks implied in that movie. Biases can be deadly. There can be instances that its audience will give a negative lasting impression about blacks. Therefore, it can damage the reputation of the black race.

For me, racial color doesn't need to matter in the statement. In the first place, does racial color have to matter? I mean, we can live life peacefully without bothering someone's racial identity. These conflicts between the white and black are all pointless when they keep fussy about it. I find it very childish, when they despise one's actions. Why won't they just accept one another in their community as brothers and sisters? After all, though we have difference in color, we're all still made equal in front of God. For each of us are carefully planned for a purpose. To sum it all up, we are not made by God to be treated as inferiors. This proves it, that being with a book can also mean 'Acting black' and not only 'Acting white'.