Acting like white people, reflections of black on black hate..in response to Sir Charles Barkley

I once dated a girl that accused me cheating on her with nearly every other woman I knew. Up until that point in my life I hadn’t truly understood the power of programming. Later I found out her father was a notorious cheat, and her mother blamed every I’ll in their life on her fathers indiscretions. I spent countless hours defending myself against mythical women whom I’d apparently bedded. It got so insane that I had to seek council from the wisest man I knew (my father) He thought the whole thing was hilarious, but then he hit me with a jewel that I’ll never forget. He said, ” if they didn’t exist she’d invent them “.

” If they didn’t exist she’d invent them “. That’s how programming works. You create normalization! Even if your normal is utter dysfunction!

Last week Charles Barkley made a statement as only Charles can! In an interview he addressed an ideal that was the topic of another sports story surrounding Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson. The Russell Wilson story questioned rather or not Russell was black enough for Black people.  Now to be fair I haven’t read the original story so rather than address that “Black enough statement” I decided to tackle Sir Charles response. Now before I go off the deep end I know Sir Charles says a lot of ignorant shit, most of It I let slide, but what caught me off gaud about this latest installment was the droves of Black people on social media agreeing with him without question.

Here’s what Sir Charles said and I quote “ As I tell my white friends, us Blacks will never be successful. Not because of you all but because of other Black people.” Then he goes on to say “it’s a dirty dark secret. When young Black kids do well in school the Loser kids tell’em oh you’re acting white, kids who speak intelligently you’re acting white “ Now this fucked me up, not because he said it but because so many of you agreed. Lets put this in perspective I pride myself on being fairly intelligent and never once have I ever been called white for being smart. Matter of fact most of my childhood was spent in some of the poorest communities in inner city Chicago and I was revered for being intelligent not ridiculed. Now I know I’m not the standard so I posted a poll on facebook asking 3 simple questions:

1.Are you Black?

2. Have you ever received good grades at any time in your schooling?

3. Have you ever been accused of acting white for doing so?

Out of the 126 responders

46.62% said they were accused of acting white because they excelled in school

32.76% stated that they have never been accused of acting white

While 21.62% of the comments were just gibberish arguing with the other responders points of view.

At first I was shocked! I couldn’t believe the “Acting white thing” wasn’t urban legend. I mean I’ve always heard that shit floated around but I’ve never really witnessed someone subjugated to it for being intelligent. Now don’t get it twisted, I’m a lighter skinned brother and early on in life I got called white boy at least 4 times a week because of my complexion. This lead to me becoming one of the better fighters in the hood. For me there was no greater insult than being called white boy, several ass whipping got served behind that insult. That’s another story altogether. Back to the topic at hand, once I saw the numbers I started to question the responders because you know this shit just didn’t sit well with me.

I broke the responders down geographically and what I noticed was

1. Most of the people that suffered this affliction did not grow up in urban areas

2. Most of the responders, who had actually experienced being labeled white; were women.

3. Some of those people (I’m not judging) still battle with identity crises as adults.

One responder had this to say:

“i don’t know bro. i wont discount anyone’s experience so i will fall back.

But i do sometimes think we see things that we think is there but is not.

For example. If i am debating with you, and every time you express your opinion, I stop you to correct how you are expressing your point instead of listening to your point.

You are going to conclude i am a– and think im better than you. Feel me?”

This for me was one of the more telling comments, at least in how I analyzed the situation. Based on the information I gathered the greater percentages of those being called “white” as an insult came from people who were raised in largely White communities, in which I assume (and I know, I know the assumption position is never a good one but…) I think it’s safe to assume if your parents gravitated to largely white communities they’ve probably conditioned you since birth about the difference between black folk and niggers. Hence, out the gate you probably carried yourself with a slight air of arrogance or at least a tinge of an a elitist attitude. This is where the rubber meets the road for me. I assume that the insult you assumed was being hurled at you because you were a star student really was hurled at you because you carry yourself like an elitist. Hence like white folk!

Now, now, young whippier snapper don’t get mad at the messenger I’m just calling the kettle black. Standing in front of a mirror can be revealing if you just take the time to study the reflection.

The real dirty little secret that Sir Charles probably doesn’t even know exists is that if black people are really other black peoples greatest hindrance in becoming successful, that burden is not on the “losers” as sir Charles calls them. That is the responsibility of those above the scratch line to reach back and help those below the scratch line. The real dirty secret is the level of classism that separates us, it’s the ignorance of assuming that because “your brother is in a more fucked up position than you, then your situation doesn’t seem so bad.” All of us city kids who had those one cousins that grew up in the burbs and because they had the manicured lawn and the breakaway rim out front they assumed they were special, it’s the fallacy of integration. It’s the actual premise of white supremacy and it’s effects being played out in real time. Come on coons; come on out here to this wasteland of nothingness! Where the homes are all made without character and shitty craftsmanship, where there’s no public transportation system, no culture no swag no vibrancy just a vast oasis of Blah oh and a few white people (that will be moving back to the city that you just left as soon as they can) This is where those Identity crises occur, and they occur not because of the land, not because of the blandness of the burbs but because of the leadership, because of the insecurities of the parents that led their children away to make them become “More” when in actuality you slowly chipped away at their root slowly assimilated into a world that will never accept you hence leaving you to be ridiculed by those you left and those that didn’t want you.

Hey but what do I know? Maybe yall really do, just act like white people!

http://youtu.be/mOIGk-xbvOM