Essay On Acting White

When asked about white privilege, many whites believe that it is a myth while other deny the existence of white privilege entirely. However, white privilege is not a myth. White privilege is very prevalent in society and uniquely effects many different groups. Peggy McIntosh discusses white privilege in her article “White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack.” McIntosh states, “I have come to see while privilege as an invisible package of unearned assets which I can count on cashing in each day, but about which I was, "meant" to remain oblivious” (par. 3).

Moreover, to be white in the United States means that the lighter your skin, the more power, prestige, and property you have; which then results to the higher your social class is. To be white in the United States means you have easier access to the “American Dream.” The “American Dream” in which you are able to socially mobilize yourself to higher positions. According to sociologists, social mobility is the extent of which an individual can move in the class system. When you are white, you are oblivious to the systematic oppression of those beneath you. The education system, criminal justice system, and the government system are all in your favor. This white supremacy flows through our society. A few examples include the income gap between Blacks and Whites. People of color are paid less for the same efforts and level of labor compared to someone who is white. Some structural-functional sociologists believe this occurs in order to motivate those beneath the poverty line or in the working class will push forward and continue to extend efforts in order to possibly climb the social ladder. Others disagree and believe this income gap is the outcome of dominance and straining relationships due to scarce resources. Those who disagree are sociologists abiding by the conflict theory perspective. Of course, my definition and opinion on white

Carter used the phrase “acting white” to express how the African American and Latino students, in her study, view other students who act and dress outside their culture. When a student speaks using standard English, they are thought to be “acting white” because they have rejected the use of black English. When a student goes to school and is seen to being wearing clothes that are deemed “preppy”, they are said to be “acting white”. In the African American and Latino student culture, black English and a certain style of dress are expected and when you go against the expected way, you are called out. “Acting white” is normally associated with the honors classes and working hard. Some of the students that are said to be “acting white” are not necessarily trying to be white. They are just trying to get good grades so that they can graduate and then go off to college.

I think this because look at how the term first came about; it was created as a way to identify someone. Then as years progressed, it evolved to mean a person with power and used to define someone, telling them where they stand on the social hierarchy. Now, “white” goes far beyond skin color. Being “white” is a concept, if you have money, no matter what skin tone, you are white or white washed. White doesn’t mean to be white, it means to be privileged, so if you are privileged you are

White privilege is an apparent part our society, well to me at least.The fact that a white person can kill a black male for simply getting Skittles and Arizona, or selling non taxed cigarettes, or playing loud music,looking threatening and so on without consequences for their consequences is white privilege. White privilege is not having to be followed around a boutique or high class store because of the stereotype of being poor and a criminal. White teenagers can go out at night in large groups without being disturbed. White privilege is an advantage that white people are unaware they have.They can not see that the way in which they live is exclusive to their race. They have special assets that colored people do not. In White Privilege-

Like Thind, I know of people who have some white in them and try to use it as a benefit to get the things that they want or need. It’s sad that we as humans have to pretend or try to be something we’re not to get ahead in life by being considered “white”. We as human beings should all be afforded the same rights, dreams, and desires no matter what our skin color is. Skin color should be what you are, but not define you as to who you

White privilege is not taught to whites as the disadvantages are taught to the minority by the white race from birth. When a white person walks into a store they are looked upon with respect and it is assumed that they are not there to steal or vandalize property, they are automatically trusted as a quality citizen. The white race is unaware of their privilege because they have never had to experience the glares, or being followed around the store, automatically assuming they are there to steal or harm someone. White=good in every aspect of society because it is the norm, it is an unconscious advantage that is used in the conscious mind of all whites. These cultural mechanisms lead white people to be seen as trustworthy, honest, overall decent

In this paper, I will be reviewing Robert Jensen’s “The Heart of Whiteness. Confronting Race, Racism, and White privilege”, along with developing a critical analysis of this work. I will be comparing my analysis with the opinions of others that have reviewed this book along with utilizing concepts from James W. Neulieps textbook, Intercultural Communication.

America has coined the idea of being know as a melting pot of all races and ethnicities. Therefore, the question of white being the same as American has a more complex answer than just yes or no. Being merely white in skin color dos not correlate to an American status. Sonia Shah encountered a similar problem when she was asked to write about Asian American History Month. “… the term ‘Asian American’ itself it problematic. Most of the people whom others would categorize as ‘Asian American’ most emphatically don’t think of themselves that way” Shah explains (RGG 245). Therefore, categorizing white people as “White American” is neglecting their origin and culture, the same thing as Shah noted about Asian Americans.

Whitewashing can be referred to as the misrepresentation of minorities in film, specifically referring to placing racially diverse rolls into stereotypical parts. The misrepresentation of racial diversity is a recurring theme in today’s Hollywood movies. It is more likely for someone to land a job in Hollywood if they are a white

When people of European decent are made to realize the reason that they can live the kind of life made possible by their skin colour, and ancestors they find it embarrassing. They feel ashamed that their ancestors did something like that, and will apologize. However, there are also many people that will become defensive. They will become insistent on the fact that it was not them that did it. It was their ancestors, so why should they feel guilty about anything. They are generally also the same people that will do things that are considered cultural, and religious appropriation. Such as wearing a native headpiece, or trying to use the n word. They do not see the privilege that they set up for themselves. Many times as a kid when I wore henna to school for my religious holidays kids would call me dirty, and gross. Yet, once a white girl came to class having gotten the henna done also, and the kids told her how pretty it looked, and they wanted to get it done too. Or how in the media when white people have dreads or corn rows it is considered to be ‘chic’, and ‘urban’ but in many schools in America children are not allowed to have that hairstyle because it is not deemed appropriate for school. It is wrong to encourage someone to do something because of their skin tone when the person it was meant for is not being allowed to do

White people have an invisible package of unearned assets. Invisible in the way that they can't be seen or touched, but can be cashed in everyday at colored peoples expense. White people have these unearned advantages and privileges just for being white, and in our society this leads to a systematic tendency to over empowerment, where denial of these advantages occurs leading to no changes in society.

Whitewashing is the casting practice in the film industry in which white actors are cast to play a role or character of a person that should be of colour. Early hollywood’s films were far from racially or culturally sensitive. As this industry in the past and present is known for often casting white actors for roles that should be portrayed by non-white actors. For example whitewashing can be seen in a great amount of hollywood films. Movies like “Aloha” that took places on a Hawaii island where major of the population is non-white yet the main cast were distinctly white. A lot of people had an issue with the main actor being white due to the fact that is was stated that her character was

Actin’ white can be used interchangeably with the term “whiteness.” Whiteness was the term used when this idea of naming certain type of behaviors and achievement as a race first started. Gerard Van Herk, the author of What is Sociolinguistics?, defines the term whiteness as the “absence of an ethnic identity” and the use of “stand grammar” and “formal vocabulary” (Van Her, 2012, p. 79). Whenever someone is told that they are actin’ white they are being told that they are using Standard English and it is not approved of by their own race.

The Virginia legislature made the term “white” a legal distinction in 1691, to be “white” has meant to have access to certain forms of preferential treatment, and exemption from racial oppression. White culture is an artificial, historically constructed culture which expresses, justifies and binds together the United States white supremacy system.