I'm just tickled to death... not because the cops pulled me over yesterday for an expired vehicle inspection... not because I sat in the dentist chair all morning... but because of the comical dialogue from a certain "White Boy Across the Street".I frequently ask myself why some White guys find the urge to ditch who they are for the sake of talking ebonics to me. If I were White too, would they still put on the act? Sometimes it's funny, and other times, it's not... and the frustrating thing is I still don't know why. Don't take The Black Man Next Door for a fool, though... especially if I just watched you be who you are one moment, then suddenly become "ebonically-enhanced" when you talk to me. What the FX up with that?
And what does it mean when a Black man or woman asks, "Why are you trying to act Black?" Lawd knows some of my friends think I was a White boy in my previous life... and still living in this one, except in a Black man's body. *sigh* We've jumped into the proverbial lion's den by reaffirming existing stereotypes, haven't we.
Maybe I fell into the stereotypical hole the first time I grinned when a White guy passed by me with his windows rolled down. He was kicked back in the seat, one hand on the wheel, 2Pac blaring so loud that it set off car alarms nearby. I fully admit my hypocritical ways, but I normally see the brothas doing such things... so it's actually humorous when the errant White guy snatches my own stereotypical pistol, and then aims it at me with a sexy smile.
In the back of my mind, I will always wonder... when I'm approached with ebonics flowing liberally from his lips, is he "talking down to me" or is he embracing a bonafide urban, hip side of his Caucasianally delicious persona? Texas seems to be teeming with ebonically-enhanced White guys, compared to other states that I've been to. I'm still eager to actually pass one on streets outside of the Lone Star State, just to affirm that they are truly everywhere.
Nonetheless, I hate being the victim of my own stereotypical subconscious thoughts. However, it provides plenty of opportunities to giggle at an ebonically-enhanced White guy's cuteness... once I've peered over the walls of my own insecurities.
.... and to think there was a time where supposedly, White men couldn't jump... nor rap... nor dance... nor be well-endowed -- all of which I've personally debunked a long time ago. But still, I will always be tickled by the ebonically-enhanced words spewing from their mouth -- as long as it is sincere and with good intentions.In closing, I guess the true mystery at hand is why do some of us feel the need to go above and beyond just to step out of our own skin? (no pun intended) What is beneath the surface of terms like "acting Black", "talk White", and "straight-acting"? Perhaps it is self loathing in disguise... buried deep beneath surface of our souls.
Why? Why? The Black Man Next Door's favorite question to ponder... why?
It always tickles me when I see white kids way out here in the middle of the prairie driving around town with rap music blasting, nearly levitating their pickup trucks off the ground; you'd think they'd all be into country music, but they identify with something from thousands of miles away in some city, and no natural connection with their own local "culture" - that's not cool enough, you see.
ReplyDeleteThey think they're being individuals; when actually, they are just conforming to a different group, the group they admire, not the one that surrounds them. That's human nature, if I like what's cool, hey I must be cool, right?
I guess that's a testament to individuality not being tagged to the color of one's skin. Perhaps these young pickup drivers feel like fish out of water? Those that do will leave... those that don't will stay... further polarizing our social landscape.
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