NO, 'ACTING WHITE' HAS NOT BEEN DEBUNKED

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

As kids go back to school this week, when it comes to black ones, its time to do some myth-busting. This weeks topic: black teens calling their nerdy black peers white for liking school. Its a problem, because too often, black kids who want to fit in end up letting their grades slip.

The social scientists John Ogbu and Signithia Fordham first called attention to this phenomenon in the 1980s. But over the past 10 years, a myth has settled in that the acting white idea has been disproventhat black kids do not devalue scholarly achievement as white, and that people who say so are promulgating a falsehood. A recent column by Nia-Malika Henderson is emblematic of this denial. She wrote that when Barack and Michelle Obama criticize the black community for tolerating these acting white allegations, their rhetoric, while seen as refreshing and bold by some, actually seems to confirm a stereotype, that somehow African Americans dont value academic achievement.

Obama, though, has been arguing the case for a long time. In the Democratic Convention speech that introduced him to America in 2004, he derided the idea that a black kid with a book in his hand is acting white. But this summer a decade later, when Obama brought up the acting white problem in his pep talk to black boys kicking off his My Brothers Keeper initiative, Henderson and other columnistswith the welcome exception of Jonathan Capeheartdogpiled on him for hanging on to an illusion.

Folks, no. The research confirms that the acting white charge is a real problem that intimidates some black students away from doing their schoolwork as diligently as theyd prefer. Our job is to confront it, not pretend it doesnt exist out of discomfort.

More:

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/09/04/no-acting-white-has-not-been-debunked.html

[GandD 5,966]

Is it just me or does this article look like it was written by someone lacking writing skills?

[Jacque67 7,328]

Is it just me or does this article look like it was written by someone lacking writing skills?

Very few journalists can construe a sentence these days...

[Jacque67 7,328]

How about "acting ghey"?

Many white males are accused of this if they show an interest in literature/art, or if they do their school homework!!

[GandD 5,966]

Guys insult each other. It's kind of our thing.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Is it just me or does this article look like it was written by someone lacking writing skills?

It looks like it was written by someone wanting to not appear white.

[Jacque67 7,328]

Guys insult each other. It's kind of our thing.

Yeah, I have noticed here on VJ!

Poor guy. Just trying to pimp out his book!

[Dan and Judy 614]

why do I suddenly have an urge for oreo cookies?

[GandD 5,966]

why do I suddenly have an urge for oreo cookies?

[Teddy B 17,252]

Is it just me or does this article look like it was written by someone lacking writing skills?

It looks like it was written by someone wanting to not appear white.

Ebonics.

[The Nature Boy 4,224]

Is it just me or does this article look like it was written by someone lacking writing skills?

I didnt do its