Acting White

You’ve seen them walking around campus, guys and girls with baggy pants, big t-shirts and some form of flat soled shoe be it Puma or Airwalks. They have virtually no accent and listen to house, techno and punk rock music. They know the names of every band you’ve never heard of and how to “Rave” (for those who don’t know its the dancing style not the store). The “mixed” generation.
Though this example may be going to the extremes the mixed genration does exsist. A cross between “white” popular culture and “black” popular culture these people tread a thin line between conforming to their “race” and the style they love. How do I know this, I’m apart of that generation.
These muticultural individuals who have had the privelege of being exposed to more than one way of life are called sell-outs, or asked often why they act “white.” My question is what is acting white or black? Is it because you listen to Jay-Z, Aaliyah, and undergound hip-hop, wearing Mecca and Iceberg that you are considered black?
That is certainly not the truth. There are thousands of people of different races, creeds and colors who listen to “black” oriented music and wear made for “black” fashions.
And you know what I mean. I am not the only one who has been at the red light and seen the blonde haired, blue eyed, teenage boy wearing Platinum FUBU sitting there blasting out some lyrics that you haven’t even memorized yet with speakers tighter than yours (so maybe not the FUBU, but you get the picture).
Then why is it that when someone listens bands like Aerosmith, Smashing Pumpkins, Garth Brooks the Orb, and Pink Floyd and wear JNCO and Kickwear they are considered to be acting “white”?
Now I am not saying that these individuals are any better than anyone else on campus, but it should not be presumed by their outer apperance, what they listen to or how they talk that they are not “black” people.
These people of the “mixed” generation have just been given a little bit of Northern Exposure that has influenced their way life. It would be good for everyone to get out the south once and in a while and see what everywhere else has to offer.