Related Posts
Community Builder
I am sorry, is this LinkedIn or some dating blog?
Why does Newark close tsa pre lanes? Terrible
Any F in Minnesota?
Additional Posts in Black Professionals In Accounting
Bowl Leader
Bowl Leader
New to Fishbowl?
Download the Fishbowl app to
unlock all discussions on Fishbowl.
unlock all discussions on Fishbowl.
Dare I ask.... what are you doing/saying when you feel this way?
I’m black, live in Salt Lake City, and am dating someone who is not black.
Every time I go home to see some family and hang out with friends of my brothers or cousins, I get the standard, “you sound white” or “you’re like the whitest black guy I know”.
I’m not certain what an Uncle Tom is, but I’m certain that I come across as one.
Doesn’t matter though, I’m happy with the life I’ve chosen and would make the same choices if necessary.
To piggy back off what ASA1 said about understanding the choices that some people are making... Coming from someone that really lived that life and just happened to get out before it was too late, a lot of times its seemingly impossible to see outside of your box when you’re inside it. I look back on things that I used to do in the past that were normal to me at the time that are almost unfathomable, and frankly are unbelievable from a mainstream America point of view. But your environment and circumstances dictate your actions. Its simply unavoidable. And unless you’ve been in different circumstances, its rare that you can take a step back and really analyze the true implications of your decisions or your actions, and understand that the risks you may be taking simply arent worth it. And even for those that can take that step back, they are still stuck in situations that force their hand. Im open with some of my friends about how I feel pretentious when Im back in the hood visiting just as much as I do when Im at the office or hanging out with colleagues. And I still preach to them about the opportunities and things they can consider doing to get away from the hood. Im sure some look at me crazy, but then there are others that at least try to listen. The listeners are more so the ones that were there with me when I was in the trenches. They know that Im genuine and faced some of the same struggles that theyre facing. They know that Im not just some outsider passing judgement on them for things that I dont understand. Ive never felt like an uncle Tom. I do feel an overwhelming obligation to try to expose those that are interested to something different in any way that I can though...
What’s your definition of an Uncle Tom?
I find that those who say “you sound white” are poking fun at someone’s proper use of the English language. Which is very silly in my opinion... also there’s no such thing as an Uncle Tom, it’s a made up word to label those of us that adapted well in circles that many of our “friends” would feel uncomfortable in
No, it's the accent that they are poking at. It is well known that many educated black folks believe that the accent (tone and pitch) equates to intelligence or proper English. However, ask any linguist and they will tell you there is no proper English. Actually, we do not speak the same English spoken 100 years ago in the U.S. So when people say you are talking white, they are referring to your tone and pitch coupled with standard English. Standard English is the acceptable language in the business world. It's the English mostly spoken by white people. They rule the business world. Thus, making their way of speaking king. Standard English is not acceptable in personal settings among most black people. That is why they are critical. Plus, the history of racism concerning speech (in particular the way blacks speak) contributes to the reason why black people think you are an Uncle Tom.