Posted on 08/08/2004 3:05:05 AM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
Apparently I am an Oreo. According to the past few generations' terminology, an Oreo is not a cookie made by Nabisco but a person who is black on the outside and white on the inside. Now, I admit that I could switch places with any member of *NSync, a late-'90s boy band, and perform a concert, and the fans wouldn't notice. But that doesn't make me an Oreo. And, if *NSync's fan base is mostly white, that doesn't mean I'm not black anymore. I'll be black forever.
The words black and white don't just mean color anymore. They describe actions, behavior and intelligence. Black symbolizes guns, violence, "ghetto fabulous" behavior, a job at McDonald's, overall failure in life. And white is a Harvard graduate, CEO of a Fortune 500 company, a house in the Hamptons, success.
These stereotypes let all of the air out of a little black kid's balloon. And if the stereotypes don't do it, some other black people will, starting with your education.
It is dangerous for a young black female like me to be surrounded by other young blacks who don't value their education. 'Cause I'll tell you, the feeling can be contagious, especially in middle and high school, when fitting in is in and standing out is way out.
At my middle school, I stuck out immediately. On my first day, I quivered with my *NSync notebook in hand, as I felt my way around school. I was ready to learn and very surprised to find the majority of my fellow black students were not.
"I've never met black kids like this," I told my mom over my afternoon snack. In my reading class their eyes slit my throat as I raised my hand to answer questions. During social studies, I was the only black student who didn't get into trouble with Ms. Burch. She actually liked me; we shared a love of *NSync. Even though I found a connection with Ms. Burch, one that we still share, I couldn't seem to find that basic connection with people who looked like me.
The difficulty of coping with the ridicule became a lot to bear at a time when having and making friends was the issue of the day. Being called an "Oreo" or "Miss Smarty-Pants" and "brainy" became normal, but I was never completely numb to the implications of these words. When the people who should be complimenting and congratulating you on your accomplishments are treating you as if you sell drugs, it doesn't feel as if you are doing the right thing.
This feeling has continued into high school and probably will continue throughout my entire life. But I am tired of being surrounded by those who don't apply themselves because they are afraid of what other people will think.
What will people think when they see you working at McDonald's? Will they think about you or the black race as a whole? I'm looking for a place — a school, a university, a community — where being "young, gifted and black" works for me and not against me. Where I can display my intelligence the way I display my clothes, and speak the way I was raised to speak. And that's not white, black, yellow, green or blue — it's simply the proper way to speak.
I was raised to respect my education and the fact that I am blessed to have an opportunity that others before me didn't have. And I will not waste my opportunities. I will continue to take advantage of them so I won't have to settle for flipping burgers and salting fries.
I will be successful, have an impact and continue to flourish as a young black woman. And for all those who are curious, the only Oreos I'll see will be the ones in my dorm room. But what does it matter — I only eat the cream anyway.
That is the truth.
Cosby added considerable weight to the ball that already is starting to roll.
No. Now it's women having babies. Of course, one of the cousin's kids has already had two, one before HS graduation.
The times have changed. We have more biracial kids in our school than black kids. If the trend continues, we may not have black kids in the schools unless they move here.
Could it be the same situation as the American Indians? Stay tuned.
My experience is that they're either dead, on drugs, dealing drugs, criminals, in jail, have umpteen children with no husband, on welfare, or just plain old bums and ne'er-do-wells.
Then the ironic thing is that these very same people demand that "you give back to the neighborhood", when they see that you've made something out of yourself.
Bump!
I don't quite understand your post.
And you have to ignore those people the most... those are the kind of people who don't want to work and be where you are. They want YOU to be down in the gutter with them. Either that OR give your hard earned money 'back to the community'.
Just live a good life and be grateful. Being charitable is a personal thing and shouldn't be a slogan coined by government program loving LIBERALS.
NKOTB is the boy band more appropriate for an article on Oreos:
The White Stuff, Weird Al Yankovic
The first one was a sweet one
Second one was a blast
Soon I finished off the bag, ate 'em up real fast
You can see 'em in my teeth
Tell it when I talk
Had so many my pancreas just went into shock
I love the white stuff, baby
In the middle of an Oreo
I love the white stuff, baby
It's the most delicious thing I know
I've had a zillion or two
In my life, they're so right
My teeth are all rotted clear through But who cares? What else am I supposed to do?
Oh OH OH-OH-Oh, Oh Oreo
Oh OH OH-OH-Oh, the white stuff
Oh OH OH-OH-Oh, Oh Oreo
What's in the middle? The white stuff
The first time that I tried it
Got a big sugar buzz
Nothing gets me high as that sandwhich cookie does
But I love the filling most
I rub it on my roast
Mix it in with my coffee and spread it on my toast
I love the white stuff, baby
In the middle of an Oreo
I love the white stuff, baby
Take some with me everywhere I go
Might get a pimple or two
Well, so what? It's all right
Now Twinkies and Ding Dongs won't do
All I need... You know what it is
Oh OH OH-OH-Oh, Oh Oreo
Oh OH OH-OH-Oh, the white stuff
Oh OH OH-OH-Oh, Oh Oreo
Oh OH OH-OH-Oh, the white stuff
Oh OH OH-OH-Oh, Oh Oreo
What's in the middle? The white stuff
Careful, girl.
That's Bushspeak.
Maybe you be a Uncle Tom too?
I'd like to see that happen, as well as changing the way women are displayed and are treated in their videos.
I subscribe to Walter Williams take on "give something back". The ones who should be "giving back" are the ones who have "taken", i.e. the ones destroying the neighborhood.
It's NOT going to happen from that crowd. Most of them need to go back to school also. You will more likely hear it from the R&B artists and from those not in the gangsta rap genre.
I agree.
"Hard working people are tagged "workaholics" so others can work their 8 and hit the gate without hurt feelings."
There are people who are "workaholics" who shirk their responsibilities to family and to their own health, doing nothing but working their life away. You may see this as noble but life requires balance.
He he he.
LOL
The apple doesn't fall far from the tree and I would say she's been raised right.
Where is it written that "life requires balance"?
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