Father Heathen
Veteran Member
Inauthentic of what?
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Is "Uncle Tom" a Racist Term?
- Thread starter Sunstone
- Start date
Inauthentic of what?
Alceste
Vagabond
Just inauthentic. The "hood" dialect, for example, is something you would have to intentionally cultivate if you didn't grow up with it. It would be like me walking around faking a Scottish accent, dressing in a kilt and otherwise pretending to be Scottish. You wouldn't be faintly embarrassed for me?
CynthiaCypher
Well-Known Member
How is adopting another culture "inauthentic"?
Father Heathen
Veteran Member
Ah, yeah. I get that.
Father Heathen
Veteran Member
There is a difference between gradual, natural assimilation, and mimicry and posturing. It's a lot like black-face and cosplay.
CynthiaCypher
Well-Known Member
So is a poor white kid who grows up listening to rap, emulates his favorite rappers in dress, lives in a poor multi-cultural neighborhood and who uses Jamaican slang being inauthentic? Inauthentic to what? His white skin?
Alceste
Vagabond
Because it requires the intentional adoption and maintenance of dress, mannerisms and speech that do not come naturally to you.
Granted, some degree of change happens without intentional effort, simply from immersion in another culture. That's not what I'm talking about, though. It's the forced stuff people find embarrassing.
The "bad guy" in the hallmark special I just worked on was a pasta chef who constantly faked an Italian accent but was actually from Cincinnati. You're meant to find that out and go "wow, what a douche bag!" The underlying theme of the script is that authenticity is preferable in the end.
It's not very high brow stuff, being a hallmark movie. Presumably the producers believe as many will relate to that message as they do to the sentiments expressed in your average greeting card.
Alceste
Vagabond
No, I'm talking about kids (of any ethnicity) from middle class suburbs in Idaho, or whatever, adopting the dress, language and mannerisms of urban hood culture.
We see that sometimes in Canada, and it's even more embarrassing because we have no "hoods". Just woods.
Father Heathen
Veteran Member
Then that would be his natural culture and mannerisms. Rather different than a white, upper-middle class suburbanite teenager dressing like a "gangsta" and awkwardly incorporating "ghetto thug" slang into their speech just because he adores rap music/videos, wouldn't you say?
CynthiaCypher
Well-Known Member
So are you saying that "blackness" is somehow unnatural for white people?
What the hell is "blackness"?
Hmmm....society should determine what is "natural", & enforce it with people who act incorrectly
for their race & ethnicity? White kids shouldn't act "gangsta", & black kids shouldn't get "uppity".
for their race & ethnicity? White kids shouldn't act "gangsta", & black kids shouldn't get "uppity".
Alceste
Vagabond
Are you reading what I'm writing? At all? I'm saying that a privileged suburban kid of any ethnicity talking and dressing like a thug because he likes rap music is like me parading around in a kilt and faking a Scottish accent because I like Celtic music. Heck, I PLAY Celtic music professionally and I don't have to pretend to be Scottish.
Inauthenticity is simply embarrassing for people to witness, regardless of one's ethnic background.
Kilgore Trout
Misanthropic Humanist
I think people usually mean the stereotypical cultural affectations popularly associated with black culture in the US, as seen by sheltered white people on TV and in movies.
CynthiaCypher
Well-Known Member
I.e black culture.
Father Heathen
Veteran Member
Turn-tables and beat-boxing.
Alceste
Vagabond
Beats me. Almost every significant musical innovation of the last 100 years has its roots in the African American community, so maybe it means being really good at music.
Kilgore Trout
Misanthropic Humanist
Beats me. Almost every significant musical innovation of the last 100 years has its roots in the African American community, so maybe it means being really good at music.
You're so racist.
CynthiaCypher
Well-Known Member
So I get if a white kid is poor then it is fine for him to adopt the culture of others of the same class.
But if the child is born into affluence then it is a shame and inauthentic if he adopts a culture that is beneath his station.
But if the child is born into affluence then it is a shame and inauthentic if he adopts a culture that is beneath his station.
I really wish some of you traveled more and heard non American blacks speak better English than anyone in our country. I guess they are not authentic.