tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1658138279766595241.post2033151682958625859..comments2024-01-04T04:31:00.481-05:00Comments on Mixed Race America: Dressing WhiteJenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13261371053113519712noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1658138279766595241.post-83558794533267400392007-11-15T10:15:00.000-05:002007-11-15T10:15:00.000-05:00Good question--if someone discloses one's mixed ba...Good question--if someone discloses one's mixed background, does that then mean that the person is not "passing"--this is somewhat under dispute (within the academic community) in terms of people who "intentionally" pass and those who don't. Of course, one could argue that at the moment of disclosure that it would resolve all questions of identity/heritage, so that perhaps he meant that she was "acting white" (which is a whole other thorny and vexed and condescending issue). It is true that, possibly, this woman could be doing some "code switching" in terms of her speech patterns (taking on different language patterns, vocabulary, accents depending on the social context) but again, that "standard English" (which is I think what he was getting at) is associated as a typically "white" trait is problematic--especially with certain immigrant groups (Spanish ancestry, Asian ancestry). I know this issue comes up A LOT in Hawaii among those who speak pigeon (or Hawaiian Creole English) and the charge that they need to "speak like a haole (white person)" in order to speak standard English.Jenniferhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13261371053113519712noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1658138279766595241.post-32336535938009078942007-11-14T17:10:00.000-05:002007-11-14T17:10:00.000-05:00I asked him how he knew she was "passing"--and he ...<I>I asked him how he knew she was "passing"--and he said that she had disclosed her family background to him</I><BR/><BR/>By definition, then, that isn't passing, I should think.<BR/><BR/>"talked white"--eh, basic stereotyping, possibly a legit comment because a lot of people do change mode of speaking.<BR/><BR/>"dressed white"--more problematic. How many people in MBA programs "dress black"? Are all professionals then passing? what the hell does that even mean?dancehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05560093455630610783noreply@blogger.com