After reading "The Color of Success" by Eric A. Watts, please share with the class and me one part of the text that was poignant to you (and why), or one thing that was confusing.
Please feel free to share your own experience that is similar to Watt's main ideas.
BEFORE you post, read through everyone's thread so as to not repeat the same questions and comments. If you have similar ideas, then reply to the classmate's post to continue that discussion.
All students are required to post at least one thoughtful post. Avoid one or two sentences posts.
- Karen H.
In this story they say that the black people are intimid by the white people so they act white. That makes no sense to me it could be reverse.
ReplyDeleteDorothy O'Hara
u dumb thats why
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ReplyDeleteI can agree with Eric Watts story and the overall concept of stereotyping. Being an immigrant from the Island of Jamaica has it's pros and cons. Although English is primarily spoken we have our cultural dialect. I was raised in a household where the dialect was not spoken. My parents tried their hardest to encourage me and my siblings to speak standard English. When my family migrated to the United States the English language was not much of a difference to me and so I was able to blend in and adjust well. However, I have experienced my fair share of criticisms from my African- American peers. Oftentimes I would be on the telephone at work speaking to a family and when we have an opportunity to meet in-person I would either receive a look of surprise or they would down right say: "I thought you were white." At times when I'm in contact with a fellow Jamaican I would experience the same gestures "are you certain you were born in Jamaica?" or I'd be told "You sound white." My children also have experienced it at school or with their peers. I do believe that an individual should not be judged by the manner in which they speak. True success can be achieved by character and one's ability to be driven through self determination and self -worth. An individual should not be deprived or ridiculed based on the way, their English is intelligently spoken or stereotyped based on their ethnicity.
ReplyDeleteMichelle M.
Eric Watts confronted the ideal of people of his race being preposterous. He shed a light on how people can be sterotypical and prejudice. When mentioning studying to someone he knew, Eric was derided as "acting white". For him, myself as a reader and a african american that is offensive. Not because of the color of our skin but it sounds ignorant and peoples state of mind seemed so poor.
ReplyDeleteJaborn R.
Eric Watts was demonized as "acting white" because he was excelling in high school over his over African American peers. Just because he was speaking in an educated way and getting good grades overall, his peers felt like he was not with them. His friends were acting stereotypical toward him because they felt that his "valued- hard work, initiative, articulateness" did not fit an African American student. That way of thinking is imprecise, doesn't matter what the skin color of your skin is, everybody is give the same opportunity to do well and achieve whatever they set their goals to.
ReplyDelete-Andre Viegas
Eric Watts wasn't looked at as smart or an intellectual by his peers, instead he was labeled as trying to be something he wasn't because of his nationality. "People shouldn't be judged my the color of their skin, but rather by the content of their character."
ReplyDelete-Stephanie D.
Eric watts pursued education and took his goals seriously but his friends chastised him for acting out of place for being successful and black. I’m puzzled by the thoughts of his black peers. sure they the rationalizing for their choices are understandable but why is it that they are eternalizing all of the stigma they encounter but only supporting the causes of struggle?
ReplyDeleteJunior w
I agree with Eric Watt's story that if you cannot overcome the racism, you would not success in the American society. I think Whites give the cause of the word "acting white" existed, but it is actually made and used by Blacks. If Blacks accept the discrimination and do not try to change the perception of racism, they confine themselves in the stereotype.
ReplyDelete-Jaehee Jung
Eric Watt's story I could relate to because in certain classes, when I was told to answer a certain question, my response will usually be well put together and thought of. Comments like "this boy thinks he's white" will always spur around the classroom. Having a motive and working hard shouldn't be something that is associated with being white.
ReplyDeleteIleperuma Pathiranage
ReplyDeleteWhile Eric was in high school, he was accused for "acting white." His peers considered being intelligent and educated as something unique to white people. This clearly shows the discrimination and racism existed in the society. The valued hard work and the self-motivation is what always matters. The success doesn't have a color. Success will run after any hard working and an exceptional individual.
Ileperuma P.
I saw exactly what happened to Eric in my high school. My high school was majority black. Most of the kids there were unbelievably smart but some had low confidence in them and they believed that if they did their homeworks and studied, then their peers would say they were "acting white". I think all this is pretty silly. Intelligence shouldn't be judged on the color of your skin.
ReplyDelete-Mita Sen
While reading this story I was reminded of high school as well. In high school this story was a reality for me too. Some of my friends would say the exact same thing that Eric Watts mentioned in his story. I've even encountered the phrase "acting white" on xbox live while I am playing competitively against other players. I won't say what they say exactly but usually the better player gets called names as in Watts' story. It's foolish to actually let yourself believe that you shouldn't do well because of a race or skin color.People are capable of what they believe they can do.
ReplyDeletehaha wassup losers
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