talk white Archives - The Race Card Project

My Speech Doesn’t Define My Skin

January 23, 2025January 23, 2025 adopted, Ari Wiggins, Des Moines, Des Moines (DMACC), Des Moines Area Community College, DMACC, educated, IA, stereotyoe, talk white, white sound white, you don't sound

Ari Wiggins,
Des Moines (DMACC), IA

I chose this phrase because throughout my childhood and adulthood I am asked often about the way I talk. Most common questions are… “Why you talk so proper?” , “Why do you speak like a white person,” “Were you adopted by a white family or are you half white?”. I would like to express to society that not all African-Americans talk with slang or have an ignorant speech. I as an African-American young woman can have an proper and educated speech and be a stereotype.

“You talk so proper,” Dude, what?

August 8, 2024August 9, 2024 articulate, atlanta, GA, Jasmine N. Allen, proper, sound white, stereotype, talk white

Jasmine N. Allen,
Atlanta, GA

The first four words are a quote from something someone said to me on the first day of 7th grade. I had just asked the teacher a question when the girl sitting next to me turned and said this. I was confused by what she meant because I didn’t say anything that was that different than what the other people said before me. It wasn’t until I got home and told my mom about this and she responded, “Well, what did she expect you to sound like?” That it clicked for me that the girl had made an expectation of me based on nothing other than what I looked like. Now, the girl may not have meant anything racist but the point still stands that black people are unfairly stereotyped as uneducated and improper, and when they show that they are educated the black person is met with surprise.

No, I do not talk ‘white’.

October 16, 2023October 16, 2023 LA, Slidell, Southern University, talk white, Teelah Mccoy

Teelah Mccoy,
Slidell, LA

I am currently in my Junior year at Southern University at New Orleans.

What does “talking white” sound like

February 20, 2023February 20, 2023 correct english, Meka Burnett-Gross, proper, proper english, talk white, VA, Virginia Beach

Meka Burnett-Gross,
Virginia Beach, VA.

Speaking correct English was a “must” growing up in my house but living in the south, I was often confronted by all races with “you don’t talk like other blacks, you sound white”. Speaking correct English obviously correlates to me trying to act like a different race too. Since when does commanding the English language mean I’m trying to act like something that I clearly am not.

I’ve never really been black enough.

February 20, 2023February 20, 2023 African American, ancestry, black enough, Chesapeake, ligh skin, proper english, talk white, Taylor Butts, VA

Taylor Butts,
Chesapeake, VA.

I’m Black. Completely. I’ve tried to trace my ancestry but couldn’t get very far. I’m very light skinned and “talk white” aka speak proper english so I don’t always fit in with my fellow African Americans but my hair never matched the white girls. Needless to say, I had a hard time finding my place in the world until I became at peace with who I am and whatever it is I’m made of!

I never thought you’d like this.

October 24, 2022October 24, 2022 Asia Smith, black girl, Broadway, different, Filipinos, Hispanics, Indian, Japanese, Kansas City, language, Middle-Eastern, MO, music, talk white, white school

Asia Smith,
Kansas City, MO

This has been said to me many times throughout my life. I am a black girl who goes to a majority white school. I love my own culture but growing up in Missouri around a lot of non-black people like Hispanics, Filipinos, Japanese, Indian and Middle Eastern has helped me learn a lot about other cultures. I have tried many different foods and listened to different types of music. I have learned to love broadway music which a lot of people seem shocked when I tell them that. I also watch shows or movies in different languages which is another thing a lot of people wouldn’t assume about me. Being black in a nearly all white city has taught me that I can hold onto my culture while learning or experiencing aspects of others. There are always people from more diverse parts of Kansas City who tell me I’m “too white” or that I act or talk “white” which is really offensive because I have no intention of being/acting white but they don’t understand that it is just how I grew up.

You talk like you are white.

June 25, 2020 Ariana Amador, dallas, sound white, talk white, TX

Ariana Amador,
Dallas, TX

You can’t talk like a color.

“That black girl talks so white”

March 14, 2016 black girl, Ciara Myers, Norfolk, talk, talk white, VA, white

Ciara Myers,
Norfolk, VA.

Only Black Kids In The Neighborhood

November 24, 2015 AL, black kids, black neighborhood, but you don't sound, first experience, Jeremy Murray, moved, neighborhood, proper, school, sound white, talk white, Tuscaloosa

Jeremy Murray,
Tuscaloosa, AL.

Growing up my family moved around the country a lot. My brother and I had to attended many different schools but no matter where we were we always get told the same thing, “you don’t sound like you’re from here”, “you sound so proper”, and the my favorite one “y’all talk white”. The way my parents raised us made us that way and people thought it was so surprising because of our race.

I speak proper so I’m whitewashed

November 17, 2015November 17, 2015 Chesapeake, Jewell Barnes, N word, proper, speak, talk black, talk white, VA, whitewashed, you don't sound

Jewell Barnes,
Chesapeake, VA.

I can’t even keep track of the amount of times I was called whitewashed….. I’m sorry, I went to school and learned how to speak without saying N***** every other word.

“You talk like a white girl.”

August 28, 2013 AR, Bethany Hilkert, Bryant, talk white, White girl, you don't sound, you talk like

Bethany Hilkert
Bryant, AR

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