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The Coolest
"I just want to be able to step outside of my stereotype as easily as some of my white counterparts"
By Alana Germany
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to this Commentary!
A few months ago, Lupe Fiasco, a black hip hop artist played a concert at my school. I left feeling disillusioned.
I’m Alana Germany with a commentary from Youth Radio.
He shouted the song’s hook and the crowd yelled back, “The coolest nigga WHAT?” I looked to my left and saw a goofy looking white boy in a polo shirt saying “nigga”. I was angry to see a black artist giving non-blacks the license to use a word that is derogatory and harmful.
This is when I realized that even those most removed from black culture have unlimited access to it. All my life, I’ve tried to combat the black stereotype, only to be called white-washed by my black peers. And now that I’m at college, going to parties and trying to meet new people, I’m still being expected to comply with my designated stereotype.
I just want to be able to step outside of my stereotype as easily as some of my white counterparts. And that goes beyond musical taste, fashion sense, and slang. But on a strictly superficial level, if a white person can say, “What it do?” without getting a sideways look, then that same acceptance should apply whenever I decide to put on an Abercrombie shirt, and walk around the mall, like, “Omaigod!”
For Youth Radio, I’m Alana Germany.
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