The "Oreo" Complex

Most people know an Oreo as being one of America's favorite snacks. An Oreo which can be described as black on the outside and white on the inside, happens to be the coined term or nickname for many black women who can vocalize themselves in a eloquent way. I believe the first time I was told I "acted white" was in the 7th grade and the first time I was called an "Oreo" was in the 9th grade. My means of defending myself against these insulting terms meant using what I like to call the "Proper Defense." The proper defense goes along the lines of exclaiming "You say I act white because I speak proper...theres nothing wrong with being proper." This usually ended that conversation, but a black girl being accused of acting white because of her broad vocabulary or proper speech is a very deep rooted issue in the African American community. For one, there is a sense of disassociation occurring because black people are automatically putting myself and other people accused of being an "Oreo" in a box. They are essentially saying we are not black enough because of the way we speak. Furthermore these same blacks are perpetuating a inferiority complex by saying being educated and speaking proper is associated with being white and not black. Thus anything refined and educated is synonymous with whiteness. Even though i've spent most of my life being accused of being an Oreo it never bothered me until I was ridiculed for my voice a couple times. Otherwise I really don't take much offense to these titles because I am proud of the fact that my education and advance vocabulary skills can be vocalized through my speech. Contrarily, some people take extreme offense to being called Oreo and that they should. When people accuse a person of "talking white" or "acting white" they often mean it in a ostracizing way. An Oreo to some is viewed as a "Sell Out" or someone who thinks they are better than the rest. Personally, term Oreo is another form of intra-racism that many blacks have yet to overcome. Instead of unity within the race, blacks often find irrelevant things that make us unique to divide us. Although I've been ridiculed for my voice in the past its always been something I was proud of because when I speak I demand attention and it is with this voice that will take me far.