I allowed my black taxi driver to say I talked/sounded white when I first got to Baltimore. Anyone who has seen The Wire and also knows people from the bay, there is a big difference in enunciation. On top of that I used to pride myself on my verbosity.
I took what he said as a slight, but I didn't check him like I would nowadays (I was 16 and in a new city - weak excuse, whatever ) . I did more inquiring as to why he would think that. Was it because they called a dog a Doug? Was it because I spoke in complete sentences, with proper grammar? Pausing when need be, not using double negatives, not making up contractions or using words like gooder? I know for sure it wasn't my voice or tone, because if that were the case I could say he sounded white compared to me.
After a few more beers I'm sure some more will come to me where I chose to be passive. Not truly c00ning but, if you don't check everyone, every time it might be half way c00ning.
At least I'm not my family who makes excuses for white folks, marries them, procreates with them and does everything in their power to absolve them on wrong doing.
