The Manrilla Blog | Life. Art. Religion. Culture.

I first heard of Joseph Phillips’ book, He Talk Like A White Boy on NPR’s News & Notes with Ed Gordon. I was intrigued by the title and also of Gordon’s brief interview of Phillips so I headed down to Border’s to pick up a copy. Phillips tackles tough topics such as masculinity, anti-intellectualism and the lack of pluralism in how blacks are viewed in American society as well as clueing us into his various political and religious ideologies. While I do not agree with everything that Phillips has written I none the less have found it a good read and perhaps even an important book. Important with a small “i” but still significant.

First off, He Talk Like A White Boy is a funny book. I will say that from the bat. I giggled to myself as I read some of Phillips anecdotes while I was riding on the train. I thought to myself, “there’s a brother who’s experienced a different side of life”, meaning, that Phillips grew up in a mostly white suburban neighborhood and not The Ghetto or with drive-by shootings. Phillips points out in his book that not all blacks grow up in depressed urban areas and yet this is what both many blacks and whites visualize when they think of blacks in the American social context (Phillips sites pop-culture and hip-hop as the likely suspects). Conversely, this is one of the first points in which I had some issues with Phillips. Often, his tone could be self-righteous to a fault. His “pull yourself up by your boot straps” mentality I thought was a bit conceded. For a man that preached faith in God there seemed to be little praise and thanks to God for what he had. Instead, Phillips condems other blacks that were not as fortunate as he was as either lazy or not trying hard enough. This is part of the American myth that many blacks as well as other minority groups have not seen come to fruition: if you work hard enough you’ll be successful. While that is a good motto for building a productive work ethic I feel it does not hold up as a reliable, workable method to success.

I also have to voice my disagreement with Mr. Phillips in his presumptuous endorsement of such presidential candidates as Ronald Reagan and George Bush. While I don’t consider myself a Bush-basher I do find issue with Bush’s policies as well as those that Reagan had during his administration. The unlawful damage that Reagan heaped upon Central American countries such as Nicaragua cannot simply be put aside and forgiven. I also find fault with Reagan in how he put public policies and matters on the second burner while he pursued the destruction of the “Evil Empire”. Instead of listing their accomplishments, Phillips takes us on a tour of Clinton-bashing, putting Clinton’s extramarital affairs on display. While Clinton was certainly immoral (and I have no love for him either) I found Phillips critiques short-sited and full of propaganda. Phillips calls men like Reagan, Bush, General Patton and others heroes. While there would be few that could refute Patton’s military genius, I fail to see the heroics of Reagan or Bush.

Phillips makes no bones about his support for the United States being the lone super power in the world. Along with this he also lays down important ideas he believes Americans must wrestle and grapple with such as, “…secularism versus open recognition and celebration of our Judeo/Christian heritage…”. It was many statements such as these that I had my own bones to pick with Phillips. I have no problems with anyone stating claim to their own Judeo/Christian heritage or even the Christian heritage of the majority of those in/who came to America. But when it is spoken in ontological/metaphysical terms, then yes, I do have a problem. Many of the issues that Phillips argues against are false universals (all blacks want to be athletes, like fried chicken, can dance well, etc). Phillips is guilty of the same false universals in where he lays claims to America’s Judeo/Christian heritage without mentioning other voices even if they are the minority (for the record I am not arguing Islam here. Actually, I thought of the Chinese who labored to build our railroad systems). With that said, though, I do give Phillips full marks for bravery for openly declaring himself a Republican, which for an African-American, is close to committing cultural apostasy.

There are many other points in White Boy that I also congratulate Phillips on. His honest, straightforward talk about manhood and the importance of faith is both warranted and courageous. I, too, feel despair when I look at young people, especially young women and the ways in which that are objectified in American pop-culture. It is not an easy road to hoe to put oneself out in the margin as Phillips has done. He gives pertinent critiques of those who hold the keys to the validation of blackness, finding both blacks and whites equally guilty of upholding false universals of what and what does not constitute blackness.

White Boy is a good read. You may find Phillips a bit too in love with himself (with plenty remarks as to how he compares his looks to other actors - tongue in cheek or not, it got a little tiring). But perhaps this is the nature of those who live and work in Hollywood. And despite disagreeing with Phillips over his various political and social attitudes I am glad he has written this book. I believe that in order for us to move ahead and rid ourselves of social/racial stereotypes we must allow one another, black folks, to voice their opinions and to support the voicing of those opinions even if we find fault or disagreement with them. He Talk Like A White Boy by Joseph C. Phillips. Published by Running Press. © 2006.