My problem with the acting white myth is that in general, white people just don't like black folks. So when we say oh, students are getting teased, they don't think "hey, let's stop bullying in schools" they think "blacks are inferior". This is a problem because we need better schools in America. We need to stop a tracking system that has some kids getting the best instruction and others being taught by the coach, and filling out worksheets on fractions in twelfth grade. We need to bring all our resources to bear on educating all the kids, not just the kids of whites. We need more qualified teachers, who believe that all kids can learn. We need to desegregate the schools.

None of this can be done by focusing on what a schoolkid thinks is cool. Even if every black schoolchild in the nation was a perfect angel, we would still need to fight against the structure that disadvantages them. It's a different focus for me- you can't get all the kids to act right, but you can change their environment so it's easier for people to act right. It's hard to act right when you have to fill out worksheet after worksheet, are stuck in an overcrowded class with a teacher who thinks you're dumb and can't teach, and plus, you don't even have air conditioning.