The Student Room Group

Is there a such thing as 'Racial Identity problems(White trapped in Black) like....

TL;DR -Is there such a phenomenon as Racial identity problems (that is, a white person trapped in a black person's body) such as Gender identity problems (that is, a girl trapped in a boy's body)?

If you want some background to my question, you can read:


Since childhood, I've watched a lot of cr@p on TV and it can't be said that screen media (films etc) wasn't and still isn't quite relatively Caucasoid-centric. And then it didn't help that I was sent to Winchester which means my main friends are all white. And it gets worse that I admire great characters from history (most, if not all are white - e.g. great scientists, shapers of history etc) and I almost feel some sort of affinity with great strength and intelligence (when my racial ethnicity isn't really associated with those sorts of things). And when I look in the mirror, I nowadays always feel dread and inadequacy because of my nose shape and how it's flat - to me, the majestic pointed nose seems superior, better and more aesthetic.

Even in porn and whatnot, white porn is more desired (for example, with gay porn, there's the 'twink' phenomenon and this may or may not influence gay white teen's tastes - it's certainly influenced my tastes - and so would make it quite hard for people like me if I was to want to have gay experiences with such guys) The same goes with straight porn - white is more preferred.

What crowns it up, is that I sympathise with such things as 'Master Race' reasoning. Who wouldn't want to be strong and superior?

I feel no affinity with those from my racial ethnicity (and I hate how there's barely any history for them apart from primitivity and savagery much worse than other races of Humans).

And then there's the musical associations with the racial identity and white friends expect you to like certain types of music and sometimes you just want to scream at them and blend in and not stand out so much with an accent that doesn't fit the face and skin colour.

I'm not a troll - possibly my post history can show that I'm not doing too well mentally at the moment.

Scroll to see replies

Reply 1
Original post by endoftheline
TL;DR -Is there such a phenomenon as Racial identity problems (that is, a white person trapped in a black person's body) such as Gender identity problems (that is, a girl trapped in a boy's body)?

If you want some background to my question, you can read:


Since childhood, I've watched a lot of cr@p on TV and it can't be said that screen media (films etc) wasn't and still isn't quite relatively Caucasoid-centric. And then it didn't help that I was sent to Winchester which means my main friends are all white. And it gets worse that I admire great characters from history (most, if not all are white - e.g. great scientists, shapers of history etc) and I almost feel some sort of affinity with great strength and intelligence (when my racial ethnicity isn't really associated with those sorts of things). And when I look in the mirror, I nowadays always feel dread and inadequacy because of my nose shape and how it's flat - to me, the majestic pointed nose seems superior, better and more aesthetic.

Even in porn and whatnot, white porn is more desired (for example, with gay porn, there's the 'twink' phenomenon and this may or may not influence gay white teen's tastes - it's certainly influenced my tastes - and so would make it quite hard for people like me if I was to want to have gay experiences with such guys) The same goes with straight porn - white is more preferred.

What crowns it up, is that I sympathise with such things as 'Master Race' reasoning. Who wouldn't want to be strong and superior?

I feel no affinity with those from my racial ethnicity (and I hate how there's barely any history for them apart from primitivity and savagery much worse than other races of Humans).

And then there's the musical associations with the racial identity and white friends expect you to like certain types of music and sometimes you just want to scream at them and blend in and not stand out so much with an accent that doesn't fit the face and skin colour.

I'm not a troll - possibly my post history can show that I'm not doing too well mentally at the moment.


White person trapped in a black body? I lol'd.
Black people are black, doesn't matter how much they think they're white.
What do you mean? I've never heard of this. And what colour are you? Black or are you mixed race or something?

First of all, I'm 'black' but I don't live life attributing any importance to skin colour. Skin colour is largely irrelevant and has no bearing on intelligence or mental or physical ability. Therefore, your so-called 'white trapped in black' is irrelevant. Do you want to have white skin colour or is it just your mindset that you believe to be 'white'.

Really, you should know that there is no uniform way that people of the same skin colour act - it's just silly stereotypes.

I think your problem is that you actually want to be 'white' as in Anglo-Saxon ethnic, that type of thing? And you mentioned media, which is clearly what's messed with your head. Western society tends to big up 'white' as right and this may lead to feelings of inadequacy in weak-minded people (can't believe you went to Winchester and you're not strong-minded).

Take it from the horse's mouth - skin colour is irrelevant and you should achieve things on individual merits. Be great in your own right, whether that's in sporting or academics etc. Fine, your in a crowd where you stick out, but why would you want blend in. Surely you would want to be an individual and stand out from the crowd and masses? Forget about any type of 'racial history' - you are judged on what YOU do.

Regarding the mirror and nose thing :biggrin: - erm... I don't, get a nose job if you feel so strongly - that's what such people as Eddie Murphy and Will Smith did... :teehee:
I think you are confused in believing your ethnicity, or more specifically in this case skin colour, determines what you should think/feel/like etc.

You seem to think that the way you think is "white", hence thinking that you could be a white person's trapped in a black body - Don't be so naive, these things are determined by so many factors.

Stop with the self-hate, you are perpetuating this idea of white superiority which has no biological basis at all. The domination of whites is a result of the social world that people have created, and you are allowing yourself to be belittled by it. The levels of genetic variation between people attributed to different ethnicities can be significantly smaller than those attributed to the same ones - distinct races don't actually exist, it's just physical phenotypic variation. I'm not trying to be clever here, just demonstrating how useless race as a concept actually is, and therefore how little things like skin colour actually matter.

Being black, or mixed, or whatever you may be does not make you in any way inferior to another person on it's own. Similarly, being black does not define who you are necessarily, your skin colour will not in this day and age hold you back from being the intelligent, strong person that you want to be. However, your personal feelings of inferiority will, you need to change these negative ways of thinking. Don't allow yourself to be brain washed, that is definitely not an intelligent thing to do.
Honestly I don't know, but with the complexity of the human mind and brain I honestly wouldn't rule it out...

I think why this has happened to you is more because (from what I can tell from your post) you've become so used to being around, with, enjoying etc "White" culture, that you've become detatched from the various cultures from your own ethnic background. - As a matter of interest, if your family were at one point immigrants to this country, where did they come from originally? Maybe if you do want to re-connect with your Black past/heritage (dunno but I get the feeling you do and dont want to be like a white person...) then that might be a good place to start. It doesn't mean you have to throw away your current likes and so on which you consider "white" it just means that you can connect more with a different culture and maybe feel happier and more comfortable with your own skin colour/ethnicity.

nose shape/aesthetics mean different things to different people :wink: - some people might like your nose...

And about the history thing, dont forget that there have been some great non-white thinkers and so on throughout history too - not all black people are barbaric or backward (likewise not all white people are intelligent...) off the top of my head people like Martin Luther King, Gandhi and so on spring to mind :smile:. Also I would argue that the reason that the majority of great scientists, economists and so on were white is because of their nations developing scientifically and economically much faster than other nations (for reasons I don't really know to be honest... although I wouldn't put it down to race, as as far as I know, there is no biological proof for it - homo sapiens being broken down into distinct genetically different groups, let alone racial traits...), hence the cards are stacked in their (white countries) favour for producing people like this, due to the greater grounding/resources available for intellectuals to carry out their work. I imagine similar if not the same sort of people would have emerged in places in Africa if the tables had been turned and Africa had developed like Europe has throughout history.

Lastly, like it or not, you can't escape which ethnicity you were born into/skin colour (except through drastic means like plastic surgery etc...) so in my view, I'd stop beating yourself up about it and just learn to love the skin you're in!.
(edited 11 years ago)
Maybe some black people think that black people are destined to become rappers or 'gangsta' and they don't want to be associated with it.
Wasn't there a character in Malorie Blackman's Noughts and Crosses series (I think it was the sister) who was convinced that she was black when in fact she was white? She was insane though. And also fictional. That's the only example I can think of that comes close to what you're describing.

But your race is nothing to be ashamed of. You just need to feel proud of who you are. You can't change it - and there are plenty of beautiful, successful and influential black people.
Reply 7
Stop self-hating
Reply 8
In terms of psychology I don't think there is anything comparable to Gender Identity Disorder. It may simply not be researched enough as gender dysphoria has a much more prominent presence today. However, if you search for things like transracialism and race dysphoria, there are people like that around. If there can be gender dysphoria I'm sure there can be race dysphoria.
Original post by fbear
If there can be gender dysphoria I'm sure there can be race dysphoria.


There's a difference though; gender exists, race doesn't it's a meaningless term.
Reply 10
Original post by Antifazian
There's a difference though; gender exists, race doesn't it's a meaningless term.


Well, gender in relation to gender dysphoria is in a social context just like race. Also, the non-existence of biological races isn't as clear cut as you make it out to be.
Reply 11
I would argue that white people have it the worse physically though, since the sun is often a bitch to us.

And regards to music, there are plenty of decent black musicians that aren't rappers etc i.e Jimmy Hendrix, Bob Marly, Lenny Kravitz, most jazz/blues artists, etc.

I wouldn't be surprised if the OP was a troll though.
(edited 11 years ago)
how can a black person act white?

what do white people act like?

black people are usually accused of being white if they take an interest in education and study.bizarre but true.

ironically, its east asians who are renowned for their academic passion.

so i think when black people study it should be called, 'acting asian'.
(edited 11 years ago)
lol... *******s.

You're presuming that behaviour is race-based, not just culturally and socially constructed.
Original post by eggaforbreakfast
how can a black person act white?

what do white people act like?

black people are usually accused of being if they take an interest in education and study.bizarre but true.

ironically, its east asians who are renowned for their academic passion.

so i think when black people study it should be called, 'acting asian'.


No such thing exists, as racial behaviour is socially constructed.
ok, just read the OP properly.

i can't tell if the troll is trying to incite hatred towards white people or black people though?


suggestions? could actually make for an interesting discussion trying to work it out.
Original post by stadion of luz
No such thing exists, as racial behaviour is socially constructed.




yes, but at this point in history east asians seem to love education. its a cultural thing.

my point is, usually, black people are accused of being white ( by other black people ) if they reject the 'street mentality' and study.

it should be called 'acting asian'....although, south east asians tend to have white-ish skin.
(edited 11 years ago)
Reply 17
Original post by Sovr'gnChancellor£
What do you mean? I've never heard of this. And what colour are you? Black or are you mixed race or something?

First of all, I'm 'black' but I don't live life attributing any importance to skin colour. Skin colour is largely irrelevant and has no bearing on intelligence or mental or physical ability. Therefore, your so-called 'white trapped in black' is irrelevant. Do you want to have white skin colour or is it just your mindset that you believe to be 'white'.

Really, you should know that there is no uniform way that people of the same skin colour act - it's just silly stereotypes.

I think your problem is that you actually want to be 'white' as in Anglo-Saxon ethnic, that type of thing? And you mentioned media, which is clearly what's messed with your head. Western society tends to big up 'white' as right and this may lead to feelings of inadequacy in weak-minded people (can't believe you went to Winchester and you're not strong-minded).

Take it from the horse's mouth - skin colour is irrelevant and you should achieve things on individual merits. Be great in your own right, whether that's in sporting or academics etc. Fine, your in a crowd where you stick out, but why would you want blend in. Surely you would want to be an individual and stand out from the crowd and masses? Forget about any type of 'racial history' - you are judged on what YOU do.

Regarding the mirror and nose thing :biggrin: - erm... I don't, get a nose job if you feel so strongly - that's what such people as Eddie Murphy and Will Smith did... :teehee:


You're not taking me seriously. So can you seriously say that 'white' is not deemed as (aesthetically) beautiful?

I'm not weak-minded. Being educated in a predominantly white establishment has contributed to my mindset - I'm confident as a person but I can't just dismiss the fact that skin colour holds so much stigma.
Reply 18
Original post by No Man
I would argue that white people have it the worse physically though, since the sun is often a bitch to us.

And regards to music, there are plenty of decent black musicians that aren't rappers etc i.e Jimmy Hendrix, Bob Marly, Lenny Kravitz, most jazz/blues artists, etc.

I wouldn't be surprised if the OP was a troll though.


Physically? What are you on about? The sun's a bitch to everyone, even me - I was born here and lived here my whole life. My parents were born here and have lived here their whole lives (at least intermittently). Yet, when I'm in hot and sunny countries, the sun still gets to me, although I can't admit having ever had to put on sun-cream or having ever gotten a sun-burn.

Your example of 'black' musicians is laughable - really. Do you realise that of all of those guys, at least one parent of each was directly White or of direct White descent?

And I'm not a troll - I don't understand what I'd be trying to achieve if I was.
Reply 19
Original post by TheHistoryStudent
Honestly I don't know, but with the complexity of the human mind and brain I honestly wouldn't rule it out...

I think why this has happened to you is more because (from what I can tell from your post) you've become so used to being around, with, enjoying etc "White" culture, that you've become detatched from the various cultures from your own ethnic background. - As a matter of interest, if your family were at one point immigrants to this country, where did they come from originally? Maybe if you do want to re-connect with your Black past/heritage (dunno but I get the feeling you do and dont want to be like a white person...) then that might be a good place to start. It doesn't mean you have to throw away your current likes and so on which you consider "white" it just means that you can connect more with a different culture and maybe feel happier and more comfortable with your own skin colour/ethnicity.

nose shape/aesthetics mean different things to different people :wink: - some people might like your nose...

And about the history thing, dont forget that there have been some great non-white thinkers and so on throughout history too - not all black people are barbaric or backward (likewise not all white people are intelligent...) off the top of my head people like Martin Luther King, Gandhi and so on spring to mind :smile:. Also I would argue that the reason that the majority of great scientists, economists and so on were white is because of their nations developing scientifically and economically much faster than other nations (for reasons I don't really know to be honest... although I wouldn't put it down to race, as as far as I know, there is no biological proof for it - homo sapiens being broken down into distinct genetically different groups, let alone racial traits...), hence the cards are stacked in their (white countries) favour for producing people like this, due to the greater grounding/resources available for intellectuals to carry out their work. I imagine similar if not the same sort of people would have emerged in places in Africa if the tables had been turned and Africa had developed like Europe has throughout history.

Lastly, like it or not, you can't escape which ethnicity you were born into/skin colour (except through drastic means like plastic surgery etc...) so in my view, I'd stop beating yourself up about it and just learn to love the skin you're in!.


Thanks for your post - it looks like you put at least a bit of effort into it.

The whole point is that I don't want to re-connect with my Black heritage - I don't care to. There isn't much to re-connect to, regardless of how much family I might have in Africa.

My parents weren't immigrants. They were born here. Rather, their parents were 'immigrants' or whatever they were classed back as then. They were originally mainly from Nigeria and Cameron.

I know I can't change my skin colour (and I wouldn't want to as it clearly wouldn't be genuine, although MJ did look alright when he first started getting lighter but people say he had a skin disease) and it's this knowledge that sometimes makes feel hopeless and down that I wasn't born as I wanted to be - in my darkest hours I even feel as if some higher entity or concept has punished me for some deeds in my past life and therefore put me in this body and skin but that's irrational and silly. There were even jokes at times from friends that certain friends were more black than me - and I couldn't care less if they were.

I've been bottling all of this up for years ever since I began maturing, but everything's kind of bursting out now - these issues weren't much of an issue as few years ago, but they've gradually accumulated in seriousness...

Quick Reply

Latest