# Oreo cookie

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/oreo-cookie
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

A black person that appears to the community to embody the social and cultural features of a white person

## Examples

- Some people call him an Oreo cookie because of his interests.
- He faced criticism from his peers who labeled him an Oreo cookie for preferring classical music over hip-hop.
- The social tension escalated when he was dismissed as an Oreo cookie by those who felt his cultural assimilation betrayed his heritage.

## Origin

By analogy with the proprietary "Oreo Cookie" that is black on the outside and white on the inside, implying that certain black people are white at heart.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.