Play the white man is a term used in parts of England meaning to be decent and trustworthy in one's actions.
The origin of the phrase is obscure. The term carries with it a reference to an obligation which outnumbered English civil administrators in the latter years of the British Empire might have considered themselves to be under: that is, the obligation to uphold respect for their county abroad by maintaining personal standards of behavior and fairness which darker-skinned native peoples could respect. The act of calling upon someone to remember his personal moral obligations in this way is expressed in Rudyard Kipling's poem The White Man's Burden. On the other hand, the racially neutral color white has long been associated with pureness and virtue.
A similar expression in the United States is "That's mighty white of you", meaning, "Thank you for being fair". Among African Americans, this phrase is said in response to being patronized or told what to think.
Famous quotes containing the words white man, play, white and/or man:
“Let me just say, at once: I am not now nor have I ever been a white man. And, leaving aside the joys of unearned privilege, this leaves me feeling pretty good ...”
—June Jordan (b. 1936)
“Rick: You played it for her, you can play it for me.
Sam: Well, I don’t think I can remember it.
Rick: If she can stand it, I can. Play it!”
—Julius J. Epstein (1909–1952)
“Whether he cringe at my feet,
whether he beat on your eyes,
white wings, white butterflies.”
—Hilda Doolittle (1886–1961)
“A great man always considers the timing before he acts.”
—Chinese proverb.