Ok for starters it bugs me that you think the phrase was made by African Americans and can therefore not be used by white kids. Its not life african americans dont use quotes made by Europeans... Second you should really put some thought into the quote. Its really not all that vague, but even if it was a little vagueness is good because it allows for personal interpretation. The quote, however, seemed pretty open and shut. Things are what they are. The world is round. No matter how much you wish it were flat it is still round. Humans are at war. "It is what it is." Just accept it. We've been at war since the beginning and will most likely be till the end. So the quote just means that the things that are a certain way. Are that way and accepting it just makes it easier.