Insulted by Ebonics - Do you unknowingly stereo type other people?

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Permalink Reply by Cissi Sherlock on July 5, 2009 at 1:20pm

Do you remember hearing about how HIlary Clinton would adapt a certain vernacular when she spoke at Black churches?

Sad but LOL!

I would really like to hear from some white people on this one. Why? Because sometimes it happens unconsciously. And, because there are instance when a white person will talk "UP" to you thinking that we, as Black people, do not understand.

I like it when people just fall int o conversation without benefit of color.

Permalink Reply by James Ryan on July 5, 2009 at 1:55pm

I'll take the bait. I definitely don't use ebonics or other youth slang until I get to know someone. However, many younger (in their 20s) African Americans that I meet on a social basis use it with me almost immediately. In social settings they use the "I be" and other forms from the outset. And I hope and pray that they don't do that at work.

After getting to know one such youthful African American I had the opportunity to say "True dat". which I did, knowing it would crack them up - which it did.

Permalink Reply by Victoria Finch on July 5, 2009 at 2:23pm

The way you use ebonics it totally acceptable. You use is after you get to know the youth. Unfortunately, many African American use ebonics in there everyday speech no matter where they are.

Permalink Reply by Victoria Finch on July 5, 2009 at 2:54pm

You may not think rules and etiquette have a place in society but most of us do. It is not ridiculous to not want to be stereo typed or insulted. I don't know if you grew up with any siblings or not, but if you did, I am sure you said things about and to them that you would not want someone outside of your family to say to them. That's the concept that I am speaking about. Let me throw this back at you. Who says what is "proper"English? Why not talk to someone that speaks ebonics?

Permalink Reply by Victoria Finch on July 5, 2009 at 4:48pm

You called the rules "ridiculous". Perhaps I went to far stating that you were implying that you do not think rules and etiquette has a place in society. My apologies.

My comment about siblings relates to the fact that I have friends that speak ebonics, that's their vernacular, don't assume because I am African American that you should address me that way if you are not in that circle.

I absolutely agree with you that you can choose whom you have conversations with and whom you do not. I personally hate it when people use ebonics in everyday speaking. It embarrasses me as an African American when people speak like that, especially in professional situations. But, it is a part of my culture whether I like it or not.

Permalink Reply by Victoria Finch on July 5, 2009 at 6:10pm

I also have family members that speak ebonics. You have NO business telling me or anyone else what is cultural and what is not when you clearly don't know what you are talking about. Merriam-Webster defines culture as: the customary beliefs, social forms, and material traits of a racial, religious, or social group ; also : the characteristic features of everyday existence (as diversions or a way of life} shared by people in a place or time .

Perhaps you need a definition or the word vernacular. Here is how it is defined by Merriam Webster: of, relating to, or being a nonstandard language or dialect of a place, region, or country. Apparently, you do not understand the words "vernacular" or "culture" The "place" is the African American community. Did you catch the part about the "nonstandard language?"

People who speak Ebonics are not necessarily lazy. People who speak Ebonics work and contribute to society.

I hate to tell you that ALL black people that are Americans are African American. I have a rich heritage of American Indian, and Irish, and white in my family. But I guarantee you that if authorities were to describe me, they would list my race as "African American"

My great grandfather was born a slave. His parents came from Africa. He was freed as a boy. My grandfather was first generation born free on my father's side. How dare you insult my heritage by stating that I am not African American. Your red hair analogy is irrevalant to this discussion. You state that you are not Irish. We do not call ourselves black because we "happen" to have the skin color we have. We are of African decent.

I speak differently in some circles because it is natural for me when I am in that environment. Many blacks think that I speak "proper" or sound "white." Why? Because of the culture.

Permalink Reply by Michael R. on July 6, 2009 at 8:09am

It is a new thing that developed only because there were many lazy people who didn't want to pronouce words correctly


Show me some in-depth studies to back up this claim of yours. Chris, what do you define as 'slang'? If new words are being made up and put into print on a daily basis, are they considered slang to you? Do you accept any new words? If so, what is the criteria for your acceptance of these words into the English language?

Let's start with an oldie but a goodie. What is your stance on the word "ain't", Chris? From what I have gathered, it became a word in 1749. Has it been around long enough for it to be considered a word to you?

Permalink Reply by Michael R. on July 6, 2009 at 7:57am

People who use slang don't do it to "disparage" the English language, Chris. You may believe that if you want to, but it's not the case. As for so-called "proper English", well, new words are being added to the English language everyday and being printed in dictionaries so it's ever-evolving. For you to say that those who use Ebonics should learn a different language altogether (It's 'altogether', Chris, not 'alltogether') is ridiculous since the English language is always evolving and new words are being created on a daily basis.

When someone shows such little regard for the English language, it shows me they will show little regard for other things

As for the above statement of yours, well, it is ignorance personified.

Got dat?

Permalink Reply by Cissi Sherlock on July 7, 2009 at 4:20pm

Do you end conversations with people who use terms that have no dialectual (like my word!) associations such as "y'all", referring to people as "Bubba" and the expressions "I reckon'" and "down yonder" or anyone that abbreviates their sentence structure using words that are not associated with "Ebonics"?

Permalink Reply by Michael R. on July 6, 2009 at 7:42am

It is most certainly NOT a direct reflection of the so-called educational system in this country. For you to believe that really shows your ignorance on the subject at hand. U ignit, Chris. lol

Permalink Reply by John Cannon on July 6, 2009 at 9:34am

Here, here! About time someone stood up and said it! I agree that it IS a bastardization of the language that makes anyone who uses "I be going" or "they be saying" sound moronic and uneducated, NO MATTER what color they are. The funny thing is that some people embrace this whole "other language" as their heritage. The ONLY way I can see it as being part of heritage would be from 200 years ago when their ancestors weren't given the opportunity to be properly educated. Seriously? Out of all the brilliant minds and good people, the part of your heritage you're going to present to the public on a common, daily basis is the uneducated, low-brow, grammatically incorrect part?

Personally, my company deals with the public as part of our job with every single customer. I have African-American employees, he's a fantastic guy. I have African-American friends. But they wear their pants around their waists and can carry on a covversation without giving the illusion that they are uneducated. IT IS NOT ABOUT RACE, it's about NOT looking undeducated. I've not hired white people because they can't pull up their pants or speak properly too.

Lastly, I don't think calling a female the common slang of "girl" is necessarily ebonics. That is a slang that has stretched across all boundaries of America. Now, if the person did it with an African-American accent, I'd be highly insulted if I were you. That would be the equivalent of a french person being in that room and a non-French person coming in an offering them French fries, wine and cheese in silly Pepe LePew accent. I believe what he did was wrong, not because it was ebonics, but because he's a professional in a professional setting and until you two were much better aquainted, he shlould've kept it on a professional level.
However, the medical industry is a little different. They don't have a lot of time to gtet to know you, but they want you to feel at ease and comfortable right away, so many people in the medical profession will refer to somone in a more common, cordial, friendly manner as is proper in order to do their job easier, make the patient more comfortable and provide a friendlier surrounding for the patient.

So whas what he did wrong? Maybe a little, but I would let it go. I don't think it had so much to do with race as just trying to do his job.

Permalink Reply by Michael R. on July 6, 2009 at 9:46am

I have African-American employees, he's a fantastic guy.

Freudian slip?



Now, if the person did it with an African-American accent


How does that sound again? lol What exactly IS an "African-American" accent, anyways? Yeah, John, that didn't come off as stereotypical or insulting at all. *rolls eyes*

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