"He talk like a white boy..."

[SageRuffin]

Allow me to introduce myself: I'm known simply as "Sage" to my various on- and off-line friends and I invite you all to refer to me in the same light. I'm a 24-year-old black male [http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v602/Ruffin316/DSCN1449.jpg] from the "mean" streets of Baltimore, Maryland, USA, and am a proud(-ish) member of the United States Air Force [http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v602/Ruffin316/CeremonialSage-1.jpg]. Funnily enough, I'm also a geek something terrible [http://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x326/SageRuffin/Katsucon%2017/SageWinduwithSaber-1.jpg], taking great enjoyment in playing various fighting, action/adventure, and role-playing games, reading into science fiction, creative writing and drawing (the latter of which I've been told is a loose combination of Japanese and American comic techniques), and traveling to various anime and gaming conventions. How are you?

Whoa, hang on! Don't hit that back button just yet. I swear I'm actually going somewhere with this...

Anyway, perusing some of the recent threads here have reminded of a pet peeve that still bothers me to this day...

I'm one of those weird folks that types roughly how I talk in real life, and, in real life, I sometimes catch flak for using "big" words in my everyday speech (even if said "big" word is something like gall, i.e. having the gall to call that a big word). As such, when I'm in more "ghetto" parts of any town, I often get hit with a number of baseless accusations: I grew up in the suburbs (quite the opposite actually); I went to high-profile schools (again, quite the opposite); and the one that fries my chicken the most, that I talk "white".

Me being the cynical bastard that I am I have to ask "what exactly does that mean?" Am I a "race-traitor" (if you've never heard that term before, I envy you) simply because I read a few books and did my homework? Am I supposed to be looked as yet another statistic to be poorly represented by BET by constantly talking into what could amount as an extraterrestrial language? Is it so wrong that I think Lil' Wayne and Drake are two of the most overrated rappers today and will happily explain - coherently to boot - why I think that?

I don't understand it. Since when did utilizing proper English qualify as talking in a dialect unnatural to one's skin tone (for us Americans, that is)? And of course this begs the question: what is "talking black"? Is there also a "talking red," or yellow, or brown, or pink? If so, how does one do that?

I invite one and all to attempt to answer these questions, or even just comment on your own experiences of being hit with bizarre and untrue accusations just because you happen to be able to "articulately elaborate your argument".

Think differently.

 

[Radeonx]

Most black people in the typical "ghetto" normally expect other black people to speak in "ebonics" and use similar slang to them. It isn't that big of a deal.
As a white kid growing up in inner city Chicago, my black friends got a lot of flak at first glance for hanging out with a semi nerdy white kid.

 

[the spud]

People are assholes. Simple as that. "You share a few steryotypical characteristics with this group, so therefore you are a trader." It makes no sense, but good luck trying to put an end to human ignorance.

 

[PeePantz]

Why do you have put down Lil Weezy like that?

 

[SageRuffin]

Why do you have put down Lil Weezy like that?

Do you really want me to answer that?

 

[enzilewulf]

Well I think its just because of the situation you came out of. I am a White teen in the suburbs and people think im some philosopher because of the big words I use. Yet I think its just because most black people who come out of your situation really just are not as sophisticated as you? (I don't know that could be a gross misconception on my part.) Any ways look at Obama. That guy speaks a lot more intelligently than Bush ever did, and he is half black.

 

[Mr Companion]

Wow, you are really quite charming, even through your writing!

Welp, thats my contribution to this topic

 

[Nomatophobe]

It may just be the area you're living in. Move to California

 

[PeePantz]

Why do you have put down Lil Weezy like that?

Do you really want me to answer that?

How can you argue, with that?

 

[Jadak]

Something confuses me, I get where you're coming from here but why exactly do you bother to spend time in the more "ghetto" parts of town? At the core of the issue, it has little to do with race and simply comes down to the fact that you're better than them. Leave them to their lowlife lives and try sticking with people on your level, white or otherwise.

 

[trooper6]

"Talking Black." The vast majority of African-Americans in the US were historically based in the South. So "Black culture"--"Talking Black" and "Soul Food" is basically speaking in a regional dialect that has its roots in the South. Just as "Black Food" is basically a variation on southern food. The vast majority of African American in the rest of the country are the descendants of blacks who moved during the great migrations of the 1890s-1940s...and still have strong roots in the south. Additionally, the vast majority of African Americans are working class and continue to exist within their working class culture (which has implications on educational attainment).

The big problem is the lack of recognition (either by blacks or whites or anyone else) that not every black person is connected to Southern black culture nor is every black person is working class.

I grew up working class, but the black side of my family is Western rather than Southern and middle class. People would accuse me of acting white or talking white...but I didn't talk or act white...I talked and acted like my parents...which is a different culture than the one people tend to think of as black culture. There are multiple black cultures that vary based on region, class, religion, etc. But "others" get lumped into one group and homogenized....easier to pigeon hole them...and from the inside, easier to build solidarity.

But I don't want to have to deny my history (which involves cowboys and casinos) in order to make that solidarity work.

 

[Mr.Petey]

This is quite profound and galling as you say. I'd return with "Since when did you profile and pigeon-hold my words in connection with skin colour?" as it's just ridiculous to correlate some phrases and words into such a way.

I know what you mean when it comes to getting flak for using larger words than what is considered the norm. But continue with it and be proud of your wealth of knowledge of language

 

[Torrasque]

I'll do my best to answer your questions Sage, but I'm afraid I don't deal with racism that much since I live in Canada =/

How are you?I am doing quite well today. I have been relaxing at home playing games (currently going through the Fire Temple on OoT Master quest on my 3DS, and its a pain =|) while trolling people about the nonsense that surrounds 9/11. I go to Vegas in 2 days, so I'm just kicking back and getting into the mindset that I'll be in Vegas in 2 days, lol.

Me being the cynical bastard that I am I have to ask "what exactly does that mean?" I think it is as you said, you are supposed to be uneducated, speak like you grew up in the poorest area ever, and be a generic "black guy". Which is really unfortunate. I don't put any merit into a person's skin colour, I know many smart (and not so smart) people of any skin colour. There is absolutely no correlation between what a person looks like, and what they should sound like.

Am I a "race-traitor" (if you've never heard that term before, I envy you) simply because I read a few books and did my homework? Am I supposed to be looked as yet another statistic to be poorly represented by BET by constantly talking into what could amount as an extraterrestrial language?Nope, never heard the word "race-traitor", probably because I grew up in Canada, and have lived here all my life
I don't think you're a race traitor for being educated. If people think black people should be stupid, ignorant, and speak a certain way, then they are very very stupid.
I think its great that you had the motivation to educate yourself despite your environment (just assuming based on what you said) and break away from that stereotype of being an uneducated guy who speaks like he lives in the 1800s.

Is it so wrong that I think Lil' Wayne and Drake are two of the most overrated rappers today and will happily explain - coherently to boot - why I think that?You are welcome to think whatever you want about whoever you want, and I won't hold that against you
I don't like most rap, mostly because I hate the culture behind it, but also because I just don't like how it sounds.

I don't understand it. Since when did utilizing proper English qualify as talking in a dialect unnatural to one's skin tone (for us Americans, that is)? And of course this begs the question: what is "talking black"? Is there also a "talking red," or yellow, or brown, or pink? If so, how does one do that?Well I know there are expected forms of english depending on your region; New Yorkers sound like New Yorkers, and the Bostonian accent is pretty tell-tale. As for a skin-related form of talking, I think that notion is just silly.

I hope my answers satisfy your questions, I'm more than willing to provide more details if you desire =)

 

[SageRuffin]

How can you argue, with that?

Easy, his lyrics are more scattered than a bunch of marbles falling out of an active dryer.

Now, to be fair, I'll go ahead and say he's a good rapper, but goddamn he's a terrible lyricist.

But I don't want the topic to devolve into a pointless debate about one's lyrical prowess. Let's just move on.

Something confuses me, I get where you're coming from here but why exactly do you bother to spend time in the more "ghetto" parts of town?

That's an easy answer: my mom lives there. While it's not "ghetto", it's not exactly what you would call "upstanding" either. Hell, walk by any alley and you're kindly greeted with the pungent smell of urine for your troubles.

Good times. ¬__¬

 

[liquidsolid]

I agree totally with you, labeling things like proper grammer "white" does a diservice to black people in America and across the world. Anti-intellectual attitudes like that are part of what could hold blacks back from attaining the higher status that they have been valiantly struggling to achieve since the Civil Rights Era began.

I also agree with your statement about Lil' Wayne and Drake being overrated. Most rap today is garbage, it's degenerated into hedonistic club music. It's equivalent to disco and hopefully it undergoes a radical change sometime soon.

 

[MASTACHIEFPWN]

oneofus
oneofus
oneofus
Nah, I'm just fucking with you.

But I do find it going against equallity. Why does a white guy talk in "fancier" language? Why is it that a white person can only use "bigger" words?

Why can't we just throw down this wall of misconceptions about races?

Oh wait... People... and the intenet...

 

[Atmos Duality]

Most black people in the typical "ghetto" normally expect other black people to speak in "ebonics" and use similar slang to them. It isn't that big of a deal.
As a white kid growing up in inner city Chicago, my black friends got a lot of flak at first glance for hanging out with a semi nerdy white kid.

Amen, brother. Windy city represent!

Oh wait...I'm not black so I'm not supposed to say that...
Carry on.

 

[RhombusHatesYou]

Me being the cynical bastard that I am I have to ask "what exactly does that mean?" Am I a "race-traitor" (if you've never heard that term before, I envy you) simply because I read a few books and did my homework? Am I supposed to be looked as yet another statistic to be poorly represented by BET by constantly talking into what could amount as an extraterrestrial language?

Read up on theories of 'language shaping thought' and '(modern) cultural genocide - self perpetuation' and you should have a good jump off point for getting some solid answers... or, at least, a lot of crap you disgree with and can have a jolly old time dissecting.

 

[Aerodyamic]

Allow me to quote something I literally JUST read in a Robert Sawyer book....

"I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal." .... I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character."

Now, I've withdrawn 2 intermediary lines from the above quote, but to me, the 2 lines I've quoted are some of the most moving words in human history. Maybe you can't stop some people from resenting that you've worked hard to get to where you are, but I hope we can all wish that every new generation will exceed the expectations of their parents.