What's so wrong with being cultured?

Question

I'm trying to word this question in a way that won't offend people, but you know...there's one in every bunch. Not recently, but in the past, I've seen black people make fun of white people by (and I'm sure this is going to sound dumb) pronouncing all the syllables of a word. (i.e. "Hi Bill, how are you today?" was said from one black man to another, he pronounced his "Rs" hard and make sure to enunciate his words.) Why is this a bad thing? I don't understand why someone would think it's cool or correct or good in any way to say, "Hey yo, what up?" instead of "Hey Jack, what's up?" or "Save me a dess at da libary." instead of "Save me a desk at the library, please."

Why is this funny to so many black people to speak like you have an education and try to promote a good self image, instead of looking and sounding like you're from the ghetto?

Notice I say SOME. One of my attorneys is actually a black woman, and she's probably the smartest woman I've ever met...very refined.

To the person (sorry, can't remember your name!) who said something to the tune of "speaking well doesn't mean you're cultured"...this is very true. I know plenty of people who speak properly and are still @ssholes. Speaking well and being cultured seem to go hand in hand though, don't you think?

Answer 1

I know what you are saying but experience with some people I have known making fum of other black folks for "talking white" We should all strive to be educated and able to speak well. No matter what the race is. You should be careful phrasing your question, because whether you like it or not it will seem as if you are singaling out blacks, when there are all races that do this, it just depends on where you look. But to answer your question, there is nothing wrong with it and we all should strive to be the best we can be all around.

Answer 2

I don't know why people today are so scared to offend others, when we each have our own opinion. Any subject can offend anyone now and days. I can talk about how I don't like a certain game and those gamers will bash at me for it. This is also a new century and new times, so I don't understand what people are so scared of anymore. They may call you racist, but if you know you are not, but just have your minor opinions, then you are not.

I feel stereotypes are not so much a serious issue anymore, but more for humor. At the same time though, a lot of shows out there promote it. The media is extremely influential, especially when it comes to comedy, so they can easily make stereotyping seem ok if they express it with humor. This causes the audience to say "Hey, that's ok." Making fun of white people for being articulate with speech is an example.

Also, people just want to be accepted. The fact that speaking clearly is being made fun of on popular shows or amongst friends, can easily make someone influenced to make fun of it as well. People fear not being accepted.

And heck, sometimes it's just funny.

Answer 3

It is not limited to black kids. Many kids today purposely speak incorrectly. Many emulate gang lingo or ghetto lingo.

I think it is because the media and some celeberties glorifies gang lifestyle that absence of any other (positive) role models, they simply identify themselves with them.

We (using it here in limited scope) think it's silly, but if you recall, in younger days, we all did things to "fit in" to whatever the popular culture there was.

I don't think it's much different today. Just that the culture and role models has changed quite a bit.

As you also said, this is behavior of SOME people. There are many other who try to speak correctly.

The sad part of this, is that there are some who ONLY know how to speak in this way (broken way) that when they grow up to be an adult, they continue to speak the same way.

There are alot of reasons including economic levels, educational opportunities, and more importantly, the home environment. Also the fact that we are not truely integrated. I am not surprised if some segment used these languages to separate themselves from the rest and use it as an identity of some sort.

Answer 4

Communication is what we are talking about here. I don’t know which comedian said that most black people are bilingual; we speak both ghetto and English.

I don’t think that there is anything wrong with speaking correct English and using correct pronunciation. For one, it is easy for everyone to understand someone who is speaking correctly. Another thing is that speaking correctly portrays a higher level of education, class, and professionalism.

While knowing how and when to speak correctly is important, Iount see nutin wrong wit talkin dis way or dat way when I be at da jawn wit my peeps who git where I be comin from and see wit I be meanin. (My mother hates when I do that.)

I have a master’s degree and I know how to speak English. I would never and don’t think that anyone should ever knock someone for speaking “white.” Doing so is stupid. It is true that some uneducated people both white and black look down on people with an education because those people don’t want to deal with their own short comings.

Answer 5

I hear ya on this one. It gets on my nerves too and I'm black. I have been told before that I am acting white. Why is it acting white to talk in proper English? I think it's just insecurity issues. They probably feel intimidated because they think that someone that talks properly is more intelligent. I play around with my friends sometimes and talk funny, but I am always professional at work. I was raised to talk like I have some sense, so when I do play around like that, it feels really unnatural. It has been my experience that urban black culture down plays education, it not cool, and this is a very bad thing that I think needs to be addressed.

Answer 6

1.lack of a better word normally between men, in stead of saying my friend in some was it shows weakness.In this race. Yes I agree with the talking it shows that they are not ready to become part of the country. they have bin beaten down for so many years. that they need to have there own to stand out to be different. if they only shook there head and realized that it was there race that started the world. that they might start . realizing that they belong with us. for we are all blood related. but it might be another more educated generation that this way will become a thing of the past and we all will speak the same. I feel that the way they talk shows that they just haven't found were they belong yet.

Answer 7

What is right and what is wrong in language? There is no such thing as wrong in the way someone or a group of people chooses to speak. Yes, their might be specific rules on how to use language so there won’t be complete chaos and misunderstanding, but you will find that many modern linguistic theories tell you that the language is a living thing and keeps evolving and adjusting, depending where it is found and used. The language exists for one reason only, to help us express ourselves, so the way each person uses it has to say something about them and expresses them. It indicates origin, social background, attitude towards life and so on. It’s a tool you use, not a law you have to obey. Other than that, it’s a personal matter of choice how you use it or what form of it rings nicely or badly to your ears. What is wrong of course is to make fun of people about the way they choose to use it.

Answer 8

Well I appreciate the fact that you are not stereotyping all black people. As a mixed girl (black and white), I sort of see it from both sides. Since black people are known to talk "ghetto", uneducated ignorant black people think it is weird and funny for other black people to talk "white". I actually understand where they are coming from, because you can honestly tell when black people are trying to talk like that, but sometimes it is ridiculous and sometimes it's funny...it all depends on how you see it.

With me, when I'm talking with my black friends, they'll be like, "Omg, you are so white." But they say it as a joke...and when I'm with my white friends, they'll always categorize me as the black girl. It really doesn't bother me, but I understand the confusion from you.

Answer 9

That's an interesting observation. Something Barak Obama said is appropriate here...

"...parents have to parent, that children can't achieve unless we raise their expectations and turn off the television sets and eradicate the slander that says a black youth with a book is acting white."

Malcolm X had a MASTER'S degree.. no one would accuse him of being white.

Answer 10

It's an attempt at belonging to an elite group. By making fun of the white people, they make themselves feel better about being themselves.

This happens in every multicultural place in the world. And it happens both ways.