black people and proper english???

Question

hi everyone. why is it that in our society if an african american can pronounce all of their syllables in their words they are considered to be "proper", and considerd a snob by a lot of the black community?

Answer 1

Because there is a current crisis in the black community (especially with black males). I would compare it to a big barrel of crabs. When one crab desperately claws their way to the top, the other crabs will go to extreme measures to pull him back in and keep him in the cesspool of dirt, dope and violence.

Answer 2

Firs of all....there is no country called "Africa America". You are either an American or you are not. My ancestors are from Ireland, I don't expect or want to be called an "Irish American"! I have a lot of respect for Bill Cosby for taking on subject maters such as this. Not speaking proper English is a display of ignorance, not a justifiable language in it's own as it was "pushed" on legislators in California about ten years ago. Why do some groups feel the need to have to stand out and show the world they are different when they really are not, I think all people basically want the very same things out of life and like it or not, are pretty much the same in that respect.

Answer 3

That is a wonderful question... I myself am the "victim" of being a "proper" black person.
What kills me is I hear it from both black and white people! I think it's reverse racism: "Why can you speak well? You're BLACK!"
I dont know what it is but I hear from actual Africans (not Americans) who speak better english then our people here. We've co occupied this country just as long as any European. (or Asian, Hispanic, or Indian for that matter.) It's racist to assume that the color of my skin dictates the grammar on my lips. It was racism in the 1800's. We were not to read and write, if we tried, we were considered a threat, and hanged & accused of trying to "get learned" if we showed any signs of intellegence.... This is just a hybrid of racism! Black people are oppressing themselves by allowing that uneducated spirit to continue on, calling themselves not conforming, when really, all they're doing is listening to their master all over again....

Answer 4

Because you have some people that are ignorant and when they see another black person that speaks proper English they feel dumb so they find any reason to try and make there self feel better by talking about that person trying to joke on them by saying they talk to proper or act white.

Answer 5

It's not just the black community that snubs "proper" grammar. There are a lot of people of all ethnic backgrounds who think articulate people are snobs. Republicans are always calling articulate people names. LOL

Answer 6

My understanding is that in the black community, it is uncool to be educated and intelligent. That's one of the problems Bill Cosby preaches about.

Personally, I enjoy talking to someone who speaks good English, is intelligent, and can put together a complete sentence.

You have what it takes. Make good things happen...

Answer 7

Cause blacks seam to think that there special, and dont want to conform with civilization. Im not trying to be racist but thats what it appears to be.

So if a black person acts proper they assume there trying to act white, instead there are actually just trying to be a normal human being.

Answer 8

Back in the slave days, the only blacks who could speak proper English were the house servants, who were treated much better than the field slaves.

Answer 9

I know people always call me white, bougy, and a BAP just because I talk proper and listen to different styles of music. Why do people have to be so ignorant? I talk how I want to talk.

Answer 10

I do not share your experience- most blacks know how to talk properly, there are people of all race that pronounce words properly, just as there are those that do not. Why talk just about blacks ?