Why do black men have a hard time speaking English?

Question

I'm not trying to be racist or arrogant- the many black men I talk to seem to stutter and have a problem speaking English.

Answer 1

maybe because of the lack of proper education for minorities. Many blacks and non-whites are passed through school without even knowing how to read!!!! I have been working in group homes and residential facilities for abused and neglected kids for years.....one thing I have learned, is that they rather pass us than to help us. I have met so many kids that could only spell their names but yet they are in the 6th grade!!!!!! How the hell did that happen????

Answer 2

I think Sinurgy has a point. I have recently gone back to college to pursue another degree, & it seems the black male on campus who is the most eloquent speaker is my professor from Nigeria. Meanwhile, I am in a speech class, & there are a lot of people from the football program. Most are black. However, all seem to have difficulty speaking & reading, both the black football players & the white ones. It leads me to believe that the environment which pushes young men to put athletics above academics leads to men who may do well in sports, but also stammer, stumble, & inevitably mispronounce words which seem simple to someone like myself. No, the dumb jock stereotype isn't 100% accurate, but stereotypes in general exists because of objects of the stereotypes perpetuating the noticed behavior.
Also, I did notice once that I used to work with a black man who changed his speech patterns & mannerisms around other black men. When he was around me & away from other black males, he acted differently. I asked him why. He said in his experience, if he were honest about his intelligence or his political beliefs, he would be ostracized by his community. Therefore, he had to purposely utilize ebonics to "dumb down" his language, & act like a liberal when talking to other blacks, even though he actually was a conservative at heart. I remember the same thing happening in schoolyards, where people made you feel as though you weren't cool if you were smart. I can't imagine my family & friends joining in, accusing me of being a sell-out if I spoke in an intelligent manner, & placed my academic achievements above my athletic abilities. I believe when black men in certain environments stop chastising each other for not using ebonics & for speaking as professionals, this trend may turn around, & we will see even more members of the black community living up to their true potentials. I would like to see this happen for all races, including my own (I'm a mix of Cherokee & Irish, so I get to hope for two races), as I feel all races could strive harder to achieve more in life.

Answer 3

It's not a physical impediment. There are enough examples of black people who speak perfect English (Condoleeza Rice, Tiger Woods, Koffi Annan, to name a few).
The sad truth is that a large part of the black population find themselves in the lowest socio-economic levels, where education is minimal and where they have no role models whose correct use of the language they can copy.

Answer 4

It's not a black thing as much as it's an environment thing. When you're surrounded by people who don't speak well, you're just not likely to speak well yourself.

Answer 5

I do not think that they have a problem. If they choose to speak in a ghetto slang it is their choice and not an inadequacy.

Answer 6

They want to speak more at a short time..That is why!!!!

Answer 7

What a stupid question, YES you are being very IGNORANT!!!!

Answer 8

du du duh, wh wha what yo you me mea mean