Why is it that most Black people associate talking 'proper' with talking white?!?

Question

And why do we associate talking "slang or mispronounced english, " or whatever with talking black? That irritates the crap out of me! What? I have to prove myself, that I'm "down" by acting less educated, changing the way I talk? What do you think?

Answer 1

Don't be so irritated. It's just an attempt at self-identification, even if misguided.

Heck, immediately after the American Revolution, the Founders switched to eating with the right hand, just to be different from the British. And they adopted the Spanish dollar for the monetary system, just to spite the English pound.

So, git down, brotha, when you in da 'hood, and enjoy yo' folx.

Answer 2

The reason for this is simply: Music and Society.
Look at the slang that is profusely spouted out on Rap videos and many Pop videos too. These genres have a tendency to appeal to a very wide array of youth and pushes in their brains that it is "cool" to talk like this.
With all Political Correctness aside it is known that a very large majority of Blacks star and listen to Rap and Pop, which now a days consists of catch-phrases and slang, that someone once heard in their "hood". The rest of the population that accepts this as "cool talking" will mimic the speech pattern, making them almost directly tied in with that certain culture.
The same thing goes for Rock and Country which is predominantly White.
For example, if a Black person loves Rock and Country, chances are that they have accepted this as "cool" in their book. This same black person will mimic what they think is "cool" and adopt the same speech pattern and pronunciation as their favorite Star. When that Black person is in the midst of others who disagrees with his/her music choice, the others will automatically label them as "white" because they associate Rock and Country as a predominantly "white" genre.
Vice versa Versa vice.

Answer 3

Because black people who are educated, who have money, who dress nice, and who talk "white" or "proper" aren't considered "black".

I guess black defines a person who defies all windows of intelligence. I never fit in in high school because I was too "white" but that paid off....

Today I'm a news reporter/ journalist and I give occasional speeches and make good money doing it. I guess if I acted "black" I wouldn't have gotten this far....

Answer 4

Language has always been a characteristic of social status. Do you think an English peasant in the 11th century used the same syntax and pronunciation as the local Bishop?

The way one speaks is a function of his or her family, peers, socioeconomic status, and level of education.

Also, modern hip-hop culture has influenced language trends at all levels because, as you know, its not the kids in tha hood dat be snappin' up da rap...its da lil' white boys in da suburbs that's payin' for all tha bling-bling on tha M-TV.

WTF you lookin at, biatch?

Answer 5

Come on now, we know who sounds educated and who wants to be white. The mom on the Cosby show sounded Black yet very intelligent.

Answer 6

Probably because when the Blacks try to use their own patterns of speech they are told they aren't speaking correctly. When young people are told no, no, no, no, they get rebellious. Then they start looking for ways to push the establishment's buttons.

Answer 7

Be yourself and the heck with everyone else. People have a warped way of thinking these days. I am so fed up with the sterotyping.

Answer 8

I know! I don't talk white, I talk right!

Answer 9

I WOULDN'T SAY MOST BLACKS. I'D SAY SOME BLACKS.