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Topic Name: Another white/black post
Message Name: No such thing
Date Posted: 06/10/2005
In Reply To: In Austin, I like it when the black guy talks black on the air. I think it's "hip" and cool. And yes, I'm a white guy. So what!
Message: as talking white or black. Forget what all those idiots said about Ebonics, they did not speak for the majority of black people. Now, there is slang that might be more prevalent in one culture or another. Few white suburban chicks describe an outfit as "gangsta", but that doesn't make them talking black. It's just borrowing slang. Just like when me and my girls (we're black) used to try and do the valley girl "Awesome". We were borrowing slang. The same when I say some Spanish phrase I can't even spell because I heard from my hispanic friends. But I'm not talking Hispanic. That even sounds stupid. I speak English. And I speak it correctly, and nothing makes me madder than someone saying I talk "white", especially after having worked in enough Southern states with white people mangling the English language every way imaginable, and no one seems to think pointing out race is relevant in that situation...they realize its about education and environment. And context has everything to do with it. While I might find the jokes in poor taste; comedians are speaking in a certain context. When you are doing it at work and you honestly believe you are reflecting or emulating black people; that's when I have a problem. I think it's interesting that some co-workers think they must speak to me in slang, but if I were to throw some honky-tonk talk at them they'd be offended. Just like black people have a double standard about the n word theres one about white trash and redneck...okay for other whites to say it about each other, but offensive if I say it.

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