Music Monday: African American English Goes Global
Singer Joy Denalane. Written by guest blogger Casey Wong From Jamaica, France, Puerto Rico, Japan, to Palestine, to almost every continent on Earth, hip-hop has gone global. Joy Maureen Denalane,...
View ArticleTellin’ it Like it is: The African American Proverb Tradition
Written by guest blogger Simanique Moody In many cultures, proverbs are used to counsel, impart wisdom, and motivate others. The beauty of proverbs is that while their use and interpretation reflect...
View ArticleJose Hustle’s Been Had Polo
YouTube sensation, Jose Hustle. Written by guest bloggers LaShaya Howie and Akintoye Moses. We BEEN considering how to break down the linguistic features of African American English. BEEN...
View ArticleHolla Back: Responding to Your Comments
Holla Back is a new segment where we’ll be responding to reader questions and comments. We appreciate all the great feedback we receive from readers and encourage you to keep it coming! On “Why Would...
View ArticleMusic Monday: The N-Word and How We Talk About Hip Hop
Rapper Jay-Z and Gwyneth Paltrow Awkward experiences with the N-word occur frequently, especially in the realm of hip-hop. Imagine this: you’re singing “Forget You” by Cee-Lo Green at karaoke with your...
View ArticleDew as you dew: Baltimore Accent and The Wire
Even though HBO’s television show The Wire ran from 2002-2008, today it still remains hugely popular with television audiences around the country. This show continues to captivate viewers with its...
View ArticleWhen it comes to Rachel Jeantel, who’s really on trial here?
When Rachel Jeantel stepped up to to testify at the trial for the shooting death of her childhood friend, Trayvon Martin, lawyers and later the American public had more to say about her language,...
View ArticleLinguistic prejudice is a real prejudice (and has real consequences)
There’s been a lot of talk in the media and public discourse about racial discrimination and justice lately. Despite killing Trayvon Martin—an unarmed black teenager—George Zimmerman (who is white and...
View ArticleAnything you say can and will be used against you: The case of “wilding”
Antron McCray, Raymond Santana, Kevin Richardson, Yusef Salaam and Kharey Wise in 2012 at the New York premiere of the documentary “The Central Park Five.” The Central Park Five have been back in the...
View ArticleAfrican Americans and Their Not So “Strange” African Names
Guest Post by: Mercedes Drew (NYU, BA/MA student, Africana Studies), Naapane Faustina Marius (University of Ghana, MA student, Linguistics), and Nicole Holliday (NYU, PHD student, Linguistics) Duke...
View Article