12-19-2019, 07:10 PM
(12-19-2019, 04:37 PM)BmorePat87 Wrote: By perpetuating a belief that black vernacular patterns are inherently improper, you're suggesting that black culture is inherently subordinate to or less than mainstream (white) culture. Your argument is flawed as you (1) suggest uniformity in Black America and (2) suggest that dialects are "improper" because they differ from one promoted by the majority.
I am saying that we have universal rules for our language. Rules of proper grammar are not subjective moral judgements. They are rules of proper grammar.
You can believe this following story or not, but I've been open here about my real name and where I work. I'll back this up with exact details if you want. Both of my parents were raised in poverty in rural eastern Kentucky/Tennessee. Neither of them graduated from high school. They met in Ohio where they went to get jobs in the 50's. Almost all of their friends were also poorly educated migrants from Appalachia who flooded Cincinnati/Dayton area. The bluegrass/country music we listened to used a lot of hillbilly language. I was raised in a culture that not only used poor grammar, but in many situations glorified the redneck/hillbilly backwoods vernacular. I always did very well in school, but I struggled for years to eliminate the bad grammar habits that were instilled in me by my culture. I am especially thankful for a friend I had in law school who was a big enough asshole to call out any grammatical error I made. I am proud that I know how to speak properly.
When a judge askes me about my client's criminal history I'm not going to say "I reckon he ain't got none." and then cry about how everyone is "insulting my culture" when they laugh at me.
