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The Dialect of Black Americans (1970)

The Dialect of Black Americans (1970, Western Electric Records) Uploaded for historical reference. Synopsis from the book, "Ego Trip's Big Book of Racism (2004)" This ancient school "Community Relations Presentation" is required listening for anyone who thought the late-'90s controversy over ebonics as a language of its own was some recent phenomenon, or simply anyone who can’t get enough of that offensive stuff. The liner notes read, “ At a time when interracial communication and understanding are assuming enormous importance, this record hopes to he explain for listeners of all races what Black dialect is and how it functions." But however good its intentions, this stab at untying African-American tongues comes off pretty racist itself from the giddy-up, dramatizing examples of how Black people talk through coonish scenarios like a woman scolding her (apparently lazy) man for not getting up when the alarm clock rings, an irate (probably single) mom screaming "shut up" at her uncontrollable houseful of kids, and another woman warning her smooth-talking (but supposedly unreliable) husband not to get into "no jive, off-the-wall stuff" and come straight home after work. Much of the remainder of the album is narrated by a Black character who's left the 'hood and gone on to success in the proper English-speaking world. Problem is, most of the time he comes off like a self-hating jerk. "The old neighbor-hood hadn't changed much," he says of a trip back to his old stomping ground. "What a lousy, miserable place. I walked around some old garbage and got the almost forgotten whiff of what it was like . . . It was good to be on my way." Elsewhere, between more minstrel-caliber dramatizations—a Black applicant's painful job interview, random street chatter, etc.—our guide spews out strict generalizations: "The middle-class Black must be careful of the language he is using, or rather, which language he is using. . . On the streets of Black America, there is no choice. Life and its meanings only come alive with the dialect." Even attempts to validate and dissect Black speech patterns come off hopelessly condescending, using examples like "Leroy at home" and "Debra have free brova." The program's ultimate recommendation—to have ghetto children taught both standard English and Black dialect—concludes with a typically smarmy remark from our narrator: "Under no condition should the speaker's use of the dialect be considered something inferior. . . Actually, he doesn't need to learn[standard English] at all until he has to — make a living!" Guess the joke's on you, (Black) Jack. ##### Reelblack's mission is to educate, elevate, entertain, enlighten, and empower through Black film. If there is content shared on this platform that you feel infringes on your intellectual property, please email me at [email protected] and [email protected] with details and it will be promptly removed.