Talkin’ Black and Talkin’ White: What’s That About?

Olivia and Raven get into what it means to talk “white,” use Black English, and acting and thinking “white.”

Discussion Summary:

00:32: Both Raven and Olivia have been accused of talking and acting “white,” and the insult of being told “you speak so well” by white people.

01:38: What’s talking “white,” Black English, and code-switching for journalism and voiceover work.

03:50: Proper and improper English, assumptions about how a person speaks associated with skin color, and being judged based on the way you speak by white and black people.

13:33: Why talking and acting “white” is viewed negatively by black people.

16:15: Judging people negatively based on their accent or dialect, mocking accents, and using accents to illustrate negative characteristics.

23:01: What is acting “white?” Why do black people accuse other black people of it?

25:50: the focus on being familial in the black community, the struggles of being a black introvert, and the joys of being introverted.

30:14: What is thinking “white,” what Raven finds problematic about labeling a certain way of thinking as “white,” and dealing with criticisms of the choice not to have a family.

37:45: There’s no one way to be black, and people assuming you have certain preferences and taste in music because you’re black.

44:05: Black Beauty Highlight. GLADYS BENTLEY

The Great Blues Singer Gladys Bentley Broke All the Rules

45:52: Outro.

 

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Music credits: Opening: Goestories - Noir Et Blanc Vie

Black Beauty Highlight Background: "Hard Boiled" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Closing: First Class - DJ Williams