Insulted by Ebonics - Do you unknowingly stereo type other people?

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Permalink Reply by Victoria Finch on July 6, 2009 at 9:51am

This is just a discussion. I am not carrying some woe is me attitude because someone called me "girl" in slang.

The question is: Is it acceptable to address someone in a particular way because of their appearance? I believe you addressed that. Thank you for your input.

Btw, I listened very carefully to this nurse and he did not address any of his white patients in the same familiarity. Nor his associates.

He did eventually realize that I did not want to be called "girl" so he started calling me "Sweetie".

Permalink Reply by Cissi Sherlock on July 6, 2009 at 9:56am

People do make the mistake of looking at you and making snap judgments on hoe to communicate with you.

Permalink Reply by Michael R. on July 6, 2009 at 10:28am

Oh snap!! I know you ain't calling ME no hoe!!!

Permalink Reply by Victoria Finch on July 5, 2009 at 2:06pm

I would like to hear from more whites as well. I did hear about Hilary Clinton. Funny.

Permalink Reply by Michael R. on July 6, 2009 at 9:48am

I would like to hear from more whites as well.


I, myself, would like to know what all of the Asians, Armenians, and Iranians of Smaller Indiana have to say on the topic at hand.

Permalink Reply by Victoria Finch on July 5, 2009 at 6:33pm

We can go around and around about this subject. If you have white friends that are from Africa, not Northern Africa, then they are African American. I never said you had to be black to be African American. I did read what you wrote and responded accordingly. If you don't like what I said, that's your business. Let's just agree to disagree.

Don't use me as a scapegoat because you don't want to do something with Cissi.

Permalink Reply by Victoria Finch on July 5, 2009 at 9:32pm

Let me quantify my statement All American Blacks of African decent are African American. Your skin color is not what makes you African American. Hence my earlier statement regarding North Africa.

You brought up Cissi in your reply in Capital letters. Therefore, it was open to discussion. If you didn't want a reply, you shouldn't have mentioned her.

This discussion is about whether or not it is appropriate to address someone differently based upon their appearance.

Permalink Reply by Tino Marquez Jr. on July 5, 2009 at 10:07pm

You address someone regardless of appearance with respect and civility period. I give no less, and expect no less. Typically if someone who doesn't know me from Adam tries to engage me with street slang or "Ebonics" if you will, I ignore them. I speak (or at least make every effort to do so) proper English.

To the African American side discussion, if I’m not mistaken (like you noted), aren’t white or descendents of white immigrants from South Africa still considered African American? But, I've never seen this actually proven somewhere, just passing conversations with others. I honestly do not agree with the term African American (or Hispanic or Latino which I qualify as). We should all strive to be the best Americans we can be period. And I believe that begins with treating each other with respect, which it sounds like in your original post you were not addressed properly especially when you were a customer in this situation. The person could have been making a misguided and honest attempt to comfort you in your situation though, probably no foul, but I believe there are those that use laungage as a way to elevate their status over others.

Just my opinion.

Permalink Reply by Victoria Finch on July 5, 2009 at 10:13pm

Well said.

Permalink Reply by Victoria Finch on July 5, 2009 at 11:40pm

That's like telling a Jewish person to forget the Holocaust. We must know our history. Have you ever heard of the German Fest or the Italian Fest? Every Italian I know readily claim their Italian heritage. People like you want to sweep slavery under the carpet. Let's all be just Americans you say. ARE YOU CRAZY!! Go to New York. What is Chinatown? Have all the Italians been to Italy or all Chinese in Chinatown been to China? Have they "studied" their countries of origin. We are no less Americans because we claim a different heritage. That is what America is. A melting pot of different peoples.

Again you are off subject.

Permalink Reply by Michael R. on July 6, 2009 at 9:22am

Second, there are heritage festivals, and I'm not a fan of them either.

Yes, we should all know our heritage, that's important


If knowing our heritage is important, why are you not a fan of heritage festivals?


And, while the WORD "Ebonics" may have sprung up in 1975, street slang/jive has been around for much longer than that. And, if you were wondering, Ebonics is nothing but a synonym for street slang/jive.

Permalink Reply by Victoria Finch on July 6, 2009 at 9:40am

I am only saying that only those who experienced it should be claiming it is an issue in their life...not those who had ancestors 3 or 4 generations back who experienced it.
So are you implying that once all of the Holocaust survivors die that their history should go with them? That their families should not claim that history?

I never said that Ebonics was part of our history even though it is. I said it is part of our culture. Ebonics was not developed in 1975. It was recognized in 1975. We have been saying "aint" using the "be" verb long before 1975. How about "git" for "get" I guess we just started using that in 1975 as well.

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