You’Re an African American, so Why Are You Talking Like a White Person?

In this book, I will show African Americans how and why they speak the way they do. Many cultural factors play a significant role in how African Americans develop their linguistic patterns. I am more concerned with the way African Americans speak today. Although the histories of African American linguistic patterns are essential, I am more focused on the here and now. Therefore, I will direct my attention toward the nest (family system) because here is where the development of linguistic patterns starts. I also want my brothers and sisters to understand that they live in a linguistically prejudiced society that only accepts Standard American English as the official tongue that represents the United States of America. The bottom line is, for African Americans to become successful in today’s society, they must become a code-switching culture, for they are not and will never be considered a bilingual group since their native linguistic tongue is linguistically defunct. And so, African Americans, you need to know that throughout your life, you will experience linguistic prejudice if you continue to speak only AAVE.