What does this phrase mean? "Once you go black.."?
Hello, myself being African American I researched this exact question, me and one of my white friends were arguing, it turned out the actual origin of this phrase was in the 1800's during the slave days, when a white woman would have relations with a black slave they would "not let her back" so the phrase "once they go black, they don't come back" started (the woman would not be able to find another white suiter after "going black" it was considered repulsive) often the slave would be hung or turned into a unic as well (penis is removed) later in the 70's the phrase was revived by african americans, twisting the meaning to once you've had a black person, you don't want the other races. I lost 10 bucks on that stupid bet but atleast I won't be using a phrase started by a bunch of racist anymore.
Why is the phrase 'bloke' offensive to Americans?
That’s nonsense. Most Americans would not be familiar with the term, unless they have had a lot of contact with the British ( Or Australians,New Zealanders, perhaps South Africans).Its just a British slang word for a man, its not offensive or bad form, and is widely used through all the social classes and educational levels, its used literally all the time conversationally.
I have seen African-American people using phrases like "I ain't telling you nothing" or "I don't know nothing". Is it some kind of "regional English modifications"; since technically, the phrase means exactly the opposite of what it is intended to?
In written standard English, yes, the two negatives would cancel each other out. But this is a common construction in spoken English, especially in some regional dialects and among less-educated people. (The English teachers do their best to drum double negatives out of people's speech.) It doesn't usually cause misunderstanding, because it is so commonly used.I think this is one of those rules promulgated by certain 18th century scholars who were trying to improve English, like the rule against splitting infinitives. But I haven't been able to track that down with a quick Google search.The Wikipedia entry for "double negative" gives a good explanation.Double negativeThe article on African American Vernacular English is also very relevant to this question: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Af...
Why are we using the phrase: African American for people that are born in the USA?
This question has been answered on Quora many times before. Why do we use the phrase Irish American? These terms indicate a person's ethnic background. No American's ancestors were always here on even long here - and those whose ancestors were here for s long while we call Native American -
Can you think of phrases or words that black people use that white people do not typically?
Today at work someone said something about a "car note." I had never heard this before. Then we started talking about how black people typically say car note while white people say car payment. I was just wondering if anyone else can think of other examples like this.
What are some phrases commonly used by black people that you like?
I’ve had many friends from all over, and taught for 13 years in various schools, but not had much exposure to African-American culture just being itself until Mom worked as a church organist for an Episcopalian church with a nearly 100% African-American congregation. It wasn’t long before I heard them referring to my parents as “Miss Diane” and “Mr. Frank” - Mr. or Miss followed by one’s first name is a sign of not only acceptance, but respect. I’ve taken to using it myself, with positive results, I think.What was another one? “You go, girl!” and “That hair is fierce!”
Do black people use the phrase "colored people?
No. That phrase is outdated. My gtandparents used it as a polite phrase, but that was a long time ago.However, people still often use the phrase "people of color".
Why do Americans use the term African American? Is it not racist?
>> Why do Americans use the term African American? Is it not racist?I don't. I think it is racist and it is a form of verbal segregation. And I have never had a black person get upset because I called them black. I don't care what someone calls me so why walk on eggshells and assume a black person is going to get their feelings hurt by stating the obvious?Most blacks I know are uncomfortable with all the political correctness and people being afraid to say anything out of fear they will be labeled a racist. That only serves to further divide.One of my friends who is black will tear you a new one if you call him African American. He gets unglued by that and I understand why. We don't refer to whites as something-American…we call them American. So why the distinction for a black person; especially when they have nothing to do with Africa?He's a very grounded guy though. He doesnt put up with others having a persecution complex or playing the race card just to get their way…he calls them out in public if he sees it happening. He also has a confederate flag on his truck (he is from backwoods Mississippi…and more of a redneck than I am.)He is a great guy who is actually trying to stop stereotypes and tries to break down tension by bucking the way things often go. He wants to be treated like a human. Not special because of anything that may have happened years ago…he just wants to be a person. And nothing more.If I had a black person take me aside and request that I refer to them as African-American, of course I would honour that (I'll call someone anything they want; just let me know.) It has just never happened.I kinda get the feeling the media is the one that makes such a big deal out of it. I have never experienced or witnessed anywhere near of the issues the media claims are so prevalent. They are the ones causing all the racism in this country.
Is the phrase "the pot calling the kettle black" racist?
My grandpa will always use the phrase "That's the pot calling the kettle black" whenever I accuse someone else of doing something that I am guilty of too. I am pretty sure I know the meaning of it. But when I was in school, one of my friends said something (I can't remember what exactly he said) to another one of my friends and I was like "That's the pot calling the kettle black" and then they were all "You're racist!!!" and then I was like "No I'm not! You don't even know what the phrase means!". So is that phrase racist? P.S. I'm not racist, I'm actually the exact opposite of racist. I don't like to call African American people "black" because it seems a little racist to me to call someone by their skin color.
Do you consider the phrase: "black power" to be offensive or racist?
No.I am making an assumption that you are equating it to the use of “white power” chants and the like.But there is a historical context to consider.The reason “white power” or “white pride” is racist is because it blankets over the differences in culture and ethnicity of the various groups that fall under the “white label” and attempts to denote a sort of superiority over other races.“Black power” or “black pride” is used, in part, because during the slave trade, the histories and cultures of many, many people were lost. A lot of black people in America today, without the use of somewhat inaccurate testing, cannot trace their lineage to specific countries, cultures, tribes, etc. like white people can (at least to a far greater degree).So that covers the use of a blanket term.But then we get to the civil rights era. And black people (not Nigerian or Moroccan or Algerian….just black people) were (and in some ways still are) systematically and socially oppressed. “Black Power” was not used in a context of “we are better than white people” but as a sense of “we are strong together, and we will not be pushed down any longer.”To this day, unlike the “White Power Movement”, people who have pride in being black are not (as a majority) advocating for the superiority of their race. Socially speaking (and in some ways, systematically) there is still a lot of work to be done, so it still carries a lot of present meaning and will, for a long time to come, carry a historical meaning of overcoming oppression, whereas “white power” comes from a historical context of being oppressors.Saying that “Black Power” and “White Power” are both racist and/or offensive is incredibly reductionist and ignorant of nuance.But what do I know? I’m just a 25 year old white person. I can only speak from what I have read, learned, asked about, and listened to.