☞A Message To Non-Black Authors ☜
Do you find yourself using slang in your fics? Or using the BLM movement as plots in your writing or art?
Please, as a black woman who’s kept quiet for way too long, STOP.
Why You Shouldn’t Abuse AAVE In Your Writing
When you overuse AAVE in your writing (using it flippantly or without credit to its actual meaning), you’re contributing to the devaluing of the black experience. And, to be honest, when a lot of you use it in your writing it sounds very awkward or is often misused.
“AAVE is an acronym for African American Vernacular English. Other terms for it in academia are African American Varieties of English, African American English (AAE), Black English (BE) and Black English Vernacular (BEV). [EDIT: since I wrote this post in 2014, a new term has gained a lot of traction with academics: African American Language (AAL), as in the Oxford Handbook of African American Language edited by Sonja Lanehart (2015), or the Corpus of Regional African American Language (CORAAL). I now use either AAE or AAL exclusively, unless I’m specifically talking about an informal, vernacular variety, however “AAVE” has gained traction in social media just as AAL replaced it among academics]
In popular culture, it is largely misunderstood, and thought of as “bad English,” “ebonics” (originally coined in 1973 by someone with good intentions, from “ebony” and “phonics,” but now starting to become a slur), “ghetto talk” (definitely a slur), and the “blaccent” (a portmanteau word of “black” and “accent”) that NPR seems to like using.” (Languagejones.com)
It is explained more here as well: https://waltdisneyconfessionsrage.tumblr.com/post/116538346824/mod-post-some-basic-things-about-aave
This language has long been stigmatized and misused.
“We have a long cultural history of assuming that whatever black people in America do is defective. Couple this with what seems to be a natural predilection toward thinking that however other people talk is wrong, and you’ve got a recipe for social and linguistic stigma. For instance, in 1996 the Oakland school board took the sensible step of trying to use AAVE as a bridge to teach AAVE-speaking children how to speak and write Standard American English. They also took the less sensible step of declaring AAVE a completely different language. This was wildly misrepresented in the media, leading to a storm of racist, self-congratulatory “ain’t ain’t a word” pedantry from both white people and older middle-class black people who do not speak the dialect.” (Languagejones.com)
You can’t use our slang then ignore our issues.
Why You Shouldn’t Misuse It (Or Use It At All)
The issue of appropriation of Black cultural expression has been brought to light in recent years. More people have come to understand why a non-Black person wearing cornrows or dreadlocks is problematic, or why blackface and verbalizing the ‘N-word’ in songs is harmful. Appropriation causes harm when it perpetuates stereotypes, turns culture into a commodity, and uses historical traditions as a trend, while the originating group continues to experience discrimination for the very same thing.
Language can act in a similar manner. Within any culture, language is the basis for communicating ideas, and plays a role in shaping people’s sense of community. Yet, in North American pop culture, Black Vernacular English (BVE) is often used by non-Black people for social capital. Due to its social influence, BVE is often misused out of context in an attempt to be relevant, relatable, or for credibility. (Feminuity.org)
This article sums it up very nicely: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/black-slang-white-people-ruined_n_55ccda07e4b064d5910ac8b3
The politics of black slang are tricky. Black slang and AAVE (African-American Vernacular English) have long been considered inferior to so-called “standard” English, and the black people who use it seen as uneducated or unintelligent (forcing many to master the art of code-switching). So when suddenly words and phrases that have strong ties to the black community are adopted and warped by non-black people, it can cause some of us to feel indignant, even insulted.”
“…we live in a society that loves black culture — but doesn’t like black people all too much — and what might look like acceptance is just downright thievery.”
“Listen. The idea here isn’t necessarily to say that white people shouldn’t use certain black slang (although by now we should all be clear on the N-word debate)… But the issue is how the etymology of these words gets lost in the sauce… As a general rule, if you have to ask whether or not it’s OK to use a word, if there’s any hesitation, then don’t. But also, we should all be aware of where these words come from and what they mean without attributing arbitrary definitions to them.”
Please Stop Using BLM In Your Writing (or art for that matter)
You drawing characters in BLM merch or supporting BLM is not a problem.
However, when you draw or write about them protesting or rioting or looting, that is a genuine problem. Would you do that in response to the Hong Kong Protests? Would you draw characters protesting against the Terror Bill? Would you draw them with Native peoples trying to advocate for the return of their land? Or, hey, even in the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s-1960s?
No. Then what makes the Black Lives Matter movement so different?
Is it the fact that this hits so close to home you can’t process it by any other means than fictional?
What about seeing bnha characters rioting is supposed to feel inspiring? What about reading headcanons on how characters would quit their jobs as cops and protect me from tear gas is supposed to be comforting? These people aren’t real. But this issue is, and it’s serious, and it’s not something trendy or excusable to be filtered through a fictional lens. THIS IS REAL. THIS IS HAPPENING.
Take a look at this post to see
A friend on Discord couldn’t have said it better:
Our culture is not for your entertainment. The Black Lives Matter movement is a real, pressing issue. Please, spread information and support your fellow black authors and artists.
Does this mean I have to stop using slang/reaction images?
No! Be cautious of how you use it. One article states asking yourself these questions when it comes to AAVE:
Is it being commercialized for financial gain?
Is the usage performative or tokenizing?
Are you in proximity to the culture that originated the terms?
Are you using the language to “level up” or earn yourself credibility?
No one is policing you on saying popular slang, but you need to stay educated on the source of these words and how the overproduction and misuse affects us as a community. Our language is not for show, nor is it for your entertainment or attempts to sound “hip”.
Do I need to feel guilty or apologize for saying/doing these things?
Of course not! I promise, no one wants an apology or for you to sit around and feel guilty. Educate yourselves. Stay vigilant. That’s all I ask. This is not an attack or me shaming you by any means.
What if I’m black and condone this?
I sincerely ask you to look inside yourself and ask why this genuinely makes you happy. Are you doing it for some sort of validation? Fictional characters aren’t real. When your life is on the line, they aren’t going to magically come save you. When we let things like this get romanticized, it makes it easier to view this situation from a distance rather than how bad it really is and how close to home it’s hitting.
How can I help and/or support the BLM Movement now?
Support black writers and artists!
Be sympathetic towards our issues!
KEEP POSTING ABOUT BLACK LIVES MATTER. USE YOUR PLATFORM. SILENCE IS MOST DEFINITELY VIOLENCE.
This blog contains MANY resources to educate yourself and be active: https://how2helprightnow.tumblr.com/?og=1
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