Thus, based on my experiences, including the reams of educational theory that I had to read to obtain an advanced degree in Education, I have heard from many people throughout my life, including those who had power over me, arguments based on the assumption that we live in a closed system, where the white man is on top, and the non-white people (especially non-white women) are at the bottom. A lot of politicians here make a good living and gain power from preaching from this world view, and I have consistently come against it, whether I have spoken to educated black people or uneducated black people.

My comment was working within that framework–the theory that we lived in a closed system, where we are trapped based on our background and/or skin color, where the individual is never considered. I posted it, assuming that people who read my comment would understand that prevalent idea that I was alluding to.

I also didn’t explain my departure from the non-specific “inner city” reference to the “white man” reference because La Shawn understands the fallacy of such a belief, so perhaps the latter part of my comment should be taken as tongue-in-cheek.

The point was that as long as people are complaining, blaming a fallacious belief for their failure, poor and disadvantaged immigrants are coming here and taking advantage of the gaps that exist from the whiners’ absence.

Now I will go and continue to interact with the black people I know, none of whom ever say anything that La Shawn says. Which is why I come to this blog.

They’re also a clever way of disguising the incompetence of the educational system, a ‘no-fault’ innovation.

Educators and our educational system used to be much better. Ever hear Duke Ellington speak? And he received what was then a customary education.

Time to wake up from the ‘Matrix’.

What you speak at home or amongst your friends/family is of no consequence since I’m liable to slip into a bit of Ebonics or slang or whatever you want to call it, when I’m at home.

That’s the place for something like that. It’s not the place in my job as a Financial Analyst. Simple as that.

So you can speak ebonics, so does June Ward (Leave It To Beaver’s TV mom) does that make ya’ll “multi-lingual”, if so good for you. Let me know when it expands real-world economic opportunities.

As for MJ’s characterization, I’d say Coz agrees with her and one doesn’t have to be black to understand the issues confonting them. About the only time the adage “If you have to ask, you wouldn’t understand” is true concerns Harley-Davidsons

I don’t speak ebonics, does that make you smarter than me or less wiser? Remember, one can ‘know’ everything there is to know and still be dumb as a doornail.

Should I be Renn ! or Renee in VA…Hmmmm

I don’t speak Franglish

SLANG=LAZY (I love how we throw a new word on something and think that automatically changes it’s meaning…the truth must really hurt)

It’s still a PIG (no matter how you dress it)

MJ – In your quote you went from “young people, learning ebonics, inner city” these are race neutral terms, indicating that it could be white folk and black folk as well, or asian, whatever, that “blame the white man”…so I asked the question as to whether you are saying white people blame ‘the white man’ too, as you didn’t identify race. By the way, I don’t think you know anything about black people to make such a silly statement as that.

Chris – BBC’s don’t hate whites they love them to the point where they want to pull an internal Michael Jackson. But if I was a white person, I would blame the white man too.

PurpleMD
…recently moved from the peninsula to the East Bay (Fremont like)

Why, is it so different here. The only reason I can think of is just willfullness by Blacks. I will not speak like the Whites and they can’t make me. I have seen it Black kids making fun of another Black kid for ‘Speaking White’. Ebonics is just that thought carried to extream.

As has been said. If you can’t speak standard english, you will find getting a job or getting ahead very hard.

But Three cheers for Ebonics recommended by the KKK, Skinheads, and California School Administrators.