Young, Intelligent and Black

I have often been told (usually by other African Americans) that my children and I sound "white" when we speak. Admittedly, we have mastered the Queen's English. We rarely use Ebonics. It surprises these same people that I was born and raised in East St. Louis- a town that has always been at least 95% African American.

How can someone sound black or white? What exactly does that mean? Let me tell you that no one sounds black or white. We either speak intelligently or we don't. So when I am told that I "sound white", I am really being told that I sound intelligent. It is offensive to equate speech patterns with intelligence. For the record, intelligence is not exclusive to one ethnic group or gender. Intelligence is not limited to white people. We are misguided when we behave as though we are not intellectually capable of speaking with correct grammar or write without correct punctuation.

Though words and language are not the only way we can communicate with one another, it is the most prelavent. I want to be certain that I am understood as clearly and succinctly as possible. That desire has nothing to do with being black or white. With the advent of hip-hop and pop music, we have dispelled the notion that one group or another holds the universal patent on dress, on music, on speech.

I have often stated that one reason that President Obama was so popular with nonBlacks was because of his nonthreatening manner and command of the English language. He, like a great deal of African Americans, has the ability to speak well and then eat greens and cornbread with his fingers. I have given speeches, written letters to the editor, graduated from college while living in what some would consider dire circumstances. I left the hometown that I love because the great majority couldn't see past my language skills. It is not uncommon to have young Black Americans living with a foot in both worlds. Like the president, we can speak clearly and succintly to any audience -from the CEO to the crackhead.

We thought we had reached an ephiphany when the nation elected President Obama. In one way we did, but in so many other ways we were set back. His presidency re-enforces for Black youth that in order to succeed one has to shed BabyPhat, Sean Combs, FUBU and other ethnicly created clothing. Off with the dreds and then there is the Harvard speaking ability. For many, these were hurdles to insurmountable to pass. This is a new area for young Blacks who listen to Eminem while watching Tiger Woods play. They have been spared the horrors of openly racist behavior. All of our youth live in a time of political correctness, holding hands, singing Kumbaya. They view racism as a disease that needs to be eradicated, like cancer. We, wh0 are older, know better.

Americans are a superficial lot. We know that, like it or not, we are being judged based more on our looks, our clothing and other aquirements than we are on our character. Unfortunately, we are still judged on our speaking patterns.

Our youth need to learn that the more things change, the more they remain the same.