A Public Service Announcement

[cinema_babe]

To all my Caucasian friends, LJ and RL

I haven't encountered this in anyone under 40 or so; I'm going to assume it's a generational thing but I'm going to pass this along to all of you anyway.

Telling a black person that they "speak well" or "are very articulate" is *not* a complement. Please note that I said that it is *not* a complement. That statement makes it seem that it's some sort of surprise to the white person when a black person opens their mouth and it doesn't sound like James Brown. It's a bit like saying to a Jewish person, "Gee, you're so generous!" A complement with a racist insult hidden inside.

This happened to me (again) last night, someone made a point to approach me and tell me how articulate and well spoken I was. I just said, "As opposed to what?" I am a (fairly) well educated college graduate. I talk the way my mother does because she taught me how to talk. My Nana spoke like this; my siblings talk like I do. Jesus Christ on a Pogo Stick, what was this person expecting me to sound like? Never mind I probably don't want to know.

I've heard someone say it about Colon Powell, I've heard it said about Barak Obama and Sidney Portier and Hallie Berry and pretty much any black person who doesn't speak like a thug rapper.

The concept of the "Bigotry of Low Expectations" has been hijacked by certain segments of the political arena and the part about that which sucks is that it truly does exist and is a more pervasive and insidious then blatant cross burning.

It happens more often than you might imagine.

"You speak so well": Just. Don't. Say. It.

(You know if you're Asian, Hispanic, Black or whatever, please don't say it either. Thanks)

We now return you to your normally scheduled wackiness.

Comments

[4min33sec.livejournal.com]

I'd like to reply to this with something at least semi-useful, but I have nothing to offer save misanthropy.

No, that's not quite true. I actually remember having to learn this, vaguely, but it was way the hell back in my early teens at the latest. I guess that supports the generational theory...

[tactisle.livejournal.com]

It's especially tough for Mr. Obama, since one of the main things that Democrats want in a candidate is a well-spoken, cultured voice (unlike, say, the present occupant of the office). But if he plays the "articulate card" to distinguish himself from Bush, it means he's giving in to the stereotype as well.

Do you mind a brief spelling flame? "Colin" is a first name. "Colon" is, er, a punctuation mark. :)

[catwithbell.livejournal.com]

Or something organic...

Can I say you're articulate just because you speak well and wield a large vocabulary? Has nothing to do with melanin -- there are a lot of people up here with special speaking abilities. In fact, "boughten" is a term peculiar to this area. As in, "These are boughten cookies, not homemade." O.o

[cinema-babe.livejournal.com]

Coming from you that would be a complement because we've met and interacted several times. I know it would be a commentary on me as a person, not me as a representative of some mythical, monolithic "black community".

Boughten, hmmmm, I'm going to have to try that one out, heh.

[tactisle.livejournal.com]

Whoops... In the "esprit l'escalier" department, I should have made it "Colin is a first name; Colon is a last name."

Damn Anglocentrism anyhoo.

[cinema-babe.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the heads up. Some mornings I'm useless before I have my coffee.

The error has been fixed.

[greeneyed-devil.livejournal.com]

Obama's not black; he's a zombie.

[revvoice.livejournal.com]

I would like to, as a caucasian male below the age of 40, let you know that I have a lot of black friends so it's ok.

Please take that in the humorously ironic way it was meant.

Word.

[naughty-halo.livejournal.com]

any guy who closes a thought with WORD is ok in my book.

[ishitpinecones.livejournal.com]

Ok I have question. Because this thing irritates me and I'm lily white, so I can imagine ...

A guy got tasered here in town by the police for doing something or other, some folks think wrongfully so - he was black.

So they held a city council meeting that I watched on public access. There were good arguments on both sides of the debate, that's not the point.

POINT IS this white white white patchouli oil douchebag from the "independent media center" stands up in the middle of the debate and says, "I'm from the IMC and we represent the repressed minorities in the community"

DUDE. HOW.

Ok, you can represent an idea, an opinion, a purpose - BUT NOT A FUCKING GROUP OF PEOPLE YOU ARE NOT A MEMBER OF, ESPECIALLY WHEN 99 PERCENT OF THE IMC IS CRACKER. ASS. WHITE. And rich.

Someone, in fact, pointed that out to him and he responded with the typical trying-so-hard-to-be-compassionate white guy phrase of "Well, I have many african-american friends."

But you're not black, asswipe. You never were black, you never will be black, you could personally know every black person in this town AND their cousins, and you will still have no idea what it's like to be black.

Like I said, represent an idea, a purpose, an opinion, whatever. Just don't claim to speak for a group of people you know nothing about.

(I hate those jokers anyway, this was just the last straw. I hung around and went to their meetings for a while before they found out I was poor and started treating me like a "oh you poor thing" retard. I wanna go in there during a meeting with a can of fake fart and blast away while laughing hysterically.)

Ok sorry for that tirade, I just wanted your opinion on that pet peeve of mine.

[cinema-babe.livejournal.com]

This isn't exactly what I was posting about but let me take a crack at this.

I believe that anyone can represent any group they feel is oppressed. I have worked for years for better legislation and treatment for sexually exploited children but I've was never sexually exploited.

I would never say that I understand what they've been through, because on a very fundamental level I can't.

Some of the staunchest supporters of civil rights were white people. Some of the most progressive feminists I've ever met were men.

[ishitpinecones.livejournal.com]

But to claim to "represent" a rather large group of people when no members of that group have input, is what I meant actually, it doesn't make sense to me and seems condescending.

I'm not kidding when I say there's no minorities in that organization. Plus they don't leave the Green street area. I never see them campaigning for the better treatment of the poor black and white folks in my neighborhood. (because they either dont care or know that no one else does) They just go after whatever seems like an easy case for them to slap their names over in the name of contrived "liberalism".

Didn't mean to generalize like that, guess I had too much coffee.

Sorry for going off topic I just on these rants.

[cinema-babe.livejournal.com]

I hope everyone on my FList knows that (to the best of my knowledge) this rant does not apply to them. This is directed more at strangers who approach me and say it with that wierd "You're such a credit to your race" vibe, as opposed to "I hang out with and/or LJ friended you because you're a really cool/interesting/twisted person who is kinda bright and expresses herself well."

All of you here I either know IRL or have had the (mis)fortune to read my lengthy posts so if you complement my way with words, I know it's a complement given in context, not pre-conceived notions.

[1cmf.livejournal.com]

The unspoken assumption you're making is that no one would say that to someone who was not black, and that assumption is flat out wrong. There are poorly spoken folks and well spoken folks and near as I can tell skin color isn't a contributing factor.

For politicians, public speaking is a vital skill and so pointing it out is worthwhile, and for actors, a sonorous voice is also of note.

[cinema-babe.livejournal.com]

I agree with you 110%, race has *nothing* to do with how articulate or well spoken a person is. Sadly, (and to my continued amazement) some people still link the two.

I'm a cynic, I assume that people say stupid things to other people all the time. A member of my family said something similar about the diction of a white person who came from the Deep South. I was absolutely mortified. I could have addressed this broadly, I just chose to couch it in terms of something that has, and still does, happen to me.

The point is well taken about political figures and actors, good oration is a part of their livelihood. However the attitude that irks me is when people are impressed with the skill of a public speaker because of their race, not their ability to orate.

[kosmicseer.livejournal.com]

Cinema Babe,

I appreciate your articulate posts on LJ.

;-P

(just kidding)

But seriously, that would infuriate me also!

[silvester10528.livejournal.com]

I used to work for an old-school Civil Engineer (the kind that did calculus in his head faster than you could punch it into a calculator) and one of the things that nevcer sat right with me was the way he complimented one of our summer interns, a dark hispanic high school kid...

He'd always say "he's such a smart kid, it's a shame he's black..."
???


I was raised very prejudiced, I like to think I out-grew most of that non-sense <-- my ex-wife doesn't always agree with me on this point.

[storybookchik.livejournal.com]

Thank you! :)

presumptive

[steelmagnoliaca.livejournal.com]

I disagree.

Saying "you speak well" and "you speak well for a black person" are two completely different statement. Or I should say they can be different depending upon the intent behind statement.
To assume that it's not just a compliment is assuming the white person is a racist when in fact it could just be a compliment. Sure, there are some (lots even) folks that are racists assholes but there are lots that aren't too.

Re: presumptive

[cinema-babe.livejournal.com]

Actually, we agree 100%.

There is a vast difference between "you speak well" and "you speak well for a black person" You can tell the difference by the context in which it is said, the tone of voice and body language. Any woman who has ever been patronized would understand the tone and attitude I'm referencing.

Also, let me address the use of the term "racist". I specifically didn't refer to the man who said it; I don't think he is. I certainly don't think he's an asshole. Applying that term as a description for a person is like a chile pepper that should be used sparingly to describe the most outrageous of attitudes and behaviors.

I draw a clear distinction something that is (likely) racist that is said in passing and a person who is labeled a racist and I think it's very important to do so.

Someone who says something that I (and many other Black Americans) find irritating and condescending might be uninformed, ignorant, and/or operating under mistaken pre-conceived notions but is not likely *not* racist.

So to recap:
1. I agree with you
2. Context in everything when interpreting the what someone means
3. Making a statement the I perceive as having racist elements *does not* necessarily make a person a racist

BTW: Welcome to my journal. How did you find me?