Quote:
Originally posted by Little32:
I don't understand what you mean when you say adopt their intonation. I, for one, spent the first ten years of my life in a predominantly white neighborhood. When I moved to a predominantly black neighborhood, people begin to tell me that I talked like a white person. I was never sure what they meant. Then someone broke it down for me, they said that the tone of my voice what a white tone of voice (whatever that means). My speech merely reflected what had been my surroundings for the past 10 years. It was not something that I consciously chose, but just a byproduct of my childhood.
Twelve years later, after living in a predominantly black neighborhood and associating mostly with black people ( I hardly know any white people that I would consider friends), some black folks still tell me that I sound like a white person and it offends me every time. I am not an Uncle Tom in any sense of the word, yet every someone says that to me, I feel as though they are calling me a sell-out.
[This message has been edited by Little32 (edited April 07, 2001).]
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I understand the need to clarify this post; so yall wish me luck. First, I am NOT saying that associating with white people makes one an uncle tom. Also, I am NOT saying that a person that talks properly is "talkin' white". There is a difference between talking properly(good diction) and sounding white(intonation). I know people that were born black and hate that fact sooo much, that they refuse to come around their family and people they grew up with because these people REMIND THEM of their difference from their current friends. Despite being in different parts of the country, one thing binds ALL of these people together; their newly adopted intonation. Anyone out there that watches "REAL WORLD" on MTV(I don't watch it; I'm just using two characters from this show to make my point), pay attention to "Ruthie" and "Tek". Listen to how they talk, and watch how they act. Watch and listen closely; you'll see what I mean. All of that aint necessary to maintain a friendship; if it is, that friendship aint worth it.