Did you hear that color?
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Posted By: Aaron Williams on July 24, 2009 *This is an editorial that appeared in the May 1, 2008 edition of the West Side Journal, the official newspaper of West Baton Rouge Parish. The editorial, written by me, won 1st place for Best Editorial in the Louisiana Press Association awards.* Did You Hear That Color? Does color make a sound? If you could hear red, what would it sound like? If you could hear blue, would it sound like a blowing breeze? Questions like this are not even really worth consideration because we all know that a color cannot make a sound. So why is it that when a black man or woman speak eloquently and in a sophisticated manner they "don't sound black"? I thought colors couldn't speak? I am a young black man. I was raised to speak with correct English. Not broken English, not ebonics; I was raised by parents who did not want me to sound ignorant. And because I knew how to avoid the resonance of ignorance, I avoided so many other things that kids and adults alike get into that is rather foolish. I played sports and excelled. I played football at a Junior College in Mississippi. Everything I put my hand to was seemingly blessed. And I attribute it all to my parents, who taught me that vocabulary is important. Learn new words, they would challenge me. My father challenged me to even study the dictionary. Why? Not so that I could come around people and talk and get told I don't sound a specific way I'm supposed to. Black, white, red, blue or green - whatever color you are, vocabulary is important in the world. Even rappers and hip-hop artists know how to correctly use words - that's how they bring forth the lyrics they do. So no matter what race you are, I challenge you to expand your vocabulary and your mind. Don't think that because a person has a certain skin tone that he or she has to speak a certain way. If you enjoyed this article, Join HBCU CONNECT today for similar content and opportunities via email! |
Comments
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Yeah, it's more - but my main point was this - why is it that we as a culture have to sound a particular way? I do the same thing, I speak a certain way when I'm around my friends then when I'm, say, interviewing a city official for an article. So I'm just as guilty as the next guy. But I'm just saying, we can't categorize people by their speech - white, black, yellow, red - it doesn't really matter that much, does it? Why do white people accept black people more when they come speaking like Carlton Banks, yet our own people are more likely to accept me when I talk like I'm from the 'hood? We should get to know one another based on something of more substance than that. A people will only go as far as their own small boundaries as a culture unless a paradigm shift takes place. Then comes the question - How do we expand our boundaries? How do we shift the paradigm? Monday, July 27th 2009 at 9:27PM |
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