The Caged Bird Flies: December 2013

Friday, December 27, 2013

Feminist Friday: Code switching & fetischizing the "black"

So in my Linguistic Anthropology class in college we talked about code switching, and I found it so interesting how words and phrases can migrate through cultures and how the meanings can change depending on who is saying it. Lately I've been noticing how white culture has been stealing and bastardizing and fetishizing (quote, unquote) *black* words and phrases. The evolution of language is natural, but it's really starting to bother me how much we're (we as in white, the majority, the privileged ones) are taking these words and phrases and making them ours.

"First they’ll criticize our slang. Make us seem uneducated for using it, when the reality is they’re mad we can code switch. Then they’ll use our slang mockingly. Like they really don’t want to use it, but it’s so absurd they can’t help themselves. Then they’ll make money off our slang, t-shirts, cups, bracelets, etc. Then they’ll convince us it was never really ours. It’s been public domain forever. Feel free to replace the word “Slang” with neighborhoods, and music too."

I have no idea who to attribute that to. I've been searching all over tumblr but I can't find the OP. Anyway, it sums up perfectly what I'm trying to say.

Really, Miley? A rich white girl wearing a South Central Homies shirt?

This is just wrong ^

*Shudder*

And this. Teenage Runaway? Since when is that "cool"? Since when is our HUGE population of homeless youth a joke? Dear cute British pop star: It's not funny. Living on the streets is not something we need to promote as "in."

...end rant.