The Origin of “You” – A Conversation with John McWhorter
Revisionist History
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The Evolution of Speech in the Black Community
This chapter explores the historical expectations of speech within the Black community, referencing the first Black mayor of Los Angeles and the significance of conforming to mainstream oratory norms. It highlights a transformative shift in the late 1960s towards more authentic self-expression and discusses how language reflects cultural identity. Personal experiences and anecdotes illustrate the speaker's lifelong fascination with linguistic variations, especially within Black English and the nuances of dialectal expressions.
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