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And we have Book #2! My new novel, 'A Wedding On C And we have Book #2! My new novel, 'A Wedding On Clermont Lane', is now available! It's the sequel to my first novel 'Christmas On Clermont Lane', and if you loved the first one, just wait until you read the sequel.

That makes it two novels in five months, and I must say that while I missed my original deadline in February, I am so excited to have this one finished. The support you all showed me during the first release made me warm and fuzzy and so many of you reached out and asked when the next one would be. Well, here you go!

You can purchase 'A Wedding On Clermont Lane' on Amazon Prime, available in paperback for $10.99 and $7.99 for the eBook/Kindle edition. If you'd like a signed copy, a limited amount of copies are available. Hit the link in my bio.

I cannot wait for you to read this one and let me know your thoughts. Jasmine and The Robinson Family are back---and this time, it's for keeps!
Happy International Women’s Day. I would not be Happy International Women’s Day. I would not be here without the wisdom and strength of my praying grandmother who has poured into me for 46 years and counting. I am so thankful for her unconditional love and unwavering support. ❤️❤️❤️#internationalwomensday #womensday #womenshistorymonth
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On A Personal Note, Relationships, The 16 yr old, The 6 yr old, The Water Cooler · June 5, 2010

The Whole ‘Talking White’ Phenomenon


I don’t even know where to begin with this post. For over twenty five years, I have been chastised by my own people about the way that I talk, and it’s given me a headache just thinking about all of the comments that have been made over my dialect by misguided individuals. I stopped caring about what people thought about the way that I talked years ago in my early twenties, but I am beginning to see this same trend being thrust upon both of my children. This whole ‘talking White’ phenomenon has got to stop, so I am writing this post to halt the madness and give my two cents.

When I was seven years old, my family and I moved away from St. Louis, Missouri. We lived in Houston and then Las Vegas before settling in Phoenix, Arizona where we lived for five years. My Phoenix years were the most impressionable on me, for they were my most formidable years. I loved living in Phoenix— the weather, the scenery. As a kid, I didn’t notice that I was usually the only Black girl in my class. No one made fun of me, at least not to my face and I was a popular kid. I didn’t think there was anything weird or unusual about me until I began visiting my family in St. Louis each summer. It was then that I learned that I supposedly ‘talked like a White girl’.

I got teased each and every summer in St. Louis for my valley girl slang and proper usage of the English language. I was ridiculed and was the black sheep of the group. I used to even try to talk ‘Black’ so that I wouldn’t get made fun of. It was such a horrible experience.

Of course, as a grown adult now, I know how stupid this all sounds: talking Black, talking White. It’s all ridiculous, even the thought. I guess if you talk like you have an education, you are talking ‘White’? It has never made sense to me. And some of the people who made and still make fun of me to this day are family members who should know better.

I couldn’t help the way I talked just like I couldn’t help the color of my skin. It was and still is natural for me to speak a certain way. I don’t think it is a color thing. You usually speak the dialect of your environment.

Your dialect and way of speaking is usually a product of your surroundings, your location. There are certain parts of the country that have their own accents, their own lingo that is not based on color but the location. I never tried to speak a certain way, but it rubbed some Black folk that I was trying to be something that I wasn’t: a White girl. This was never my intention. I wanted to be accepted by my peers, but the way I spoke turned most people off. Yes, something I could not help made me a pariah.

Once I became an adult, it stopped bothering me. Yes, I talk proper, I will give you that. But the whole talking White, talking Black situation is pure nonsense and is serves as yet another way to divide us.

My sixteen year old and my six year old are now being told they talk ‘White’ as well. When I was younger, I would not defend myself, but as parent of two kids, I am quick to set my family straight. There is more to life than worrying about how my children speak. Their speech should make you no never mind.

I wish that we as a society could erase this jargon from our minds. It’s silly, childish, and inaccurate. People, speak differently, regardless of their race. Free your minds.

What do you think about talking Black or talking White? Let’s discuss.


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In: On A Personal Note, Relationships, The 16 yr old, The 6 yr old, The Water Cooler · Tagged: children, dialect, language, speech

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Comments

  1. Lisa Robinson says

    June 5, 2010 at 10:36 am

    I entirely relate to you here. This is what I was taught many years ago by my educated African American father and my educated European American mother … you cannot speak like a color. When told you're speaking "proper" say thank you … and ask, since proper means correct, why don't you use the English language properly as well?

    Reply
  2. Daree Allen says

    June 5, 2010 at 11:40 am

    Girl, me too. I am from NY (not NYC) and as life has played out, I have moved further and further South every few years as an adult. People always ask where I'm from and make their ignorant comments. It used to bother me, but in my early career as well as now (I'm an aspiring author and speaker), I see how knowing and speaking proper English has placed me exactly where I need to be.

    My daughter is 6 and many people comment on how "well spoken" she is. We do sometimes speak in slang but she definitely knows her stuff. Accusing each other of "talking White" is just another divisive thing that Blacks do, and it's something that I talk about in the book I'm working on–it's a shame that it's still relevant in 2010, huh?

    Reply
  3. Afreshmusic says

    June 5, 2010 at 10:02 pm

    I do understand the "You talk White" "You talk black" thing. I don't think that talking "Proper" is automatically talking "White" though. Listen to Michelle and Barack Obama. They are very well educated but they don't "talk white". You can tell automatically that they are a "brotha" and a "Sista".

    Now if you listen to their children….They sound more like Miley Cyrus and less like Raven Symone. Also look at their surroundings: Chicago Hyde Park, Univeristy of Chicago Lab School and now the White House life.

    It really doesn't matter though. I'm intelligent, educated and was born and raised in Chicago. I have a southern accent that comes from my dad. Identical voices complete with the slow drag of Mississippi.

    Reply
  4. Chivonne says

    June 6, 2010 at 6:40 pm

    WHY are we still doing this?? I've been told I talk like a white girl my whole life and I think its the dumbest thing in the world. It just kills me that WE will find ANY reason to divide and tear each other down. Its you're too dark, too light, too ghetto, too proper, too broke, too much money and think you're better than everyone else, good hair bad hair, and recently "fake booty vs real booty" etc etc…. I really wish we could hold a 10000 woman march or something and just agree to STOP IT! Bring back SISTERHOOD!

    Reply

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P R O M. That’s the caption. P R O M. That’s the caption.
You done good, young lady. Now it’s time to soar You done good, young lady. Now it’s time to soar. 🎓#classof2022
Happy #NationalCollegeDecisionDay! Laylah is off Happy #NationalCollegeDecisionDay! 

Laylah is officially registered at St. John’s University and will begin her freshman year in August as a Public Relations Major. I’m so proud of her hard work and dedication—proud of the young woman that she has become.
Allow me to reintroduce myself. My name is.. Dan Allow me to reintroduce myself. My name is.. 

Danyelle Little, the NEW Director of Marketing and Communications at @rungforwomen . Been sitting on this for a while—now it’s officially official. 🙌🏾
Happy 28th birthday to the best son a mom could ev Happy 28th birthday to the best son a mom could ever have. Kind. Supportive. Talented. Creative. Caring. Smart. Courageous. The list goes on and on. You’ve overcome so much in the past year, and I know that God’s plan for you is working. I love you more than words can say. ❤️❤️❤️
And it’s official. Signed, sealed, delivered. Cl And it’s official. Signed, sealed, delivered. Class of 2026! 🙌🏾@stjohnsu #acceptedstudentday
Look for me in the Spring/Summer edition of St. Lo Look for me in the Spring/Summer edition of St. Louis Family Magazine—page 10 to be exact! I’m honored to be able to share a glimpse into my life as an author, Social Media Manager, and most importantly, a mom! 💕
And we have Book #2! My new novel, 'A Wedding On C And we have Book #2! My new novel, 'A Wedding On Clermont Lane', is now available! It's the sequel to my first novel 'Christmas On Clermont Lane', and if you loved the first one, just wait until you read the sequel.

That makes it two novels in five months, and I must say that while I missed my original deadline in February, I am so excited to have this one finished. The support you all showed me during the first release made me warm and fuzzy and so many of you reached out and asked when the next one would be. Well, here you go!

You can purchase 'A Wedding On Clermont Lane' on Amazon Prime, available in paperback for $10.99 and $7.99 for the eBook/Kindle edition. If you'd like a signed copy, a limited amount of copies are available. Hit the link in my bio.

I cannot wait for you to read this one and let me know your thoughts. Jasmine and The Robinson Family are back---and this time, it's for keeps!
Happy International Women’s Day. I would not be Happy International Women’s Day. I would not be here without the wisdom and strength of my praying grandmother who has poured into me for 46 years and counting. I am so thankful for her unconditional love and unwavering support. ❤️❤️❤️#internationalwomensday #womensday #womenshistorymonth
I was pregnant at 17. Had my son at 18. Struggle I was pregnant at 17. 
Had my son at 18. 
Struggled all throughout my 20’s and mid-30’s financially and professionally.
Married. Had a daughter. 
Took five years to graduate from college.
Started my own business by blogging about being a working mom.
Divorced. 
Found my way after a few changes in direction. 
Wrote my first book.
Became a social media powerhouse. 
Wrote my first novel. 
Now I’m the mom of a 27 and 18 year old. My son is going after his dreams and my daughter will start college in the fall. 
I’m still here. Still growing. Still thriving. Still learning. 
I’m proud to be a woman who has managed to conquer my goals, my vision, my purpose. 
Happy International Women’s Month to all of you who are doing the same. This is our time!

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