A Word: Historically Black Phrases

Slate Books

Slate Podcasts

Arts

3.8 • 546 Ratings

🗓️ 29 September 2023

⏱️ 33 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

**Today’s episode discusses sensitive language, including the n-word, and may not be appropriate for all listeners.** For decades, words and phrases that originate in Black homes, churches, and entertainment have been pulled into the national conversation…where their meanings are often changed or widely misunderstood. And social media has accelerated the process, taking Black vernacular from a group chat, to Twitter, to national headlines in record time. On today’s episode of A Word, Jason Johnson is joined by journalists Tre’vell Anderson and Jarrett Hill, co-authors of the new book, Historically Black Phrases: From ‘I Ain’t One of Your Lil’ Friends’ to ‘Who All Gon’ Be There?’ They talk about what inspired their book, and how they hope the book can provide a snapshot of authentic Black language, and the spark to more honest conversations about race and identity. Guests: Acclaimed writer Tre’vell Anderson, author of We See Each Other: A Black, Trans Journey Through TV and Film. Award-winning journalist Jarrett Hill, professor at the University of Southern California’s Annenberg School of Journalism. Podcast production by Ahyiana Angel You can skip all the ads in A Word by joining Slate Plus. Sign up now at slate.com/awordplus for $15 for your first three months. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	This is a Word, a podcast from Slate.
0:05.7	I'm your host, Jason Johnson.
0:07.9	From bling to vote to trade, black language has been lovingly lifted or outright stolen
0:14.2	by the wider, whiter American culture for decades.
0:18.1	And often the meanings get so mangled that the people who originated the language
0:21.9	don't even recognize it. But now a new book aims to write the record and have some fun.
0:28.3	Being able to have anybody be able to write and post on social media has changed the way that we
0:34.2	consume language. Historically black phrases coming up on a word with me, Jason Johnson.
0:39.3	Stay with us.
0:45.4	Welcome to a word, a podcast about race and politics and everything else.
0:53.1	I'm your host, Jason Johnson.
0:54.8	Black language is American language. And pop culture, especially the words and phrases from our homes,
1:01.6	our churches, and our entertainers have been pulled into the national conversation, where their
1:07.2	meanings are often changed or widely misunderstood. And social media has accelerated the process,
1:12.9	taking black vernacular from your group chat to Twitter to national headlines and record time.
1:19.0	Now there's a new book covering the universe of contemporary black slang titled
1:23.3	Historically Black Phrases from I Ain't One of your little friends to who all gonna be there.
1:28.4	The book discusses a whole range of language.
1:31.7	A lot of it is playful and some of it, including the N-word, might offend you.
1:36.0	So be prepared.
1:37.7	The writers are Trevelle Anderson, an acclaimed journalist and podcaster.
1:41.7	Their previous book is We See Each Other, a Black Trans Journey
	...

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