| 1. | hyphen-American | ||
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the suffix applied to terms for non-white ethnic groups (i.e. African-American) to indicate that American it's describing is different from other Americans-- because as everyone knows, "American" is an ethnicity. And if one is not WASP, he isn't deserving of the singular appellation, and must have a stupid prefix slapped onto it before it's considered "accurate".
origin: the United States' incompetency when addressing its diversity. Mr. Smith is a citizen of the US and is of German descent. Therefore he is American.
Mrs. Johnson is a citizen of the US and is of English descent. Therefore she is American. Mr. Obama is a citizen of the US and is of partial African descent. Therefore he is-- wait, what was that? That one would actually be African-hyphen-American. |
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| 2. | Ebonics | ||
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Ebonics - Plural noun (treated as singular), Blend of Ebony and Phonics. The African-American dialect of Standard English, there are different dialects within Ebonics itself. Similar to how the American dialect of English has dialects within itself such as the Texan dialect and the Boston dialect. Ebonics is a dialect of Standard English just as American, Canadian, Scottish, Irish, Australian ect. forms of English are all dialects of Standard English. It is usually spoken by African-Americans who are the decedents of Black slaves from West Africa and the Caribbean. Ebonics was born from the fact that African-American slaves were not allowed to learn how to read or write during their lives. Without proper instruction from their English speaking "masters" slaves were forced to learn English with the only language rules they knew from their native languages. Ebonics are usually seen as a form of "broken English" as a result. However they bear a resemblance to Scottish speakers of English.
The Scottish people who used to speak Gaelic had English forced upon them by the English as well during conquest and enslavement. However proper instruction was not given in the language and its rules and as a result the Scottish dialect of English is different than Standard English. Both Scottish English, and African-American English (Ebonics) are dialects of Standard English. However, certain people have tried to claim that Ebonics is a separate language in it's own right while choosing to ignore basic definitions of language and other examples of similar cases. If Ebonics is indeed a separate language than the Scottish dialect of English, and many other dialects of English will also be different languages. The people who are trying to establish Ebonics as a separate language are simply trying to segregate African-Americans dialects as well as their culture from American culture and not allowing it to be included in Euro-American culture. |
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| 3. | TCB | ||
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Literally means, typical cracker behavior.
Invented by an unknown afro-american in the early stages of the Revolutionary War. By this time, the African population in the thirteen colonies began to swell and the Africans began to learn English. So this word came into being when the word "cracker" was being used as a racial slur for the common white man. And so, much like a code, if a white man were to do something predominantly found only in white cultures, such as drinking eggnog, the black people around him/her would say TCB, almost like a code. The term has survived to this very day to still be a low-blow comment towards a white man. Most of the time, an afro-american might say it to express their sense of dumbfoundness in the stupidity of a certain action of a white man. It is most commonly used today to "diss" someone who has been "****-ing up," usually a white man a.k.a a "cracker" or a "honky." Afro-American Man 1: What's happenin' up the hood, jeezy?"
Afro-American Man 2 (Jeezy): Nothin much, my (expletive used for an Afro-American) You hear bout this jive-turkey at that sandwich-place yesterday? Afro-American Man 1: Naw, dawg, what was poppin' down there? Afro-American Man 2: Well, this white boy ordered a sandwich from my friend , Stephon, and said nothing but the meat and cheese. Then, the white boy comes back five minutes later and says You forgot my mayonaise, and asks for a refund. Afro-American Man 1: Man, damn white boys and their mayonaise. Always picky about that type of crap. Haha, makes sense, dawg, white man always gotta have his mayonaise. Afro-American MAn 2: Mmm-hmm, that's some TCB. |
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| 4. | signifyin' | ||
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The root of the word is "sign", as in pronouncing or interpreting "signs" of the future or important spiritual symbols. This must be related to African or Afro-American religious and spiritual practices involving the serious disucssion of divine signs and their meanings.
In a more general sense, if someone is said to be "signifyin"", it may mean that they are taking themselves to seriously by holding forth on deep portentious subjects in a self-important manner. One might be describing pretentious intellectualizing or over-bearing preaching about matters which should make us humble by their mystery. When asked to sign a timesheet at work, the manager said, "Sure.. in Heberew or English ?"
On which a passing co-worker commented, "There he goes signifyin' again." Since I happen to be Jewish, I know exactly what he meant. |
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| 5. | Nigger | ||
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Ignorant person. Though African Americans more than anyone else are offended by this word, so Afro Americans are the ones that in fact make the word "racist" It is a forbidden word in public, daytime cable television, or any public communication for that matter, though it is publically accepted if it is said by an afro american. Other "racist" terms that are meant to discriminate caucasions such as "cracker" "honkey" "whitebread" "snow bunny" are not thought of as a big deal since nobody cares if caucasions feel racially offended because everyone is too busy trying to protect afro americans. DeMarcus (Blackman): Wus good nigga?
Dauntay (Blackman 2): Skraight up kickin' it, collectin' my welfare check my nigga, boutta go pick up my 5 homeboys to jump some bitch ass cracker. Random man overhearing conversation: Hey there fellas, good afternoon. White Boy William: My teacher is so ignorant. I don't like that nigger. Random man: OH MY GOD! TAKE THAT BACK YOU RACIST!!! William: My teacher didn't graduate high school. He can barely speak english, and yet he's still a public school teacher, isn't that grounds to be called ignorant? Random man: I DONT CARE! HE'S BLACK! TAKE IT BACK RACIST, IF HE WAS WHITE, I WOULDN'T MIND, BUT HE'S BLACK, SO TAKE IT BACK. |
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| 6. | biznotch | ||
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Emerged from the afro-american slang phenomon were z's were added to add flair or a spin on the white spoken english. This "code" variation was born during slavery where slaves would use an early form of "ebonics" to comminicate with each other while working or in the company of there owners. Yo biznotch, get that skanky azz out my chair.
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| 7. | TCB | ||
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Literally means, typical cracker behavior.
Invented by an unknown afro-american in the early stages of the Revolutionary War. By this time, the African population in the thirteen colonies began to swell and the Africans began to learn English. So this word came into being when the word "cracker" was being used as a racial slur for the common white man. And so, much like a code, if a white man were to do something predominantly found only in white cultures, such as drinking eggnog, the black people around him/her would say TCB, almost like a code. The term has survived to this very day to still be a low-blow comment towards a white man. Most of the time, an afro-american might say it to express their sense of dumbfoundness in the stupidity of a certain action of a white man. It is most commonly used today to "diss" someone who has been "****-ing up," usually a white man a.k.a a "cracker" or a "honky." "Say you hear about that white dude who bought a plastic tree instead of a real Evergreen tree 'cause it was cheaper?"
"That's some TCB, dawg, white people always looking for a bargain. No respect for tradition." |
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