Had to write about this...

I mean come on now...so yes I know that I go to a Caucasian institution with many people who really don't understand what it is to be an African American in today's society. What does this sound like coming from a professor with three Ph.D.'s to her name..."He be at the hospital all day."...used as an example of how African Americans speak. What the **ck???!!!! I'm sitting in class getting so mad, in a class I usually find very enjoyable and informative. But not today! In my linguistics class we have gotten to the topic of 'African American English (AAE)'...or whatever title the man is giving it this week. I knew some ignorant comments might be made because lets face it, white people typically know nothing about the African American experience...wait!! many African Americans don't know about the African American experience (we will have to address that topic another day) So back to class, I'm one of three African American females in the class...actually one of two because the third lady is 'black' by race...but something else when it comes to ethnicity. I hate the comment 'he/she is acting white'...so I won't use it in reference to this young lady, but she definitely didn't experience life like I did...and even though the world sees her as an African American female, I'm not sure if she sees her as an African American female (also, a topic we will have to address another day). Alright, so after my professor's imitation of AAE, I knew this 50minute class was going to seem like a three hour class...and it really did! Why did she have to divide the class into groups??? and of course since there are so few African Americans we were split among the groups. My group...consisted of a blonde-hair blue eye female, a long-hair rocker (he's really cool, I've known since I got to Drexel) and this other guy from Colorado (need I say more...) sike, I've also known him for a few years and he's cool too. I'm sitting there, I don't have any plans on participating in this group activity, because I don't want to upset myself on such a beautiful day. I'm just sitting listening to the foolishness these people are saying. Than the female in my group, asks me to give some example of AAE...I say, "If you were black it would be natural for me, but since you aren't I can't" What did these people except of me...Do I look like a showman that can perform at any given moment??? I think not. Ok, you may think I'm overreacting but you had to see there facing, it was like they were waiting for a big show or display. Their eyes were focused on me, fist on chin...just wait for me to say something. They were anticipating my response...the female looked sorta scared...but since I knew the two males they just laughed because they know me. One guy (not in my group!) even said that before he came to college he thought African Americans sounded really dumb when they spoke, and than proceeded to say that many African Americans still sound dumb to him...but than say "but no one in this room"! To late buddy...can't take that comment back...you are on my list now! WHAT THE **CK!!! I looked at the other African American female in the room (and she is a Philly girl...) We were about to bang the mess outta that guy. But we didn't...I mean everyone in the room would think that we were perpetuating the myth that African Americans are violent. I'm still a bit upset from this class and the class was at noon and it is almost 6pm. I've spent so many years dealing with ignorant people...it is a passion of mine to first educate younger African Americans and than to educate the masses... Looks like I have just as much work to do as my ancestors did... People really believe things have changed, racism is dead...racism is just not as overt as it was in the past. But believe it is alive and well and we must do something about it.