Shanzell Q. Page

Some of us seem to be under the mistaken impression that AAVE is merely the academic way of saying ‘Black slang.’ 

Yes, slang words and phrases exist within AAVE (African American Vernacular English, or simply Black English) but what makes it a legitimate language rather than merely ‘broken English’ is the fact that AAVE has rules, just like regular English. Rules of syntax, conjugation, and grammatical correctness. In other words, there is a wrong way to use Black English, both in writing and when speaking it. 

I know it’s less of a time commitment to learn these types of things vicariously or from the mouths of others or via a short social media post, but to really REALLY know what you’re talking about when it comes to this subject… there’s no getting around reading a book written by an expert.

Samara Joy and Brandee Younger cover, “If It’s Magic”, by Stevie Wonder.

(On Alice Coltrane’s harp)