Code Switching

    Recently in class I learned about code switching and was instantly intrigued. I learned that 80%-90% of black people speak AAVE. In one of the videos we watched in class one man said "To live in the ghetto you have to speak like you're in the ghetto." and at that point I was able to recognize how language is so important in culture, and that when black people use AAVE they are expressing themselves in a way that they feel seen and heard in that certain environment and with certain people, but also expressing themselves in the way that their audience will understand, appreciate, and connect with. That can look different depending on what environment they're in too, and this is where code switching comes into play. They have to transition between the different English's depending on whether they are at home, school, work, with friends, family, ect.. I didn't realize initially that code switching was something that had to be taught, something that parents teach their kids how and when it should be done. 

     Hearing about code switching from the videos we watched really shaped the way I see it, although the different videos from the black people and their experiences in comparison to the videos of the white women in the workplace gave me two very different feelings about it. For example, that same man in one of those first videos really stood out to me because he seemed to like having the choice to code switch and the freedom it gave him to unwind, have fun, and just "act black" with his friends and family on the weekend. There was also the mom who felt that through her own experience it was important to teach her young daughters how to code switch because she believed it would be beneficial for them. After watching and hearing their stories I do believe there are some benefits to code switching, such as, feeling like one can relax, have fun, communicate to all different types of people on different levels ect.. Although I do remember the video of the family that talked about how difficult it was to be expected to know "proper english" and how not being understood in the way they speak is discouraging and frustrating. 

    I can't imagine how frustrating it would be to be at work or school and not be understood or heard when I am talking, and I know this is something that they experience often. And we saw that in the video of the white woman who was high up in her work place saying how important it was to hire someone who looks and "talks" the part. When I heard that I viewed code switching differently in that moment, more so in a negative way compared to the videos before. This reminded me about the conversation we had on white supremacy and that when things deviate from what we think is normal we tend to devalue it, because we have been taught that white culture is the norm when that is not the case. We need to strive to see the way black people talk as "variety" of english with differences in backgrounds, instead of judging the way they speak and assuming they are uneducated. If we do this and continue to educate ourselves I think overtime we can create a much better space for all.