articulate Archives - The Race Card Project

“You talk so proper,” Dude, what?

August 8, 2024August 9, 2024 articulate, atlanta, GA, Jasmine N. Allen, proper, sound white, stereotype, talk white

Jasmine N. Allen,
Atlanta, GA

The first four words are a quote from something someone said to me on the first day of 7th grade. I had just asked the teacher a question when the girl sitting next to me turned and said this. I was confused by what she meant because I didn’t say anything that was that different than what the other people said before me. It wasn’t until I got home and told my mom about this and she responded, “Well, what did she expect you to sound like?” That it clicked for me that the girl had made an expectation of me based on nothing other than what I looked like. Now, the girl may not have meant anything racist but the point still stands that black people are unfairly stereotyped as uneducated and improper, and when they show that they are educated the black person is met with surprise.

I’m surprised you speak so well.

January 19, 2024January 19, 2024 articulate, black girl, Canton, debate team, E.C. Boyd, neighborhood, OH, Perry Township, proper english, school, stereotype, white, you don't sound

E.C. Boyd,
Canton, OH.

I was not born, but I was raised in a predominantly white neighborhood because the school system was better in Perry Township than the low-income, mostly black Canton City Schools. As the only black person on my school’s debate team, I dealt with a lot of people surprised that I could speak as well as them, despite the obvious difference in our physical appearance, One debate alumni during a practice round said with the best of intentions, “You speak really well for a black girl.” When she saw the look on my face, she followed up with “Trust me–that’s a good thing.”

“You come off as too articulate.”

November 9, 2023November 9, 2023 @BobbyRiversTV, @michele_Norris, #theracecardproject, Anglo, articulate, Bobby Rivers, but you don't sound, career, producer, talk show, TV, twitter, VH1

Bobby Rivers,
Submitted via Twitter: @BobbyRiversTV
@michele_norris #theracecardproject

6 words I’ve heard from Anglo producers in my TV career.

You’re so articulate, you sound white.

June 13, 2022June 13, 2022 articulate, assume, Sidney Frye, sound white, white

Sidney Frye

People have always told me, I have a way with words. What they didn’t tell me was that my linguistical gifts would call into question my “blackness.”

She’s White in a Black body….

June 11, 2019June 11, 2019 African American, articulate, Black, black body, blended, business suit, Choctaw County, Cooper Shell, deep south, Jackson, mixed, MS, Natural hair, Paramore, pearls, stereotype, TN, typical, white

Cooper Shell,
Jackson, TN.

She’s White in a Black Body…..
That is what has ALWAYS been said to describe me—since I was at least 12 years old. My name is Cooper Shell, and I grew up in Choctaw County, MS. I hail from a blended family which is very typical in my town. I suppose that I should dress, speak, and behave in a certain manner because I am an African American female in the deep South; I don’t…at least not in the manner most people expect. I prefer to wear business suits, pearls, and pumps; Paramore is one of my favorite bands. My natural hair has always looked more like a weave, and I am incredibly articulate. However, society says that I should wear Jordans and Sean Jean, aspire to be Beyonce while dancing to Lil Wayne, and wear weaves as I speak the latest slang and broken English. I had African American and Caucasian friends as a child and teenager. But apparently my speech and preferences just seemed to be more “White” than “Black”. As an adult, I have gotten quite use to my clients and business contacts assuming I am male because of my name. However, I am never prepared for the awkward stammers, stares, and hearing “Are you sure you’re Cooper?” once those people finally meet me face to face. It is even more disheartening to meet people who make incredibly racist comments on the phone, only to learn they were speaking to a “Black” all along.

I see my intellect surprises you.

February 5, 2019February 5, 2019 African American Male, articulate, Aspen X, expect, Fort Washington, intellect, Maryland, off guard, stereostype, USA

As a young African American male, I have learned, through very personal experiences, that many do not expect me to be as wise or as knowledgeable as I am. My knowledge and opinions on complex issues as well as my level of articulation often catch people off guard. I am often expected to act and sound how many perceive young African American men to be, hood and ignorant. Needless to say, when I make it abundantly clear that this is not the case for me, many have trouble hiding the surprised look on their face, if they bother to try.

Articulate, responsible; then color doesn’t matter

January 21, 2019January 21, 2019 articulate, content of character, matter, McKinney, MLK, responsible, TX

John H
McKinney, TX

King’s speech referred to the time when a man (actually he referred to his children) would be judged not by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. I think there are many, many who,lack character and use the color of their skin as an excuse. There are many who are principled and trying hard…. And when they fall short they keep trying and don’t use race as an excuse. The opportunity is there. No one thinks twice when they see a black cop, manager, lawyer, Doctor, politician, etc. etc. but you don’t usually see people, white or black, with violent attitudes, drug problems, inarticulate and dressed like a slob in these roles. It is not skin color it is culture and values. The articulate who,are willing to work, no matter their color… Have opportunity. The eubonics speaking, saggy pants wearing drug using gang bangers are despised. And it is not because they are black… Though they will try to tell you that’s why

When did “enunciating” mean “sounding white?”

October 30, 2018October 30, 2018 articulate, class, enunciating, High School, Oreo, Skye Carr, sound white, speaking, VA, Virginia Beach

Skye Carr,
Virginia Beach, VA.

Throughout middle school and high school, people used to always call me an “Oreo” because I was one of the few black students in my class that spoke properly and enunciated my words. I’m curious when enunciating became something that only white people did.

Ashamed and embarrassed to be black.

April 16, 2018August 18, 2020 angry black man, angry black woman, articulate, ashamed, Color, Durham, embarrassed, funny, NC, nobody, non-black, race card, scary, stereotype, thug

Nobody,
Durham, NC.

I would change my race to anything non-black if I could. I don’t think white people understand how limiting it is to only be seen as a color and not as a person. When you’re black you can be the Scary Black Person, the Angry Black Man/Woman, the Thug, the Smart/Articulate Black Person, the Funny Black Guy/Girl, etc but you are never just a person. You spend your whole life trying to make other people feel comfortable and you never get to just be. It’s tiring but if you mention it to anyone then you are pulling the “race card” and you are “whining.” I would do just about anything to not be black anymore.

Too articulate to be from Harlem

September 2, 2016September 2, 2016 articulate, debunk, GA, Harlem, JaNohn B. Snellville, myth, stereotype

JaNohn B.
Snellville, GA.

When we look at someone or find out where they are from, we assume they speak a certain way. When the person debunks that myth, it appears that everything that is said is some wonder. I went to school just like you did. It’s just a place you’re scared of and I don’t know why.

I’m African-American and on time.

November 9, 2015November 9, 2015 African American, articulate, CA, California, enunciating, express, individual, Jendayi Rachal, skin color, stereotype, time

Jendayi Rachal,
California, CA.

I am a proud African-American female who is goal oriented and has her priorities in order. I do not follow stereotypes. I like to express myself and be an individualist. And I know how to enunciate and articulate as well. Intelligence does not belong to a specific skin color.

White Privilege Asian Wife Still get it…

October 10, 2015 articulate, Asian, Chinese, Family, glares, Hello Kityy, Lee, melting pot, NY, NYC, Queens, token, white privilege, wife

Lee,
Queens, NY.

I live in NYC. A melting pot no? I am one of the few people where I work who is white American. I have a lot of experience but there are people there that have more experience than me and are better then me. I make at a minimum $15 more per hour then they do… I was immediately placed in a management position. I asked about this about 2 months into the job and was told “You know the clients are more comfortable talking to a guy like you. You are very articulate when you speak and the other guys…” Everyone I work with is very smart and articulate. I’m just the token white guy. So I get paid more, don’t have to work weekends and have more vacation time than people that have been working for years. My wife is Chinese, very very attractive (I often wonder what she is doing with a guy like me) and younger than me (7 years). When we are in Chinatown we get the most glaring stares of disapproval. We where even denied service at a restaurant. I had one white guy come up to us and ask me what website I got her from because he tried two and a few thousand dollars and all he got was one busted chink. My family only gets her Hello Kitty crap for Christmas. I could go on and on. But you know… Racism is alive and well all over the world. I am fully aware of my privilege and always have been aware. I use it to my full advantage when ever possible. From talking to the police a few times to making more money and a lot in between. Until humans melt into one “race” racism will always continue. Trying to stop/end racism is like beating a dead horse.

You are very articulate…gee thanks..

June 10, 2015June 10, 2015 articulate, black male, compliment, IL, Lyonel LaGrone Jr, rude, speaking, Urbana

Lyonel LaGrone Jr,
Urbana, IL.

Over the last 17 years I have held a number of positions that have required me to give presentations on various topics across the United States. Often, when presenting to predominately White audiences someone will approach me after a presentation and offer up as a compliment, “You are very articulate.” What they don’t know is that is an indirect insult. I have never heard anyone walk up to a fellow panelist who happens to be White and compliment they on their ability to speak fluently and coherently. I don’t want to be rude (like that person was) so I will express appreciation for the “compliment.” It is this sort of subconscious bias that a lot of professional Black males deal with on a daily basis.

I, Woman Of Color Can Articulate

June 6, 2015June 7, 2015 African American, articulate, Color, Epiphanie Malloy, Inkster, language, MI, stereotype, woman of color

Epiphanie Malloy
Inkster, MI

This stereotypical notion that women of color,especially us in the African American community, are incapable of orating with yell, screaming, being “angry and black” has become accedingly old hat. The shock an awe I receive when I properly articulate my feelings, ideas and general statements/responses is far more annoying and frequent than it should be. It doesn’t just come from other ethnicities who are quick to assume my first language is slang in the key of loud. It comes from my own as well, which is far worse. We expect so less from us, that when we get more, it’s a total mind melt. I must be bourgeois because I sound like a “white girl”. Or I only sound talk properly to impress people. Or I only use large words to make people feel dumb. It’s disheartening to know that the educating I so strived to become great in as a child, especially the English language, is meet with such ignorance. I love the human language, the dialects of the world an I’ve always prided myself on master as much as I possibly can in communication. However, shinning bright in this area of life continues to get me looks of disbelief or placement into a special categorical realm we’re I’m not quite black, I must be an exotic crossbreed who’s so privileged to speak proper, that I can’t possible be anything but a regular woman who happens to have a passion for proper articulation. Miss me with that.

Stop saying I’m articulate. Please

May 1, 2015May 1, 2015 articulate, Brooklyn, NY, stereotype, stop, twitter

Brooklyn, NY
Submitted via Twitter: @Sistalocks

People say I’m not black enough

February 2, 2015February 3, 2015 articulate, black enough, CA, not black enough, Oakland, sounding black, stereotype, Yodassa Williams, you sound like

Yodassa Williams,
Oakland, CA.

Whenever I speak freely around strangers, I am reacted to as if I am an alien for being black but not “sounding black”. “You speak so well” they say, leaving out the ending, “for a black girl.” I’m irritated and saddened by the insult that a black person’s use of proper English grammar and pronunciation is strange.