Lynette Clemetson of the New York Times writes about the negative connotation of using the word "articulate" to describe a black man or woman. It surprised me. Frankly, being called articulate is on of the highest forms of praise I recognized. You can call me an articulate whore really. I don't use it myself often. I've never used in to describe President Bush - dullard seems more appropriate. Yet the thought never occurred to me that the word could have a pejorative connotation. As in, "he is articulate for a Black man" - which is truly offensive.
But here is a pointer. Do not use it as the primary attribute of note for a black person if you would not use it for a similarly talented, skilled or eloquent white person. Do not make it an outsized distinction for Brown University’s president, Ruth Simmons, if you would not for the University of Michigan’s president, Mary Sue Coleman. Do not make it the sole basis for your praise of the actor Forest Whitaker if it would never cross your mind to utter it about the expressive Peter O’Toole.
Source: Definitions - The Racial Politics of Speaking Well - Lynette Clemetson - New York Times
I can't help or even anticipate what other people think. I can only use words to describe a person. Take Senator Barack Obama. In my mind, I already refer to him as our next President. Words that come to mind when I think about him are honest, genuine, personable, smart, and yes articulate. I wish I could talk as well as he does. Heck, I can't even write as well as he talks. The fact that I call him articulate is meaningless in a racial connotation because it is not the primary way I describe him nor do I use the word to comapre him to his race. Speaking of race - the fact that he is likely to be our first black president simply makes me proud to be an American. In reality - he is a man just like me, but much better looking even with the big ears.
(Posted while listing to The Upsetters - Dubbing Sandra - off Trojan Dub Box Set)
3 comments:
Great post and exactly right.
Obama hasn't come up through the churches and the NAACP like a Jessie Jackson, and his image, style, persona - call it what you will - is regarded as "suspect" by some in the black community.
I see him as a unifier. A guy capable of reaching across the divides.
I caught a video chat segment that compared a Hillary "meet the people" vid with one by Barack. Video is the great revealer, and it's a medium some politicians should stay well clear of. Hillary came off as rehearsed and self-conscious. Kind of phony in a nice way. Barack nailed it. Straight up and sincere all the way.
He's an exciting candidate - I just hope he isn't screwed by the mud slinging to come.
You think the republican party will sling mud at a black sorta half-muslim former drug user named Barak Hussein Obama?
Yeah the mud slinging is going to get nasty.
As for the articulate thing, I can see what they mean. The man is a senator, it should be expected that he is articulate. I doubt that anyone would take issue with the word articulate if used as you did, as one of several words to describe the man. If he is described simply as an articulate black man then yes it is racist in a round-about way, by implying that most blacks are not articulate.
I've actually been called articulate before, which I think is funny because my speech is no better than my writing which is none-to-impressive but it's humorous when a friend is trying to compliment you with something like, "you talk real good, I'm just not used to people who like talk all proper n shit, its cool man" to which the only response is, "uh, thanks."
As for the race, it seems like liberal white people love the guy, and the black people I know seem far less enthusiastic about him, they don't dislike him just aren't real sure yet.
I'm glad to see I'm not the only atheist who's a big fan of Barack Obama. PZ Myers seems to have started a rolling bandwagon of people who think he's too pious, but I think he's been remarkably clear in his support of free thought and criticism of blind faith. He has to act pious to win, of course, we all know that. But I'm comfortably convinced that he won't be making any decisions based on faith.
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