After reading bell hooks writings on the English language as an oppressor and her opinions surrounding the topic, we were given the task to look at a text through the lens of one of hook's quotes. I chose a quote which describes how non-standard English may be used as a form of resistance.
"For in the incorrect usage of words, in the incorrect placement of words, was a spirit of rebellion that claimed language as a site of resistance. Using English in a way that ruptured standard usage and meaning, so that white folks could often not understand black speech, made English into more than the oppressor’s language."
We have looked at a lot of forms of texts that express how black vernacular or incorrect usage of words has been sued as a form of resistance, usually associated with the divide or race. However, an interesting argument or form of language resistance to look at would be the white rapper Eminem as he is white but relates to the black culture more due to his up brining. His two songs "The way I am" and "Sing for the moment" both demonstrate resistance through the lyrics while using some black vernacular.
Both songs question why he is criticised so much for his lyrics, vocabulary or actions. He challenges the audience and their judgements with continuous counter arguments while questioning their intent and racial stereotypes.
The Way I Am:
"And I am whatever you say I am
If I wasn't, then why would I say I am?
In the paper, the news, every day I am
Radio won't even play my jam
‘Cause I am whatever you say I am
If I wasn't, then why would I say I am?
In the paper, the news, every day I am
I don't know, it's just the way I am"
"And I just do not got the patience
To deal with these cocky Caucasians
Who think I'm some wigger who just tries to be black
‘Cause I talk with an accent and grab on my balls
So they always keep asking the same f**** questions
What school did I go to, what hood I grew up in
The why, the who, what, when, the where and the how"
Sing For The Moment:
"His thoughts are whacked, he's mad so he's talkin' back
Talkin' black, brainwashed from rock and rap
He sags his pants, do-rags and a stocking cap"
"That's why these prosecutors wanna convict me, strictly just to get me off of these streets quickly
But all they kids be listenin' to me religiously, so I'm signin' CDs while police fingerprint me"
These quotes from both of the songs express the power language in song form has and the public turmoil it may cause. "The way I am" challenges how he is criticised for his AAVE use and how this leads the public to question him and whether he is appropriating the culture. While "sing for the moment" is discussing how his music has the supposed power to cause indecent acts due to its risky or inappropriate nature associated with rap music.
In both songs vocabulary or grammar associated with AAVE is continuously used which elevates the main themes of the music. In "the way I am" Eminem uses the word "wigger" which is usually associated with a white person trying to emulate the black culture in some way or form. In the quotations I previously chose there are over 5 examples of AAVE.
"‘Cause" - Informal contraction of 'because'
"I just do not got the patience"-Inappropriate use of negatives in refernce to verbs.
"talkin'" "listenin'" "signin'" -informal colloquiallism of 'ing'
"wanna" - lack of copula
These forms of AAVE allow the artist's message or content of his music resonate with the listeners as he does not conform to their ideas, rebelling against the standard English which is commonly associated with his race. This challenges the stereotypes and categorizations surrounding AAVE while questioning how much power language, more specifically music, has among the public. The themes presented are quite contradicting as he uses black vernacular to break down the stereotypes and impact the audience while defending his case that music is powerful but not as powerful as the public makes it seem.
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