Say Less: a Lesson in Code Switching | Naya Stevens | TEDxBrandeisUniversity

It seems like African Americans develop slang both naturally in their community and out of an urge to be different from White people, get upset when Whites try to use it, and offended when Whites don’t understand it.

Thoughts?

He was there?

This is inspiring and depressing in equal measure

Growin up lower class in Oakland made it difficult to genuinely connect and communicate with people as I made it through college and office jobs. It’s like an automatic gear that switches once I hear someone speak to me in a “proper” way.

this is amazing. ive cited this in my dissertation!

Powerful!

It doesn't matter if the way she is speaking is correct or not, it's what she and many others know. If you force them to be silent by telling them they are not correct, they will never speak and their stories will never be heard. By not treating them as equal to someone who speaks more professionally you keep them where they are. This can either lead to a battle of racism and/or rich vs poor, it would be better just to accept the way someone talks, so they can present their ideas, and changes can be made.

That was the dopest Ted Talk intro I ever seen

LOVE her....

God has spoken...I love just being...us!!! I am so inspired, thankyou sistah' Naya!!

I wish I could "love" this! Thank you.

But we won't code switch that weave will we? I love how its all about keeping real the broken English but keeping our beautiful natural hair....thats disposable in order to feel beautiful. So....let it be said my speaking and sounding "white" is a verbal weave. Its permanently sewn in so I can compete in a job market that pays me very well.....ok go, please any takers?

lets see how far you get with a job interview when you tell them yall gots to learn how to feel me

But, we all have two ways of speaking, sometimes more.

Professional settings- no street talk.

Casual, with friends- street talks fine

Come on....you didnt know how to say no thank you?! Lol your parents taught you to say "I am Gucci"

POWERFUL, thank you so much for sharing this.

I code switch to pass

I felt this! ✊🏾

Those who really listened got exactly what she said.

Literally, i'm at my desk tearing up.

YOU KILLED IT SIS!

I LOVE LOVE LOVE THIS

Awesome job!

Thank you...