Dear Tug,

I started on your webquest and what a journey it has been so far! The Ebonics blog really caught my attention when I read it. When I go to basketball camp I often find myself- a “white boy” as I’m known-engulfed in the black society. The first thing that comes to mind when speaking of internal oppression in regards to African-Americans is the spoken language. African-Americans from lower socioeconomic areas tend to have poorer grammatical and speaking skills. You may think I’m a racist by believing that but it is the truth. Straight from Nicole Iaquinto’s blog: “An African-American child grows up in the ghetto where she learns to speak a form of colloquial English known to some as "Ebonics," or in more technical terms, Black Vernacular English. She grows up in a community where this is the dominant form of languages spoken.” I believe Black Vernaculr English, or “Ebonics”, derive from the portrayal of the African-American community in the media, movies and especially the music industry. In a way black kids are conforming to their community’s style of speech. Growing in white suburbia I struggled to interpret Ebonics at basketball camp. In conclusion, the media and music industry create a culture that expects African-Americans to speak ebonics. When will this chain of poor grammar and language break for more intelligent dialogue? Tug yo’ webquest hazbeen tizight so far. This iz just da beginning o’ uh great week working fo’ya. What ya doin’ dis here weekend? Ebonix is really da truth. I can’t believe I’m starting ta jive like dis here afta reading yo’blog! All yea damn hood rattz…..

From yo brotha from anotha mutha,
Yungfriedy

P.S. don’t make me pull mah gat!