well gurl! You put some SERIOUS magick in this one cause the entire post is worth reposting! I found myself wanting to restack after every other sentence! You truly are a MAGNIFICENT writer!
I am challenged to find my authentic Black voice. I didn't grow up around AAVE. When I use AAVE in my writing, I sound like a white girl trying to sound Black.
Mmm… when using AAVE, does it feel natural or forced? And it’s okay if it’s the latter.
Blackness means many different things to different people. How we were raised and our environment plays a part.
I grew up around it, but was discouraged from using it. I was raised by my grandmother, and she encouraged me to speak “proper English” as a form of protection. To get ahead in school and have more opportunities than her or my mom.
It feels forced. I have to remember what my best friend would say--she's fluent in code-switch. On the other hand, sometimes when I'm in casual conversation, a bit of AAVE comes in without my thinking about it.
That's how it is for me. In casual conversation, it comes out. And when I intentionally write like I talk to my friends, it comes out too, as you saw in this essay. There were certain sentences I wrote the way it sounded in my head.
Give that a try. Don't force it. But if it's something you'd say to your best friend, give it a go and see if it rolls off the tongue. Whether you use it or not doesn't determine how Black you are in my opinion. I sat that because I see a lot of policing of what Blackness means... even here on Substack.
The piece that jumped out at me was the right to complexity. That urge to over explain is…whew.
This essay is a contemporary to Zora’s essay “What white Publishers Won't Print.” Its bout time we reclaim all of us on the page 🖤
Wow, what a compliment. I'm so humbled right now. Thank you.
Phew, this landed soul deeply 444 Me. I appreciate the TRUTH being told in this type of light, wow. ✨🤌🏾💯
I’m so happy it landed! I can’t help but tell the truth lol. Thanks so much for reading!
DAYUM gurl. This entire post, I just want to highlight and repost everywhere!
Lollll. This piece had been simmering in the cauldron for a minute!
well gurl! You put some SERIOUS magick in this one cause the entire post is worth reposting! I found myself wanting to restack after every other sentence! You truly are a MAGNIFICENT writer!
Thank you, friend! I decided 2026 will be the Gregorian calendar year of saying what needs to be said with no chaser 😮💨
no chaser INDEED! lol hahaha And I'm here for it!
I am challenged to find my authentic Black voice. I didn't grow up around AAVE. When I use AAVE in my writing, I sound like a white girl trying to sound Black.
Mmm… when using AAVE, does it feel natural or forced? And it’s okay if it’s the latter.
Blackness means many different things to different people. How we were raised and our environment plays a part.
I grew up around it, but was discouraged from using it. I was raised by my grandmother, and she encouraged me to speak “proper English” as a form of protection. To get ahead in school and have more opportunities than her or my mom.
It feels forced. I have to remember what my best friend would say--she's fluent in code-switch. On the other hand, sometimes when I'm in casual conversation, a bit of AAVE comes in without my thinking about it.
That's how it is for me. In casual conversation, it comes out. And when I intentionally write like I talk to my friends, it comes out too, as you saw in this essay. There were certain sentences I wrote the way it sounded in my head.
Give that a try. Don't force it. But if it's something you'd say to your best friend, give it a go and see if it rolls off the tongue. Whether you use it or not doesn't determine how Black you are in my opinion. I sat that because I see a lot of policing of what Blackness means... even here on Substack.
I'll try your suggestion and keep you posted.