Over the past century Black slang has been referred to as jive talk, nonstandard Negro English and ebonics. These terms, though common, all inadequately described a Black American language variety known as African American Vernacular English (AAVE). It’s a common and ever-evolving way for Black people to communicate and a new book is helping readers understand its nuances.
In Historically Black Phrases, Tre’vell Anderson and jarrett hill use interviews with scholars, creatives and their own relatives to break down the sometimes colourful sayings and metaphors that were created and popularized by Black Americans in a book that is part cultural commentary, part memoir – and all Black. In their book, released earlier this month, Anderson and hill explain the origins and uses of well-known phrases like “yo’ mama” that often accompanies or is used in response to a denigrating joke and others that are less known to communities outside of Black America such as “talkin’ out of the side of your neck” and “boo boo the fool”.
