- Aug 2, 2006
- 3,807
- 11
It's not about who says it so much as it is about how they say it. I'm not talking -ER VS -A because that debate is total crap, but rather about the context of the word. I never say it. I don't care for it when people--any people--say it. I think it just sounds ignorant.
Perhaps it's not entirely a financial background thing, but if you go to a poor neighborhood, chances are it will be much more common than in a wealthier neighborhood. Of affluent people, it's only common amongst the youth. Grown ups in higher socioeconomic circles typically leave that behind--even if they did use it occasionally when they were younger. The kids do it because of the music. However, in poor communities it's just every where. Most blacks in the hood use it, the rap music uses it--it's just another pronoun in the hood, really. Right next to "he", "she", "you", etc. Does that justify it? Absolutely not. The use of the word is a great way to look like a fool. Is it socially acceptable in those situations? Absolutely yes.
I have never--in 25 years--ever seen even one black person--or any person at all--get mad at a person of any non-black race using the word as a common pronoun in a social setting. There's no malice behind the word in these cases so nobody gets offended. The only people who do--who I see online--are honestly overly sensitive.
