Historically Black Phrases
From "I Ain't One of Your Lil' Friends" to "Who All Gon' Be There?"
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4.7 • 3 Ratings
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- $6.99
Publisher Description
WINNER OF THE NAACP IMAGE AWARD • A fun and thoughtful dictionary of Black language you didn’t know you needed, Historically Black Phrases is a love letter to the Black community and the ways it drives culture.
“This perfect blend of explanation, definition and social commentary will have you laughing while learning.”—George M. Johnson, New York Times bestselling author of All Boys Aren't Blue and We Are Not Broken
Black vernacular doesn’t often get its due—despite its enormous influence on mainstream culture—but Historically Black Phrases is here to give Black language its flowers. A celebration of more than two hundred staples of Black conversation—from church sayings and units of measure to compliments and reprimands—this sharp and witty guide explores the unique importance of Black expression and communication. Historically Black Phrases offers definitions and notable pop culture moments, as well as tips on pronunciation and usage of phrases like “feelin’ yourself,” “don’t get it twisted,” and “pop off.” In addition to the phrases, short essays offer insight on different facets of Black language from scholars, entertainers, and pop culture commentators (i.e., everybody and they mama).
Authors, journalists, and hosts of the award-winning podcast FANTI, jarrett hill and Tre’vell Anderson examine each phrase with humor and cultural precision, making Historically Black Phrases a vital ode to how Black language influences the world.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
FANTI podcasters Anderson (We See Each Other) and hill offer a hilarious and heartfelt tribute to the beauty and complexity of "Black language." This A-to-Z dictionary includes some expressions and phrases that have gone mainstream—such as "ride or die," "game recognizes game," "my bad," "lowkey," and "shook"—and others that haven't, including "too much like right" (meaning: "obvious") or "get this work" (meaning: "to handle things"). Entries include notes on usage and pronunciation, as well as references to notable pop culture moments, such as Whitney Houston's 2002 interview with Diane Sawyer that led to the popularization of the phrase "show me the receipts." There are also short essays that draw on interviews with linguists, writers, and actors, and touch on topics like Black styles of affirmation and compliments, the influence of church and spirituality on Black expressions, and Black ASL, a dialect of sign language that originated in African American Deaf communities. By turns informative and nostalgic, this compendium demonstrates the seismic influence of Black culture and speech.
