Here's a test. Which of the following statements are infrequently used, and which are more frequently used?

a) He/she is a "very articulate white man/white woman."

b) He/she is a very "articulate Asian man/Asian woman."

c) He/she is a very "articulate black man/black woman."

And the results, at least in the online sphere, as of today,are:

"Articulate black man:" 250 Google citations.

"Articulate black woman:" 389 Google citations.

"Articulate white man:" 27 Google citations.

"Articulate white woman:" 24 Google citations.

"Articulate Asian man:" 5 Google citations.

"Articulate Asian woman:" 23 Google citations.

I think we have a problem here. Clearly, a great many more people think it is notable when black adults speak articulately, as opposed to whites or Asians. It borders on racial bias and stereotyping to make note of a black person's verbal finesse, or intelligence, as though it were a remarkable thing. One underlying issue familar to black parents, educators and businesspersons, is the thread of thought within modern black culture that condones hostility to black students who work hard at school, and who "talk white." That anti-academic strain is something very real, that blogger Pam Spaulding chastises the New York Times for trying to downplay. What about blacks accused of "talking white?" There is no such thing as "talking white," says Ambra Nykol.

'Nuff said.

TECHNORATI TAGS: RACIAL BIAS, LANGUAGE

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Posted by Matt Rosenberg at September 29, 2005 05:16 PM