You’re an African American, so Why Are You Talking like a White Person?

About the Book

In this book, I will show African Americans how and why they speak the way they do. Many cultural factors play a significant role in how African Americans develop their linguistic patterns. I am more concerned with the way African Americans speak today. Although the histories of African American linguistic patterns are essential, I am more focused on the here and now. Therefore, I will direct my attention toward the nest (family system) because here is where the development of linguistic patterns starts. I also want my brothers and sisters to understand that they live in a linguistically prejudiced society that only accepts Standard American English as the official tongue that represents the United States of America. The bottom line is, for African Americans to become successful in today’s society, they must become a code-switching culture, for they are not and will never be considered a bilingual group since their native linguistic tongue is linguistically defunct. And so, African Americans, you need to know that throughout your life, you will experience linguistic prejudice if you continue to speak only AAVE.

About the Author

Dr. Jeffery L. Walker, a native of Omaha Nebraska, has written several books on human behavior. He is a visionary with a passion for assisting others to alleviate or at best, mitigate their internal conflict so they can clear the dust that hinders their vision. Dr. Walker has 25 years of experience working with a diverse population in Chemical Dependency Counseling and Mental Health Counseling. He is an author, life coach, educator and motivational speaker on various topics such as; anger, domestic violence, relationship conflict, and racism in the 21st century. He obtained his Associates of Applied Science (A.A.S.) in Criminal Justice/Law Enforcement, Inver Hills Community College, Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota. Bachelor’s (B.A.) in Psychology, Metropolitan State University, St. Paul, Minnesota. Master’s (M.A.) in Human Relations from the University of Oklahoma. Doctorate (Ed.D.) in Higher Education with a concentration in Psychology from College of Saint Mary, Omaha, Nebraska. Dr. Walker believes that the environment is not stressful; it is how we perceive it.