YBPGuide - Latest Comments in Sounding Black

Re: Sounding Black

Cirurgia Plastica — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 21:14:14 -0000

One of the biggest barriers I've noticed many black or poor kids have when at college or interacting with field experts is the assumption that everything we think we know is a firm fact. In fact, there are many more questions, assumptions, and caveats. Vetting and dissecting is a very normal and standard practice in science (natural, physical, & social). As annoying as it may be for most people, it is this seeminging un-ending question asking and examining that helps us fully understand a problem. Application and theory go hand-in-hand, though not usually the same hands.

Re: Sounding Black

tammy — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 17:50:48 -0000

I know this study wasn't done for poeople of color!!! I learned about being bilingual very young while watching my mom and grandmother conduct business. What Grogger has done is reinforce the very notion that keeps us separate and not equal. If its not our speech it will surely be something esle that we(Blacks) lack. This way they don't have to share part of the American pie. We will never assimilate fully on their terms. We'll continue to be two faced, just as our past generations have. Stop wasting time and money.

Re: Sounding Black

Carter — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 14:01:53 -0000

The overall problem with thoughts and research like this is that we will never be white. If we talk like them 10 years from now this professor will conduct research linking liking black music to lower wages. You said it best when stating that the world is like high school and in America the popular kids are white. A look a American high schools though and the white kids are trying to be black. What we should really be thinking is how can we do what hip hop did to the music industry, blacks have done to the MBA and black quarterbacks have done in the NFL to the business realm. Americans want to be popular and rich. If people that talk black start building million dollar companies, whites will as history has shown clamor for the next black sounding star to get them rich.

Re: Sounding Black

Fredric — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 15:43:27 -0000

Here is a link to Cobb's take. He is a proclaimed Black Republican and has some good insight with an alternative perspective.

The comments are also worth a look.

Re: Sounding Black

The Urban Scientist — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 11:19:33 -0000

I made a few more comments on my blog and I did a break down of the orginal research. Also, Cobb has some interesting points (as well as his commenters) on this same subject.

Re: Sounding Black

The Urban Scientist — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 15:43:40 -0000

Hold up a minute Tahani. Let's not beat up the doctor for his works.

1. This may all be old hat to you and most people, simply knowing or agreeing that something seems real isn't good enough to get the problem addressed. It is an academic bias that things need to be proven before setting off. Maybe that's the cultural difference - many people of color say "hey I knew that, I didn't need some expert to prove it me". But like Frederic says, when the ruling class makes the rules, we have to roll with it. In policy decisions, no one is going to address an issue that hasn't been demostrated as real. This paper does that. The good news, we all agree that the elephant is in the room. For far too long we've been looked at like we're crazy for pointing out the obvious because others didn't see it (or want to see it). Now, all of those diversity HR people can justify spending money to address this issue.

2. What's worthy research. I find it interesting how lay people balk at research studies they think are riduculous or a waste of time. But the truth is - academic research is conducted on an individual basis. Unlike most other industries, it is NOT markert driven. Researchers, like myself, study questions that are interesting to them. We don't receive orders from someone who says - "Study this, because a board or poll said we need this answer". There'll alays be something other people think is more interesting or worthy. And I don't think it was a waste of time.

One of the biggest barriers I've noticed many black or poor kids have when at college or interacting with field experts is the assumption that everything we think we know is a firm fact. In fact, there are many more questions, assumptions, and caveats. Vetting and dissecting is a very normal and standard practice in science (natural, physical, & social). As annoying as it may be for most people, it is this seeminging un-ending question asking and examining that helps us fully understand a problem. Application and theory go hand-in-hand, though not usually the same hands.

Re: Sounding Black

Thoney — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 11:26:07 -0000

this was an utter waste of time and money. seriously, why bother intensely studying a well-known fact. so what now? they've officially decided that if i sound like Quita from the block i'm poorer? newsflash, iit's been that way! FOREVER! !YAWN! if i see this professor in hyde park i'm going to mean mug him and say, i wear the mask, but you should have found a better task. mmmmm AIDS research, howsabout you donaate some of that research chop to charity. better yet, buy me a pair of fancy shoes boo boo. CHUCH! and that's negro for "it is so" ;P