FORGETTING OUR AFRICAN WAYS

Forums Moderator Joined: May 18, 2005 Posts: 1023

I think we should draw a line of distinction between those who " choose" to speak good english and those who want to impress people.

In my case, my father insisted we speak proper english at home and with our peers; you can imagine the jokes that were made.
When I came to the US 15 years ago, assimilating into the US culture or work force was not a problem; I got jobs with ease, in some instances with no request for work authorization; basically I can pass for an American citizen! I have been told I sound very "white" over the phone.

Now does that mean that I don't remember "nail juke", mame put the pepper, cold bowl, mosquito police......never! That is an integral part of me. So much so, that I passed it down to my daughters, to the point that one is returning home for a visit after college. She doesn't remember much of Liberia, but because of my stories of MY childhood, she wants to experience some of that.

Those individuals that do things like that are trying to impress someone. And doing it badly! I'm more impressed by the historical facts of your visit that you share with me, more than with some "okra" on your tongue. That's how we called it back in the day! Laughing