Who Dem?: Classroom Lingo

Pop quiz: What does the word Dem typically mean?

A) It’s short for demons.
B) It’s the cultured way to say dim.
C) It’s not a word at all, so who cares?
D) It’s short for the word them.

If you picked one of the first three answer choices, you might lack cultural awareness as it relates to Black and Brown people. DEM, as outlined in answer choice D, is an example of cultural dialect, and it is used by many in place of the word them.

You might have heard it used throughout pop culture: There was the rap group Dem Franchize Boyz; Rihanna’s song entitled “Dem Haters”; Jonathan Emile feat. Kendrick Lamar in “Heaven Help Dem”; Wiz Khalifa’s “We Dem Boyz.” More importantly, it echoes throughout many classrooms:

“Ms. Cree, you graded dem papers yet?”

If you cringed upon hearing it or even as you read it above, CONGRATULATIONS, traditional schooling worked; you got what you paid for, but you, my friend, are also part of the problem when it comes to educating Black students in today’s society. In cringing at the sound of it or demanding that students completely remove it from their vocabulary, you are telling them that unlike other ethnic groups, they have no right to the cultural dialect that is rightfully theirs and that so frequently exists within their homes and communities.

But you are not alone.

When I first began teaching, it was in a 9th grade English class, and I had a large number of African American students. On the first day, I was constantly correcting students:

“No, ain’t isn’t a word. What is a ‘guh’? I think you mean GULL or GIRL. Finna?”

Needless to say, it was driving me crazy. And then, much later, something hypocritical happened. While playing a game of Spades with my Black family, I slammed my cards on the table and yelled at the other team:

“I know you AIN’T reneging!! Now, you FINNA pass me DEM books!!!”

I’d committed what has become known as a cardinal sin in most English classrooms, even my own! And as I looked around the table at my family, I considered eliminating that language from my vocabulary, but as I watched them ‘diss’ each other and laugh, I realized that it plays a significant role in how we communicate and engage with each other. It’s a salute to who we, Black people, have become and continue to be.

Here’s some quick, historical context: While many immigrants have carried their culture and language to the U.S., the cultural dialect of African American people was drastically annihilated. Thanks, slavery! (<–Extreme sarcasm!). However, in 1973, Dr. Robert Williams, an African American social psychologist termed African American language as Ebonics (a blend of Ebony and Phonics).  Later, the phrase African American Vernacular English was introduced( to read more on Black vernacular, click the link below).

http://www.pbs.org/speak/seatosea/americanvarieties/AAVE/ebonics/

The point is that over time, ethnic language, especially Ebonics, has been viewed in a negative light. But, the reality is that African American people do, in fact, have their own language, and it is important for today’s teachers and leaders to affirm students’ cultures, as it exists aside from schooling. It’s in their homes, their communities, their text messages. But I know what you’re thinking, “It’s not on the standardized tests!” That’s a whole other problem that I don’t have the time or word count to completely tackle at the moment. In hindsight, standardized tests seem to be here to stay (until WE can change it), and our students must take them.

The great and late poet and Civil Rights Activist Maya Angelou said, “If you don’t like something, change it. If you can’t change it, change your attitude.” While we cannot change the way that the larger society and policymakers view ethnic cultures and student achievement, we can successfully change our classrooms to suit the cultural backgrounds of our students while also equipping them with the skills they need to ‘pass the test.’ I call it the classroom remix. During discussion or meetings, I speak to students in our language. It works. I’m affirming them, while at the same time saying, “I come from where you come from. I see you. I understand you.” And then, for written communication or mock interviews, I require them to use Standard English. At times, I hate this idea of code-switching I’ve encouraged in my classroom, but the reality is that I cannot change society’s view of my students overnight, no matter how painstakingly clear it is that change is necessary.

And that’s what this blog is all about, engaging in, encouraging, and promoting critical dialogue and instructional practices that are needed in today’s schools so that we can better educate DEM students, those who are marginalized and voiceless. As educators and leaders, we should want to offer these students a sense of freedom, especially in learning environments (hence the blog title TEACH: To Free’Dem). Blog posts will center EDUCATION, EQUITY, and EDGE. I will make a valiant effort to post at least twice a week and to engage with you all! It is time for the classroom remix. Please feel free to comment below all posts, as I would like to hear from you. Let’s start here: Code-switching, YES or No??? Your opinions matter because in this education thang, it takes a village!