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Tongue Tied - Black Men Speaking in a white world

"He is a light-skinned African American with no black dialect, unless you want to have one."

These were the enigmatic words of Senator Harry Reid, who made the remark in reference to President Obama. They invoked a strong reaction of the blacks, and caused an uproar in some political circles. It was a malicious comment? Or was it an innocuous statement out of context?

Harry Reid, said it was a compliment. But what was congratulating? The fact that Obama is special? Or that he is special because it uses the language of stereotypes associated with black men?

Language has always been a measure of social status, educational level and intellectual capacity of men. Owners slaves actually prefer slaves who lacked the ability to communicate because they were less likely to organize the riots.

No wonder: strong communication skills are inherent to all leaders. The slaves who were called "Negroes field were only required to work with their hands, doing laborious work outside the plantation. Black House is generally regarded as being more intelligent, less threatening, and with better communication skills. Usually they were descendants of slave owners, and consequently, were light-skinned.

Not surprisingly, there are still white (and men Whites, in particular) that are more comfortable with black-skinned men in a professional office environment. Any prolonged observation of the labor force different from the United States reveal that truth. The plight of the house and the Black Black field persists. The language is often divided them more than skin tone.

Comments Harry Reid were not offensive, they were insightful. If the media have taken the time to put your comment in his proper historical context, an opportunity valuable education might have had, both for whites and blacks. However, the comment only serves as a vivid reminder that times change, but perceptions remain unchanged.

Have good communication skills provides an advantage in business (and life) to all men. For men black is especially true. Good verbal communication skills enable us to penetrate the circles where greater opportunities of residence.

President Obama is exceptional communicator as a black man, and as an extraordinary communicator. This is what allowed him to distinguish himself. When his presidency is over, his skill as a speaker will be his true legacy.

For men black president, the stigma of being inarticulate is dissipating, but we seem to always walk the fine, thin line between effective communicators, and the use of "no" black dialect ... unless we want.

The reality is that every culture has its own dialect. No one questions the use of Spanish among Hispanics in a professional environment. In fact, many Hispanic professionals are hired by their ability to communicate with those who speak the language.

Dialect is the language, a variety of language used by group members as a way or means of expression oneself. It is distinguished by features of vocabulary, grammar and pronunciation. English is the language of the world. It balances our language differences.

To infer a preference for an African American, not black dialect "illustrates prejudice at best, and ignorance at worst. It is the equivalent prefer to say that Hispanics do not speak Spanish so they do not remember them that are different from you.

Being tongue-tied (ie, not or unwilling to speak free) is nothing new for black men. We must choose our words, happily, that the white men at ease because we asked them if we speak of "as the rest of them. "

Speaking with the patois of "blacks" who grew up with it's natural black man with "no black dialect" not natural, but you can do. To do so may derail a career. Most successful black men are taught or learn from experience, when it is becomes the language.

The charge of "talking white" (which many whites arrogantly refer to as "good English") is a challenge for many men black. They liken it to learning and become fluid in a foreign language. Both are achieved with the approach and consistent practice. And when you succeed, you get to impress an ignoramus like Senator Harry Reid, who clearly has a list of attributes that the black man must have to make you feel comfortable.

While men more black and more to understand and grudgingly accept the terms of our integration into the workplace, we can only refrain from using "any dialect black "for so long. This is the long run - usually when our fellow white men are comfortable with us and use some kind of black dialect in an effort to "bond" with us. This usually takes place during the talks on non-work related issues such as sports.

Even when we remove (or think they are allowed to remove) of the bonds of our tongues are tied, are never really let loose. You can be liberal in expression of ourselves, but a black man without language restriction is a black man who becomes a target for silence - no matter what scenario is in

Martin Luther King and Malcolm X had very different dialects. However, both suffered the same fate, and who spoke with unprecedented freedom. There have been black men - Not even Obama - who were less tongue-tied them.

Therefore, it remains, the black man must continue discriminating about where and to whom, it vent. And when we do, "keep it real" - privately, if not in public - by using the full spectrum of "Black dialect" because we will.