The Hidden Struggles of Code Switching: A Black Woman’s Journey
Do You Code Switch?
Exploring the Complexities of Dialect and Identity
Do you use a different dialect depending on your environment? I know I do. Raised in the Midwest with a heavy Southern drawl, code-switching became second nature to me early on. I learned it in high school, navigating between the language of my small-town, highly-educated family and the hip-hop vernacular I adopted in an attempt to fit in. I was often teased for “sounding white” and called an “Oreo”—Black on the outside, but white on the inside. To blend in, I began incorporating elements of hip-hop into my speech. It was as natural as breathing—until it wasn’t.
My dialect wasn’t an issue until I began working as an educator for a global brand. Speaking in front of people, I struggled with shyness and found that my dialect was often misunderstood by the general population. I grew tired of repeating myself and realized that if I wanted to keep my dream job, something had to change. So, I put myself through a training program I created, focusing on enunciating my words, correcting my breathing, and projecting my voice. Over time, I became more confident, but when I was with friends, my regular voice returned effortlessly.
I didn’t know the term “code-switching” until recently. My Uncle Harry, Dr. Harry Shaw, Dean Emeritus at the University of Florida, often advised me to be “multi-dialectal,” ready to speak in a way that everyone could understand. His advice required me to be curious and an active listener—guidance I still follow today.
As we approach another presidential election, we see the same scrutiny applied to a Black South Asian woman running for office. Kamala Harris is often picked apart for her race, gender, and personality, and today’s focus is on how she speaks from rally to rally. Critics claim she sounds “ghetto” one day and “proper” the next, questioning her authenticity. This focus on a Black woman’s speech is deeply rooted in racism. Code-switching, in itself, isn’t limited to Black people—nearly everyone does it. We all adjust our voices to fit into a homogenized standard. But why is “speaking properly” equated with sounding white?
People from Boston, New York City, the South, and California all have unique dialects tied to their regions. Yet, when it comes to Vice President Harris, the criticism is specifically that she sounds “Black,” pulling from racist tropes designed to undermine her credibility. No matter how she speaks, sexism, misogyny, and racism ensure that she will be scrutinized, her accomplishments minimized, and her integrity questioned. This is a political tactic, but when the media perpetuates it, it’s clear that journalism has been overtaken by bias and the need for clicks.
As someone who has been criticized for my dialect—whether I sound “proper” or “urban”—I know how hurtful it can be. We preach authenticity, but authentic to whom? Constantly self-critiquing every word to appear intelligent and articulate is exhausting. This focus on how things are said rather than what is being said is deeply rooted in classism and racism.
Dr. King taught us to judge people by their character, to value their humanity, and to honor the goodness in them. Dismissing someone because they don’t speak a certain way excludes many from opportunities while elevating others simply because their dialect is palatable gives them an undeserved advantage. This systemic perspective is out of balance and needs to shift within us first. We need to listen more to what people are saying and less to how they’re saying it. You might be surprised by what you’ve missed.
Monica Wisdom
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