Some Online Examples Of The Vernacular Phrase "Clock It" & Similar Words/Phrases Such As "Clocking" And "Clock That Tea"

'Clock It' Trend Explained 🤏 | What the Hand Sign REALLY Means

Spm Buzz, Sep 17, 2025  #ClockIt #TikTokTrend #Explained

TikTok can’t stop debating the “Clock It” hand sign 👆🏽. Is it the index finger and thumb? Or the middle finger and thumb that looks like an 8? And what’s the difference between clock it and ate anyway? 🤔

In this video, we break it all down:

⏰ What Clock It actually means

🍴 Why the middle finger sign is linked to Ate

👆🏽 Examples of how people use both terms on TikTok

🔥 The index vs middle finger debate explained

By the end, you’ll have fully clocked the meaning. 😉

****
Edited by Azizi Powell

Latest revision - May 23, 2026 

This is Part II of a three part pancocojams series on the American vernacular (slang) phrase "clock It" and similar phrases.

This post presents some online examples in 2025-2026.of the vernacular (slang) phrase "clock it" and similar "clock" slang words/phrases.

Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2026/05/2025-article-excerpt-clock-it-how.html for Part I of this pancocojams series. That pancocojams post presents an excerpt from a 2025 online article written by Quispe López about the history and meanings of the vernacular (slang) phrase "clock it" and related words/phrases such as 'clock that tea" and "clocking".  Please read that entire article.

Click  https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2026/05/the-meanings-of-clock-clock-it-clock.html  for Part III of this pancocojams series. That post presents information about the meaning of the slang word "clock" , "clock it" and other "clock" phrases in the context of stomp & shake cheerleading. That post also presents examples of the word "clock" and its current (2026) African American slang synonyms ("ate" and "slay") from the discussion thread of two YouTube videos of stomp and shake cheerleading.

The content of this post is presented for linguistic, historical, and socio-cultural purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to all those who are quoted in this pancocojams post and thanks to the publishers of these embedded videos.

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SOME ONLINE SOURCES FOR EXAMPLES OF THE VERNACULAR PHRASE "CLOCK IT" AND SIMILAR WORDS/PHRASES

These online sources examples are given in no particular order and are numbered for referencing purposes only.

SOURCE #1
AI Overview [This write-up is the result of my query on May 21, 2026: What is the history of the vernacular phrase "clock it"?]

"The viral "clock it" trend and its accompanying hand gesture (tapping the thumb and middle finger together) originate from Black and Latinx ballroom culture in 1960s and 1970s New York City.

The history of the trend and its evolution:

Original Ballroom Meaning:

In the ballroom scene, "to clock someone" meant to notice or spot something they were trying to hide. It was heavily tied to "reading" and "shading" someone by making a sharp, sometimes playful observation about their look or behavior.

Evolution of the Slang: Over the decades, the term filtered into mainstream pop culture through drag. Today, it has evolved to mean recognizing the truth, agreeing with a sharp observation, or pointing out that someone "nailed" a point.

The Hand Gesture: The accompanying pinched-finger tap functions as a "silent applause" of approval. It was brought to mainstream social platforms (like TikTok and Instagram) by Gen Z and Gen Alpha creators."

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SOURCE #2:
AI Overview [This write-up is the result of my statement/query on May 21, 2026: " "Clock It" origin]
"The slang phrase "clock it" (often paired with a pinched-finger hand gesture) traces its true origins back to the 1960s Black and Latinx LGBTQ+ ballroom scene in New York City.

Here is how the term originated and evolved:
1.The Ballroom & Drag Roots
In ballroom culture, to "clock" someone meant to notice, observe, or aggressively point out something about a person, particularly something they were trying to hide (such as a flaw in their drag, an inconsistent story, or an unconvincing appearance). It was often used in a "read," which is a playful but cutting remark.

2. The Pop Culture Boom
  For decades, this term remained highly localized within the queer community until it was popularized for the mainstream by reality shows like RuPaul's Drag Race. On the show, judges and contestants would use the term to "call out" specific fashion choices, behaviors, or tea (gossip).3. The Internet & Gen Z Era

By 2025, the phrase migrated to TikTok, Instagram, and other social media platforms. It evolved from a slightly shady or confrontational term into something much broader. Today, Gen Z and Gen Alpha use it to mean:Noticing a detail: To recognize, observe, or point out something clever.Validating a statement: Expressing strong agreement, or acknowledging a truth (e.g., "Truth, you nailed it")

While internet writers and content creators sometimes misattribute the term's sudden popularity entirely to modern teens or TikTok memes, its soul and etymology belong to ballroom culture."

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SOURCE #3 
Pancocojams Editor's Note: As ofMay 21, 2026 urbandictionary.com has three pages of viewer submitted definitions for the English language phrase "clock it!".

"Clock it!" has several different slang definitions. Here are three definitions that I believe fit the past or current (2026) African American vernacular use of "clock it":

These comments are presented in this pancocojams post in chronological order and are numbered for referencing purposes only

These numbers don't coincide with the rankings that are given to definitions on urbandictionary.com by its viewers.

1."Clock It

Another way of saying “spill” or otherwise agreeing with someone else’s statement.

Typically used on Stan Twitter.

Person 1: Cardi B is washed and needs to retire!

Person 2: Clock it! I’ve been saying the same thing!

Clock It by GVTT3D January 8, 2024, https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Clock+it

**

2. Clock it

Another way of praising someone, similar to 'slay' or 'good job' but cooler.

Kid: "I just won a fight"

Friend: "Clock it!"

OR

Boy: "Ur built like a bus driver"

Girl: "You're built like the bus"

Friend: "Ooh she clocked your tea!!"

-Clock it by darealcece September 13, 2025, https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Clock%20it&page=2

**
3.  "Clock it

1. to notice, observe, or call out a hidden truth, motive, or something significant, often playfully

Body tea, body matter.

Clock it🤏

Clock it by PonasJonas October 26, 2025, https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Clock%20it&page=2
-snip-
This definition is close to the Gay Ballroom definition, except its use in that culture wasn't playful. 
-snip-
The phrase "clock their tea" originated in the 1960 New York Gay ballroom lingo where it meant something like "being aware of a person's or person's secrets or real agenda. However, I believe that in contemporary stomp and shake cheerleading, "clock their tea" means something like "really excelled over their competitor/s."  

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SOURCE #4- - MS NOW PRESENTS: "Clock It,: "Clock It," a new podcast posted at the intersection of culture and politics from Symone Sanders Townsend and Eugene Daniels.

@msnow Feb 5, 2026

Their new show is an invitation to their groupchat, the liveliest—and most informative—out there. Whether it’s ICE getting dispatched to the Super Bowl, or Nicolás Maduro’s Nike Tech fit, or Michael B. Jordan’s sole Oscar nomination despite playing three roles in Sinners, there is no collision between culture and politics that this show won’t document and decipher.

Symone and Eugene see exactly what’s going on—and they want you to clock it, too."
-snip-
Here are a few comments from that YouTube video short's discussion thread (with numbers added for referencing purposes only:
1.@SharenCarter, March 2026
"Keep clocking it real talk❤"

**
2. @chrismurray-ez4bt, March 2026
"Great Team!  Speaking Truth to POWER!  Love it! 🥰"

**
3. @TimMcConnell-k3r, April 2026
"Love to see you both clocking it! Hey guys check Maxwell Chickumbutso front africa. His car that uses no fuel or need to plug in. I'll wait to see you talk about it."

**
4. @euclidespardo9987, May 2026
"Y'all be telling it"

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SOURCE #5- AI OVERVIEW WRITE UP
(This write-up is the result of my May 21, 2026 query "Why is MS NOW podcast called "Clock It"? and is that podcast successful?"]

"AI Overview

The podcast by MS NOW (formerly MSNBC) is called "Clock It with Symone & Eugene," which was highly anticipated as an extension of the network's broader rebrand.

Why they chose the name:

The title refers to the slang phrase "clock it," meaning to take notice, observe closely, or call out what is happening. Hosts Symone Sanders Townsend and Eugene Daniels chose the name because the show focuses on the intersection of politics and pop culture, inviting listeners into an insider group chat to decode how culture shapes political figures and movements.

Its success:

Debuting with strong backing from the newly independent MS NOW, the show has quickly built a dedicated following across platforms like Apple Podcasts and Spotify. It is widely viewed as a successful, engaging strategy for decoding the "war of ideas and memes," capturing a younger, culturally tuned-in demographic that follows the hosts' signature off-the-cuff style. You can check out all episodes on the official MS NOW Podcasts page."

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SOURCE #6 - "Clock it" - The New Gen Z Gesture Taking Over! What Does It Really Mean?

@clautienews, Feb 25, 2026

Gen Z is shaking things up with a mysterious new gesture called "clock it" that's meant to show support. But here's the twist - even the people using it can't agree on its exact meaning! Some say it's a vibe you just have to feel. The gesture involves snapping your fingers using either your index + thumb or middle + thumb. No official standard yet! Would you "clock it" to show support? Let us know in the comments! #GenZ #NewTrends #SocialMedia #YouthCulture #Gestures #Support #Vibes #TrendingNow
-snip-
Here are the only two comments from that video's discussion thread as of May 21, 2026 at 9:21 AM EDT (Numbers added for referencing purposes only.)
1. @datguy7360, April 2026
"Clock it comes from Queer ballroom culture, Gen Z didn't invent NOTHING! ...."

**
Reply
2. @Pl8kcx, April 2026
"And they copied from black women like usually 🙄"

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SOURCE #7- Redditt.com Discussion Thread
[Pancocojams Editor's Note: These selected comments are presented in chronological order with numbers added for referencing purposes only.]

From https://www.reddit.com/r/LostRedditor/comments/1h7oizm/what_does_clock_it_mean_in_slang/ Lost Redditor: "What does clock it mean?"

[Pancocojams Editor's Note: These selected comments are presented in chronological order with numbers added for referencing purposes only. The numbers for these comments don't necessarily correspond to their numbers in that discussion thread.]

1. Vanillabean322, 2025
"what does clock it! mean in slang

i've been seeing it but idk what it means and all the pages i've gone to sound like they were written by gen x."

**
Reply
2. Nuclearmullets420, 2025
"It’s a response to someone saying something that is very true. Per google search of gen z slang clock it."

**
Reply
3. Enne105_7, 2005
"Its actually AAVE not gen z slang."

**
Reply
4. Mindless_Sea_1485, 2025
"It’s not AAVE, it’s ballroom culture"

**
Reply
5. EngineeringNo5714, 2025
"It’s black ballroom culture. So still within AAVE."

**
Reply
6. Mindless_Sea_1485, 2025
"Ballroom culture wasn’t only black queens tho, other words like slay and period are AAVE but clock it was started in ballroom culture not AAVE"

**
Reply
7. ananatawa, 2026
"Stop it. We all know black queens invented this slang. Do not deny them their history"

**
8. Mission-Gas9996, 2025
"Crazy to find that it’s actually black gay slang from the 90s,"

**
9. Budget_Raspberry_856, 2025
"Most white girl slang comes from black and gay culture"

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This concludes Part II of this pancocojams series.

Thanks for visiting pancocojams.

Visitor comments are welcome.

2025 Article Excerpt: "Clock It! How 1960s New York City Gay Ballroom Culture Coined the Internet’s “New” Catchphrase" By Quispe López

Edited by Azizi Powell

Latest revision - May 22, 2026

This is Part I of a three part pancocojams series on the American vernacular (slang) phrase "clock It" and similar phrases.

This pancocojams post presents an excerpt from a 2025 online article written by Quispe López about the history and meanings of the vernacular (slang) phrase "clock it" and similar phrases such as 'clock that tea" and "clocking". Please read that entire article.

Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2026/05/some-online-examples-of-vernacular.html  for Part II of this pancocojams series. That post presents some online examples in 2025-2026 of the vernacular (slang) phrase "clock it" and similar "clock" slang words/phrases.

Click  https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2026/05/the-meanings-of-clock-clock-it-clock.html  for Part III of this pancocojams series. That post presents information about the meaning of the slang word "clock" , "clock it" and other "clock" phrases in the context of stomp & shake cheerleading. That post also presents examples of the word "clock" and its current (2026) African American slang synonyms ("ate" and "slay") from the discussion thread of two YouTube videos of stomp and shake cheerleading.

The content of this post is presented for linguistic, historical, and socio-cultural purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to Quispe López and Leiomy Maldonado and thanks to all those who are quoted in this pancocojams post. 

****
ARTICLE EXCERPT
From https://www.them.us/story/clock-it-how-ballroom-coined-the-internets-new-catchphrase "Clock It! How Ballroom Coined the Internet’s “New” Catchphrase : Ballroom icon Leiomy Maldonado breaks down the history of the phrase." By Quispe López, November 17, 2025

If you’ve been on the internet this year, around teens, or tuned in to the disastrous latest season of Love Island USA, you’ve likely heard the phrase, “clock it.” Perhaps it was even accompanied by a gesture: a small clap made with someone’s thumb and middle finger.

“Clock it” basically means calling something out, noticing something, or figuring something out. Unfortunately, the online game of telephone by which it spread, so to speak, has divorced the phrase from its roots, leading many people to misunderstand what it means. That’s why, before we dive further into the nuances of what exactly “clock it” means, it’s important to have a basic understanding of where it comes from.

As with many phrases rocketed into the mainstream zeitgeist by the internet, writers and cultural commentators have been quick to misattribute “clock it” to Gen Z/Gen Alpha slang or even RuPaul’s Drag Race. In actuality, “clock it” isn’t a new expression; it’s one that’s existed for decades in the ballroom scene, a culture born in 1960s New York City out of a need for Black and Latinx queer and trans people to have a space for creative freedom, performance, and self-expression.

But the trajectory “clock it” has taken also isn’t new; it’s a pipeline queer people — particularly Black and brown queer people in the ballroom community — have come to expect over decades of mainstream media taking and misusing phrases. From voguing to “tea” and “it’s giving” to fashion aesthetics created in the scene, popular culture has long borrowed from ballroom without honoring the figures who coined them, like Crystal LaBeija, Dorian Corey, and Angie Xtravaganza.

[…]

We spoke to Maldonado about what the phrase actually means, how the finger clap came to be, and where the two originate from.

What does “clock it” mean?

At its simplest definition, “clock it” means figuring something out, noticing, or coming to an understanding about something. For example, if someone is suggesting places to hang out close to where their ex lives and a friend points that out, someone might say “clock it” in response. While in popular slang it’s used to refer to any situation where someone is noticing or realizing something, in ballroom, “clock” was often used in specific contexts, like noticing someone’s gender or sexuality.

“In the ballroom scene, when you ‘clock’ something — or more so, you're clocking someone — that means [knowing] their business,” Maldonado says. “If it refers to someone who's trans, being clocked means that someone knows your tea, like your gender, or they can clock your sexuality.”

There’s commonplace usage for it as well: A policeman might have “clocked” your speed on radar. The general meaning is the same.

[...] 

What does the finger clap mean?

While “clock it” often comes accompanied by a finger clap of the middle finger and thumb, the two are not inherently connected and don’t mean the same thing. Maldonado says that the finger clap also comes from ballroom, which she helped popularize as a judge on the HBO Max competition show Legendary. The finger clap does not mean clock it; instead, it’s a silent nod of approval. It is, in effect, miniature applause. You might finger clap after someone puts on a good performance or says something you agree with.

Aside from incorrectly conflating it with “clock it,” people unaware of the finger claps origins are also often doing the gesture incorrectly. In order to do it correctly, you have to use your middle finger with your thumb. Using your index finger with your thumb doesn’t mean anything.

What is the origin of "clock it" and the finger clap?

Maldonado entered the ballroom scene in the early 2000s, where she was introduced to the phrase “clock it.” She suspects, as with many popular phrases, such as “tea,” that it existed long before her time.

Where wires became crossed between “clock it” and the finger clap is murky. Maldonado used the finger clap on Legendary as early as 2020. That series ran for three seasons. In 2022, TikTok influencer and musician Queen Opp went viral for repeatedly saying, “clock that tea,” a phrase she often used during TikTok lives. In the background of one video, Opp’s friend at the time, Michelle, was also seen saying, “clock it” while doing the finger clap — though it’s with the wrong fingers. Since then, things have snowballed.

Maldonado’s usage was turned into GIFs, while various iterations of Opp’s interpretation spread as TikTok audio sound bites and other social media memes. The final push that really drove “clock it” as well as the finger clap into the mainstream hit this summer was Love Island USA star Ace Greene’s viral diss track about his experience on the show, which included both in the chorus. Since then, the two have been inextricably linked in the popular lexicon.

“[The figure clap] just paired with ‘clock it’ because people saw it, and then they basically appropriated it,” Maldonado says. “People do that. It has happened with ballroom terms and even with voguing on RuPaul's Drag Race. People have adapted to something but renamed it or used it as a different thing that they think it is.”

For Maldonado, who can and should use “clock it,” isn’t a battle. Rather, people outside of ballroom who use the phrase should consider and honor where it comes from, rather than trying to change the meaning or erase its history."...

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This concludes Part I of this pancocojams series.

Thanks for visiting pancocojams.

Visitor comments are welcome.

What Does "Blaccent" REALLY Mean? (YouTube vlog and selected discussion thread comments, Part I)

Tee Noir, May 28, 2020

Hey everyone! In this video I'm discussing the use of a "blaccent" and AAVE online for humorous effect, specifically on TikTok. ... -snip-

Statistics as of August 29, 2021 at 12:00 PM ET total views- 1,477,597 total likes - 156K total dislikes-2.7K total comments-11,477K **** Edited by Azizi Powell

This is Part I of a two part pancocojams post that serves as an introduction to the subject of "blaccent".*

This post showcases a YouTube vlog about "blaccent" and includes several definitions about that term. Part I also includes a definition of "African American Venacular English" (AAVE). Information about the African American Vernacular English term "finna" is also included in this pancocojams post because it includes a number of comments about that term.

Selected comments from the discussion thread of that showcased vlog are included in this post. All of those comments are from 2020 except for a few of their replies. Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2021/08/what-does-blaccent-really-mean-youtube_29.html for Part II of this pancocojams post. Part II showcases the same YouTube vlog about "blaccent" and presents selected comments published in 2021 from the discussion thread of that vlog, The content of this post is presented for linguistic and socio-cultural purposes. All copyrights remain with their owners. Thanks to Tee Noir whose vlog post is showcased here and thanks to all those who are quoted in this post. -snip- * This pancocojams post is part of an ongoing series about "blaccent". Click the "blaccent" tag below for more pancocojams posts on this topic. **** PANCOCOJAMS EDITOR'S NOTE

The term "blaccent" is used in this showcased YouTube vlog, in the article excepts in this pancocojams series, and in most of the comments that are included in this series to refer to the "accents" that some-but not all-African Americans have/have had. Also, in this pancocojams series "Black English" refers to African American Vernacular English.

These definitions and statements don't discount the fact that there are other forms of "accents" that Black people throughout the world have/have had and there are other forms of "Black English" besides African American Vernacular English.

**** DEFINITION OF "AFRICAN AMERICAN VERNACULAR ENGLISH" (AAVE) From https://www.dictionary.com/browse/aave [retrieved August 28, 2021] "African American Vernacular English is a designation used by linguists to describe a North American dialect of English used by some Black people. Like older names for this dialect, the full term is usually used only once or twice to introduce it in writing or speech; thereafter the abbreviation (AAVE) is used, with the result that the abbreviation is far more common than the expanded form, especially in the fields of linguistics, sociolinguistics, and sociology."...

**** DEFINITION OF "BLACCENT" From https://www.dictionary.com/e/slang/blaccent/ [retrieved August 28, 2021]

"blaccent

[blak-sent]

WHAT DOES BLACCENT MEAN?

Blaccent, a blend of black and accent, is the imitation of Black English by non-black people.

WHERE DOES BLACCENT COME FROM?

The Outline

There are a lot of ways a non-black person can put on a blaccent, or a black accent. These include using slang (yaaaas queen is a frequent offender, taken from black queer culture) and speaking with a speech quality reminiscent of Black English.

Early evidence for the term blaccent comes in 2003 on internet forums to refer to black speech in general. It was used again in 2009 to talk about the way President Obama was perceived to code-switch into Black (vs. Standard) English when speaking to black audiences.

By 2010, however, blaccent began to more specifically refer to when non-black people tried to speak Black English—whether for clout or coin.

Entertainers, especially female rappers and singers, have been notably accused of adopting a blaccent throughout the 2010s. Examples include Iggy Azalea in 2015, Bhad Bhabie in 2017, and Ariana Grande in late 2018. Actress and rapper Nora Lum was also charged with using a blaccent in the hit 2018 romantic comedy, Crazy Rich Asians."

These criticisms helped bring blaccent into more mainstream discussions of cultural appropriation."

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ADDITIONAL DEFINITIONS OF "BLACCENT"

These definitions are numbered for referencing purposes only.

From https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=blaccent blaccent 1. "TOP DEFINITION

blaccent

A distinctive manner of speech, pitch or tone particular to African American urban inner city youth.

Sean tried to immerse himself in WASP-y country club culture, but his blaccent gave him away every time."

by Reetu November 09, 2006

** 2. "blaccent

A manner of speaking indicative of the stereotypical African American (or someone trying sound as such).

Not to be confused with slang, the blaccent is identified by the way words are prounounced...not the words themselves.

Me: I called customer service and the African American gentleman was very helpful.

Friend: How do you know he was African American?

Me: He spoke with a blaccent."

by SKiTz The Gemini October 04, 2007

**** DEFINITIONS OF "FINNA" Excerpt #1 From https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/finna [retrieved August 28, 2021] "Definition of finna

—used for "fixing to" in informal speech and in representations of such speech

"I'm finna do the biggest show of my life," he [Lil Nas X] joked before going on stage.

— Trisha Ahmed and Saeed Ahmed

First Known Use of finna

1985, in the meaning defined above” **** Excerpt #2 From https://www.dictionary.com/browse/finna "Finna:

a phonetic spelling representing the African American Vernacular English variant of fixing to, a phrase commonly used in Southern U.S. dialects to mark the immediate future while indicating preparation or planning already in progress:

Oh, no, she finna break his heart!

ORIGIN OF FINNA

First recorded in 1985–90"

**** SELECTED COMMENTS FROM THE VLOG THAT IS SHOWCASED ABOVE These comments are presented in relative chronological order based on their publishing date with the earliest date given first, except for replies. Numbers are added for referencing purposes only. [Full disclosure: I couldn't resist adding a comment to this YouTube discussion thread. The edited [for clarity] version of that comment is given as this post's last comment.]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VOgKI4QNGlU&t=6s&ab_channel=TeeNoir 2020 1.steff "As someone who's not black I had NO IDEA that speaking that way is offensive.

I honestly thought it was just a cute and funny internet slang. I am kinda cringing now because I used to always say things like 'chile' and 'periodt'. Thanks for this video!" ** Reply 2, Chloe ! "saame." ** Reply 3. Rare Nature Girl "How can yall all be American live in the same country and think that how another group of people’s slang ( who are from the same country) is an Internet slang? I’m not American and I never thought AAVE is an Internet slang... I’m asking because this is super confusing to me" ** Reply 4. steff "@Rare Nature Girl  I'm not American either. So the only times I have heard AAVE is through the internet." ** Reply 5. John Tilapia "Woooooooooooooow. Just wow. So youve never been around actual black people?" ** Reply  6. steff "@John Tilapia  Barely. I've seen a few in person but that's practically nothing. My country has different culturea and races but there's barely any actual black people." ** Reply 7. Tsuki Selene "@John Tilapia  black people =/= African Americans. I never met with an African American in real life, but I live in Africa, hence I never heard AAVE in real life" -snip- "black people =/= African Americans" means "Black people doesn't equal "African Americans" (since there are other populations of Black people besides African Americans) ** Reply 8. morganfreemanwannabe, 2021 "I'm so glad to see that I'm not alone in noticing this. I've tried to point out the prevalence of AAVE in environments like Instagram / Tik Tok by a predominantly white user base, to some of my friends, and they've been like, "what are you talking about?" And I'm like, "dude, it's so obvious, it's like 50% of Gen z and even many millennials are randomly putting on a blaccent and adopting AAVE for its "coolness". I mean, I of course have no issue with a blaccent and a blaccent and AAVE certainly have their own inherent appeals, but at the point that it's so put on and contrived, it starts to bother me. Like my brother (25 years old) over the last few years just gradually started using a blaccent and using more and more AAVE and I'm like, "bro, I've known you your entire life. Our household accent was detached midwestern, we're about as white as it gets- wtf are you doing? Lol"

** 9. Diana R " "people love it for parody but hate it when it's authentic" -

oh my god you hit the NAIL on the HEAD" ** 10. tiffanyferg "So many great points! Non-Black people have been ignorant about using AAVE for so long, I’m glad to see these conversations being brought to the mainstream. I wish everyone would learn and acknowledge the history / origins of these terms — so much of what people consider “internet culture” is really Black culture. I took an intro to LGBTQ+ class, watched Paris is Burning, and realized so much of the popular terms these days came from Black drag queens and ballroom culture. The more you know!! (Also thank you for mentioning me, that’s so sweet 🥺💛)"

** Reply 11. Grace Pearson "But just because AAVE comes from African Americans doesn’t mean that non black people cant use it. If you grow up in an area (such as a majority black area) where everyone speaks this dialect of course you’re going to speak it, it doesn’t matter what race you are." ** Reply 12. Patricia Clay, 2021 "@Grace Pearson  she wasn’t talking about those people, was she?  She was specifically speaking on white folks using AAVE for humorous effect, rather than actually using their wit to get laughs."

** 13. Dheon Smith "This really called out a lot of the gay white men and their “inner black woman”
** Reply 14. ana cambursano "HA so so true" ** Reply 15. R "Straight Black women have been "appropriating" the ballroom/gay culture since the 70s the fact is that it was gay before it was black but go off" ** Reply 16. Naczely Franco "@R 

ballroom was started by Black and Latino lgbt youth tho. so im not sure what point youre making here. They had originally started as integrated scenes but racism that ran rampant in the lgbt community in the 1920s alienated black and latino lgbt youth. the ballroom culture we know today has black and latino lgbt origins so its not fair to say it was "gay before black". ** Reply 17. Introvertsan "@R  more like they got most lingo from black women and carried it to ballroom then it spread as people shared it with their community plus made some of their own words" ** Reply 18. Tee Noir "@rr You really shoulda fact checked this before you commented just to save us all the secondhand embarrassment. This is so incorrect. :/" ** Reply 19. Sofi ONCE "@R people of color were the people IN ballroom culture, stop trying to white washing history..." ** Reply 20. Memphis Hoe "rr you’re making out like gay and black only exist separately 🤦🏽‍♂️🤦🏽‍♂️. Ballroom culture was founded by BLACK people." ** Reply 21. Michael G "YES. A LOT more gay men should be called for this very thing. I have PLENTY of friends who resort to a "sassy black woman" caricature when they are playfully arguing or being confronted.

Even had a co-worker who identified as gay that I was (work) friends with. He would talk with his normal voice at 90% of the time until it came to being playfully confronted and he took as a chance to be funny, saying such timless racist remarks such as, "Oh hell to the no-no".

Imagine my face becoming numb and emotionless.

** Reply 22. Dante Ferrise "Michael G right but that is different than words the lgbt community has taken on as part of their culture like...slay, Sis, shade, tea, mawmaw, boots, (tongue pops), okurr, hiyee and byeeee, girl gurl girrrrl. You may take offense to it but to most gay people they just see it as part of their community. This whole debate is like the chicken or the egg. Does where something came from matter more than where it went and molded into? Because if that is the case then we what should all be stuck in the past and never grow or expand as human beings? I MEAN IT ISNT THAT SERIOUS IN THE GRAND SCHEME OF THINGS. Plus people are always going to be offensive but it is up to you whether you choose to be offended or not because as sad it may be we choose to be offended we choose to let things bother us or we choose to not let things get under our skin and not let it have a negative impact on us. It is the ways of human life...the sooner people open their eyes and accept that the sooner we can move on from this time of picking every little detail of every person who has ever existed in the public eye apart and I don’t know focus on things that actually matter like ALL BLACK LIVES (I said all because people in all communities but especially the black community like to ignore black gay and trans people being killed), burning thee entire prison industrial complex to ground, and putting a stop to all of the divides in our country and start working together for once. That would be great."

** Reply 23. David Miguel Grado "You took the words out of my typing fingers it’s extra annoying yet they’re the most racist ones but looooooove to flaunt their “inner black woman” with their other gay white friends or girlfriends" **

24. Audriana C. "When a white person uses AAVE they’re “funny or trendy” but when a black person speaks properly we’re “white washed” " ** 25. butchqueensupreme

"IMO, using a "blaccent" and aave with the intention to appear more humorous is just modern-day blackface" **

26. Liz Fritz "My mom uses AAVE with her black students and says she is “speaking their language”. She uses it to be “credible” with them and connect.

I have been trying so hard to find a video explaining why it’s inappropriate because she won’t listen to me. This video is definitely gonna help 🙏" ** Reply 27. Tee Noir "Oh wow I'm glad my video could help! There are dozens of other ways to connect with and build trust with her Black students. I hope she can find them 😊" ** Reply 28. Roro "This would make me feel so uncomfortable and disrespected I really hope you had that talk with her. As a black student when I see teachers do this it feels more like mocking then trying to understand us...." ** Reply 29. Tay for a Day "I had a teacher who did that, even before I became ‘woke’ and stuff, I was always uncomfortable. It makes us feel like you’re making fun of us or trying to ‘get down on our level’. Tell her even if she thinks no one notices, we all notice and people are probably talking about her behind her back" ** Reply 30. alyssa eatsass "absolutely haTe when a teacher does this near me or towards me. The uncomfortable levels in the room 📈" ** Reply 31. Aurora Rosa "Tay for a Day I literally hate this too. Especially because I live in the U.K. and have a welsh accent so literally speak nothing like a stereotypical black American so when someone does use that accent and vocabulary with me it’s like wtf I literally don’t even speak anything like that so why are you speaking like that to me 🤨🤔" ** Reply 32. KD "I had a teacher like that and we all hated his guts. We dreaded going to his class. The most annoying thing is a lot of us would be speaking standard English and he's like "you finna pass this test if you keep grinding" 🙄" ** Reply 33. Akane1313 "I hope it helps her understand. My black teachers didn’t use aave in class so I certainly wouldn’t have liked hearing it from my white teachers. I’m sure she didn’t speak that way during her job interview and for a teacher, a classroom is still a professional setting and using aave with her black students can come off as talking down to them. As though they can’t understand if she speaks standard English." ** Reply 34. Are Are "absolutely the worst way to try and connect with students. i always felt uncomfortable and embarrassed for the teacher when they did this"

** Reply 35. skellagyook "And would seem even more offensive, in my opinion, if she insists on speaking AAVE to a black student who doesn't speak AAVE (i.e. who speaks standard English, or something else)." ** Reply 36. Aurora Rosa "Bayboy 925 but my point is I’m not American so when people use the accent that this person in the video is talking about whilst I am in the U.K. and they are British and know that I am also British it can be annoying because I literately speak with a welsh accent not a stereotypical black American accent, so skin colour 'should’ have nothing to do with it if I and the person who uses it live in the U.K. I’m not talking about them doing a stereotypical “black British voice” it’s literally an American one that they do" ** Reply 37. Sleipnirseight "Damn. I mean, letting her read the responses to your comment alone should convince her. Cringe as hell"

** Reply 38. Reynaldo Abadia "As a black student that has had several teachers try and do the same thing, I can guarantee it only creates more of a divide/disconnect. We can tell when the expression isn’t authentic" ** Reply 39. Diara Morris Bowen "OMG please tell your mom she's gotta stop. Hopefully she'll understand that it's not a good idea. Young people, black or otherwise, can smell inauthenticity a mile away. I would even assume the students think she's corny, not "cool" or relatable at all, and depending on the age of the kids, even offended by it".

** Reply 40. KD " @Leoleonpd  As someone who speaks in AAVE and who had the same experience. YES. It's strange.

We can tell when you don't speak it naturally. It's like being a British person, speaking in a British accent with British terms, and an American start putting on a fake-ass British accent to fit in within.

"oh why yes. That is funny. By the way, would you like a spot of tea?" See how stupid that would sound?" ** Reply 41. deetleskeet "Liz Fritz Thank you for trying.  We actually find that condescending and actually make fun of the people who do this.  We don’t take them seriously at all.  More than likely, these same students are mocking her and laughing at her behind her back.  

I’ve seen it million times. ** 42. 111 111 "If you guys don't see how problematic this is, imagine if a Non-POC used an Indian or Mexican or Chinese accent just to exemplify a negative trait for comedic effect."

** [Pancocojams Editor's Note: From #43 to #69, the commenters are mimicking and otherwise making fun of way that people who aren't familiar with AAVE misuse the word finna and other AAVE words.] 43. Vincent Gonzalez " "Do be finna gon slay" took me out.... I hate when people use AAVE incorrectly its like hearing nails on a chalkboard"

**

Reply 44. I’m bored, So I play subway surfers " “Sis do be finna gone slaaaay”

English is not my first language but that physically hurt"

** 45. Kat Blaque "Ok but sis DO go finna be slay!!!!!!" ** Reply 46. MJ’s Everything "Period!!!"

**

Reply

47. Ashley Flynn "She DOOOO"

** Reply 48. Maryam X "I cringed so hard"

** Reply 49. Karma Justice "🥴" ** Reply 50. haunt "Austin Keefe she’s literally black—" -snip- "She" in this comment refers to the commenter Kat Blaque.

** Reply 51. Filtrations "Austin Keefe issa joke 💀" ** Reply 52. lawrencia "@haunt

not all black people grew up talking like that, so stopp!"

** Reply 53. iver "@lawrencia  it's a joke"

** Reply 54. inita "This comment hurt my soul 😭😭😭

but Its really how some these white n nonblk folks be talking"

** Reply 55. haunt "SnugglexMSP she’s mocking how white people use AAVE"

** Reply 56. Meagan Hiller "This thread. “Sister went did go offff! For period!”

** Reply 57. Noot "I like the layering of humor here"

** Reply 58. lawrencia "@haunt lol but im white and i know thats not how they talk"

** Reply 59. CrimsonAngel "It's funny how half the replies didn't realize this was ajoke lol.

She was poking fun at how the non-black people who mockingly use AAVE for clout sound."

** Reply 60. Conrad "PERIODT!!!!!"

** Reply 61. H B "DarkEmoAngel Its literally being cited from the video 😐

they too busy arguing in the comments to be listening."

** Reply 62. Stoopid Crumpet "@Gothic Boy 

10:08 they were quoting this part lmao"

** Reply 63. Lily "and that's on chile queen period 😌✨"

** Reply 64. Samantha Chevez "@lawrencia  kat was making fun of how people misuse aave"

** Reply 65. Dolla Baby, 2021 "This comments still hold weight 😂😂😂

in tears chile"

** Reply 66. It's MK, 2021 " "Sis do be finna goin slay" GIRL PLZZZ- 😭✋

that doesn't even make sense. Y'all, if u don't know wut something means, don't say it."

** Reply 67. Zamani, 2021 " "sis do be finna gon slay" SENT MEEE.... But for real though, it irks me to go on social media and watch non-black creators make a profit off of what we were berated for!!" ** 68. XanThePoet "crazy thing is the “sis do be finna go and slay” example probably went over a lot of non-black people’s heads cause they genuinely don’t understand the structure of AAVE." ** Reply 69. G Jones " they don't understand that aave has grammar and you can't just say random words together" ** 70. Thais Carvalho

"Hey...

Would you mind explaining why that sentence is a subversion of AAVE?

Like... What it means and how it should actually be?

I'm a Brazilian who speaks English as a Foreign language,

I'm asking out of curiosity.

Thank you 😊" ** Reply 71. Thais Carvalho "(I mean... I understand the "do be" and the "gon slay". I don't get it the way it was used and why it's incorrect. Hahaha)"

** Reply 72. Vincent Gonzalez "@Thais Carvalho  so in context Finna or Fonna depending on ones accent is the AAVE version of "going to" so adding gon or gonna after the use of finna is redundant. One correct way to use 8t would be to say "We're fonna get something to eat. You comin?" " ** Reply 73. pompompurin enjoyer "@Thais Carvalho  "do be finna gon slay" let's break it down!

do be = "kinda"

finna = fixing to (=going to)

gon = going to

slay (self explanatory)

so they're basically saying "it kinda going to going to

slay" which doesnt make sense and is also so embarrassing LOL" ** Reply 74. Azizi Powell "@pompompurin enjoyer  Here's another possible interpretation for that cringy incorrect example of African American VernacularEnglish:

do be = really is

finna = getting ready to

gon = going to

slay = https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=slay "killed it, succeeded in something amazing. [top definition on that page]

The words "do be" might be emphasized if this sentence were spoken. The word "gon" -which is an incorrect approximation of "gonna"- wouldn't be included in that sentence because it's redundant. My guess is that the correct AAVE sentence would be "Sis Do Be finna to slay." and means something like "That Black woman Really is getting ready to impress [other people]."

Btw, I'm a 73 year old African American and I've never used either "fixin/g to" or "finna" and I don't think I've ever had a "blaccent". I believe that "fixin to" has been used by Black folks much more often in New Jersey and Pennsylvania where I've lived than the word "finna". Actually, the only time I heard the word "Finna" was from a young Black woman who I later learned was from the South. I don't recall ever hearing any non-Black folks using either "fixin to" or "finna".

Great video! I'm a new subscriber."

**** This concludes Part I of this two part pancocojams post entitled "What does "Blaccent" REALLY Mean?".

**** Thanks for visiting pancocojams Visitor comments are welcome.