Tweets From #WhatKindOfBlackAreYou, Part II (culture, childhood memories, food, music, hair styles etc.)

Edited by Azizi Powell

This is Part II of a two part pancocojams series of selected examples of tweets from the April 16, 2014. twitter thread entitled #WhatKindOfBlackAreYou. That twitter thread was started by Feminista Jonea in response to producer/singer Pharrell's comments on the Oprah Winfrey television show that he was a "New Black":
"In April during an interview with Oprah, super producer Pharrell Williams christened himself a New Black, saying: "The New Black doesn't blame other races for our issues. The New Black dreams and realizes that it's not a pigmentation; it's a mentality. And it's either going to work for you, or it's going to work against you. And you've got to pick the side you're gonna be on." Pharrell's comments were met with equal parts side-eye and praise across the internet (Feminista Jones created the hilariously on-point hashtag #whatkindofblackareyou that set Twitter aflame for 24 hours). People were curious, if a bit confused. What exactly was a New Black, and who appointed Pharrell king?" http://gawker.com/the-curious-case-of-the-new-black-a-conversation-1649462578.

Part II of this series quotes tweets from the top tweets portion of #WhatKindOfBlackAreYou that focus on culture (food, hair styles & hair care, childhood memories, & other life experiences).

Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2015/03/examples-of-tweets-from.html for Part I.

Part I quotes selected top tweets from #WhatKindOfBlackAreYou. Those tweets focus on race (including skin color), racism, and sexual orientation.

The content of this post is presented for cultural, historical, folkloric, and sociological purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to @FeministaJones for starting this twitter thread that showcases Black diversity. Thanks also to all those who are quoted in these posts.

****
WHY I DECIDED TO PUBLISH THIS SERIES
As a community folklorist who is interested in documenting Black cultures, I believe that some comments from twitter threads are of folkloric (historical, cultural) value as they reflect commenters' opinions, reminiscences, values, and viewpoints.

I also believe that (similarly to YouTube comment threads) specific tweets are easier to access and study when they are posted on blogs than when they are on their source site/s. Furthermore, (again similarly to YouTube comment threads), twitter threads such as #whatkindofblackareyou often include profanity and sexually explicit matter which may or may not be germane to the subject/s being discussed.

I chose the examples included in these posts for various reasons - because the comments reminded me of my experiences, or presented information about other Black experiences, or because the comments appeared to me to be representative of different opinions about being Black in the United States and elsewhere, and/or because I liked the way a comment was written or what the comment said.

I'm aware that other people quoting comments from that twitter thread might select other examples rather than the ones that I selected.

****
DISCLAIMER
This pancocojams series excludes sexually explicit content and uses a bracketed "profanity delected" note for those words so that this content might be available for use in schools. Unfortunately, this series doesn't include any of the (what I consider to high quality) pictures or videos that are included in that twitter thread.

No total number of top tweets that are found in "#WhatKindOfBlackAreYou and I didn't count the number of tweets that were included on that thread. However, I believe that these tweets are representative of those top tweets.

These posts aren't meant to be an overview of the "New Black" term. Visit http://www.clutchmagonline.com/2014/04/pharrell-seemingly-forgets-racism-still-exists-hes-new-black, http://www.teabreakfast.com/newblack-epidemic/ and http://www.randomhouse.com/rhpg/features/tracymorgan/excerpt.php "Introduction to Book I Am The New Black by Tracy Morgan for additional information and comments about the multiple meanings of "New Black" and varied Black reactions to that term. WARNING – Some of the comment sections of those articles contain profanity.

****
SELECTED COMMENTS FROM #WhatKindOfBlackAreYou https://twitter.com/search?src=typd&q=%23whatkindofblackareyou

All of these comments are from April 16, 2014.

These comments focus on culture (childhood memories, hair styles, language (code switching), food, music, and other life experiences).

The comments are presented in chronological order with the earliest comments given first. These comments may not be in consecutive order. Numbers are assigned for referencing purposes only.

With the exception of the tweet mentioning Hillman college, and the tweet mentioning "Jack & Jill", the Links, and the Boule", these tweets are given without any explanations.

1. Jai Priestess ‏@JChiron18
I got yelled at in a different language at home black
#WhatKindOfBlackAreYou?

**
2. ItchyAreola ‏@radrebellion
Don't invite me to your Thanksgiving if you don't have homemade mac n cheese kinda Black. #WhatKindOfBlackAreYou?

**
3. Mikki Kendall ‏@Karnythia
"Hope and the dream of our enslaved ancestors means education isn't optional" speeches every week #WhatKindOfBlackAreYou

**
4. Jai Priestess ‏@JChiron18
My accent changes when I'm around family black

**
5. Thumbelina DeBarge ‏@VicTORIousGable
I'm "when we get in this store, you better not ask for nothing" black. #WhatKindOfBlackAreYou

**
6. Tahir Jetter ‏@tahirtweets
@CorporateBarbie @MeLaMachinko Reborn Fruit of Islam Kinda Black #whatkindofblackareyou

**
7. Vanessa K. De Luca ‏@Vanessa_KDeLuca
#WhatKindofBlackAreYou I am that that "erudite as I wanna be but don't get it twisted because I will go there if you make me" kinda Black

**
8. Khadijah J Here2Slay ‏@Pundit_AcadEMIC
I'm slay yo' ass with a calm voice & smile on my face kind of Black #WhatKindofBlackAreYou

**
9. Adam D ‏@AD_Renaissance
I'm the "what do you mean you don't know how to play spades" kind of Black #WhatKindOfBlackAreYou

**
10. Clifton M. Lê Lòúp ‏@seabethree
#WhatKindOfBlackAreYou Patti LaBelle taking 15 minutes to sing "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" kind of Black. And me singing right along w/her

**
11. The Journalista ‏@thejournalista
I'm "who made the greens" and "who made the potato salad" black. #WhatKindOfBlackAreYou

**
12. Clifton M. Lê Lòúp ‏@seabethree
#WhatKindOfBlackAreYou the it's raining so turn off the lights, don't take a shower, & don't use the house phone type of Black

**
13. Stereo Williams ‏@stereowilliams  West Haverstraw, NY
#WhatKindofBlackAreYou That "I save all plastic cups from every fast food joint for eternity" kind of black

**
14. Mikki Kendall ‏@Karnythia
Sunday repast, don't touch a stranger's cooking if you don't know her house is clean, who made the rolls? #WhatKindOfBlackAreYou

**
15. ItchyAreola ‏@radrebellion
I can appreciate Stevie, Luther and Lil Boosie at the same damn time kind of Black #WhatKindOfBlackAreYou

**
16. The Unorthodox Duck ‏@GeauxGabby
Im "where yo fine cousin at" type Black #WhatKindOfBlackAreYou

**
17. Steph B-More™ ‏@StephBMore
Southern accent at home, proper accent at work type of black #WhatKindOfBlackAreYou

**
18. Karsh ‏@karsh
I'm "skreet" and "skrimps" Black. #WhatKindOfBlackAreYou

**
19. Pepe Sylvia ‏@edot__
I'm "I can't come outside bc momma felt the the back of the tv and it was hot and my homework wasn't finished." Black #WhatKindOfBlackAreYou

**
20. The Unorthodox Duck ‏@GeauxGabby
YES GAWD “@ambuh_nichole: I'm, I pat my head instead of scratching it because I gotta get a perm tomorrow black #WhatKindOfBlackAreYou”

**
21. Trudy ‏@thetrudz
I'm "of course I make mac and cheese from scratch" kinda Black

**
22. golden girl ‏@blowticious
I can say an entire paragraph with one look. #WhatKindOfBlackAreYou

**
23. Godly Queen ‏@kitschisland
#WhatKindOfBlackAreYou I'm switch to my mother-tongue when I'm angry kinda black.

**
24. Miss. A Denise ‏@PartlyRetha
Unapologetically "sassy" and I give no [profanity deleted] about trying to dispel this stereotype #whatkindofblackareyou

**
25. ♎ ‏@kchamomile
My side eye will tell you EVERYTHING you need to know about yourself. #WhatKindOfBlackAreYou

**
26. golden girl ‏@blowticious
I can make a dollar out of fifteen cents. #WhatKindOfBlackAreYou

**
27. Reagan Gomez ‏@ReaganGomez
I'm Scarlett, I just braided ur hair with beads....don't let the kids @ school be playing all up in ur head" black. #WhatKindOfBlackAreYou

**
28. ItchyAreola ‏@radrebellion
Life Ain't Been No Crystal Stair kind of Black #WhatKindOfBlackAreYou

**
29. Jai Priestess ‏@JChiron18
Mom pressed my hair with a comb heated over open flames black #WhatKindOfBlackAreYou?

**
30. Pepe Sylvia ‏@edot__
I'm "Didn't realize using mason and jelly jars as glasses was uncommon until I visited other people's houses." Black #WhatKindOfBlackAreYou

**
31. C'era I'jel ‏@Kill__Switch
my grandma was the "you better stay in or out! letting all of my air out -.-" type of black #WhatKindOfBlackAreYou

**
32. Reagan Gomez ‏@ReaganGomez
I'm "grandma comes with her holy oil to bless it (get spirits out) whenever you move to a new place" kind of black. #WhatKindOfBlackAreYou

**
33. Bondye ‏@HYFRchrilliams
whatkindofblackareyou one who eats both sweet potato AND pumpkin pie.

**
34. golden girl ‏@blowticious
I know how to catfight nonviolently with a smile.
#WhatKindOfBlackAreYou

**
35. Petty White. ‏@TheEightFour
"Lawd, Aunt Alma finna get up and say some words? We gon be here all day" #WhatKindOfBlackAreYou

**
36. Big T ‏@abbywarhol
"Storm coming, turn off that tv, and them lights, get off my phone, too" #WhatKindOfBlackAreYou

**
37. Elle La Negra ‏@FireinFreetown
I'm "my momma just braided my hair so we can't play that game today" Black #whatkindofBlackareyou

**
38. Wunderbae ‏@LancelotPrice
#WhatKindofBlackAreYou

Listens to Puccini, Beyoncé, Big Freedia and Verdi within moments of each other kinda Black.

**
39. Rah ‏@rhazybaby
#WhatKindOfBlackAreYou Be there at 6:30 means I'm leaving my house at 6:40 type

**
40. Chance ‏@BlewThisCHANCE
"My mother don't like no dishes in her sink" black #whatkindofblackareyou

**
41. Zakiya Naema Jackson ‏@ZakiyaNaemaJack
I'm wearing my hair natural cause I want to not cause anyone thinks I should or shouldn't #whatkindofblackareyou

**
42. Mikki Kendall ‏@Karnythia
#WhatKindOfBlackAreYou Braid my hair, take off my earrings, somebody hold my purse kind of black.

**
43. hilly. ‏@CityofLimes
I'm, *kisses teeth* type Black. #whatkindofBlackareyou?

**
44. marcussimmonscc ‏@marcussimmonscc
I'm that "got spanked with everything from hair combs to towels to switches" kind of black #whatkindofblackareyou

**
45. Joyce Bell ‏@Joyce_Bell
I'm the party all Saturday night & singing in the choir on Sunday morning kind of black. #WhatKindOfBlackAreYou

**
46. Tayo Akin ‏@NaijaNupe_
“@ReaganGomez: "No you cannot eat in your room, in front of the tv, only at the table so don't ask" black. #WhatKindOfBlackAreYou”😩 my mom

**
47. Mikki Kendall ‏@Karnythia
I'm "macaroni & cheese comes from the oven not from a box" #WhatKindOfBlackAreYou

**
48. Reagan Gomez ‏@ReaganGomez
"CAUSE I SAID SO" black. #WhatKindOfBlackAreYou

**
49. Boo Boo Kitty ‏@JamelleMyBelle
The "No, you cannot touch my hair" kind. #WhatKindOfBlackAreYou

**
50. Salt ‏@vashtiknight
"Going the wrong way during the Cupid Shuffle" black. #whatkindofblackareyou"

**
51. Timbo Slice ‏@HelloNurse_
Getting this degree for my mama Blk #WhatKindOfBlackAreYou

**
52. Africana WomaNINJA ‏@MelanieCoMcCoy
I'm that "you betta recognize who you are speaking to" kinda Black #whatkindofblackareyou

**
53. Hassan Wanini ‏@Hassan_Wanini
Coconut oil is for the skin AND the food kind of black. #WhatKindOfBlackAreYou

**
54. M. ‏@_MTil
I'm "won't leave the house without carmex or vaseline" black

**
55. Legend of Chocolate ‏@bigsister_ALUM
High school got metal detectors but not enough books...Black #WhatKindOfBlackAreYou

**
56. Trudy ‏@thetrudz
I'm "Ting, Red Stripe, Wray & Nephews, callaloo & saltfish, bun & cheese, curry or jerk chicken" kinda Black. #WhatKindOfBlackAreYou

**
57. le Pete ‏@_ritahawk
I'm the "don't show off in front of your LIL friends and get embarrassed," black.. #WhatKindOfBlackAreYou

**
58. Jai Priestess ‏@JChiron18
Wish I could jump double dutch black
#WhatKindOfBlackAreYou?

**
59. G.A.S. ‏@ScoobieBeKnowin
I'm the "fry some catfish then put the grease in the oven and save it for the next time" type of black. #WhatKindOfBlackAreYou

**
60. Africana WomaNINJA ‏@MelanieCoMcCoy
I'm that "natural hair and daishikis don't make you aware or conscious" kind of Black
#whatkindofblackareyou

**
61. Trudy ‏@thetrudz
@Pundit_AcadEMIC I am oxtails, rice & peas, festivals, sorrel wine, fried fish, curry goat and gizzada kinda Black. #WhatKindOfBlackAreYou

**
62. Jai Priestess ‏@JChiron18
"Fix yuh face" black
#WhatKindOfBlackAreYou?

**
63. Amy Farrah Fowler ‏@MamaCynicsBaby
"If it's cold, then it is NOT a vacation spot" black. #WhatKindOfBlackAreYou

**
64. Petty White. ‏@TheEightFour
"Take them school clothes off and start on that homework" #WhatKindOfBlackAreYou

**
65. Donnalee ‏@DonnaTruly
I'm "the party isn't over till we do the wobble" kind of black #whatkindofblackareyou?

**
66. Jack Bandit ‏@intrepid_heroin
"Gotten my hair pressed in more kitchens than beauty parlors" black #WhatKindOfBlackAreYou

**
67. Honey Vee ‏@loveritsv
“@Lushology: Refers to all the elders in my life as "Auntie and Uncle" Black #whatkindofblackareyou” and ppl your age as cousins

**
‏68. @lilmissaquarius
The "off beat clapping in church" black #WhatKindOfBlackAreYou

**
69. Courtney Sierra ‏@seecourttype
I'm that "yes I listen to all types of music" kind of black. #WhatKindOfBlackAreYou

**
70. Corporate Thug ‏@cubicle_bc
yes sir, no sir, yes ma'am, no ma,am to all my elders type of black #WhatKindOfBlackAreYou

**
71. N E G U S ‏@MalcolmTooXtra
"Yes I know my father and no I'm not the first one in my family to go to college" black #WhatKindOfBlackAreYou

**
72. 5'6 and blessed ‏@TeeRaySays
the "lost when people talk about songs that aren't rap" type of black #whatkindofblackareyou

**
73. Stephanie Humphrey ‏@TechLifeSteph Philadelphia, PA
"My mom JUST stopped saving chicken/fish grease in a jar on the stove" Black #WhatKindOfBlackAreYou

**
74. Petty White. ‏@TheEightFour
"I don't care WHAT Keisha's mama lets her do! Does Keisha live in this house?" #WhatKindOfBlackAreYou

**
75. Blerd Trekkie =/\= ‏@BlerdTrekkie
I'm the "Can't drink grape juice without thinking of Communion Sunday" sort of Black #WhatKindOfBlackAreYou

**
76. Jeff Swagwell ‏@primetimeRYNE
i'm "use a little laundry detergent until we get some more dishwashing liquid" type black #WhatKindOfBlackAreYou

**
77. Donnalee ‏@DonnaTruly
I'm "vaseline will get rid of that ashiness better than lotion" kind of black #whatkindofblackareyou?

**
78. Trudy ‏@thetrudz
I'm a "Ferrol Compound and Detol in the house during childhood" kinda Black. Jamaicans know wah gwan. #WhatKindOfBlackAreYou

**
79. Ella Septima-Hamer ‏@Jbrous14
#whatkindofblackareyou NWA, Public Enemy, De La Soul, MC Lyte, Tribe Called Quest, Queen Latifah, Wu Tang Clan, The Roots, Black

**
80. Jack Bandit ‏@intrepid_heroin
"Not from the hood, but know it well" black #WhatKindOfBlackAreYou

**
81. Austin Channing ‏@austinchanning
I'm 'sitting on the porch and the next car that comes by is mine' kinda black #whatkindofblackareyou

**
82. Pablo#ONLINE ‏@IAm_ITKGH
#WhatKindOfBlackAreYou The type that'll call Cherry Kool-aid "Red"

**
83. Lana Kane ‏@NeesiaaTrends
I love fried chicken and soul food, grape soda and watermelon and it's not b/c I am Black it's because they're GOOD #whatkindofBlackareyou

**
84. Donnalee ‏@DonnaTruly
I'm Alice & Toni & Zadie & Edwidge & Chimimanda & Jamaica - reading kind of black. #whatkindofblackareyou?

**
85. Trudy ‏@thetrudz
I'm "'Keep Ya Head Up', 'U.N.I.T.Y.' & The Color Purple were my introduction to womanism in adolescence" kinda Black. #WhatKindOfBlackAreYou

**
86. elisabeth. ‏@elisabethepps
The only college I wanted to apply to was Hillman. #whatkindofblackareyou
-snip-
"Hillman"= a fictitious college on the Black television sit-com "A Different World"

**
87. T. Rap Brown ‏@change_thoughts  Washington, DC
I'm the bring your own snacks to the movies kinda BLACK... #whatkindofblackareyou

**
88. Gi ‏@LuxSunnshine
"Don't let nobody play in your hair" kinda black #WhatKindOfBlackAreYou

**
89. afropoetic ‏@angstyblkwoman
I'm "THAT'S MY JAM!!!" whenever any song comes on kinda black. #WhatKindOfBlackAreYou

**
90. elisabeth. ‏@elisabethepps
I recited Phenomenal Woman at a talent show or And Still I Rise at a cotillion... bc all good little black girls did. #whatkindofblackareyou

**
91. Jenifer Daniels, APR ‏@jentrification
namaste and om kind #WhatKindOfBlackAreYou

**
92. Tenderoni ‏@Sensitive__Thug
I'm the "My momma said I can't hang out with y'all until she meets y'all mommas" type of black

**
93. elisabeth. ‏@elisabethepps
Jack & Jill >>> Girl/Boy Scouts. I know all about the Links & the Boule, even tho white kids were clueless. #whatkindofblackareyou
-snip-
"Jack & Jill" = is a memberships only social organization for upper middle class children, "Links" = a membership organization for professional African American women, and "the Boule" is "the first African-American Greek-lettered organization was founded in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on May 15, 1904. The fraternity quickly established chapters (referred to as "member boulés") in Chicago, IL and then Baltimore, MD.[1] The founders included two doctors, a dentist and a physician.[2] When Sigma Pi Phi was founded, black professionals were not offered participation in the professional and cultural associations organized by the white community.[3] Sigma Pi Phi has over 5,000 members and 126 chapters throughout the United States and the West Indies.[4]" ..founded on May 15, 1904."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sigma_Pi_Phi

**
94. elisabeth. ‏@elisabethepps
My sorority/fraternity affiliation only *began* in college, it didn't end there... #whatkindofblackareyou

**
95. ItchyAreola ‏@radrebellion
Asking the teachers why we can't learn more about Africa in this world history class kinda Black. #WhatKindOfBlackAreYou

**
96. Jack Bandit ‏@intrepid_heroin
"Love and Hip Hop is trash" black #WhatKindOfBlackAreYou

**
97. Trapunzel ‏@SunitaAppleBaum
I'm the sophisticated when necessary but ratchet with my friends type of black , also considered sophistiratchet #whatkindofblackareyou

**
98. Yve ‏@yvethepoet
Mwen pale Kreyol, je parle français, calling cousins: auntie and uncle out of respect for age kind of black. #whatkindofblackareyou

**
99. Elle La Negra ‏@FireinFreetown
I'm 'roll my eyes til they get stuck if you tell me Kwanzaa is made up like ALL holidays aren't' Black #whatkindofblackareyou

**
100. Gucci Ma'am La Flare ‏@_CakeBawse
I'm "keep a random drawer of ketchup, soy sauce packets, and takeout menus" Black #whatkindofBlackareyou

**
101. Bougie Black Girl ‏@BougieBlackGurl
Stayed wondering why everyone caught to holy ghost in church except you. #whatkindofblackareyou

**
102. Shelby Ivey Christie ‏@bronze_bombSHEL
I'm "take that meat out the freezer & there better not be dishes in the sink when I get home!" kinda Black #WhatKindOfBlackAreYou

**
103. elisabeth. ‏@elisabethepps
I didn't know white Barbies or Cabbage Patch dolls even *existed* til I was ~7yo bc my mom only bought me black ones. #whatkindofblackareyou

**
104. phoenicianoire ‏@yolandanocturn
That all black hair is good hair black #whatkindofblackareyou

**
105. Poisson d'Avril ‏@ShakExcellence • Apr 16
I'm the "never talk back to your parents cause they'll smack the [profanity deleted] outta you if you do so" kind of black. #WhatKindOfBlackAreYou

**
106. Erato ‏@Layla_D_
#WhatKindOfBlackAreYou.. just went to a bible study session for the free muffins & coffee even though i'm a apathetic agnostic kinda black..

**
107. Africana WomaNINJA ‏@MelanieCoMcCoy
I'm that "I will give you the shade face if you are out of order" kind of Black #whatkindofblackareyou

**
108. Amí Jolie ‏@Jessica_Geaux
First time I got to choose whether or not I went to church was when I got to college #whatkindofblackareyou

**
109. Trudy ‏@thetrudz
I'm "curl up and watch Wattstax, When We Were Kings, Freedom Riders & The Black Power Mixtape 1967-1975" kinda Black #WhatKindOfBlackAreYou

**
110. Africana WomaNINJA ‏@MelanieCoMcCoy
“@_rebelYEL: I listen to Janelle Monae, but I won't shame you if you listen to Nicki Minaj type black. #whatkindofblackareyou” THIS

**
111. JabbarLewis ‏@JabbarLewis
I'm the bring your own popcorn, water, snacks to the movies kinda black.. #whatkindofblackareyou

**
112. 100 emoji ‏@Breliloquy
#WhatKindOfBlackAreYou

The when getting my hair done "almost done" meant 2 hours from now after a break and a whole nother meal kind

**
113. Bougie Black Girl ‏@BougieBlackGurl
Had two sets of clothes. School clothes & play clothes. Don't let your momma catch you in your school clothes. #whatkindofblackareyou

**
114. elisabeth. ‏@elisabethepps
Collard greens and black eyes peas every New Year... or is that just a southern thing? #whatkindofblackareyou

**
115. elisabeth. ‏@elisabethepps
We got detention in Sunday School & Vacation Bible School for doing "tongues" impersonations. #whatkindofblackareyou

**
116. Bougie Black Girl ‏@BougieBlackGurl
Wore goodie barrettes & had a color for every outfit.We kept ours in a Royal Dansk Cookies tin #whatkindofblackareyou

**
117. Tyrese Johnson ‏@Pants_So_Short
"Grown folk table" black #whatkindofblackareyou

**
118. Black Jon Snow ‏@thirdeyesquints
I'm that Gil Scott fused with Lupe disguised as Drake featuring Gambino, Badu, 3 Stacks and The Roots kind of black. #whatkindofblackareyou

**
119. elisabeth. ‏@elisabethepps
The wooly-haired Jesus on my grandmother's living room wall was black. (Her JFK was white tho.) #whatkindofblackareyou

**
120. Brian McLight
I am "keep every plastic bag I get from the sto under the kitchen sink" kinda black #whatkindofBlackareyou

**
121.lemony snickette. ‏@CourtJusBChilln
I'm that old school hiphop head, vibe to Neo soul kind of black #whatkindofblackareyou

**
122. elisabeth. ‏@elisabethepps
Other families went to national parks on summer vacation; we went to my father's fraternity convention. #whatkindofblackareyou

**
123. Wrathful Negrita ‏@love_gatherer
I'm when the music stop someone yells out "NO MUSIC" and we all clap along in unison black #WhatKindOfBlackAreYou

**
124. CHRIS BROWN ‏@FUTUREPLANSSS
i'm "i actually know what young thug is saying" black #whatkindofblackareyou

**
125. Rashad Timmons ‏@rashadtimmons
I am that still have so much more to learn, experience, see, feel, share, dare, dream, accomplish kind of black.

**
126. elisabeth. ‏@elisabethepps
My redbone mother had to set her fine hair on perm rods to impersonate an afro, but the dashiki was real. #whatkindofblackareyou

**
127. Baeyoncé♥ ‏@afrococos
The "I'm not ashamed of my natural hair" kind of black #WhatKindofBlackAreYou

**
128. juice. ‏@Mila_Eff
I can never find my name on any gift shop souvenirs. #WhatKindOfBlackAreYou

**
129. Soul Bossa Nova ‏@yeathatTerrence
#WhatKindofBlackAreYou The type that can give a speech in the King's English but go back to the hood and turn that switch off

**
130. P.i.M.P $ean™ ‏@OriginalBigSean
"Never disrespect my mama no matter how mad she make me" Black #whatkindofblackareyou

**
131. Yaayaa Maria ‏@AmbitiousDoll93
My fro rises to the sun black . #WhatKindOfBlackAreYou "

**
132. seminal minded ‏@Tariksalim88
"the kind that says hiphop saved my life but I'll be damned if I don't critique it's pathology as a grown man kind" #WhatKindOfBlackAreYou

**
133. Johnny JamBoogié ‏@iKickClouds_
"Keeping a collection of plastic bags inside of plastic bags" Black #WhatKindOfBlackAreYou

**
134. Donnalee ‏@DonnaTruly
I'm the "Praise the Lord but pass the ammunition" kind of black #whatkindofblackareyou

**
135. jollof conoisseur ‏@eyekomology
Sit in the front of class and block ya vision of the PowerPoint slides with my fro kind of black. #WhatKindOfBlackAreYou

**
136. Moo ‏@SeanMilkshakes
Me too #thestruggle RT @DonnaTruly: I'm "vaseline will get rid of that ashiness better than lotion" kind of black #whatkindofblackareyou?

**
137. elisabeth. ‏@elisabethepps
As a child I knew the address & phone number of our local black-owned funeral home by heart... thanks to church fans. #whatkindofblackareyou

**
138. duduzile za mabaso ‏@uzamantungwa
if I can pronounce Lhuillier then you can pronounce Zamantungwa. #whatkindofblackareyou

**
139. erythræan ‏@mielakay
expect to be corrected if you mispronounce my name, and no you can't give me a nickname because it's easier black

**
140. Bougie Black Girl ‏@BougieBlackGurl
The kind who loves seeing Black women call each other sister regardless of who she is or where she is from #WhatKindOfBlackAreYou

**
141. Rainbow Peace Pie ‏@Resa_Resa23
#WhatKindOfBlackAreYou you an ya friends put ya $ together so everyone can get something at the store black

**
142. elisabeth. ‏@elisabethepps
We never got out of church service or a barbershop/ beauty salon in under 4 hours... on a good day. #WhatKindOfBlackAreYou

**
143. Erica P. ‏@orchidassassin
I guess that's #WhatKindOfBlackAreYou I am; I am a "Fried chicken as valid, unapologetic self-care" Black.

**
144. Shaughn ‏@Shaughn_A
#WhatKindOfBlackAreYou
One with no baby mama drama cuz being fruitful & multiplying still requires standards.

**
145. GrooveSDC ‏@GrooveSDC
The kind who realizes educated Black people who work hard and take care of their family is the norm not the exception #WhatKindOfBlackAreYou

**
146. CampbellX ‏@CampbellX
#whatkindofblackareyou the kind that can speak Patois and the Queen's english and thinks both are valid. Y' get mi!

**
147. The Buzzcast ‏@BuzzWorthyRadio
The. End! RT @FeministaJones: #WhatKindOfBlackAreYou
I watch "my stories" not "soap operas"

****
This concludes Part II of this series.

Thanks for visiting pancocojams

Visitor comments are welcome.

What "smh" REALLY Means (information & examples) Part I

Edited by Azizi Powell

This is Part I of a two part series on the acronym "smh". Part I provides information and comments about a few examples of "smh".
Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2014/10/what-smh-really-means-information_1.html for Part II of this series. Part II provides a portion of the information in that post as well as additional examples of the use of "smh".

The content of this post is presented for cultural and etymological purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post. Thanks also to Whoissugar, the vlogger who is featured in one video that is showcased below.

UPDATE: October 7, 2014
Here are links to two other pancocojams post that mention "shakin my head" (smh):
http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2014/10/what-tv-show-glees-shakin-my-head-song.html

http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2014/10/hip-hop-doo-wop-and-country-music-songs.html

****
PART I
WHAT IS "SMH" AND WHAT DOES IT MEAN?
"Smh" is an acronym for "shaking my head". At least to date, "smh" appears to be limited to written communication on the internet (such as blogging, posting on social media sites, and tweeting) and telephone text messaging.

People usually write about something and then add the acronym "smh" at the end of that sentence. For instance, a person might write "Did you see that movie? The reviews said it told the true story about relationships between men and women. smh. Or, less often, "smh" is found at the beginning of a sentence or at the beginning of a short-hand internet/text message statement. For instance, "smh @"XYZ" movie.

Most of the time when people write "smh", they're communicating that they are figuratively shaking their head in reaction to the words and/or actions of another person. When "smh" is written, it expresses that the person feels or felt one or more of the following: disbelief about or negative judgment of what a person has said or done, for example the belief that the person is ignorant, or foolish, or a liar, or racist. "Smh" is also used to express exasperation, disdain, disgust, and/or anger because of those previously listed reasons or for other reasons.

In that regard, it appears to me that "smh" has the same or similar meanings as "kiss teeth" ("suck teeth") does among Black people in the Caribbean and in Africa. I think that "kiss teeth", "suck teeth" have and "smh" (usually) has an element of heightened impatience with the person whose comments or actions caused that person to make that gesture or caused the writer to add "smh" at the end of her or his comments (or at the beginning of those comments). But I think that there may also be an element of impudence in "kiss teeth"/"suck teeth" that I don't think is present in "smh".

I also believe that the reasons for writing "smh" are quite similar to the reasons someone would do a "side eye" or "eye roll". In addition, writing "smh" might also sometimes be motivated by the same reasons that people lightly smack their forehead with their hand (do a "face palm"), although it seems to me that a face palm is usually done because the person is exasperated with his or her foolish, stupid non-serious and non-offensive actions or those types of actions or words that someone else has done or said. Furthermore, I think that the face palm gesture is one that is most often done by non-Black Americans, and I think mostly Black females- write "eyeroll" or write "side eye" at the end of a sentence the same way and for the same reasons that people- I think at least early on, mostly African American people- wrote "smh". [I'll write more shortly about the racial aspects of "smh" and to a lesser degree about the racial aspect of "face palm"].

But in contrast to those other gestures, I think that probably few people who write "smh" take the time and use their energy to actually shake their head. Instead, it's my sense that writing "smh" is a way of conveying the action of shaking one's head (and saying "un un un" along with that gesture).

I listed above what I believe are main reasons why people write "smh" online or in text messages. [I confess I've not used that acronym myself.] However, a person might also write "smh" as a form of wry, self-deprecating sense of humor to note something that she or he realizes about herself or himself or about people (and animals or things) who or that they associate with. Most of the examples from whoissugar's two featured videos in this pancocojams series demonstrate that type of usage of "smh".

****
THE AFRICAN AMERICAN ROOTS OF "SMH" & ESTABLISHING A MARKER FOR THE EARLY USE OF "SMH"
I believe that "smh" is used (or at least "early on" was used) more often by African Americans than by non-African Americans, including other Black people. Unlike "side eye", "eye roll", "kiss teeth", and "suck teeth", "smh" isn't an old-school (traditional) African Diaspora or African cultural term. Nor does it appear to be an old school, traditional non-Black term.

I don't know when or where "smh" was first used. However, 2009 is the earliest online mention of this acronym that I've found: https://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20090503231937AA75mhg [hereafter given as Yahoo answers:smh]

That Yahoo query was posted anonymously. Here's that question

"is smh a black internet slang?

i have no idea what it means, but i often see it in message boards and comment areas. the posters are always black people. can someone clue me in?”
-snip-
Notice the use of the term "message boards". The use of the term "message boards" instead of "blogs" provides some clue about when this "asker" saw "smh" used. Other blog posts that i've read in which commenters associated the acronym "smh" with Black people*, such as the 2010 blog thread on http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?t=128512063 . Here's the initial post on that bodybuilding thread:
"10-22-2010, 12:22 PM#1
mikeyBarracuda
Location: Boca Raton, Florida, United States…
Why do lots of black people say "SMH"?
Yes I know what it means - "shake my head"
But it seems as if a large majority of black people say "SMH" on facebook, through text, etc.
(no racist)"
-snip-
I interprete "no racist" to mean that the blogger wants to assure people that he didn't intend his question or comments to be racist.)

Although Facebook began in 2004, I wonder what the research indicates about when a significant number of Facebook users -whatever that percentage would be- were African American. Beecause of the "digital divide", I wouldn't be surprised if that didn't happen until 2009.

Returning to that Yahoo answers:smh query page, there are six responses to that question "Is smh a Black internet acronym?" Each of those answers was published in 2009. Three of the commenters either self-idenfied as Black or their accompanying photograph was of a person who people would usually identify as Black. One of those three commenters indicated that she or he knew about the acronym "smh", but denied that it was or should be associated with Black people.* Here's that comment:
"msknowitall answered 5 years ago [2009]
"I'm black.. and I have no idea what it means..
Get over it..
Its just an internet slang..
That hasn't caught on yet.."
-snip-
Notice that this commenter writes in 2009 that this internet slang "hadn't caught on yet".

The comment that the person who posted the query ranked as the "Best Answer" was from Christy:
"It means
"shakin my head"
there you're clued in
Example:
Girl: What are you doin?
Boy: Smokin Crack..
Girl: Smh you're a loser
-snip-
Other blog threads also associate the acronym "smh" with Black people and it by the number of racist comments on most of those blogs that many if not all of their commenters are non-Black. Most of those blogs [including the bodybuilding:smh but not the Yahoo answers:smh blog also include profanity and sexually explicit responses.

Speaking of that 2010 bodybuilder:smh thread, one commenter on that thread Bannister11
…Location: New Jersey, United States wrote that
"I thought it was a message board thing but I noticed my black friends who don't frequent forums use it too."
-snip-
I wonder if that blogger meant telephone texting when he said that his black friends who don't blog use the acronym "smh". Perhaps I'm wrong. Maybe Black people (and other peeople?) use "smh" elsewhere besides the internet and telephone texting. I'd love to know more about this.
-snip-
*Note: The referent "Black" wasn't defined in that website or in other blog threads in which commenteers noted that "smh" was associated with Black people or commenters asked whether "smh" was mostly or entirely associated with Black people. In spite of the fact that a lot of Black people aren't African Americans, given the prepondance of Americans on the English speaking internet, and the fact that at least on some website (but not the Yahoo:smh site) a number of commenters indicated that they were from the USA, it's reasonable to assume that people meant "African American" when they wrote "Black".)

****
THIS USE OF "SMH" AS DEFINED ON INTERNET ACRONYMS WEBSITES
"smh" may mean other things that aren't related to a person's comments about or reaction to something that was said or done, such as the "Sydney Morning Herald" (newspaper). Here are two entries from the internet acronym website: http://pc.net/slang/meaning/smh

"SMH
Meaning: shaking my head

Type: Acronym

Rank: ★ ★ ★ Common

Usage: Online Only (chat, messaging, e-mail)

Comments
Expresses disapproval, disagreement, or speechlessness; used when something is so bad that you just shake your head; can also mean, "I disagree," "I can't believe it," or "Not again..."

Updated: December 19, 2012
-snip-
"SMH
Meaning: Smash my head

Type: Acronym

Rank: ★ ★ ☆ Average

Usage: Online Only (chat, messaging, e-mail)

Comments:
SMH can also be used to say you are smashing your forehead on your hand. It is similar to saying, "D'oh!" after doing something dumb.*
-snip-
I think that "smashing your forehead" is the same thing as "face palm", but I'm not sure about that. (One commenter on the bodybuilding:smh website wrote that "smh" is black people's way of saying "face palm").

Neeither that Internet acronym website nor any other such website that I visited on September 30, 2014] made any mention about "smh" being mostly or entirely associated early on or presently with any specific racial population.

****
SHOWCASE VIDEO AND SELECTED COMMENTS FROM THAT VIDEO

56-whoissugar's side-eye Saturday Volume 2...3 days early



Uploaded by whoissugar on Mar 8, 2011
-snip-
Her's a comment that includes "smh" from the video itself:
"SIDE EYE EVENTS...
A male co worker called me "afrocentric," "neo soul," and "black panther" all BECAUSE I AM NATURAL!! SMH He gets the side eye every time I see him..
-snip-
Here are two comments from that video along with whoissugar's responses to those comments:

Tissa Chelle, march 8, 2011
"you crack me up...I can 't stand it when I dont have a video to watch from you...but twitter helps...lol

**
whoissugar, Mar 8, 2011 in reply to Tissa Chelle
"@PureRHOty AWE! Honey, I'm still trying to get the hang of twitter. Apart of me still doesn't get it. smh.
-snip-
“Apart” = a part
Note that whoissugar used smh in her self –deprecating remark about not "getting" (knowing how to use) twitter.
This comment written in 2011 lends further credence to the view that ‘‘smh” is a relatively newly coined acronym.

****
Myeka324Mar 8, 2011•LINKED COMMENT
"You are so funny Sug! That's funny what your cat did with the rumba....lawd have mercy! And the iron on the "hell" setting? Lol to that as well...appreciate you too girl and hugs right back at ya! :o) this vid is too much"

**
whoissugar, Mar 8, 2011 in reply to Myeka324
"@Myeka324 Chile, I'm mad how he didn't smell my shirt burning. SMH!"
-snip-
Notice how this example of "smh" is also written in good humor, and not in anger, disbelief, disdain, or disgust, as a number of other examples of smh are written.

Many of the comments that will be featured in Part II of this series demonstrate those types of emotions. That post will be published ASAP.

****
RELATED LINK
http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2012/03/puttin-on-black-side-eye-videos.html "Putting On The Black: Side Eye"

**
http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2011/09/what-kiss-teeth-suck-teeth-means.html "What Kiss Teeth (Suck Teeth) Mean"

****
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.

Visitor comments are welcome.

What Kiss Teeth (Suck Teeth) Means

Written by Azizi Powell

People don't always have to say what they're thinking. Sometimes body gestures and sounds such as "kiss teeth" say what they want to say and more.

I'm an African American woman from New Jersey & Pennsylvania. Although my maternal grandparents are from the islands (Barbados and Trinidad), I wasn't familiar with the phrase "kiss teeth" until I started reading about it on the Internet. But ever since I was a child I knew about "sucking your teeth". That phrase is often expressed in the warning "Don't suck your teeth at me!"

The phrase "suck your teeth" is documented as early as 1915 in Jamaica and is also found in Barbados, Belize, and Guyana, Trinidad, and the United States (particularly among African Americans). In Tobago, kiss teeth is called "hiss teeth" and in the Cayman Islands it is called "sucking your mouth". Source: http://privatewww.essex.ac.uk/~patrickp/papers/KSTpapwww.pdf The Meaning Of Kiss Teeth

"Kiss" and "hiss" are onomatopoeic “[that’s the sound you make when doing it].

In the Caribbean kiss teeth is represented by the initials "KST" (kiss teeth) and "KMT" (kiss my teeth). Among people from the Caribbean, kiss teeth can be represented in writing using the words "Cho!", "Chups", "Tchuipe, "Chupes", "Stchuup”, and similarly spelled words. These words are both nouns and verbs.

****
UPDATE - June 6, 2013

Here's a video of the sound made when a person is "sucking" his [or her] teeth"

Tjoerie - NO CANDY



No Candy, Published on Dec 5, 2012

A well deserved ode to the tjoerie. The what?!? The tjoerie, which is the Surinamese word for what is known in the French West Indies as 'le tchip' and in the English speaking part of the Caribbean as 'kiss-teeth'.

When something or someone becomes too annoying, one always has an effective weapon at their disposal: a long, cricket-like sound of which the effect combined with rolling eyes is deadly insulting. There is no one that does not respect a good tjoerie.

****
UPDATE: June 17, 2016

Here's another video about "kissing your teeth":
KISSING YOUR TEETH!?



V a r i n d e r Published on Jun 6, 2016

WARNING: THIS VIDEO IS SARCASTIC

Today's word of the day is less of a word and more of a sound. I've heard this sound used mostly when people aren't happy about something, it's referred to as "kissing teeth". To be honest, while filming this video, the sound got annoyingly addictive, it's kind of...fun? lol
..
But at the same time, use caution with this word, it doesn't have the best connotation because me and everyone I know agree that when they've heard it used, it was in a negative light...

Blog: https://varinderpaul.wordpress.com/portfolio/.
-snip-
End of Updates.

Click http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rlg5o2gyfrU
You Know You're Jamaican When... Celebrating JAMAICA's 50th

Examples of kiss teeth are shown in that video at 1:45 - 1:46 and at 2:15 - 2:33.

Notice the neck roll and cut eye (rolling eye) movement that usually accompanied kiss teeth.

Researchers have documented KMT in West Africa, as well as in the Caribbean, and in certain South American nations which have significant populations of people of African descent. Of course, KST is also found in other nations such as the United Kingdom where there are Caribbean, African American, and African residents.

KMT can convey a wide range of emotions including (in no particular order) disgust, disdain, defiance, exasperation, annoyance, displeasure, disrespect, scorn, insult, sorrow, impatience, disagreement, disapproval, dislike, and vexation.

Here's a quote about "chupse" (kiss teeth) that is included in this previously mentioned pdf
The Meaning Of Kiss Teeth
Esther Figueroa (USA) Peter L Patrick (UK)

The chupse is not a word, it is a whole language. There is the small effortless chupse of indifference; the thin hard chupse of disdain; the long, liquid, vibrating chupse that shakes the rafters and expresses every kind of defiance. It is the universal language of the West Indies, the passport to confidence from Jamaica to British South America. How dare the compiler downgrade it to a mere word!(from the “Barbados Advocate”, quoted in Collymore, 1970)

-snip-
Here's a review of the book "Cut-Eye" and "Suck-Teeth":African Words and Gestures in New World Guise by John R. Rickford and Angela E. Rickford:

An investigation questioned whether the words and gestures "cut-eye" and "suck-teeth," evident in Guyana, represent African survivals, and how widely these are recognized in the Caribbean, the United States and Africa. Caribbean data were drawn from observations, dictionaries and interviews. U.S. data came from questionnaires administered to both blacks and whites. African students were also questioned. In Guyana, "cut-eye" is a visual gesture indicating hostility or disapproval. A glare is delivered followed by a vertical or diagonal sweep of the eye over the other person. "Cut-eye" insults by visually invading another's territory and turning away contemptuously. The gesture was familiar to all West Indians interviewed. In the U.S., nearly all black informants were familiar with the term, but few of the whites. All African informants recognized the gesture. "Suck-teeth" refers to the gesture of drawing in air through the teeth to produce a sucking sound. It expresses anger, exasperation or annoyance, and is stronger and ruder than "cut-eye." It is known throughout the Caribbean, by black Americans, though not by whites, and by Africans. The study provides evidence that Africanisms persist in the New World even in commonplace expressions and gestures. (CHK)

-snip-
Here are some responses to a 2007 Yahoo answers question: Why do some black people "suck their teeth"

Hi, I'm Jamaican. In Jamaica we call it "Kiss teet" (kiss teeth).

We do it to show our disapproval, disagreement and/or anoyance.

If someone p*sses you off you do it, if someone says something stupid you do it, if you see someone you don't like you do it.

It means "Whatever man, I don't care what you think, you're talking crap, talk all you like I'm not listening" It's showing your disapproval.

:-) We incorporate this into our internet lingo. The internet slang for this is KMT (which means: kiss my teeth).
-honest

**
It's actually coined "smacking the lips." And I do it when someone is saying something stupid, being fake, if I don't think someone is being honest, when i'm calling someone's bluff, brushing someone off etc.

Hope that helped.
-Cesaria Barbarossa

**
Its not just the black people that suck their teeth its allot of teenagers do it two and Its sorta like an irritated way of saying its stupid,waste of tI'me, and im not doing it kinda thing
-champ

**
It's just an expression to show that what has been said is a load of crap, like when I read your question I skinned teeth big time.
-maxwell

****
Update: October 12, 2017- A West African version of "suck teeth" [which might be the source of that custom]

From https://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20101212052102AAEDgcX
"What is the meaning of mtchew?
It s a written expression made when someone is displeased, or when their expectations is lowered. Also called "sucking teeth"
Clint, 2015"

**
From http://www.naijalingo.com/words/mtcheew
"Mtcheew

Definition: a popular sigh of disapproval in Nigeria, (maybe West Africa). The sound can be heard when one sticks his tongue to the roof of the mouth and ties to suck in air. Just like germans use 'Scheiss' Example: Mtcheew... poor man, I even think say you carry money come."
-snip-
Here's another example of the use of the Nigerian (West African ?) Pidgin English word "mitchew"
from http://www.nairaland.com/3011672/daniella-okeke-marks-birthday-dazzling/1
"Re: Daniella Okeke Marks Birthday With Dazzling Photos by abdoolorunwa(m): 3:24pm On Mar 26, 2016
...O BOY U DEY LOOK UP TO BABA MAKE HIM MAKE U UP, NO MIRACLE FIT CHANGE THIS UR STONE FACE. IF U NO FYN, NO DEY USE UR PICS DEY SPOIL MY MOOD ABEG. I DEY BEG U AND UR TYPE ABEG. AH AH WHICH KAIN THING BE THIS. U JUST MAKE ME VOMIT SPOIL MY RUG NOW. MTTCHEWWW!!!"
-snip-
Here's my attempted interpretation of this comment: [Corrections welcome]
I think that in the first part of this quote, the commenter criticizes the person he or she is addressing by saying that that person professes to look up to Fathr [God]. Then the commenter says (using an African American way of speaking] God need to "fix" that person [Make up up], but actually no miracle would fix that person's hard hearted being [stone face]. Then the commenter basically says "If you don't like the actress, then don't post any pictures of her because they spoil my [good] mood. I'm asking you and people like you this. Ah, Ah, [expresses exasperation] What can this thing be?! You just made me vomit on my rug now. Mitchewww!! [suck teeth expression]


****
RELATED LINKS
Cut-Eye and Suck-Teeth: African Words and Gestures in New World Guise Author(s): John R.Rickford and Angela E. Rickford Source: The Journal of American Folklore, Vol.89, No. 353 (Jul. - Sep., 1976), pp. 294-309 Published by: American FolkloreSociety Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/539442Accessed:
**

Dillard:perspectives on American English Csl 29
By Joey Lee Dillard
http://books.google.com/books?id=6zPgjduXBcQC&lpg=PA359&ots=Z8EEAFQID0&dq=sucking%20of%20the%20teeth%20africa&pg=PA359#v=onepage&q=sucking%20of%20the%20teeth%20africa&f=false
-snip-
hat tip to tonyspeed on http://forum.wordreference.com/showthread.php?t=717325&page=2 "Words of African origin in American English" for this link.

****
Click http://nonjeneregretterien.blogspot.com/2009/07/kiss-my-teeth-or-sounds-with-meanings.html
"Kiss My Teeth or Sounds with Meanings in Africa"

****
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.

Visitor comments are welcome.