Ebonics (a blend of the words ebony and phonics) is a term that was originally intended to refer to the language of all peoples descended from enslaved Black Africans.
In 1996, the term became widely known in the United States due to a controversy over a decision by the Oakland, California School Board to acquire funds to teach black children standard English because the board deems Ebonics to be their primary language. Thereafter, the term Ebonics primarily refers to black Americans’ vernacular English dialect.
The Ten Commandments in Ebonics
- I be God. Don’ be dissin’ Me or jockin Ma style.
- Don’ be makin’ hood ornaments outta Me or nothin’ in Mah crib.
- Don’ be callin’ Me fo’ no reason – Homey don’ play dat.
- Y’all betta be in church on Sundee.
- Don’ dis yo mama … an if ya know who yo daddy is, don’ dis him neither.
- Don’ ice a nizzle.
- Stick to yo own boo.
- Don’ be liftin’ no goods.
- Don’ be frontin’ like yo all dat an’ no snitchin’ on yo homies.
- Don’ be eyein’ yo homie’s crib, ride, or nuffin’.
~Eowyn
