A Lingo of Our Own

By Artie O. Murray

This book is collection of language from the perspective of an African American female. As a child she did not know she was poor until she took an economics class in college. Regardless of age most readers especially African Americans will marvel at how the words printed on the pages will move you to tears, spontaneous laughter, surprise and sweet memories of a life captured from individuals ranging in age from 14 to 97.

Artie, named after an Uncle (a rich family tradition of naming children prior to their birth) continues to work and teach in the field of Human Resources with a mission to remain a life-long learner, coach, consultant and mentor. She lives in the Chicagoland area with her soul mate of 34 years (and blissfully counting) who thoroughly enjoys spending time with her adult children and ten grandchildren.

People often dont realize that everyday lingo is a part of something greater. Artie Murray

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Sep 22, 2011
• ISBN: 9781456750688

Artie O. Murray

Born and raised on the south side of Chicago, Artie Murray has traveled to five continents in her professional career in the field of Human Resources. Her exposure to lingo began with her family, friends, church and school enhancing her worldwide journey in adulthood. With her God-given interpersonal prowess, professional skills, college education and deep devotion as a wife and mother she has managed to break the glass ceiling in corporate America while raising five children. Her keen listening skills and ability to absorb her surroundings has resulted in the birth of this book. Artie’s 97 year old mother whose mother was a slave has passed lingo down from generation to generation that was instilled in the African American culture.

Book preview

Contents

Introduction

I. CHURCH LINGO

II. WARNING LINGO

III. TITLE LINGO

IV. FOOD LINGO

V. ACTION LINGO

VI. RELATIONSHIPS/THE SEXES LINGO

VII. SEEKING CLARITY LINGO

VIII. WISDOM LINGO

IX. PERSONALIZE THIS BOOK AND MAKE IT YOUR OWN!

Dedication

Bringing A LINGO OF OUR OWN to you could not have occurred without the support of my soul mate Thomas

who constantly encouraged me to see this project to completion,

my mother whose profound influence on my life is greatly responsible for whom I am today,

my natural born children

Donyea and Alexander

who inspired me,

and my friend for life, Alice Donahue.

Most importantly, I acknowledge and thank God for His grace and mercy that has brought me through to this moment!

Foreword

This is a book about the language

spoken by African American people

across nine generations

purely from a personal perspective.

Most learning is subtle and unrecognized as such by either it’s recipients or it’s provider.

As you journey into one of the many segments of Black culture and vernacular, be prepared to connect with the past or present as only an African American can.

Language is a reflection of attempts by humans to cope with their world as it exists.

Artie O. Murray

Introduction

Setting: Lunch break during a seminar of corporate professionals from across the country. A table comprised of African American seminar participants enjoying each other’s company. The air was joyous and filled with a sense of camaraderie.

After the lunch break, a non-minority seminar participant and colleague from my company remarked on how our table seemed to be lively and how we appeared to genuinely enjoy the conversation in spite of our geographical differences and first time meeting. She admitted to eavesdropping and commented that it sounded like we were speaking a language of our own.

As I considered her statement and reflected on the conversation during the meal with my brothers and sisters, I realized that we were speaking a language of our own. At this point, I discovered I was pregnant with the book, A Lingo of our Own. Since that day, I have fully embraced the idea of writing a book. The decade long gestation was filled with memory recall and listening-research as I traveled across the United States. Every trimester was filled with roadblocks, excitement, disappointments, encouragement and doubt . . . . could I really write a book to embody a slice of African American language?

As the labor began, my heavenly coach confirmed to me that as African Americans, we share a language that is germane to our culture. Come along with me as we journey from examples of code language used by Harriett Tubman to signal slaves on their flight to freedom to verbiage examples of an amorous relationship without using the L word.

My interest in collecting words from my African American culture over the years in no means has followed a scientific data gathering process. It has been my personal desire to capture and memorialize the sweet environment of the language of a culture that could be understood regardless of what region of the United