Tre’vell AndersonReviews

I'm a fangirl of the history of slang and of common speech that had to have come from SOMEWHERE. Here's a valuable and humorous guide to Things Black People Say (and that white people have approbated). Each example has pronunciation, translation, usage, example, and, in some cases, the pop culture moment from which the phrase is derived. The categories make it easy to search within for a specific entry (Gossip and Storytelling, Cautions and Warnings, Consequences and Repercussions, Inspiring and Affirming, Church, Units of Measure, Queers and Trans, Love, Sex, and Relations, and the Kitchen Sink) so that the book can be used as a dictionary. I think it qualifies as a textbook and should be made available in every middle and high school - especially for non-Black teachers to kick off a dialogue with all students. Plus - point blank period, if you know, you know.

Quote: "We got yanked out of our countries and our cultures, and put on ships, and brought over here. And everything that could have been taken away from us was taken away. And yet, still we preserved what we could, which is our language." - Dr. Charity Hudley½

Throughout the entire read, I had a smile on my face. It was amusing, comforting, and thorough all in one. Definitely, brings cohesion to the community (we're not alone).

Historically Black Phrases by jarrett hill and Tre'vell Anderson is a fun and very informational read, highlighting phrases that are widely used in African American Vernacular English (AAVE).

Depending on your personal history this will elicit several responses from you. I'm mostly white and am perceived as such when out, but have lived in neighborhoods from almost exclusively white to ones that were rich in diversity and I was among the smallest minority (whether because of my whiteness or my Native American background), so this reminded me of a lot of conversations (a part of as well as overheard) and friends. If you're Black you will likely recognize many of these phrases or variations on them. If this is entirely new to you, you will hopefully come away with an appreciation for the richness of AVEE as a language.

One of the fascinating, and important, aspects of this book is how it illustrates the way languages change, borrowing from nearby languages, changing things to better express ideas within their own cultures. From a couple of phrases derived from centuries old phrases to ones that have been incorporated (and unfortunately often coopted rather than a more natural osmosis) into other forms of contemporary English.

In addition to the wonderful way these entries were written, the reader is also guided toward, as I mentioned before, a better appreciation of language in general and AAVE in particular. Maybe everyone can stop being judgmental about which language one uses to express one's ideas and focus more on the ideas being expressed, and one of the first steps in that direction is respect for languages you may not generally speak.

Reviewed from a copy made available by the publisher via NetGalley.

I’ve listened to the author previously on a few podcasts, and this read was recommended on one of my faves. I really enjoyed hearing their story and especially learning more about all the films and shows (and people) I wasn’t familiar with; they do a wonderful job breaking down the history and all the good and bad represented in these works as well.

We See Each Other: A Black, Trans Journey Through TV and Film by Tre'vell Anderson is both a personal story of their coming to understand who they are as well as a very good example of how to both appreciate and critique popular culture.

I hope that people who might feel isolated or questioning about who they are will read this book. It will not only show them that no one's alone in the world, even at those times when it most feels like it, but that even the cultural images we see don't have to be, and shouldn't be, taken at face value.

It is in how Anderson looks back at the history of popular culture that anyone who studies it, formally or informally, can learn some valuable lessons. One of the most difficult things I found when I was actively studying and teaching in WGS was in understanding the importance of both keeping the texts we analyze in their societal context while also critiquing their place in our time. This is, basically, the difference between criticizing and critiquing. It is very easy, and largely pointless, to criticize older texts for things that the creators perhaps didn't even have the words or concepts to do differently. Critiquing allows one to give a nod to how it seemed at the time while also pointing out where we can now understand how it fell short by our current standards. It is grappling with these problematic texts, what Anderson calls "problemasia" with the texts, where we can both better understand the past and make strides for a better future.

In addition to the serious elements of the book, it is also fun to read. You will want to go back and revisit some of these works with a new perspective or take in some works you may never have seen. Most important, I think, is how we can then actively engage any film or TV we view from now on.

Highly recommended for anyone with an interest in the intersection of art and society, even if your main interest isn't Black and/or trans.

Reviewed from a copy made available by the publisher via NetGalley.