Black Language Matters: Exploring Afrocentric and "Ghetto" Vernacular as Cultural Power
Date: Tuesday, August 25, 2026 - 9:00 am - 12:15 pm EST (3 hours)
Presenter: Dwayne Buckingham, Ph.D., LCSW-C, BCD, CCTP
Synopsis: Language is more than communication—it is culture, identity, survival, and resistance. Yet Black language, particularly Afrocentric expressions, and so-called "ghetto" vernacular, is frequently misunderstood, stigmatized, or dismissed as unprofessional, improper, or inferior. These judgments are not neutral. They are shaped by historical power dynamics, racial bias, and respectability politics. This interactive 3-hour workshop invites participants to critically examine Black language as a living, adaptive, and culturally rich system rooted in African traditions, enslavement-era survival strategies, and contemporary Black creativity. Participants will explore African American Vernacular English (AAVE) and Afrocentric language without judgment, deficit framing, or mockery, while gaining a deeper understanding of how language functions as identity affirmation, community bonding, resistance, and liberation.

Register here.