The Black impact: Code-switching - Online

This workshop is open to everyone, with a specific focus on the experiences of Black students. 

Have you ever caught yourself switching or changing your tone or how you speak depending on who you're surrounded by? Do you only feel comfortable using African American Vernacular English or AAVE with Black folks in your community and attempt to use a more non-threatening tone with white folks?

The act of codeswitching can feel exhausting for Black folks and is often a conscious or unconscious act that Black people engage in as a means of being perceived positively with inner or outer groups. Because we all want to feel a sense of inclusion and belonging and avoid stereotypical labels that impact us, it can be difficult to grapple with constantly shifting your voice, tone and/or language to fit the context you're in.  

Learning Objectives: 

• Gaining an understanding about how codeswitching is defined 
•  Being better able to identify codeswitching in your personal experiences and signs that you are engaging in codeswitching 
•  Understanding how codeswitching can be harmful to the mental health and well-being of Black people and other minority groups

Facilitator:  Myrlie Marcelin, Khan Bouba-Dalambaye