Includes bibliographical references (p. [151]-160) and index.

Includes discography.

1. African American Language: So good it's bad -- 2. Words and Expressions, Proverbs and Familiar Sayings -- 3. The N-words -- 4. Honeyz and Playaz Talkin that Talk -- 5. "I used to love H.E.R.": Hip Hop, in its Essence and Real -- 6. "All Around the World, Same Song" -- 7. "Negro Dialect, the Last Barrier to Integration"?

"Word from the Mother presents a definitive statement on African American Language (AAL) from the internationally respected linguist, Geneva Smitherman. Her message is clear: all Americans, regardless of cultural background, must appreciate the linguistic conventions and richness of AAL if they are to participate in society as informed citizens." "Illuminated by Geneva Smitherman's evocative and inimitable writing style, the work gives an overview of past debates on the speech of African Americans and provides a vision for the future. The author explores the contributions of AAL to mainstream American English, and includes a list of idioms and expressions as a suggested linguistic core of AAL." "As global manifestations of Black Language increase, Geneva Smitherman argues that, through education, we must broaden our conception of AAL and its speakers, and examine the implications of gender, age and class on AAL. Most of all, we must appreciate the artistic and linguistic genius of AAL, presented in this book through Hip Hop song lyrics and the rhyme and rhetoric of the Black speech community." "Word from the Mother is an essential read for students of African American speech, language and culture and sociolinguistics, as well as the general reader interested in the worldwide "crossover" of Black Popular Culture. Book jacket."--BOOK JACKET.