Part I: When Cornbread becomes Code-Switching
If you’re a Person of Color reading this article, you might have a personal anecdote of either yourself or one of your parents engaging in code switching.
I can recall the time when I first witnessed my dad code switching. He was known for doing what he referred to as talking ‘cornbread’. It was his way of saying “Don’t talk down to people or make them feel bad for not knowing something you already know. Keep things simple and easy to understand.”
This was dad’s take on the street slang, ‘keeping it real.’ He took pride in always speaking in this straightforward, ‘cornbread’ manner. So, you can imagine my shock when, at the age of eight, I first saw him on the phone with a white man, code switching.
It was a stark contrast to the father I knew.
Code switching – that’s what my dad was doing: attempting to imitate what he thought a white person sounded like. His manner of speaking was out of the ordinary, his words pronounced in a manner that was unfamiliar to me. His facial expressions were strained, as if he were performing in a Broadway show.
Afterwards, he would exhibit such anger and frustration that his reaction made it crystal clear to me that he deeply resented having to code-switch. Without witnessing his reaction, I might have grown up thinking this was perfectly normal. This episode taught me that although code switching is widespread, it’s not natural for us.
We often talk about Black people code switching, but now it’s important to understand why white people engage in it too. Of course, what I’m going to share may surprise you, and even evoke feelings of discomfort or self-betrayal, much like my dad experienced.
“How does such a mindset become a daily habit?”
Nowadays, we understand that my dad’s idea of imitating a white man was a construct in his mind. But the real question is, how did the construct get into his mind? How does a highly intelligent, unique individual like my dad come to believe that being his true self wasn’t the best choice? How does such a mindset become a daily habit? The answer is survival!
What’s even more astounding is understanding how this racialized programming designed to intentionally cultivate self-doubt in people of color, ironically enough, ends up doing the same thing to white people.
Consider what messages white people have been receiving for the past one hundred years. Now, think about the messages they have been receiving about people of color. How have white people been depicted in the media compared to people of color?
Depending on what stage you are in your growth process you may or may not be able see this for yourself. You may still be racially unconscious. For example, white women were portrayed in media as beautiful and elegant. However, Black women, were at the bottom of the racial caste system and depicted as ugly and loud.
Just to be clear, the idea of talking like a ‘white person’ isn’t real. Understand that the so-called ‘white person’ that a person of color tries to imitate doesn’t exist. There isn’t a one-size-fits-all white person.
My dad wasn’t mimicking a real white guy; he was acting on what he’d been socialized to believe about white people. He was reacting to a program that painted white people as the pinnacle of success.
Most people below white people on the racial hierarchy often sought to emulate white people, as a survival strategy and to unconsciously prove they’re worthy of acceptance.
Why Do White People Code Switch?
So, the big question is, why do white people code switch? Are they also stuck in survival mode, trying to secretly prove they’re good enough too?
Consider what messages white people have been receiving for the past one hundred years and how it has contributed to the spread of imposter syndrome. Now, think about the messages they have received about people of color. Historically speaking, how have white people been depicted in the media compared to people of color?
For example, white women were portrayed in the media as the standard of beauty and elegance. However, Black women, at the bottom of the racial hierarchy have historically been depicted as unattractive and angry.
What sort of distortions has this created in white people’s own view of themselves and the way they relate to people of color? People of color aren’t the only ones trying to reclaim their authentic voice.
And so, the question we must answer is – how do were cover our true voice, regardless of our race?This question and so many others, we shall explore in part two and three of this article series.
For those of you who have questions about part one, or you would just like to share a healthy dialogue on the subject please email me at mahdi@soulfocusedgroup.com or share your thoughts and make comments on instagram, facebook or LinkedIn. I look forward to having a meaningful discussion for overcoming impostor syndrome and taking back our authentic selves.
About Mahdi
For those unfamiliar with me, I am Berwick Mahdi Davenport, CEO, and co-founder of the Soul Focused Group. Our company, a solution based educational consultancy, is dedicated to fostering personal growth through reverse engineering the purpose of racism, which is to divide and conquer.
Our approach brings people together by teaching organizations how to cultivate Human Solidarity through Self Solidarity first, which strengthens leadership, elevates emotional intelligence, improves retention rates, cultivates psychologically safe environments and capitalizes on the benefits of diversity without all the negative side effects.
Over the past three decades, this work has enriched me, thanks to the thousands of brilliant minds like yours that I’ve had the privilege of engaging with. My focus on code switching stems from its immense potential in empowering us all and disrupting the pervasive influence of racism.
When we stop being “fake” we can unleash the power that comes from being REAL. To discover more about the Human Solidarity Project (HSP) approach visit our website and check out our blog and podcasts.