The Effects of Black English on Stereotyping in Intraracial Perceptions

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Abstract
This study hypothesized that as middle-class African Americans integrate more towards the mainstream of American culture, their perceptions of those African Americans who use Black English (BE) will be more negative than previously believed. A random sample of 38 Black undergraduate students from a predominantly White university served as subjects for the purpose of exploring intraracial perceptions among African American college students toward individuals who spoke BE versus those who spoke Standard English (SE). It was found that African Americans perceived same race SE speakers as more competent and more likeable than same race BE speakers in similar situations. These results raise questions conceming the role of BE among upwardly mobile African American college students.