Accent on the Fake : Palin's Folkiness Vs. Realness and Race

Tue07Oct2008

Accent on the Fake : Palin's Folkiness Vs. Realness and Race

12:17 H | Topics: Education - Language - Politics - Race - US Presidential Race 2008 - Women

Is the way Sarah Palin speaks related to her upbringing? Her class? her education? Her race? Is it cute? Does it appeal to you or or your neighbor? Does it make you feel like she is like you?

Pero what if Barack Obama had an accent? What if he threw in a few slang phrases and gestures into his speeches? Would he be judged the same way? Would people in the "hood" say: damn, that man is like me. I'm gonna vote for him". Would he be accused of being fake when he code-switched, changing his tone and style depending on the audience, a necessary tool of survival for most people of color?

There have been accusations that criticizing the veracity of Palin's accent, it's "realness" if you will, is sexist. And I wonder if Obama had an accent or veered into what has been called "folkiness", would people call it racist? Would it be criticized as "ghetto" and would calling that labeling racist be taken seriously or dismissed as pulling the race card?

Via / Firedoglake

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1. Ed Szewczyk ~ Monday, Oct 13 2008 | 15:17H:

There's a 5 minute recording of Palin answering questions on the phone about the recent report on her attempts to get her brother-in-law fired, which is available on the ABC News web site. It is notable not only for Palin's rather eccentric interpretation of the finding that she violated Alaska's ethics laws, but also because she betrays nary a trace of the funky Fargo accent. Do ya think she may just be puttin' us all on a little bit? You betcha!

2. Lindalo ~ Wednesday, Oct 29 2008 | 14:02H:

I lived in Alaska for TWELVE YEARS and I never came across ANYONE that had an accent like that - especially those born and raised there.

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