Dictionary of Black Slang (1972)

[quevola]

I thought the following is quite amusing and wanted to share it with you "Cats".

My mother was hired as a teacher's aid for a middle school in Inglewood, CA shortly after arriving from Cuba in 1972. Her orientation packet included a "Dictionary of Black Slang" that she was required to study and then pass a quiz within a few weeks of hire.

I recently found the guide in her basement - here is a small example of some of the questions and slang terms from the guide. Makes you realize how politically correct we've become over the past 35 years.

- If a man is called a "Blood," than he is a
(a) Fighter
(b) Mexican-American
(c) Negro
(d) Hungry hemophile
(e) Warlock

- If a judge finds you guilty of "holding weed" (in California), what's the most he can give you?
(a) Indeterminate (life)
(b) A nickel
(c) A dime
(d) A year in County
(e) $500.00

- "Here come the pigs" means
(a) Times are getting hard
(b) The candy man checked out
(c) The police are coming
(d) Something smells funny
(e) I'll blow you away

- The opposite of square is
(a) Round
(b) Up
(c) Down
(d) Hip
(e) Lame

- A "handkerchief head" is
(a) A cool cat
(b) a porter
(c) An racist term for black people
(d) a Murphy Man
(e) A preacher

- If a dude is up tight with a woman who gets state aid, what does he mean when he talks about "Mothers Day?"
(a) Second Sunday in May
(b) Third Sunday in June
(c) None of these
(e) First and fifteenth of every month

Slang Terms

"A light game" - A lie that doesn't have much chance of being believed.

"Be cool while you're still livin" - Holding your temper

"Boy" - Used affectionately between persons of the same race, but is considered negative by a person of another race.

"Break it down" - Come down to a level where I can understand it.

"CPT" - Colored people's time - usually later than the scheduled time.

"Faye" - White person.

"Give me five" - Handshake.

"Heavy" - Refers to a person who is very intelligent.

"*****" - A negative expression towards a white person.

"Jive" - Information that is not considered to be worth much.

"Moses" - Dumb Black person.

"Skag" - Refers to an unattractive girl.

"TCB" - Taking care of business.

"To get a case or a beef 8" - To have been in jail and charged and you're going in and out of court.

"Woofin" - Talking bad.

 

[MetroStyles]

I plan on incorporating several of these into my daily lexicon. Thanks.

 

[Slopho]

I wasted my time and took this test without scrolling down because I thought that the answers would be at the bottom.

Also, you can get most of this stuff from either Iceberg Slim (Trick Baby is my favorite) or Donald Goines books.

 

[Sherlockian]

If I study for the test, will I be able to understand those two Jive-talkers from Airplane?

 

[quevola]

Originally Posted by Slopho

I wasted my time and took this test without scrolling down because I thought that the answers would be at the bottom.

Also, you can get most of this stuff from either Iceberg Slim (Trick Baby is my favorite) or Donald Goines books.

How long did it take you to read the six questions and do you really need a answer key?

I'm sure there are better urban dictionaries on the net - what I found interesting that this was required knowledge to work in a urban middle school 37 years ago.