Black British Accent

[NurseButtercup]

www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/jan/10/black-british-ivy-league-university-london-accent

This article gave me a huge sense of relief, almost like a burden has been lifted.

I haven't been overseas since 2019, but my experience was until I opened my mouth, people assumed I was either American or from one of the African countries. And then I was asked to repeat certain words & phrases for the amusement of the person making the request.

I lived in the US about 15 years ago for 6 months (my company sent me there), and I too got accused of faking my accent. It was so bizarre!

@Starseeking
Really strange

When I was in USA people kept asking me to say 'Would you like a cup of tea?'

Friends & relatives would also fall about laughing at the way I pronounced 'Walk'. To be fair I also laughed as they pronounced it 'Warrk'. All good banter.

Yes! The article rings so true. On my honeymoon on NYC so many African Americans mocked my accent and insisted it was fake. 😳 I thought it was common knowledge that there are loads of Black British people, especially in London.

In my experience, 'British accent' to the average American = The Queen, White person, high tea and crumpets, 'ello guv'nor, aristocracy, Upper class.

Regular British people or anyone who doesn't fit into these stereotypes takes some getting used to - and for some, not at all.

Reminds me of some funny short videos on YouTube about this, made by British people about their experience in the US.

I thought it was common knowledge that there are loads of Black British people, especially in London.

Not really. I’m American and most of the British shows and movies that became popular when I lived there rarely had anyone that wasn’t white even as a supporting character and most of those that they make a version of there is usually a handful of minorities in the cast but most Americans wouldn’t be aware that it was based off a British show unless they looked it up.

Add in that many Black British actors on American shows and movies speak with an American accent and it isn’t revealed that they are British until they accept an award or are heard in an interview it tends to be a shock but since it’s a handful it can be easily forgotten. Idris Elba was a major shock for many people I know and more so that he was a musician. I didn’t know Cush Jumbo was British until I saw her on Vera and had only seen her before on “The Good Fight”.

In Florida (outside of the main cities), we got stopped twice by African American women. Both were pleasant encounters. One was an older lady in McDonald's who'd overheard my (quite posh sounding) nephew order his food. She complimented him, said she'd not yet met a black person who spoke with a British accent, then asked us all about our travels.

Another time we were in Dollar Tree (a guilty pleasure 😁) and a young woman stopped us after hovering around a bit to listen to us talk. She was sweet, and asked cultural questions, like, if it was true that black Brits drank a lot of tea too (MIL and I were the guilty ones in the group).

A bit off topic but reminds me of when an African American friend of mine was studying drama in the UK for sometime. He came across Eastenders and was surprised that this was so popular. Although he thought it was good representation He honestly seemed confused when he compared our soaps to the US soaps which are usually of families who are professionals, lovely big houses, well groomed adults and articulate children etc.