ShowBlack American English

Black English, also known as African American Vernacular English (AAVE) or African American Language (AAL), refers to language shared by many Black Americans. It is not merely slang, although its speakers may use slang, nor is it bad or broken English. It diverges from common English in predictable, rules-based ways, influenced by origin, contact, community, and settlement.

Celery

Palmer-Housing

Among some African-Americans, the term palmer-housing means, “walking with an unusual gait.” A screenwriter connects some dots in his own family’s history when he asks about the origin. This is part of a complete episode.