Don’t Mock How We Talk

Ronda Rich | Dixie Diva

 

There I was, sitting at my desk, writing away, bothering no

one when my phone rang. It was Hollywood calling.

“Hey,” said a friend of ours who is a big-time movie

producer. “I have you on speaker phone and the director of casting is here with

me.”

Now, don’t go getting ahead of me and think they were

calling to offer me a part of some kind. No, they were calling to ask about a

famous friend of mine, whom they wanted to offer a part in a major movie. I was

asked a question and as I began to answer, my “friend” said to me, “Now, speak

where she can understand what you’re saying.” Apparently, he thought he was

cute. {{more}}

I fell dead silent. See, I hate people making fun of the way

I talk. I happen to have a lovely, lyrical accent and I’m proud of it. I bit my

tongue, not because he didn’t deserve a good comeback but because I try to

behave with gracious Southern manners when I am being introduced to someone for

the first time. It’s not because I don’t have a good smart aleck comment tucked

away because I got enough smart aleck in my blood to get me all the way from

Atlanta to New York City, without even stopping to get a hamburger. Sometimes,

though, good manners have to win out over revenge.

Now, remember: I was sitting in my little corner of the

world all the way across the country when theycalled me for help. I wasn’t

thinking, “Gee, I wish someone would call me up and make fun of the way I talk.”

I was minding my own business, being the same sweet girl I always am.

Despite the mocking comment, I was gracious and helpful.

After hanging up the phone, I made a cup of coffee, took myself to the rocker

on the back porch and sat down to have a good think about what had just

happened.

Why do people think it’s acceptable to comment unkindly on

Southern accents? Why in this day of political correctness where every comment

about people of various nationalities, religions and political views are

scrutinized and reprimanded publicly, is it still viewed perfectly fine to joke

about Southern accents? Where are the politically correct police who should be

protecting us? Where are the advocates to spring up and protest on national

television shows, “That is against what America stands for. We celebrate the

diversity of accents and cultures.”

Oh, but no. There is no one to stand up and fight for us. We’re

thrown to the wolves and expected to be gracious because that’s what

Southerners are – gracious to the fault of letting rudeness slide by. Just like

I did and like I often do.

I thought, too, about this: Never once in my entire life

have I ever commented negatively on someone’s accent. I have never been

introduced to someone raised in Boston or Long Island and mimicked their words

back to them or said sarcastically, “Where did that accent come from?” or “Will

you say that again so I can understand?”

If I have ever had difficulty understanding someone’s words,

I always smile sweetly, genuinely and say, “I’m sorry. I didn’t understand. I

hear with a Southern accent.”

Making a comment about a person’s accent during an

introduction is akin to saying, “This is Mary. She’s fat.” Now, if Mary is fat,

the person being introduced can see that. Who would humiliate Mary by pointing

that out?

Later, I explained to my friend in firm words spoken in an

icy Southern accent how I felt about what had happened. He was contrite and

offered a genuine apology. At heart, he is a fine and decent person.

I would tell you what I said to him but I can’t. My preacher

reads this column.

Ronda Rich

is the best-selling author of the forthcoming There’s A Better Day A-Comin’.

Visit www.rondarich.com to sign up for

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