EXPLAINING THE AWKWIFINA EFFECT: USIING THE BLACCENT FOR FUN AND PROFIT

Shang Chi and the Ten Rings hit Disney + last week and with it renewed conversations about Awkwifina and how she profited mightily on a persona that capitalized on Black coolness coding, language and swagger propelling her career to recognized one-name status. But Awkwifina isn't the first and probably won't be the last to discover and exploit the use of African American colloquial vernacular, i.e., the blaccent to promote a sense of savvy or coolness; or dare we say... an attenuated coonery? Who uses the blaccent, who gets away with it, who doesn't and is it ever okay to abandon it once it's lived out it's "usefulness"? Join us to discuss the inner workings of what we'll refer to as "The Awkwifina Effect." https://www.themarysue.com/awkwafina-blaccent-aave/