The seeming indifference of whites infuriates blacks. What whites view as aggression, blacks see as passion. And conversation stutters to a standstill. The natural differences in style that stem from cultural or racial identity often are misunderstood, the language experts say. While whites consider interruptions rude, blacks may break into conversations to give verbal affirmation to the speaker.
Church services provide a quick primer on the differences in language styles.
Predominantly white Forest Chapel United Methodist Church and predominantly black Quinn Chapel AME Church are just three-eighths of a mile apart in Forest Park, one of the most racially balanced communities in the Tristate. Yet services at the two churches continue to play out the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.'s observation more than 30 years ago that Sunday morning is the most segregated hour of the week. The crowd at Forest Chapel sits silent during the Scripture readings. Amens follow the end of a prayer, not at an especially good sermon point. A decorum of polite respect prevails.