The ‘Nitty Gritty’ Behind These Phrases That Have Racist Origins

Black History Year

PushBlack

History, Society & Culture

4.3 • 2.1K Ratings

🗓️ 1 March 2025

⏱️ 3 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

It's pretty wild to think about how the language we use daily can be traced back to some messed-up stuff. We use many of these words so casually that we don’t even notice. How many of these words have you used? _____________ 2-Minute Black History is produced by PushBlack, the nation's largest non-profit Black media company. PushBlack exists to amplify the stories of Black history you didn't learn in school. You make PushBlack happen with your contributions at BlackHistoryYear.com — most people donate $10 a month, but every dollar makes a difference. If this episode moved you, share it with your people! Thanks for supporting the work. The production team for this podcast includes Cydney Smith, Len Webb, and Lilly Workneh. Our editors are Lance John and Avery Phillips from Gifted Sounds Network. Julian Walker serves as executive producer." To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0	Ready to launch your business? Get started with the commerce platform made for entrepreneurs. Shopify is specially designed to help you start, run and grow your business with easy customizable themes that let you build your brand, marketing tools that get your products out there. Integrated shipping solutions that actually save you time. From startups to scaleups, online, in person, and on the go. Shopify is made for
0:22.8	entrepreneurs like you. Sign up for your $1 a month trial at Shopify.com slash setup.
0:32.6	It's pretty wild to think about how the language we use every day can be traced back to some messed up stuff.
0:41.2	We use many of these words so casually that we don't even notice.
0:44.9	How many of these words have you used?
0:47.8	I'm Len, and this is two-minute black history.
0:50.5	What you didn't learn in school.
0:53.0	Folks have been saying things for generations without a second thought.
0:56.8	Interestingly, though, many words and phrases were meant to cut us down.
1:01.4	Here are some examples.
1:17.3	Thank you. Uppity. In the Jim Crow South,
1:19.7	upity, black folks, didn't know their place.
1:23.4	In other words, they refused to act the way white people wanted them to.
1:28.7	Nitty gritty.
1:30.2	When you get down to the nitty gritty of things, you're getting down to some nasty racism.
1:37.8	It's believed that the initial use of the word is connected to the filth found at the bottom of slave ships after the enslaved were removed.
1:46.7	This doesn't come as a surprise given the horrific conditions the enslaved were forced to endure.
1:51.9	Not seeing color. This phrase is a dog whistle way for white folks to say that their issue wasn't
2:00.7	with someone black but with
2:02.9	behavior yet their issues always seem to be with black people and people of color
2:10.0	it's always a best practice to be mindful of the words and phrases we use especially those
2:17.0	we use for ourselves.
	...

Transcript will be available on the free plan in 16 days. Upgrade to see the full transcript now.

Previous episode | Next episode

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from PushBlack, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of PushBlack and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.