Shuckin & Jivin…come Play The Dozens…it`s A Cakewalk…stop Woffin And Don`t Be A Cooter….. Poem by Melvina Germain

Shuckin & Jivin is terminology that creates a bit of controversy which dates back and even that creates question whether it's the thirties or prior. Matters not however, it is an African American term which was used by slaves back in the day to create a scene that would diffuse conflict. Shuckin & Jivin, acting the fool, dancing for the man and so on. Also the creation of lies, wearing masks, all sorts of situations could bring on shuckin & jivin.

Due to that offensive implication such today still creates a bad taste for some Black people as they become quite irate when observing such actions by their brothers and sisters. We had a slightly heated conversation yesterday regarding this particular terminology and it was in reference to what my girlfriend, Marlene calls, "The Happy Dance", hmmm nice title for a poem.

To my friend Marlene, shuckin & Jivin on the football field is a happy dance when a score is being made by either a White person or Black but to some of the Black race it is considered shuckin & jivin. I call it "freedom of expression" I scored, look at me, I'm dancing and I'm happy. What's wrong with that, no no no that's not a good way to be states my friend, he says we ought to make that goal and walk away like a gentleman. Really? No happy dance, why not…

Well now, if you shuck & jive, then perhaps that uppity person renders you a fool, dancing for the man. Let me tell you, I find that observation in itself extremely cruel, judging a person on expressing happiness, what the heck is that. Ohhh and I used the word uppity, ouuu did I really say that. Now I suppose I could be considered shuckin & jivin by perhaps insulting a person who considers themselves ranking higher than most. Should I tell it like it is, nah I`m moving on.

I don`t think we have any cooters here, careful now Melvina, you`re walking on Black ice. I found our conversation very interesting yesterday and thought, we really are hard on each other in our expectations of what to do and what not to do. Why are some people trying so hard to please others, if you know what`s right and what`s wrong, what makes you happy and what does not, why do you care so much about what others think of you. I love myself, I act the way I want, I stopped caring a long time ago about what others think and perhaps I never did care. As a child, I was often asked that question and the answer was always the same.

We have a game, especially in America called ``The Dozens`` usually played by men but now some women also like to play. It`s a game of insults and it continues on until an opponent no longer has a come back. Well now, some most definitely do find that African American game offensive. Why…the game is usually played using an adversary's family member, often a mother or other member. It`s the `yo mama syndrome. Yo mama so big, the cement block tilts when she walks on it, well yo mama so fat, two ton Tesse couldn`t haul her around, oh yeah..yo mama so ugggly, she`s afraid to look in the mirror. You get the idea, I dare say some will find that offensive, but that's the dozens and we own it, I`m smiling large. This game was developed to stop the violence and create verbal sparring instead... woofin. Everybody knew it was all in fun and all that was expressed was a lie about that family member. They walked away with no physical harm.

Sarah Palin referred to Obama as shuckin & jivin, she was calling him a liar and many considered it a racist comment. If one doesn't know what they're talking about, maybe it`s best just to be quiet and leave certain things where they belong.

Canadian Black people are not savvy to a lot of the American terminology and I for one had no idea what cakewalk meant. When I received a note from my Grandson`s school asking me to participate in a cakewalk, I thought that would be a lot of fun. I made up eight ``4 Happy face`` cakes and had my girlfriend make another four. All the cakes were placed as prizes, a fun deal. As of late, I learn that cakewalk was a dance in the late 19th century and performed at a get together where slaves would so call…set de flo…Cakes were the prizes for the best promenade or march. Black couples with the most intricate steps would win a cake.

If you use the term cakewalk, it may also be considered a racist remark. For example, that was a cakewalk for you wasn`t it…in other words it was easy to win, meaning that`s the only way you could win. For the most part, that`s exactly how it was meant in the U.S. but in Canada, most of us had no idea what it meant. I thought it was a fun deal and for us at the school that`s what it was, we were all involved. I know what some thought might be, but I`m not going there.

That`s enough for today, `woofin by the way simply means lying or joking around and cooter means…turtle-slow…..

Written by: Melvina Germain
Date: Dec.29/2015