The DEA Is Looking For “Ebonics Translators,” Dylan Ratigan Helps With Ebonics Translation Test

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by Jon Bershad | 7:24 pm, August 25th, 2010

» 19 comments

Do you want to see two respected journalists argue over the definition of “bling bling?” If so, then you’re in luck! Earlier this week, the truly strange story that the DEA was actively looking to hire nine “Ebonics translators” hit the headlines. Dylan Ratigan brought on the Washington Post’s Jonathan Capehart, who had written about the subject previously, to discuss the serious implications of this like whether or not Ebonics is an actual language. Don’t worry, though. That serious talk only lasted like half a second. Then it was time for what we were all waiting for: Ebonics Translating Test!

Yes, it was as wonderfully train wreck-esque as you’d imagine two well-educated, grown men describing what “frontin’” means would be. And, really, with a story this bizarre, what else can you expect? I’m not surprised that knowledge of street slang is an incredibly important part of DEA work but, if audiences of The Wire can suss out most Baltimore drug euphemisms in a couple of episodes, could it really be that hard to find someone capable of translating?

Anyway, kudos to Capehart who gets a respectable score on the test (although I could have gotten most of them and I’m about as far from “the street” as an airplane). And kudos to both he and Ratigan for linking to one of the funniest movie scenes ever.

Watch the MSNBC segment below:

dylan ratigan, Jonathan Capehart, The Dylan Ratigan Show, Washington Post

NORBIT

What’s next in the REGRESSION CHAIN? – GRUNTS!!!
Big Eddie

Katty Kay is more ” street ” than Capehart . …Big Eddie is down with that .
timzank

I seriously couldn’t get past the first sentence “Do you want to see two respected journalists argue over the definition of “bling bling?”

It was the “respected journalists” part that made me spit coffee all over my keyboard.
http://gordonbloyershow.com gordonbloyershow

He be jokin.
juan

The New Black Panther Party is probably helping them!
Big Eddie

Yo . Some peeps be wantin’ to ax Jesse J. ‘ bout da mox in the Groun’ Z. ‘ hood . … Big Al ? Tony-tone Weiner ? Chuckie Schumer ? Step up , bloods .
NORBIT

Is it this now the Official Language of the Democratic Party?
Dosser

I got Palin’s number,give me a call.I don’t know if my local ‘wiggers’ will understand her though,Heck! It’s worth a try right???
Thelonious Funk

I refudiate Ebonics.
Dosser

Thelonious Funk said:
I refudiate Ebonics.

Peaceful black people,pls refudiate ebonics.
Greg

NORBIT said:
What’s next in the REGRESSION CHAIN? – GRUNTS!!!

Ebonics is no more regressive than Appalachian white dialect… Your reflex to attack is predictable…
Dosser

“Appalachian white dialect”???

Is that what the de’facto leader of the teatwits,Sarah ‘refudiate’ Palin,speaks???
Help me out here,I’m just a Yankee..
Greg

Dosser said:
“Appalachian white dialect”???

Is that what the de’facto leader of the teatwits,Sarah ‘refudiate’ Palin,speaks???
Help me out here,I’m just a Yankee..

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Appalachian_English
Azarkhan

Sounded like two white men having a discussion about ebonics.
jk76

Dosser said:
Peaceful black people,pls refudiate ebonics.

good shit, think i pissed my pants
jk76

media been throwing it out there for a few days, beginning to think it was looking for someone to stick their foot in their mouth by being ‘racist’
Sean68

Affirmative action by other means.
NORBIT

WHERE’S THE ED SHULTZ STORY?

Page Six has a lead story on how the Sarge LOST IT, for being shunned by execs in favor of Olbermann & Maddow!

First he threw a Screaming Fit at the Studio, then NBC Brass called him into the office, and HE WHIMPERED & CRIED, like a little Sissy-Boy! – in fact, just like Olberman did when Donnie Deutch criticized him!!! LOL!!

I mean, it’s getting pathetic over there at NBC! —– Are there no Men left?
It seems that out of the three Axis-of-Evil Hosts at msnbc , Maddow’s got the Biggest Balls!!
LOL!!
———————————————-
11-02-10 —- Purge the Democrats!
anderson100

This is for Dylan Ratigan,

If you are who you say you are report this!

Here is a good article on tea party financing.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/29/opinion/29rich.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=tea%20party%20koch&st=cse

Bill Anderson