The Walls of Jericho · Chapter
An Introduction to Contemporary Harlemese explained
This chapter presents a glossary of Harlemese, the vibrant and inventive slang of Harlem's African American community during the Harlem Renaissance.
What happens
This chapter presents a glossary of Harlemese, the vibrant and inventive slang of Harlem's African American community during the Harlem Renaissance. It defines terms ranging from everyday expressions to those reflecting social dynamics, music, dance, and racial identity, offering a rich linguistic portrait of the era.
Themes in this chapter
Identity and Self-Deception
The glossary reveals a complex system of self-identification and social labeling within the Harlem community, with terms like 'boogy' and its many synonyms reflecting both pride and internalized prejudice.
Power and Control
Terms like 'put one in' and 'put (get, have) the locks on' illustrate the dynamics of power and control in interpersonal and social contexts, including gambling and love affairs.
Resilience and Survival
The language of Harlemese, with its wit and irony, serves as a tool for survival and resilience in the face of social and economic challenges, as seen in expressions like 'catch air' and 'bring mud.'
Key passages
“boogy Negro. A contraction of 'Booker T.,' used only of and by members of the race.”
The term 'boogy' is a slang word for a Black person, derived from 'Booker T.' and used exclusively within the Black community.
This entry highlights the in-group usage of racial terms.
“fay ofay A person who, so far as is known, is white.”
'Fay' or 'ofay' refers to a white person, as far as one can tell.
This term reflects the racial distinctions of the era.
“jive Pursuit in love or any device thereof. Usually flattery with intent to win. Capture. In either sense this word implies passing fancy, hence, deceit.”
'Jive' means the act of pursuing love, often through flattery intended to win someone over, but it also implies a fleeting fancy and thus deceit.
This definition captures the dual nature of romantic pursuit in Harlemese.