A crudely made “Ghetto Handbook” distributed by a Houston school district police officer has sparked angry words from district leaders and residents both because of its language and the fact that no action was taken for three months, reports the Houston Chronicle. “This publication was completely reprehensible,” said school superintendent Abelardo Saavedra.
The officer who handed it out in May was suspended with pay this week. Officials ordered him to attend diversity training. The eight-page handout purports to offer definitions that will enable a reader to speak Ebonics “as if you just came out of the hood.” Ebonics is a nonstandard variety of English spoken by some black Americans. The definitions include such terms as “foty: a 40-ounce bottle of beer”; “aks: to ask a question”; and “hoodrat: scummy girl.” The booklet, subtitled “Wucha dun did now?,” was handed out at a May 23 roll call.
Link: http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/5097092.html