In a failed attempt to be helpful, a social media marketing company, SocialBee, completely missed the mark. The company published a blog providing readers with a list of words that could assist in reaching their desired social audience.

The blog was titled “How Can You Write Better Copy to Appeal to Gen Z Humor.” The blog and social post were removed by SocialBee, but Black Twitter moves fast.

https://twitter.com/DoctorJonPaul/status/1570073494532280322

Tweet Courtesy of @doctorjonpaul

“The jokes write themselves at this point,” tweeted user @DoctorJonPaul.

The list included the following words and definitions:

Basic (regular, boring)

Bop (a good song)

Boujee (lavish)

Catch them hands (get in a fight with somebody)

Drip (outfit)

Gucci (all good)

No Cap (seriously)

Swole (buff)

Whip (car)

The list included words that are common in African American Vernacular English and not exclusively owned or created by Gen Z.

African American Vernacular English or Black English, controversially known as Ebonics, has a rich history that touches on everything that is Black culture — from linguistics to literature to music, and the words we speak each and every day. Just as with many things in Black culture, appropriation is real, including our slang terms.

And what made the tweet weirder is knowing that SocialBee is a predominantly white company.

The website isn’t any better pic.twitter.com/urlbYdJfHd
— C🍪🍪kie “AITD?” Montague (@AroundTheWayMM) September 15, 2022

Tweet Courtesy of @AroundTheWayMM

In response to @DoctorJonPaul, user @AroundTheWayMM took a deep dive into the company’s website and saw a huge lack of diversity.

African American Vernacular English

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