Date: Thu, 6 Nov 1997 09:07:49 -0500

From: Jim Crotty Monkmag[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]AOL.COM

Subject: Re: "it's all good"



In a message dated 11/5/97 7:04:57 AM, you wrote:



As with much slang that eventually enters mainstream usage, "It's all

good" originated in the African American community about four years ago....



By odd coincidence, actually, I just heard the phrase used in real life

(whatever that is...!) for the first time this morning, on the subway in

Manhattan, from a young male about 20 or so (who seemed primarily of Asian

not of African descent, though that says absolutely nothing about the

phrase's origin of course -- I did see the generalized citation stating AAVE

origin that was posted yesterday). Quite openly and at some length, he was

explaining to a young woman, with vivid examples, that he and his current

namorada bicker a lot etc. etc. etc., "but hey, it's all good," and then he

was off like a shot onto another topic.



Perhaps he's what might termed a "yo boy" or a "wigga"--a non-black person

imitating the speech, mores, and gestures of black men, often black rap stars

and "b-boys." As I note in How To Talk American, lots of so-called "black

talk," and especially black rap talk, has migrated beyond that culture.



Coo?