Date: Thu, 6 Nov 1997 09:07:49 -0500 From: Jim Crotty 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?