SWITCHIN’ UP: THE EFFECT OF CODE-SWITCHING ON BLACK PROFESSIONALS IN PREDOMINANTLY WHITE ORGANIZATIONS

Abstract

This study explored how highly educated Black professionals holding at least a four-year degree view use of African American Vernacular English (AAVE) in relation to their ethnic identity. Additionally, the study investigated whether code-switching impacts participants’ organizational identification or their connectedness to ethnic identity. Through interviews, I uncovered that although 3 of 12 participants indicated that use of AAVE felt natural to them, 6 participants use it infrequently or not at all. Surprisingly, using Standard American English (SAE) had little to no effect on most participants’ feelings of connectedness to their ethnic identity. This research also uncovered that though all participants may not code-switch verbally, they may still do so behaviorally. Also, participants expressed feeling pressure to be perfect as they believe they are held as an exemplification of the entire Black community. However, some were willing to code-switch and take on the pressure to elevate their rank within their respective organizations to create more opportunities for incoming Black professionals. Finally, I found that participants did not describe AAVE as a major part of their ethnic identity, code-switching does not impact their connectedness to their ethnic identity and organizational identification (OI) is not impacted by code-switching.