Down Low in African-American and Caucasian Communities
August 2, 2010
Professor Dr. Kristen Cole
Psychology 137
San Diego City College
“down low” in African-American and Caucasian Communities
The usage of “down low” can have various definitions such as a heterosexual male having an affair with another woman, or keeping one’s business to his self. “The acronym DL means keep secret or hidden for teenagers in the United States, and for African Americans means in a clandestine, or sneaky manner. Adjective related to the noun low down, which means privileged information, or intimate details.” (qtd. in Gonzalez pg. 29) “Down low noun meaning information, explanation, events used as in “what the down low?” or “let me in on the down low.” (qtd. In Gonzalez pg. 29) “Down low can also relate to the noun low down the facts and the synonym the haps, things that are happening.” (Gonzalez 29)
However, today within the African American community it is the connotation described in “Paul Baker’s Fantabulosa: a Dictionary of Polari and Gay Slang published in London defines DL as the initials of down low and an adjective slang referring to Black men who appear heterosexual in public, but have gay sex.” (qtd. Gonzalez pg. 29) Because of the fact “down low” carries so many different definitions up until 2008 people just thought of the male as being secretive or being in control of his business and not allowing anyone to know just what he was doing. (Sandfort & Dodge 2008, pg 676) The not allowing anyone to know what he was doing is a very true statement.
The African American community adopted the term in the 1990’s. Found in research “It has been suggested that ethnic minority men see the gay culture in the United States as a White, and sometimes also as a “feminine,” phenomenon, which is difficult for them to identify with.” (Sandfort & Dodge 2008, pg 677) When a man is on the down low, he believes having sexual intercourse with a male is not a homosexual act because he also continues to have sexual
Professor Dr. Kristen Cole
Psychology 137
San Diego City College
“down low” in African-American and Caucasian Communities
The usage of “down low” can have various definitions such as a heterosexual male having an affair with another woman, or keeping one’s business to his self. “The acronym DL means keep secret or hidden for teenagers in the United States, and for African Americans means in a clandestine, or sneaky manner. Adjective related to the noun low down, which means privileged information, or intimate details.” (qtd. in Gonzalez pg. 29) “Down low noun meaning information, explanation, events used as in “what the down low?” or “let me in on the down low.” (qtd. In Gonzalez pg. 29) “Down low can also relate to the noun low down the facts and the synonym the haps, things that are happening.” (Gonzalez 29)
However, today within the African American community it is the connotation described in “Paul Baker’s Fantabulosa: a Dictionary of Polari and Gay Slang published in London defines DL as the initials of down low and an adjective slang referring to Black men who appear heterosexual in public, but have gay sex.” (qtd. Gonzalez pg. 29) Because of the fact “down low” carries so many different definitions up until 2008 people just thought of the male as being secretive or being in control of his business and not allowing anyone to know just what he was doing. (Sandfort & Dodge 2008, pg 676) The not allowing anyone to know what he was doing is a very true statement.
The African American community adopted the term in the 1990’s. Found in research “It has been suggested that ethnic minority men see the gay culture in the United States as a White, and sometimes also as a “feminine,” phenomenon, which is difficult for them to identify with.” (Sandfort & Dodge 2008, pg 677) When a man is on the down low, he believes having sexual intercourse with a male is not a homosexual act because he also continues to have sexual
References: Boykin, Keith. (2006). Down Low. Retrieved July 28, 2010 www.keithboykin.com/arch/2006/05/23/the |Denizet-Lewis, Benoit. (2006) Get Out of My Closet Can you be white and “on the Down Low”. | |Slate Retrieved July 30, 2010 | | | |González, M Alfredo. (2007) |Identity in Public Health. Latino Studies, 5(1), 25-52. Retrieved July 30, 2010, | |from ABI/INFORM Global |Retrieved July 26, 2010, from Ashford Online Library http://muse.jhu.edu/journals/eservice_journal/v005/5.2gallant.html | | |