I’ve attended a number of meetings, where a youngish but not youngster guy has served as a Master of Ceremonies and proceeded to introduce each and every person on the program by saying – “Let’s give it up for…” No variation. Every single person he introduced on the program, at least ten people the last time I heard him, he introduced in the exact same way.
My head felt like it was going to explode. (I am not a person who likes repetition.) Plus he talks loudly (too loudly for my sensitive ears) and enthusiastically (coming across often as fake but that be a tad judgmental on my part).
Please, guy/Mister/brother-man, I implore you. Please stop saying: Let’s give it up. Surely your vocabulary is broader than this. Surely you’re not frozen in your teen and college years where every MC would say, repeatedly, “Let’s give it up for…” And, by the way, you’re not a rapper or hip-hop artist or musician or spoken word artist. You’re not a youngster or inexperienced.
You are a representative of the people. You were elected. You went to college and I expect a little more knowledge…a bit bigger vocabulary or introduction repertoire from you.
Here are some alternatives intros for your consideration:
- Join me in welcoming…
- Congratulations to…for their advocacy, strength, blah-blah-blah.
- Let’s give a round of applause to so-and-so for such-and-such
- The next person/being awarded is…
- I am pleased to recognize…
- Come on up to the podium…
- Put your hands together for (okay, this one sounds a little rapperish)
- How about a warm Black community welcome for…
No more “let’s give it up”…okay? I recognize that cultural catch-phrases must be given proper homage. I suggest you use this over-used/abused phrase one time during an evening, two tops,
Okay?
Thank you, kindly.
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(So much going on in the US of A and the world and there have been too many deaths of people in my friend circle in the last three weeks. I have just not had the energy to post even though I have several posts drafted. Yanking myself forward with this simple and perhaps simplistic post. Thanks for indulging me.)
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No One Comes from Nothing: Stop Saying This!
Cranky, aren’t we?
Sometimes I am cranky. I parked the draft of this post for a few weeks to see if the desire to post it went away. It didn’t so, I posted. Thanks for leaving a comment.
I agree. We’ve reached a time when we, as Black people need to distinguish our intelligence and drop the rhetoric-be expansive on our verbal creativity to reflect an education above the 5th grade. After all, we are NOT 70 year old, wealthy, white males, with a paid-for private education, who want to make America WHITE again.
I’m glad you understand what I was saying. I have been dismayed by the backlash against intelligence and thoughtfulness as well as the desire for leaders to be popular and “down”. I want leaders who are thoughtful and intelligent and caring – throughout our society. Thanks for taking time to leave a comment.
Lana,
I can respect your views and agree that expanding verbal creativity would benefit our society. However using such sarcasm and assuming that all white males have had a ‘paid for’ private education shows a lack of practicing what you preach. If you were truly wanting to sound more intelligent and distinguished you’d refrain from the petty, biased comment at the end of your reply.
I think you misread her statement. She was definitely referring to a particular 70 year old white male who is now occupying the White House.
Thanks for reading and leaving a comment.
I couldn’t agree more. The overuse of the expression is turning it from mildly annoying to bloody infuriating.
Good to know I’m not alone. Thanks for reading and taking time to comment.