Let’s not give it up for…any more 8


FhsMZPFx5z-8-drop the micI’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!

 


About Candelaria Silva

Candelaria Silva-Collins is a marketing, community outreach and programming consultant; writer; and trainer/facilitator who lives in Boston, Massachusetts. She has designed and facilitated workshops on a wide variety of topics including communication, facilitation, job search skills, team building, and parenting issues. She currently coordinates the Community Membership Program of the Huntington Theatre Company. Her work as Director of ACT Roxbury was profiled in several publications, including The Creative Communities Builders Handbook. Candelaria’s children’s stories, short stories, essays and reviews have been published in local and national publications and she is an active blogger. Her publications include the booklets, Handling Rejection; Pushing through Shyness: Networking Tips when You’re Shy, Slow to Warm Up or Just don’t Feel you Belong; and Real Questions about Sex & Relationships for Teens: A Discussion Guide for Parents. She has served on the boards of Goddard College, Wheelock Family Theatre, Boston Foundation for Architecture, and Discover Roxbury. She is currently Chair, Designators of the Henderson Foundation.

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8 thoughts on “Let’s not give it up for…any more

  • LANA JACKSON

    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.

    • Candelaria Silva Post author

      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.

    • Mike

      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.