Are you UN-Ho-able?
Keep in mind, I come to you from Prison City, where I’m up to my neck in urban teens and the things they say.
Shoes are “crispy”.
Causing a disruption is “going ham”.
Making fun of someone is “roasting” them.
Calling someone out is “ho-ing” them.
And anything and everything you agree with is punctuated with “believe dat”.
Enter the situation at hand. A charismatic kid, who reminds me of a young Dave Chapelle minus the ambition, observes a girl passing some snacks to another, bigger-boned girl in class.
“Hey, didn’t you read the sign? It said don’t feed the animals.” He says.
A handful of kids on his side of the class erupt with laughter, slapping tables, hooting and hollering.
I, being the teacher–the person responsible for defending people’s psyches and keeping us out of the bullying headlines–of course, pounce.
“Oh no, Mrs. Cunningham.” The girl–his target–waves her hand. “Don’t even acknowledge that comment.”
Taken aback, I tell her I don’t tolerate that kind of ridiculousness in my classroom. I don’t want my students losing sleep at night over some kind of harrassment they encounter at school.
“Don’t even worry about it.” She says with an assertive sort of calm. “I’m un-ho-able, Mrs.Cunningham.”
I laugh.
Hoing=people calling you out.
Un-ho-able, then, is her own spin-off.
“That is nothing, Mrs.Cunningham. I’m my own woman.” She pauses, hand waving through the air as if she’s giving a sermon to her classmates. “I know who I am. I come from good people. Nobody can ho me. I’m un-ho-able.”
From that day forward, every day of the whole semester, I watch Dave-Chappelle-Jr. and the Un-ho-able-woman sit together at the same table. They banter back and forth. Chappelle-Jr. gets out of line sometimes and Un-ho-able woman puts him back in his place.
I watch it all and I think to myself that the world would be a better place if we could all be a little more un-ho-able too.
What about you? How thick is your skin? Does every little thing bother you or do you stand confident in who you are? Are you un-ho-able?
Michelle April 20, 2010 (9:01 am)
you are speaking my language. I teach HS too…and hear those same phrases every day.
…haven’t heard un-ho-able yet…but I have a few of those girls. and love them :)
Jen Rose April 20, 2010 (9:45 am)
I love it! This girl is officially my hero. :)
Sherie April 20, 2010 (10:56 am)
I have been too ho-able in my life but recently I learned it was due to a deep lying issue with shame. Once that was called out in my life I fiercely responded to it by taking it straight to the Lord and surrendering it. Quick and dramatic change resulted and I am now learning that with my identity firmly in God’s view of me I too can say I come from good people and I know who I am. Sometimes we need to be called out, and as long as it is done in love it can lead to great things. So, on one side I am learning to be un-ho-able, but on another I am actively seeking people who are willing to call me out because sometimes I need it and can’t see the issues on my own.
Sarah Cunningham April 21, 2010 (3:27 pm)
Thanks for everyone’s comments. I do agree with you, Sherie. Its important to seek out the perspective of the wise, so we can grow through our own blind spots. Hopefully we can allow that to move us while not absorbing too much unhelpful, un-constructive commentary on our lives.