How can I learn to use African-American accent?

I would change the question to be more specific and ask about a country rather than a race.

Native to where?

That is like asking how to speak like a native Asian. Black people live all over the globe and speak a lot of different languages with a lot of different accents.

There is no negro accent. There are regional accents.

I have no clue what you are talking about. native negro accent? There is no negro accent. accents are regional they have nothing to do with race.

Why don’t you put boot polish on your face or paint your lips white while you’re at it.

@jaytkay “Native to where?” Excellent point.

@jaytkay Oh my apologize. I don’t know that negro people could have different native accents all around the world. I’m referring to the one that is used by negro people in America.

@marinelife Any ideas how am I suppose to use that regional accent?

@the100thmonkey I don’t understand…

@Your_Majesty I think you’re coming of a bit offensive here without wanting to be. Why do you want too learn this accent?

@Your_Majesty: America is a big place. There are lots of accents. I can drive 100 miles north and be in the same state, and yet people pronounce things differently.

@Your_Majesty you still are not making any sense. Black people just like everyone else have regional accents. Race has nothing to do with it.

@sarahhhhh Do I need a specific reason to be able to learn this accent? I already stated that I think this particular accent is unique and interesting (and also hard to learn). I don’t think I’m being offensive here. Is it also wrong if I want to learn British accent, French accent, etc?

@jca How about the one that is mostly used by black people? The majority.

@Mikewlf337 Yes, I’m sure of that. I feel sorry if I sound a bit stereotypical here, that isn’t my intention. I’m a Chinese but don’t use Chinese accent in English either.

@Your_Majesty the one that is mostly used by black people? The majority.

Still not specific enough.

Where have you heard the accent you have in mind? Specifically what person(s)?

@Your_Majesty: a person of any color from Mississippi is going to speak with a different accent than a person of any color from New York, who is going to speak with a different accent than a person of any color from California. Again, it is a huge country and people of all colors from all over speak differently.

@jaytkay How about the one that is used by Martin Lawrence or Eddie Murphy?

Another example – I live near NYC. I can go to Albany, about 100 miles north, and they speak way differently. Only 100 miles and I can tell they’re not from around here, and they can tell I’m not from their area.

@Your_Majesty I was asking why you want to learn it so maybe we could better help you in deciding which specific accent you were talking about. And no there’s nothing wrong with wanting to talk with a certain accent but there is something wrong with implying all black people talk with the same accent.

But to answer your question: if you really need to learn then just watch/listen to it.

@jca I don’t live in US so I don’t really know but most American movie with black actors seem to use an accent.

@sarahhhhh To answer your question: Because I like this accent! I wouldn’t bother to learn it if I don’t admire it.

@Your_Majesty – It’s like learning any other accent. Listen and repeat. Otherwise, there’s really no one who teaches it outside of acting coaches.

Certain American accents that originated in the US South are (quietly) considered low-class, including AAVE, so no one’s going out of their way to learn it if they didn’t grow up with it.

However, just to be very, very clear: there are millions of us who don’t have that accent, even in our media. And I know you weren’t trying to be rude, but only really old people say “negro” anymore. We younger ones under 45 call ourselves black or African-American.

@aprilsimnel Good insight! I’ve tried that listen and repeat theory but it doesn’t seem to work on me. Maybe because It’s anatomically, or I inherited soft but sharp color of voice. I was looking for another method.

@Your_Majesty It’s just some puzzle that in your original question you suggest “native negro” is from the US. That threw me off, that and the usage of “negro” which is very peculiar these days. Anyhow….

You seem to simply have an honest interest in studying black American actors voices, curiosity, and I’m all for that. Frankly as far as I can tell the actors you cite talk pretty normally except when they are mimicking some stereotypes, or esp. Eddie Murphy exaggerating for dramatic effect, which is dramatic and not necessarily “black”.
On the other hand I think you could get some mileage listening to them as much as possible (per @aprilsimnel excellent observations), e.g. watching their movies over and over. Also I know some famous black actors like Morgan Freeman have been the voice for audio books, where you could get a very big dose of the actor.

As far as anatomy, it’s a ridiculous generalization but one might say blacks have relatively resonant, deep voices, which could be from anatomical traits. Try expanding the chest and working with holding your nose and tongue in ways to exaggerate your own resonance. Try having your lungs more full than usual.

[mod says] Please note that this is an edited version of the question.

@Your_Majesty To be completely honest, I think you should scrap this whole idea of learning to speak like us Negroes African Americans because 1) the others were correct in saying that accents in America are regional and not divided by race, and 2) it’s offensive, even if you meant nothing by it. Black people in America have a long history of being made fun of and used for show (think circus animal or zoo), and wanting to learn to be like us just isn’t going to be received well by any black person.

I don’t see the point in trying to learn an accent. Mimmicing any accent would be seen as disrespectful and it also serves no purpose. and what Facade said right. It is offensive even if no disrespect is meant.

Like the accent Eddy Murphy has in Coming to America… I get it.

I’m pretty sure none of the people you mention have the same accent.

Black Americans speak with an accent depending on the region in which they live. I’m from Western Pennsylvania and my black friends speak like I do and. in my opinion, have no particular accent. In the deep south they speak like their neighbors. I have problems understanding what people, black and white, are saying. There are a lot of slurred words and strange phrases.

If you ask a black person to teach you his/her accent, they are likely to be insulted because it sounds condescending.

watch some movies like Boys n the Hood or watch some video of Snoop Dogg and see if that helps.

@jca amazing.