I have dark brown skin, curly hair, a broad nose, some of my ancestors were slaves and I have been detained by pasty white policemen in New Hampshire… - Percival Everett

The world demands that you introduce yourself twice, first as you are, and second as you are told to be.

"I ain't never seen two fellas talk so much and say so little," Huck said.
"You be almos' thinkin' dey be preachers," I said.
"You know what I could go fer, Bilgewater?"
"What's that, Dolphin?"

Let’s try some situational translations. Something extreme first. You’re walking down the street and you see that Mrs. Holiday’s kitchen is on fire. She’s standing in her yard, her back to her house, unaware. How do you tell her?”
“Fire, fire,” January said.

“Lawdy, missum! Looky dere.”

“Perfect,” I said. “Why is that correct?” Lizzie raised her hand. “Because we must let the whites be the ones who name the trouble.