Game Young African People Yo Eslpod Things Insults

"The Dozens" is an informal word game that is most popular among young African Americans, especially young men. In this game, two people take turns "insulting" (offending) each other, saying mean but "clever" (humorous and creative) things about each other or their family members, often their mother. The comments are most often "aimed at" (targeting) "disparaging" (criticizing the value of something) the other person's intelligence, appearance, financial situation, social status, or "competency" (ability to do something). Sometimes the insults are sexual, and sometimes the insults "rhyme" (have words that end in the same sound, like a poem).

The best known versions insult the participants' mother, saying things like, "Yo mama so stupid/fat/ugly, she..." (Your mother is so stupid/fat/ugly that she...) For example, someone might say, "Yo momma so stupid she called me, then asked for my phone number," or, "Yo mama so fat that I ran out of gas trying to drive around her!"

There are several "theories" (explanations; untested ideas about why something is the way it is) about why this game "persists" (continues to exist) among some African Americans. Some people "trace its roots" (finds its origins) in slavery, when African Americans were "outraged" (extremely angry) with white people, but could not safely express that anger. So instead, they turned to each other, "venting" (getting rid of negative emotions) on their "peers" (people in the same role or situation). Other people say that the game is valuable because it teaches young black men to control their "emotions" (feelings) when they hear insults. The game teaches them to respond with "wit" (intelligence and humor) rather than anger and violence.