Houston school police officer releases “Ghetto Handbook” to learn to speak Ebonics

I came across an interesting piece in the Austin American-Statesman about a Ghetto Handbook that was distributed among Houston school employees.  According to the Statesman, the eight-page booklet, subtitled "Wucha dun did now?", was handed out to about 15 Houston Independent School District police officers at a May roll call meeting.

The Statesman goes on to say that the booklet billed itself as a guide to Ebonics, teaching the reader to speak "as if you just came out of the hood." It included definitions such as:

foty: a 40-ounce bottle of beer

aks: to ask a question

hoodrat: scummy girl

This "publication" went out in May, but it was supposedly three months before Houston ISD officials became aware of the incident. The officer who distributed the booklet has been suspended pending an investigation.

See Houston Chronicle coverage of the incident here.