Talkin Trash and Makin Sense: the Value of Abusive Ad Hominem Arguments in African American Argumentation

Ad hominem arguments are typically viewed as fallacious within dominant white Western argumentative frameworks, where personal attacks are discouraged in favor of addressing the argument itself. In this paper, I argue the nuanced use of abusive ad hominem arguments within African American Argumentation (AAA) is a counterexample to this view. While Western contexts often deem abusive ad hominem as fallacious due to its perceived lack of argumentative value, AAA emphasizes the interpersonal dynamics and cultural context, where personal attacks convey significant communicative and cultural meanings. Signifyin, a practice characterized by playful yet crude personal attacks, exemplifies how abusive ad hominem serves constructive purposes and contains logical content. These attacks, far from being merely vicious, function to affirm solidarity, highlight inconsistencies and reinforce argumentative stances. I argue abusive ad hominem within AAA should not be viewed solely as detrimental to argumentation. Instead, it plays a crucial role in the communicative process by signaling deeper meanings and intentions, challenging the traditional white Western assumption that abusive elements are inherently fallacious and the dismissal of AAA practices as fallacious undermines the epistemic contributions of African American communities.