Yes, Ebonics and country are remarkably similar
LOL, and they all go back to Old English and Old Irish. I listened to someone that studied this and was fascinated. When they said the exact same phrases using "white" voices and "black" voices, one sounded like a scene from an old English movie.
Personally I always loved to listen to how different people speak. I remember this old (very old) black man used to fish at Lake Erie. I'd go sit next to him because I loved the sound of his voice and how he expressed himself. His voice was gravelly yet somehow still rich. His laugh just rolled and it was contagious. I used to just sit there and listen to him and laugh at his constant little stories and jokes. My friends didn't understand, and I couldn't understand how anyone could find this speech annoying I found it quite joyful, and when he would talk, I just felt like "things was gonna be awright!"
We really should appreciate each other more. The thing I don't like is when speech is used to exclude or separate us. I never could figure out why we want everyone to be the same. It's boring.
That man never asked what a clueless white girl was doing hanging out near him. He just welcomed me (I made him laugh) and included me and sought to entertain me, even though I'm sure he didn't understand. I always thought he was a beautiful person who never said an unkind thing. Other people made fun of his speech. We are ridiculous sometimes.
NC