Your language is a part of yourself that can never be erased. No one should be able to take that away from you. Your language is a symbol of where you've been and where you have the potential to go. It is meant to project your soul, and no one should have the power to take your soul away.
We have this idea that "Standard English" is the only way you can be successful in this life. While the media and our educators project this one way of thinking, I'm here to tell you that this is completely wrong. I cannot exclude myself and say I have never code switched when I'm in a professional setting. It is not wrong to code switch to be able to identify with those around you. But, when it gets to the point where you let go of your native tongue (whether it be another language or slang) to be able to please others, this is where you have lost a part of yourself that you need seek out again.
Don't let anyone, including yourself, take your language away from you. This is your culture and way of being. Speaking slang or having an accent does not make you considered 'less than' next to someone who may have mastered standard English. You are not in competition with each other. This is an opportunity to be able to speak to someone who sounds differently than you, which becomes a path towards learning and understanding for you both.
Though, I will say, some may judge you for choosing to stay true to your language, you are not the problem. They are.
(I do not own any rights to this photo. All rights reserved to the original artist.)
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