"sounding black"

[Beth Simon]

"sounding black" came up in the O.J. trial

beth simon

>>> laurieOwens at MSN.COM 01/22/02 19:15 PM >>>
HELP!

I am a student at the University of Washington, School of Law.  I am
currently writing my analytic on a Kentucky case that admitted testimony
of a police officer that the defendant "sounded black".  The only man
that was black in a house was arrested based on the police officers
"description".  The police officer never saw the defendant until trial.
The defendant was convicted based on this "identification".  Outrageous,
no!?!

My contention is that whoever the police officer heard "sounded
inner-city".  I am looking for studies that have run blind tests to
identify the race of American dialect speakers and any associated
articles.  I know that some blacks can "sound white" and some whites
(specifically inner-city) do "sound black".  (Whatever that really
means).

Time is of the essence.  Any help you can give me would be greatly
appreciated.

Sincerely,

Laurie Owens