Rev. Billy Talen, the Green Party candidate for mayor of New York City, recently made this statement for WNBC’s video voter guide (click title of post to watch):
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June 3, 2026
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Rev. Billy Talen, the Green Party candidate for mayor of New York City, recently made this statement for WNBC’s video voter guide (click title of post to watch):
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“We was robbed” is a famous quote from a prize fight in Yankee Stadium. Reverend Billy doesn’t need lessons on how to talk to New Yorkers – his knowledge of NYC history and culture is impressive.
I didn’t think the substance of his remarks was about the systematic marginalization of third party candidates. What I heard was Rev. Billy speaking directly to the issues and values that New Yorkers care about today. NYC politics right now is seen as a battle between the billionaire-king and the head of New York’s Democratic machine. More of the same, versus same old, same old. It’s not interesting for people, other than the various political lackeys who get promoted or demoted according to how the chairs are rearranged.
Rev. Billy is not trying to appeal to only blacks or only whites, only rich or only poor, only young or only old. He is actually tapping into New York’s tradition of American radicalism, which has given The City its greatness but is in mortal danger of being plowed over for a Wal-Mart parking lot.
Check out Rev. Billy’s website at http://VoteRevBilly.org
He really has a lot to say, on topics from education to transportation to environmental policy, and especially on the fundamental way we make public decisions in this country.
The quote from Schmeling’s manager is famous, and obviously what he was riffing off of. Can we now move on to the substance of his remarks, which was about the systematic marginalization of third party candidates in this city and country?
Paulie, I take you at your word. My posts are not to disparage you.
However, it is silly to hear politicians, and yes Rev. Billy Talen is a politician, to say ‘we was’. If Talen was back in Minnesota he would not be saying “we was’; or if was in Idaho, Upstate NY, Massachussetts, Vermont, or if he was being interviewed by The Nation.
” It is not “ebonics,” it’s more of a old school New York/Brooklynese sort of slang.’
=Yeah, the Green Party candidate is crafting his message so he can get the support of the constituency that voted for Bill Buckley in 1965?
Old school “german ethnic slang?” and not “ebonics”?
Rev. Billy Talen was born in Minnesota, and moved to NY from San Francisco in the 90s’ . There is no information if he picked “we was’ while traveling through Alabama.
Christopher,
I have a diverse background and employ different speech patterns. I have education, and frequently use correct verb tenses. But I was also a street kid, so sometimes I don’t. And it isn’t necessarily based on who I am talking to.
What you call ebonics has made its way into white American speech patterns through music, movies, sports jargon (a sports announcer might well say “we was robbed”), and other expressions of popular culture. I have frequently heard older people identify certain terms or expressions as sounding black or sounding ghetto or whatever when they are quite commonplace among younger white people.
Of course there’s nothing new in this process, it has gone on for generations – common expressions like “cool,” “hot,” “baby,” etc., in their slang sense, were “ebonics” once upon a time.
Paulie be honest, you never said “we was” because you lived in Alabama.
Because, or before? Either way, to be honest I do not remember if I would have said it in the 80s. I know I wouldn’t have said “y’all” or “might could” which I catch myself doing sometimes now. But “we was robbed”? Not sure.
Actually, “we was robbed” is credited to Max Schmeling’s manager in 1932 (http://www.schipul.com/en/quotes/display.asp?quoteid=808). It is not “ebonics,” it’s more of a old school New York/Brooklynese sort of slang.
And I suspect the majority of Talin’s votes will come from Brooklyn.
And as paulie points out; Talin’s constant critique of gentrification is a direct critique of the rich whites who have swarmed over NYC in the last couple decades.
“I’m not so sure about your vote prediction. I went to the Green national convention in 2008 and saw a lot of black folks. And quite a few of the “white” looking delegates did not appear to be well off financially, as far as I could tell.”
Rev. Billy Talen sees a lot more “black folks” in NYC than at a Green Party National convention. 9o% of the African-American vote will go to Thompson in the Mayoral election. Why? Ask Hillary Clinton.
“we was robbed.” I may have picked it up down in Alabama, but most people would say I have a New York accent.
=Come on. Rev. Talen throughout the video uses the correct verb tense “were”. He only uses “we was” when making a political pitch to African-Americans. Paulie be honest, you never said “we was” because you lived in Alabama.
As to, “Why should “white upper-class liberal voters” be kept from talking about the impact of gentrification on the people already living in neighborhoods which are being gentrified? I would consider that a matter of social conscience, whether you think they are correct or not.”
= I do not disagree with your sentiments. They have every right, but why do they feel the need to talk one way to African-Americans and another way when they are in the company of their white friends and associates?
Hmmm, that’s a lot of assumptions there Christopher.
1) My guess is that Rev. Billy is staying somewhat in character as a fundamentalist/holy roller type preacher, quite likely to be from the south. If so, he’s imitating, if anything at all, a southern speech pattern, not necessarily a black one.
2) Not that a New Yorker would not necessarily say that. I grew up in NYC (1980-1989, age 7-17) and subsequently lived in Alabama in the 1990s. I might well say “we was robbed.” I may have picked it up down in Alabama, but most people would say I have a New York accent.
3) White…well, the four largest US racist organizations split 50/50 as to whether I am one or not. The US Census Bureau and the Nation of Islam would say I am. The nazis and the KKK would say I’m not. Personally, I don’t much care either way. I grew up in a majority hispanic neighborhood (Washington Heights) and what some people would call ebonics or whatever is just regular speech to me.
4) I’m not so sure about your vote prediction. I went to the Green national convention in 2008 and saw a lot of black folks. And quite a few of the “white” looking delegates did not appear to be well off financially, as far as I could tell.
5) Why should “white upper-class liberal voters” be kept from talking about the impact of gentrification on the people already living in neighborhoods which are being gentrified? I would consider that a matter of social conscience, whether you think they are correct or not.
The irony of that statement, Christopher, is that his message is very much about empowering the poor.
Why do white candidates of the left in NYC feel the need to speak in “ebonics”, “We was robbed.” The majority of African-American voters of NYC will listen to this guy and just roll their eyes. Come election day Rev. Billy Talen will receive over 90% of his vote from white upper-class liberal voters.
The icing on the cake is when Rev. Talen uses the term “gentrification.” His greatest vote total will definitley be from SoHo.
Well, I hadn’t watched any of his videos before. I was more concerned with his profile as a candidate — which is probably the only aspect of him most voters will ever see.
But he does make a good second impression.
Just now?
All right, Kimberly, I will concede that Rev. Billy is extremely articulate and personable.