How code-switching impacts the Black community Updated: Tags: Code-switching is defined as the ability to switch between languages in a single conversation. For instance, you may speak more casually at home than you do at work. But for Black people, code-switching is far more complex and can often be taxing. Some would argue the ability to do it well is a prerequisite to success. Watch the full report in the video above. Cultural invalidations and racial code-switching: What are the psychological implications? Click here to view a presentation that “examines how cultural invalidations and racial code-switching are associated with ethnic-racial identity development, mental health, and occupational outcomes among people of color.