Word in question: Conversate

Even now, the word "conversate" is still controversial. It's not quite accepted by all but is tolerated. If I remember correctly, someone brought up an example using orientation and orient. If I'm not mistaken, "orient" is used as a depiction of Asian decent. That being said, orient should be a well respected word under certain pretences. I personally feel that the word "conversate" is more towards a slang term.

When was the word "signage" accepted into the dictionary?

Some of my college students, from ages 18-25, have used the word conversate, used as "I want to 'conversate' with my best friend." I have always understood it to be a synonym for "talk."

Hmmm...
So few participants in this conversation are acknowledging the elephant in this particular room:
It's been noted in [only] a modest number of comments that the use of the word "conversate" is, though not limited to, perhaps particularly prevalent in, our African-American communities.
Could it be that some of the [what seems to me to be especially great*] ire "conversate" seems to strike with some people might possibly, maybe, perhaps be a tiny bit, in some modest way, somewhat indicative of...

...underlying racist tendencies?
Hey, not saying that's necessarily the case. I'm certainly not accusing anyone of anything -- nuh-uh, not me, no way.
I'm just...
axin' the question?

.

*then again, I haven't looked at any other threads on this site. Maybe the ire level isn't actually disproportionate?