I'm pretty sure it has nothing to do with Black English Vernacular, especially "what it is?" which is just another way of saying what's happening, what's going on, what's up? And I think, Roger, you are tilting at windmills because the phrase is actually very useful when people are trying to read too much into a situation or trying to put some spin or nuance that they have created. So chill out on this particular saying because you're reading too much into it--it is what it is!
“It is what it is”
I'm pretty sure it has nothing to do with Black English Vernacular, especially "what it is?" which is just another way of saying what's happening, what's going on, what's up? And I think, Roger, you are tilting at windmills because the phrase is actually very useful when people are trying to read too much into a situation or trying to put some spin or nuance that they have created. So chill out on this particular saying because you're reading too much into it--it is what it is!
I also like Tony's definition (10 March 2010).