The pronunciation is actually in the 1850s minstrel song composed by Stephen Foster - “Angelina Baker”
“Angelina likes de boys as far as she can see ‘em,
She aksd de’ massa jus’ dis morn’ to see if he could free ‘em”
It is a very old mispoken word.. and has to have a source in which African language prevailed among slaves brought here.
Sorry double post. FR is acting slow ,then not.