RES 5530: Race, Class, and Gender in Literacy Research (Spring 2009)

After reading some of these articles, I am beginning to agree with you Cherrita on the issue of Ebonics. You are absolutely right. We shouldn't be taking away a child's identity, by forcing them to speak a certain way. When I first heard of Ebonics, I thought it was funny. I think I found it funny because it was so foreign to me. Even my best friend, who was black thought it was funny. But looking back, I think we were just kids, and we couldn't wrap our minds around it. Now, I can see how it is it's own language and it should be recognized in schools. And I would hate for anyone in the US to feel less American just because of the way they speak.

Cherrita, I believe that we should celebrate different languages. However, as with spanish, we do not try and make children feel bad, but we do teach them english do we not? If they are in a public classroom, they do learn english. I speak spanish and when I have gone to spain, that is what I speak. I do not have the idea that they should have to speak english to me like many others do. If I went into the ghetto, I would have to learn the language there to communicate. My whole point is that different areas in life require different uses of language. Would America have elected Barack Obama if he spoke ebonics, or any public official for that matter? The answer is no, right or wrong.

I appreciated your question about who defines "proper" English. My uncle met and married a British lady while he was stationed with the military in Europe after World War II. She seemed to look down my family and treat us as if we were uneducated simply because we did not have "command" of the English language--"the Queen's English", that is.

I believe part of my Aunt Joy's feelings came from her knowledge of British history and an understanding that Great Britain did set the standard for most of the known world at one time. She still believed Britain to be "the" world power and that every other society existed only because of Great Brittain's contributions. Throughout history, the victors have set the standards. And, whether we want to admit it or not, even in America those who are in control set the standards.

I really enjoyed reading your response since you are not a white girl like me!! :-) I was reading the book Come On, People this weekend. Bill Cosby is one of the authors. He was writing to black parents telling them they need to learn Standard English and require their kids to do the same. He clearly explained that to be successful in school and in the world of work, a person needs to be able to speak in a way that others perceive as "intelligent." Once again, I say, there are different ways to talk and write and schools need to teach children the difference.

Thanks again for your comments!!

Ashley Catlett

I really enjoyed reading your response since you are not a white girl like me!! :-) I was reading the book Come On, People this weekend. Bill Cosby is one of the authors. He was writing to black parents telling them they need to learn Standard English and require their kids to do the same. He clearly explained that to be successful in school and in the world of work, a person needs to be able to speak in a way that others perceive as "intelligent." Once again, I say, there are different ways to talk and write and schools need to teach children the difference.

Thanks again for your comments!!

Ashley Catlett

Your response is very helpful! It is interesting that you compare the North Carolina English by saying that it is not as "proper" as Boston English. This is interesting to me because I recently had a conversation with two students who have moved to Boone to get their masters, and they moved from New York. They mentioned one of the biggest challenges they face by moving to Boone, or North Carolina, is listening to professionals speaking a language they feel is not "proper". So I agree with you, all around us there are people who have their own idea of what "proper" English is, and who can determine the idea that fits the education system the best?

I really enjoyed reading your post. You had an interesting perspective on the situation. Similar to your last paragraph, I find myself wanting to sit on the fence with regards to ebonics.

I definitely feel that standard English should be taught in our schools today. I am constantly ensuring that I am speaking as near to standard English as possible in the classroom so that my students have a good model.

I suppose what I am saying is that there is room for both in the world. I feel as though I need to harness the ability to speak standard English and communicate in a professional way; however, there are times when it feels more "at home" to speak in more of a Southern dialect. I think this way of thinking is probably similar to how most people view their own dialect.

Although I am certain that none of our situations are to the extent as the reading, we can all build somewhat of a relationship with the characters. Creating the tie to Spanish-speakers was an interesting thought, as most if not all of us have been in contact with students with this type of language barrier in our own classrooms. I would not have placed the two as equals before reading your response. It is interesting that, ultimately, society does the same to both languages. We feel that we must use a universal language to communicate, and maybe rightly so. In the United States, that language is standard English.

Hello, I was very interested in your thoughts. I agree that color may be the deciding factor, for many people. As you said we are willing to have translators for Spanish or even Hmong. But for blacks, no way. I had not thought of Ebonics as a language but more as a dialect. I am certainly opened minded enough to admit that maybe I was wrong. Perhaps thats the problem, people with closed minds. However, I feel that as educators we need to model and encourage the use of standard English.

Cherrita,
This question that you posed really stood out to me:

Sadly, the question that keeps popping in my mind is "What is the real issue, the language itself or the color of the language speakers?"

Many times I think they are so intertwined that it is difficult to separate. But I have a student in another class who is a high school Spanish teacher, and her students tell her that they don't want to learn Spanish because they associate the language with Mexican people. So there are some perjorative cultural/ethnic assumptions sometimes associated with Spanish, based on skin color, even though it is a Germanic language just like English, French, Italian, etc.
So I think your question is an insightful one -- and if you don't mind, I'm going to direct this other student to your post!

Furthermore, I think your question will remain relevant as we move through all of our readings, particularly the Hicks book, except we can substitute socio-economic class for race....