Bell Hooks Teaching To Transgress Summary

In “Teaching to Transgress: Education as the practice of Freedom”, Author, feminist, and social activist Bell hooks made a point to go beyond Standard English and express ourselves through one's own cultural language. Hooks believes that African Americans created a speech that could convey more than Standard English does. I agree with Hooks because different languages are used in many different ways, whether it is to insult someone or to express how much you care. I believe that Standard English became a symbol of oppression and Standard English covers up the true language of Black Vernacular English.
There is a wide variety of English other than the standard, for example, Black Vernacular English. Black Vernacular English is a speech that African Americans created to express themselves. Common sense seems to dictate that Standard English is not the easiest language to learn but it is the most well-used language in America. Hooks claims that “The power of this speech is not simply that it enables resistance to white supremacy, but that it also forges a space for alternative cultural production.” (pg. 171, par.6) I admire Hooks claim because Black Vernacular should not be a way to rebel against Standard English but a way to include different cultural languages. In “Teaching to Transgress: Education as the practice of Freedom”, Hooks asserts that

some young white immature people use black speech in rap as a way of talking down on Black Vernacular, almost like it is less important. This is an example of a way that Black Vernacular speech means more than how people use it.
Standard English is the language that is accepted as the correct form to use when communicating.

As I see it, Standard English secretes Black Vernacular English and other languages. According to Hooks, “It is a mask which hides the loss of so many tongues, all those sounds of diverse, native communities we will never hear…” (pg.168, par. 2) Hooks makes a good point because people are expected to speak Standard English but in reality people speak different languages. Vernacular English speakers are trying so hard to speak Standard English because that is what they are told to do that they forget about their own

language.
Words only have power if people give them power. I believe language and how a person uses language says a lot about them. African Americans’ and every culture should be able to speak as they want to. We should be able to express ourselves through our language. Hooks explains this by saying “words impose themselves.” (pg.167, par.1) I think this is true because people use words to express hate, love, and so many other emotions. Hooks argues that “How they shape it to become a territory that limits and defines, how they make it a weapon that can shame, humiliate, colonize.” (pg.168, par.3) I praise Hooks claim because some white people discriminate against different languages like Black Vernacular English.
Standard english became a symbol of oppression. Hooks is teaching to transgress language, this can result in people speaking freely and expressing their feelings through their own language. Americans have always believed that Standard English should be a primary focus on learning. I believe communication should be diverse and people should be able to express themselves with their own language.