Ebonics
INTRODUCTION
The main topic of this paper is the USA, and I have chosen to concentrate on a
fairly new issue, the language know as Ebonics. There have always been changes
in the English language. This is how the language came about and evolved from
standard British English to American English.
During the last few years, as the world has become more sensitive to the rights
of minorities, women, animals, etc. a new form of changes has taken place. These
changes have become known as Political Correctness.
Ebonics is the political correct version of Afro-American English. I intend to
show that – and comment on how – racialism and competition affects a society and
how this, in the case of Ebonics, is actually happening in today's America.
Nuuk February 1997 Ral Fleischer
THE QUESTIONS ASKED I will attempt to answer the following questions about
Ebonics; - what is Ebonics? - what are the underlying reasons behind Ebonics? -
who is prospering from Ebonics?
What is Ebonics? Most people outside of America have at most but a vague idea of
what Ebonics is all about. Apart from being a buzzword in American media since
December 1996 what are the fundamental concepts behind this expression? Where,
how and when did it start, and who started it?
What are the underlying reasons behind Ebonics? To fully understand Ebonics,
some historical background is needed. One has to have some knowledge on how the
English language has developed in America. Furthermore one has to be aware how
the American society is loaded down with the influence of stereotypical thinking,
racialism and competition. In his autobiography, the famous black spokesman,
Minister Malcolm X, portrays the undisguised hostility that exists between white
and black people in America. He illustrates this conflict with the following
words: "…You cannot find one black man, I do not care who he is, who has not
been personally damaged in some way by the devilish acts of the … white man!.
The greatest miracle … in America is that the black … has not grown
violent … they would have been justified by all moral criteria, and even by the
democratic tradition" (The Autobiography of Malcolm X, page 371 & 349)
Is Ebonics simply the democratic consequence, a black non-violent upraise
against the "devilish acts of the white man" as as foreseen by Malcolm X?
Who is pros...
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standard of excellence for all its students. 2). Oakland Unified School District
is providing its teachers and parents with the tools to address the diverse
languages the children bring into the classroom. 3). The District's objective is
to build on the language skills that African-American students bring to the
classroom without devaluing students and their diversity. We have directly
connected English language proficiency to student achievement. 4). The term
"genetically-based" is synonymous with genesis. In the clause, "African Language
Systems are genetically based and not a dialect of English," the term
"genetically based" is used according to the standard dictionary definition of
"has origins in." It is not used to refer to human biology.
Hooked on Ebonics, p. 50
Ebonics: A Way to Close the Learning Gap?, p. A01
Among Linguists, Black English Gets Respect, p. A10
Race, Culture and Intelligence, p. 104
Two Nations, Black and White, Separate, Hostile, Unequal, p.42
Ebonics: A Way to Close the Learning Gap?, p. A01
Synopsis of the adopted policy on standard American English Language
development, appendix 1
Ebonics: A Way to Close the Learning Gap?, p. A01
“.They see the competition in skin tones.” (LeDuff 355). According to the split-labor market theory, the division of power was self-implicated through the idea known as racism and prejudice. “The convict said he felt cheated.
Du Bois argues in this quote that “basic racial difference between human beings and had suffered not change,” meaning that racism is still a pressing issue. In this quote he essentially asks the questions, why wont the idea of racism die? Du Bois then links the persistence of racism to economic incentives when he states, “and clung to it… the modern African slave trade a tremendous economic structure and eventually the industrial revolution had been based on racial differences.” As illustrated in this quote, the link between economics and racial indifferences is one reason Du Bois offers as an explanation for why racism has been able persist even until today. The perpetuation of racism and racial difference is how society allocates status and wealth, while socialization maintains the idea of racism Du Bois argues
Section I,2. Analyze the consequences of American rule in Puerto Rico, Cuba and the Philippines. Did the citizens prosper? Enjoy freedom? Accept American rule? Comment on the consequences for the United States with regard to the statement made by Eric Foner in the text, “Thus, two principles central to American freedom since the War of Independence – no taxation without representation and government based on the consent of the governed – were abandoned when it came to the nation’s new possessions.
Henretta, J. A. and Brody, D. (2010). America: A Concise History, Volume 2: Since 1877. 4th
Winant, Howard. 2000 "Race and race theory." Annual review of sociology ():-. Retrieved from http://www.soc.ucsb.edu/faculty/winant/Race_and_Race_Theory.html on Mar 17, 1980
Roark, James L., Michael P. Johnson, Patricia C. Cohen, Sarah Stage, and Susan M. Hartmann. The American Promise: A History of the United States. 5th ed. Vol. 2. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin's, 2009. Print.
Overall, race, class and culture impacts one’s place in society. I have Four hundred years of history cannot be wiped away so easily. I realized that society has a long way to go and the importance of fighting all injustices. Martin Luther King captured it best by saying “injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere”.
According to Omi and Winant, the term race can be defined as “a concept which signifies and symbolizes social conflicts and interests by referring to different types of human bodies.” From their framework of racial formation and concept of racial projects, Omi and Winant asserts that race is a matter of social structure and cultural representation that has been intertwined to shape the nature of racism. Racism has been seen since the events of early English colonization of the indigenous people and the racialization of African Americans through slavery, all in which the United States is molded upon as a nation. Thus, this social structure of domination has caused European colonials and American revolutionists to create racialized representations, policies, and structures in order to oppress indigenous and black populations in their respective eras.
Muhammad Ali, a famous boxer, once said, “Hating People because of their color is wrong. And it doesn’t matter which color does the hating. I’s just plain wrong” (Goodreads, 2015). For many centuries, ethnic conflict between the humans have existed immortally due the never changing differences of culture and values, spinning the cycle of war. Fortunately, some have ended however some still remain immortal in the eyes of those who have experience struggle to this date. The lack of awareness of problems in a cultural crisis concerning those who fall victim to a system and society that discriminates and alienates. With assistance of Critical Race Theory, this essay will examine how the role of race with has affected has caused consequences within the lives of marginalized groups within society through the lives and their relationship with those in their communities.
The United States used racial formation and relied on segregation that was essentially applied to all of their social structures and culture. As we can see, race and the process of racial formation have important political and economic implications. Racial formation concept seeks to connect and give meaning to how race is shaped by social structure and how certain racial categories are given meaning our lives or what they say as “common sense” Omi and Winant seek to further explain their theory through racial
today. But now in the 21st century we not only we have abused those rights
"Social Forces." The Skin Color Paradox and the American Racial Order. Oxfordjournals,org, 2007. Web. 29 Mar. 2014.
the disastrous effects that colorism and racism can have on a whole culture and how African-
This brings attention to why race and ethnicity exist so predominantly in society. There are a number of theories that observe why racism, prejudice, and discri...
This course will cover 150 years of American history and therefore will be general. Students should have an understanding of the events and players in the major historical events from 1865 to the present. Students will also be required to be able to read historical monographs closely and discern the important information. This critical reading component will not only be useful in history classes, but also aid in their academic success in ...