(*******WARNING: HAZARDOUS TO NEOCON DELUSION*******)
It is no surprise that the most accurate recounts of history are never found in standard textbooks. The best sources of accurate history are classic works by Native American and African-American authors like Sun Bear and J. A. Rogers, respectively. Perhaps stories are always best told by victims rather than villains. Villains must always mythologize reality to dilute the poison of their own evil. Victims must reflect reality to dilute the poison of their own demise.
The rabid ranting of those who oppose ebonics (primarily racist caucasians and neocons in blackface) evidences something far greater than an arrogant ignorance of linguistics. It is a classic example of the dangers of denial. The very same denial that allows some to believe that the children of African slaves speak no remnant of ancient African languages, is the same denial that breeds blind patriotism.
Immigrants master standard english precisely because it is instructed as a second language. Ebonics will be used in exactly the same fashion with the exact same results. Only racists dare to compare persons of color as if we all came over on the same happy tourist ship. Just as our arrivals at these shores are vastly different, so are our histories, environments and experiences, especially in classrooms.
All caucasians STILL benefit from slavery and racism. From the U. S. prison system to Fortune 500 corporations, ALL capital can be traced back to free African labor and stolen resources. “The Pilgrims” were prostitutes and debtors, who stole every square inch of this land. They butchered millions of Native Americans and kidnapped millions of Africans. They lied to capitalist African chiefs about the uniquely bestial nature of slavery in the U. S.. They destroyed the top soil in Africa so that now Africans endure more desert and famine than any humans anywhere else on earth. But....we are to pretend that none of this is fact.
Just as we are supposed to believe African children are merely thuggish retards with a penchant for slang, so are we to believe that America is the “home of the brave and the land of the free”. Delusion and denial will never protect anyone from reality. In Oakland, we dare to be REALISTIC about our history and our future!
History does repeat itself. For every action there is a reaction. Whether we believe any truth or not, it remains the truth.
“Indians” have been cast out upon reservations. But, this is STILL THEIR land. Mexicans are labeled “illegal aliens”. But, they were here BEFORE the label makers. “Ebonics” is slandered and distorted. But, we are Africans and we do speak it. Currently, it does hinder success in the classroom. We have decided to remove that hindrance by treating black english as the language that it is. It will be used as all other languages in the instruction of standard english.
No fool has the right to tell one who is barefoot to “pull yourself up by your own boot strap”; especially if free Black labor is what purchased the fool’s designer boots. The vast majority of those who dare to bash Black english are nominally literate themselves. Classic example: Renown sambo neocon Armstrong Williams’ speech before Congress regarding ebonics. He busted more verbs and mispronounced more words than any Oakland student I have heard. It was truly comical, pathetically so. He also blatantly LIED about his “french” instruction being 100% free of any english translation. (To tell the truth would have been to support ebonics.) I hope Armstrong finds time to get some standard english tips from one of our budding Black scholars here, soon.
Standard english is mandatory in the marketplaces of America. Ebonics will be used expressly for the mastery of standard english. Much like an instructional boot strap, to properly cover the feet of those now barefoot in academia.
To accept the truth is to expose a lie. To accept ebonics is to admit a linguistic conspiracy against African language. In patriotic fashion, it is better that Black students remain uneducated, than to admit that educators have been racist and wrong. Without apology or permission, the Oakland School Board has decided to right that wrong.
Wounds heal best in open air. The failure of Black children
in academia is a
national and ancient wound. The chaotic winds of this
debate will eventually form a scab. It will secure
an intellectual revolution.