Thursday, September 08, 2005

Sympathetic Reading on Jordan's text

In Jordan's text I think she used "Black English" as not just a language, but to help disclose many issues in society. I think the use and teaching of "Black English" was to make Afro-Americans feel more respected. Many felt that they grew up in a place where they could not show their true face, as if they do not belong. The "White English" language that was spoken made them feel hostile, something that will never look or sound "right" to them. They believed that white standards control verbal proficiency, correct or incorrect language skills. In order for themselves to learn their way around the enviroment, they thought instead of hiding their word habits, to surrender their own voice hoping for respect from others who don't normally respect others, other than themselves. It made them feel better to have their own language and rules and to be able to control it, rather than one dominated by the white population. They wanted to show their true selves. I think the Willie Jordan story fit into this text perfectly because it was about a black male being murdered by a white police officer, and society did nothing about it to prosecute the murder. I believe the teaching of "Black English" made Willie Jordan and the rest of society want to speak out and to stop the discrimmination. They already spoke out in developing and using their "Black English," so why stop there. They wanted to prove something of themselves in society.

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