bell hooks: On the Language of Power

In this essay, bell hooks discusses the rich history behind African American Vernacular English and how it started off as a tool of rebellion but could have the possibility of holding back many bright children today. Although the entire essay was informative and thoughtful, the most meaningful thing that I took away was the fact that children who have grown up in an environment where African American Vernacular English is the norm are being held up in educational facilities because their specific language is often thought of as “rude” or “incorrect”. The entire idea of Standard English has a very blurred line when it comes to the educational system. Most educational facilities require the use of “Standard English” not only in essays and formal assignments, but also as a means to communicate in the classroom. This leaves many children who have grown up in a “Non Standard English speaking home” confused about what they should be speaking and communicating with. When they are in their communities, they speak like they have been taught their entire lives. When they are in the classroom, they are taught that that way is wrong. This only reinforces the idea that AAVE or any other dialect of English is incorrect, informal, and un-educational. This in turn leaves the children thinking that their culture and language is not worthy of higher education. This leaves little opportunity for many children to seek higher education and be able to succeed in school. As one off bell hooks favorite quotes says, “This is the oppressor’s language yet I need it to speak to you”. The children who aim for higher education find themselves in need to abandon their language and move on to the “Standard English”. This does three things: leaves them confused about their identity, exposes them to criticism from the African American society, and allows them to lose a part of the language they have grown up with. What really struck me was the fact that both white and black children grew up in the same country and go through the same educational system and yet African Americans have to work twice as hard to climb up the educational ladder because the educational system does not have any programs that utilize AAVE (or any “Informal” dialect of English for that matter). What started off as a language that is meant as a means of empowerment and as a tool for rebellion is transforming into something that holds back a large majority of the African American community. Standard English being a means of communication has shown to be a difficulty for a large number of African Americans who have been raised to speak the language that their ancestors were once proud to speak.