The Power of Language

Vershawn A. Young, analyzes the disconnection between literacy WEV and black culture BEV by conflicting his own Identity with other black male students from the ghetto, like Eric Smith. Young explains that there is a racial, Identity, and gender endangerment when black boys venture literacy. He cites, David Holmes, Kermit Campbell, Hence Cam, Malcolm X, Phillip Harper, William Labov, and others, to build on and support his case. Young concludes that schools are a symptom of the problem, and implicitly suggests that both BEV and WEV should be incorporated into elementary and high school. 

On the other hand, Lisa Delpit, believes that “good teachers incorporate a range of pedagogical orientations. In her article she address the concerns raised by White and Black respondents, debates over skills versus process to understand the alienation and miscommunication between different races, and analyzes five aspects of power, which is essential in deciding what is best for poor children and children of color. She suggests that the community should decide what is best to the children’s education and that teachers have an ideal position in this role: to bring the issues to the table and to break the silence.  

I’ve been affected in many different ways by how others perceive my background because of my language use, some times positively others not so much. A few years ago I was working for JCPenney as their customer service representative. I was shocked to observe people’s reaction to my accent. Many people tend to relate different accents with “language deficiency” or stupidity. It was funny to encounter some costumers, whom requested to speak with someone else just because of my accent, but I was the only one that could authorize their specific requests. In less than one year I got promoted three times, and became their corporate representative. Delpit explains that is easier to acquire power when we are explicitly told the rules of a culture. If I think of a company as a form of culture, and with the willing help from someone that is already part of the culture, than it becomes easier to gain power.  Not only my hard work gave me the opportunity to gain power, someone else was willing to coach me through the process.